October 25th, 2022 by Sarah Miles

10 tips to reduce distress from fireworks

We are a nation of animal lovers so it can incredibly be upsetting seeing our beloved pets become frightened by the loud bangs of fireworks on and around Bonfire Night (fireworks can often be heard for several nights, plus there is Halloween to factor in with multiple knocks on the door).

Luckily, there are a few things you can do to help calm and reassure your pet. Here are 10 tips to help you get through it:

1. Desensitise them to loud noises
   This is something you will need to work on in advance, but it is worth putting some time into if your dog is very scared by fireworks. There is a method of gradually exposing them to fireworks sounds and creating a positive association with them. You can see how to do it in this video from Battersea Dogs’ Home.
    
2. Create somewhere your dog feels safe
   This could be a whole room or even a crate or area of a room (e.g under a table or in a cosy corner). Create a positive association there, such as giving them treats or playing with special toys. Do this well in advance of Bonfire Night so that they already regard it as a safe space. On the night, encourage them to go there and the safe area should help to reduce some of the stress and anxiety caused by the noise.
    
3. Stay close but read their mood
   When you take them to their safe space, stay there with them so that your presence reassures them and adds to their sense of safety. They may want you to pet them and cuddle up to you or they may prefer their own space so try to pick up on what they want and act accordingly (they will soon let you know if they don’t want to be crowded).
    
4. Close curtains and keep lights low
   Closing curtains will shut out any flashes from fireworks and help muffle the noise a little. Low lighting will add to the calming environment.
    
5. Keep internal doors open and external doors closed
   Your dog could become stressed if they feel trapped so keep internal doors open. However, you don’t want them going outside where the noise will be at its loudest. Keep external doors closed and if they really want to go out to the toilet, keep them on a lead as you don’t want to risk them panicking and getting out of the garden.
    
6. Play calming music
   Classical music can be very calming for dogs, so much so that many streaming services and some radio stations offer suitable playlists for Bonfire Night. Play them at a sufficient volume to mask some of the noise of the fireworks. It’s a good idea to start playing them before the night, without any fireworks, to get them used to it and monitor how they react
    
7. Try a pheromone diffuser
   A pheromone diffuser just plugs into a socket and releases a scent that mimics a mother dog’s pheromones, released when nursing and caring for her puppies. The natural scent is designed to calm them and this artificial one is said to do the same. It is odourless to humans.
    
8. Swaddle them
   You may be aware of the calming powers of swaddling a young baby, wrapping them up snugly in a blanket. The theory is that it feels like a hug or is even reminiscent of being in the womb. Well, there is an equivalent for dogs, known as a compression wrap or Thundershirt. It’s like a coat that applies gentle pressure around the body and can have a very calming effect.
    
9. Don’t react to the fireworks yourself
   Try not to show any reaction to the fireworks, whether that be some uncertainty yourself or even watching and enjoying them. They will pick up on your emotions and this could increase their anxiety.
    
10. Distract them
    If their anxiety levels allow, try to distract them with play or food. Start a routine in the evening doing some play or training so that you get into a routine and continue through the evenings when there are fireworks going off. It will help occupy their minds and create a feeling of normality. Make it a positive experience with lots of rewards and praise.