Fireworks and Dogs: Helping Them Feel Safe
For some dogs, fireworks are simply something happening in the background. For others, they can be genuinely frightening and completely overwhelming.
Firework season can be particularly difficult because fireworks are loud, unpredictable and difficult to escape from. Unlike many everyday noises, they can come without warning, vary in intensity and direction, and are accompanied by flashes of light, vibrations and unfamiliar smells.
A dog cannot understand that the bang outside is part of a ‘celebration’ and isn’t going to hurt them. Their nervous system may simply respond to it being a potential threat.
Why are some dogs more frightened than others?
There isn’t always one simple reason why a dog struggles with fireworks. Their response can be influenced by several things, including:
Genetics and temperament. Some dogs may be naturally more sensitive or predisposed to fear and anxiety.
Previous learning and experiences. A frightening experience involving a loud noise can affect how a dog responds in the future.
Noise sensitivity. Dogs who are already sensitive to thunder, gunshots, engines or other sudden sounds may find fireworks particularly difficult.
Pain or discomfort. If your dog’s behaviour around noise has suddenly changed or their fear has become significantly worse, it is worth discussing this with your vet. Pain and other health conditions can influence how well a dog copes with stressful events.
Age and health. Changes in hearing, mobility, cognition or general health may alter how a dog responds to something they previously coped with.
Their current stress levels. If a dog has already had a difficult or stressful day, fireworks may be the final thing that pushes them beyond what they can comfortably cope with.
This is why this isn’t simply a frightened dog needing more “training”. We need to look at the whole dog.
Plan walks carefully
During firework season, avoid walking after dark wherever possible, particularly on nights when you know fireworks are likely.
A firework suddenly exploding close to a dog can trigger the body’s fight-or-flight response. A frightened dog may desperately try to escape, even if this is completely out of character for them.
Try walking earlier in daylight and consider quieter locations away from densely populated residential areas where there may be a greater chance of fireworks being set off unexpectedly.
Make sure collars, harnesses and leads are secure, check the clips are in good working order. Use double leads if needed and Houdini harnesses for those dogs who are a flight risk. Check tags and your dog’s microchip details are up to date.
If fireworks are already going off, don’t take a frightened dog out because you feel they “need their walk”. Missing a walk is far preferable to putting them into a situation they cannot cope with.
Toilet trips
Plan evening toilet trips earlier than usual.
If your dog needs to go outside later, you may want to take them into the garden on lead, even if this isn’t something you normally do. A frightened dog can behave very differently from their usual self.
If your dog is too worried to toilet, don’t force the issue. You may find there is a quieter opportunity much later when the fireworks have stopped.
Create a safe place
Give your dog choices about where they want to be.
Some dogs want to hide away, while others want to be right beside their person. Their preferred safe space might be under a table, behind the sofa, in a quiet bedroom or inside a covered crate.
If your dog already enjoys their crate, you could cover it and add plenty of comfortable bedding to help soften and buffer some of the sound. However, I wouldn’t suddenly shut a frightened dog inside a crate if they aren’t already comfortable using one.
Close curtains and blinds to reduce flashes and keep windows and doors closed.
You could also use background sound to help mask the unpredictable bangs. Classical music may help some dogs. I also like Taiko drumming, as the deep, repetitive drumming can help mask some of the outside noise.
White noise, television, fans or other familiar household sounds may also be useful. Experiment before firework night so you know what your dog is comfortable with.
Comforting your dog is okay
If your dog comes to you for reassurance, you can reassure them.
Fear isn’t something you’re going to reinforce simply by sitting with your frightened dog.
If they want to cuddle, let them. If they want you to sit beside their bed, do that. If sleeping beside your dog helps them feel safer, that’s okay too.
Equally, if your dog wants to hide away rather than be touched, respect that choice.
I personally wouldn’t leave a dog who is frightened of fireworks home alone on a night when significant fireworks are expected. Their behaviour can change very quickly if something particularly loud happens nearby.
Recognising distress
Firework-related stress isn’t always obvious. Look out for changes such as:
panting when they aren’t hot
pacing or repeatedly changing position
trembling or shaking
hiding
excessive vigilance or staring towards windows
barking or vocalising
being unusually clingy
being unable to settle or sleep
refusing food they would normally enjoy
drooling
trying to escape
toileting indoors
appearing generally restless or unsettled
changes in body language-tucked tail, ears back, furrowed brough.
