A List of Ways to Calm Your Dog During Firework Season

It's a wonderful time of year, the air is crisp, the leaves are changing colour and their is a twinkle of frost in the air. Christmas is on peoples minds and curling up in front of a lovely warm fire at the end of a long day with a hot chocolate is heavenly. It's the most wonderful time of the year.

Unless you are a dog.

This time of year is horrific for most dogs. Social Media has thankfully made people more and more aware of just how terrible fireworks are for the poor defenseless dogs that have to endure it. Not just on one day, but for weeks from the end of October until the beginning of January.

Fireworks used to just be for a weekend, for Bonfire night, 5th November. However shops are now selling fireworks from September and anyone can buy them and set them off whenever and wherever they like. Which seems ridiculous to us.

So, until the laws are changed and fireworks are only available at organised displays, we have compiled a comprehensive list of the top things you can try to calm your dog during this firework season.

1 - Exercise

This is a simple and maybe obvious one, but it is one that works quite well. If your dog has anxiety from fireworks, it has been proven in humans as well that exercise helps reduce anxiety. Take your dog for a huge walk during the light of day, play fetch, play mind stimulating games like hide and seek and finding treats. Spend a solid few hours really tiring your dog out and hopefully, this should help to take the edge off their anxiety during the fireworks.

2 - Behave Normally

Again, another simple one but when combined with other ideas does help is just being normal. If your dog has clambered under a cupboard, just leave them. Just continue cooking tea, watching TV or anything else you were doing. I'm not saying ignore your dog, give them a fuss, lots of love and cuddles, but also keep a good routine and try not to do much out of the normal order of things.

3 - Try to mask the sounds

Turn on the TV loud, or the radio. Close the curtains, make sure all windows are closed. If you have a room in the middle of the house then sit in there with the dog. Try to reduce the sound as much as possible. You could even create a hiding place for your dog with lots of blankets, maybe in a box and with something that smells of you, a piece of clothing etc.

4 - Thunder jackets/wraps

This is one that has worked for a lot of dogs. A thunder jacket is an inexpensive wrap that basically holds your dog tight. The pressure around the body is designed to reduce the anxiety. The alternative is to make your own, you can use a scarf and create your own if you need one quickly. Their are lots of tutorials online. Of you can use this one here.

5 - Calmers

There are a lot of calmers on the market for dogs, however we are not going to recommend any, as every dog is different. It is trial and error and maybe even going on recommendations from friends or family. There are many different forms from long term calmers that you need to start a month before, to instant calmers that you give them on the day. You can even get plug in and spray calmers. You need to research all of the different types.

6 - Run Away

If you drive, and you know there is going to be a display local to you, then the best thing to do is to pop them in the car and head for the hills. Sometimes avoidance is just the best answer. Check the start and finish times of the display and go and sit in your car with your dog away from it all. Somewhere rural where there are no fireworks.

7 - Feed Early

Most dogs will not eat when they are distressed, so ensure that they have had a good meal well before the fireworks are due to start. Maybe even feed them in the mornings for a while. If they are anxious then it won't help if they are hungry too. If they have been fed in the morning then it may also make them more interested in treats, which brings us to...

8 - Treats and Positivity

This won't work for all dogs as some won't eat treats or play when they are distressed. However some dogs will do anything for a tennis ball or a Kong filled with peanut butter. There are lots of ways that treats can work, don't just hand feed your dog treats, get imaginative. Hide your dogs favourite treats around the house, in their bed etc. Fill a Kong or something similar with peanut butter, pate or even cream cheese as a way to tempt your dog to play/eat it as this will help them to be distracted and the licking actually can help to reduce anxiety.

9 - Sedation

Sedation is a last resort, but it is an effective one. You will need to see a vet to get an effective sedative, however you can get light sedatives from pet shops over the counter. So it maybe worth trying an over the counter sedative first, then if that doesn't work, go and speak to your vet who may be able to offer you something stronger. This is only something that you will be able to use when there is a display or something nearby though, it is not a long term option and won't help if some idiots are letting fireworks off every night in your neighborhood.

10 - Love Them

This one should go without saying really. It's important to remember that you are absolutely everything to your dog. You are their world. They need you and they trust you implicitly. Don't over do it, try to act normally but make sure that you let your dog know that you are there for them. Give them lots of fuss, cuddles and kisses. If they want to come and sit on the furniture, whether they are allowed or not, just let them on and be near to you. If your 200lb dog wants to sit on your knee, just let them. You are their world and they need you. So be there and let them know.

One very important thing to remember during the firework season is that a lot and I mean a lot of dogs tend to run away. Some shoot through an open door, some jump a high fence in the garden or push through a tiny hole. Fear in a dog can make them flighty, so make sure that you keep them on a lead, even in the garden if they are scared but the need to go out. Ensure that they have a collar and tag with your number on and also ensure that they have an up to date microchip.