A canine psychologist shares top tip to soothe your anxious pooch during bonfire night.
Flashing lights, loud explosions and huge crowds of people: fireworks nights have all the ingredients for an unpleasant experience, and yet, each year we’re dazzled around the country by the impressive light shows.
However, for our furry friends, the experience is much less enjoyable. A lot of dogs can find the experience of fireworks to be frightening, even if they can only be heard and seen at a large distance.
Luckily, if your pup has a bad relationship with the sparklers in the sky, there are ways to make the whole process much more relaxing. We spoke to Dr Zazie Todd, an animal behaviour expert to get all of the top tips on how to calm your dog during fireworks.
Why are dogs actually scared of fireworks?
If you’ve ever tried to whisper about going for a walk in the presence of your dog, you’ll know they have excellent hearing. And this becomes a problem when confronted by especially loud and frightening noises, like fireworks.
Without the context of what these sounds are, it can all be quite an intimidating experience. “We know why all these loud explosions and bright lights are happening, but dogs have no idea,” explains Todd.
“Unless we’ve done something to teach them that these sounds are okay, they’re quite likely to be frightened. And if they find it scary, they will probably keep on getting more frightened each time.”
So, how exactly do you teach your dog that the big bangs outdoors aren’t really a threat? Well…
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Tips on how to keep dogs calm during fireworks
Create the right environment for your dog
Closing your curtains and putting on the TV is one way of shielding your dog from the noise and light outside. But while this may make fireworks less noticeable, it won’t block them out completely. “While this helps, it’s even better if you’re there to give them a treat whenever there is a particularly loud bang,” says Todd.
“A room with the blinds closed and some kind of cosy sound playing is where a dog will be happiest, but it should be their choice. Set the room up, but don’t lock them in there. It won’t solve the problem, but it will help.”
Don’t be afraid to comfort them
It is often said that you shouldn’t comfort a frightened or fearful dog as that will reinforce the fear, but there’s no science to support this.
“It is perfectly fine to comfort your dog, and you’re actually an important attachment figure for them. They’re looking to you when they’re stressed to make them feel better,” says Todd.
“Unfortunately, fireworks can be such a fearful thing for them that your comfort is unlikely to help them cope, but that doesn’t mean you should ignore them.”
Try desensitisation training
It takes planning, but training a dog correctly when they’re young can result in a lifetime of calm bonfire nights.
“Puppies have a sensitive period for socialisation that’s between three and about 12-14 weeks. In order to prevent fear of fireworks, we recommend playing them really quiet firework sounds during this period,” says Todd.
“This helps them have a more positive experience and feel less stressed by them in the future. They don’t have to be puppies – you can train them at any age. But it is easier when they are younger.”
But what about if your dog is already scared of fireworks? This exposure training can still work, but a different approach could be more fruitful. Instead of getting the dog used to the idea of loud bangs and flashing lights, forming happy associations with the experience can be a great way to reduce their fear.
“Desensitisation or counter-conditioning is the idea that any time there is a loud noise, we’re going to give the dog a nice treat, something they are going to enjoy,” says Todd.
“Over time, this works to create what we call a conditioned emotional response. They might even grow to like the sound of fireworks!”
Go to a vet
In some cases, dogs can be perfectly fine with fireworks for a long time before suddenly developing an acute fear of loud bangs. In this case, it’s worth seeking professional help.
“Scientists at the University of Lincoln have linked a dog’s fear with pain. If the fear of fireworks is a late onset, it is well worth getting them checked out to be sure,” explains Todd.
This could well be due to another experience but a trip to the vet is a good place to start to be safe.
Seek medication
Some of the strategies above involve a fair bit of forward planning, but what if there isn’t time to train your dog?
“A vet can discuss medication and will quite often prescribe something to help a dog get through fireworks,” explains Todd.
Obviously, this is best used as a one-off technique and it is better to work on training a dog in the long term.
About our expert, Dr Zazie Todd
Zazie Todd is the creator of Companion Animal Psychology, an award-winning blog that shares the latest science about our animal companions and evidence-based ways to care for them. Todd has a PhD in Psychology, a Certificate of Training and Counselling from the prestigious Academy for Dog Trainers, and an Advanced Certificate in Feline Behaviour from International Cat Care. She is the author of Wag: The Science of Making Your Dog Happy and Purr: The Science of Making Your Cat Happy.
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