Some dogs become very quiet rather than visibly panicking, so don’t assume a dog who isn’t barking or running around isn’t worried.
If your dog normally loves food but suddenly can’t eat, that can also give us useful information about just how stressed they are feeling.
Food, enrichment and activities
If your dog is able to eat, licking, chewing, sniffing and searching activities may help them settle.
You could offer a stuffed Kong, lick mat, chew, scatter feed or simple scentwork activity.
But enrichment isn’t a treatment for fear. If your dog is too frightened to engage, don’t keep presenting activities or asking them to perform training exercises. At that point, helping them feel safe is the priority.
ThunderShirts, ear protection and other equipment
Some dogs appear to benefit from appropriately fitted pressure garments such as ThunderShirts. Dog-specific ear protection may also help some individuals.
The important thing is that equipment should be introduced before it is needed and your dog should be comfortable wearing it.
Putting unfamiliar clothing or ear protection onto an already frightened dog could simply add another source of stress.
Speak to your vet
If your dog is extremely frightened of fireworks, please speak to your vet before firework season rather than waiting until the night itself.
There are situations where veterinary intervention can make an enormous difference to a dog’s welfare.
Your vet can also assess whether pain, illness or another medical issue could be contributing to your dog’s changing behaviour. Depending on your dog’s individual circumstances, they can discuss appropriate medication or other supportive options.
I would always seek veterinary advice before introducing supplements or calming products, particularly if your dog is already taking medication.
For dogs with significant noise fears, veterinary support alongside an appropriately qualified behaviour professional can be really valuable.
Preparation can begin well before November
If your dog has previously struggled, don’t wait until fireworks are already going off.
One thing you can work on well in advance is gradual desensitisation to firework sounds.
You could ask Alexa or another device to play firework sounds very quietly in the background, at a volume where your dog notices little or nothing and remains completely comfortable.
Have the sounds playing while your dog is doing something they already enjoy, such as having a lick mat, chewing something tasty, enjoying a stuffed feeder or simply relaxing.
The important word here is gradual.
Over a period of days, weeks or even a month or more, depending on your individual dog, you can very gradually increase the volume. There is absolutely no rush.
Watch your dog carefully throughout.
If they suddenly stop eating, lift their head and become vigilant, leave their activity, start panting, pacing, hiding or show any other signs that they are uncomfortable, the volume is too high.
Turn it back down to a level where your dog is comfortable again and work at that level for a little longer. You might stay there for several sessions or several days before trying another very small increase.
We want the dog to remain comfortable throughout the process. We are not trying to frighten them and wait for them to “get used to it”.
Playing loud firework noises to a worried dog can overwhelm them and potentially make their fear worse.
It is also important to remember that recordings cannot completely replicate real fireworks. Real fireworks can involve vibration, flashes, smells and noises coming unexpectedly from different directions, so desensitisation work is just one part of your preparation, rather than a guarantee that your dog won't be frightened on the night.
For dogs who already have a significant fear of fireworks or other noises, I would recommend getting professional guidance before beginning a desensitisation programme.
Organisations such as Dogs Trust also provide useful free resources for owners preparing dogs for fireworks.
Don’t forget the following morning
Once the fireworks have stopped, there can still be hazards.
Check your garden in daylight before allowing your dog to explore freely. Spent fireworks, sticks, packaging and other debris can land surprisingly far from where they were originally set off.
Do a quick firework litter check and remove anything unfamiliar before your dog goes outside.
Your dog may also need some recovery time.
Stress doesn’t necessarily disappear the moment the noise stops. The following day, keep things fairly predictable and allow plenty of opportunity for sleep, sniffing and decompression rather than expecting your dog to immediately return to normal.
Most importantly, listen to your dog
Every dog is different.
One dog may want to hide under a duvet while another wants to be pressed against their person. Another may happily eat their way through a stuffed Kong while someone else can’t contemplate food.
There isn’t one perfect firework-night routine.
Our job is to recognise what our individual dog is telling us and help them feel as safe, secure and comfortable as we possibly can.
If your dog struggles significantly with fireworks, don’t feel that you have to manage it alone. Speak to your vet and, where appropriate, seek support from a suitably qualified reward-based behaviour professional. There are things we can do to help, and planning ahead can make firework season much easier for both dogs and their caregivers.
