If your dog trembles, hides or tries to bolt when the fireworks start, you're not alone. Around four in ten dogs in the UK are frightened of fireworks. The single most important thing we can tell you is this: start preparing well before October.
By the time the first rockets go up, it's too late to change how your dog feels about the noise. You can manage the night itself, but the real progress happens in the quiet months before. Here's how we'd plan your firework season.
Months before: play firework sounds to your dog
One of the best things you can do is play firework sounds to your dog months before the season starts, starting with the volume very low and gradually turning it up, while pairing the sound with something positive, usually food. This teaches your dog that bangs and whizzes are nothing to worry about, and in fact mean something good is coming. It works, but it takes weeks or months, which is why summer is the time to begin.
- Find a recording of firework sounds (there are free ones online, and the charity Dogs Trust has its own "Sound Therapy for Pets" recordings).
- Play it at a volume so low your dog barely notices, and pair it with something they love. Food works best: play it at dinner time, or hand out tasty treats while it plays.
- Over many sessions, turn the volume up a tiny bit at a time. If your dog looks worried, go back a step.
- Keep sessions short and always end on a happy note.
The aim is for your dog to hear fireworks and think "dinner's coming", not "danger".
Late summer: talk to your vet
If your dog is very frightened, speak to your vet in August or September, not on 4th November. There are calming supplements, pheromone diffusers and prescription medicines that can really help, but some need to be started weeks in advance, and it's good to try them out before the big night so you know how your dog reacts. Your vet may also refer you to a qualified behaviourist.
Early autumn: build a safe den
Give your dog a cosy hideaway in the quietest room of the house, ideally one without windows on the street side. A crate covered with a thick blanket, or a corner behind the sofa, works well. Fill it with their bed, a favourite toy and an old jumper that smells of you.
Set it up a few weeks before fireworks season so it's already their favourite place, not something new and strange on the night. If you use a pheromone diffuser, plug it in nearby in plenty of time.
Before the night: be prepared
- Check their microchip details are up to date and that their collar and ID tag are secure. Frightened dogs can bolt, and more pets go missing around Bonfire Night than at almost any other time.
- Check your garden fences and gates for gaps.
- Keep an eye on local displays and plan around them. Remember fireworks also go off around Diwali and New Year, not just 5th November.
On firework nights
- Walk your dog in daylight, well before dusk, and keep them on the lead in case of an unexpected bang.
- Feed them a little earlier than usual, and make sure they've been out for the toilet before it gets dark.
- Close windows, curtains and cat flaps, and put the TV or some music on to soften the noise.
- Let them hide if they want to, and never drag them out of their den.
- It's absolutely fine to comfort your dog. You won't "reward" their fear by being kind. Stay calm and relaxed yourself, as they take their cues from you.
- Never punish a frightened dog, and never take a dog to a firework display.
- Don't leave them home alone on the busiest nights if you can help it.
Plan for next year, now
Firework season is a great time to notice exactly what upsets your dog, whether it's the bangs, the flashes or the whistling rockets. Make a note, and put a reminder in your diary for next summer to start the sound training again. A little effort in July can make for a much calmer November.
If your dog is extremely distressed by fireworks, please speak to your vet. Every dog is different, and they can help you find the right approach for yours.