04/11/2026
Fantastic advice from our friends at Pups and Paws 🐾
Fireworks!
If you haven't carried out any desensitisation training with your dog to help them feel more comfortable on Fireworks evening and throughout the weekend.. Don't panic!
Although it is too late for desensitisation training to be effective this week, it is not too late to put things into place to help make your dog feel more comfortable.
🐾 If your dog is seeking reassurance, give it to them. Providing your dog with attention when they are stressed is absolutely the right thing to do and does not encourage them to become more anxious.
🐾 Make a den, if your dog already has a crate, great! Use this, make it really cosy and pop a blanket over the top. If you don't have a crate, you can still create a safe place for them to rest, away from where they are most likely to hear the fireworks so that they can retreat there.
🐾 The use of calming sprays or plug ins such as Pet Remedy can be started now. Use the spray for blankets, or their den area and pop a plug in into the room they will be spending most of their time in.
🐾 Have on some background music. Classic FM will be playing music designed to help soothe your pets. Classical, Reggae or Soft Rock music is most likely to keep your dog calm. Dogs Trust also have a playlist of acoustic sounds that can help drown out the noise, this can be played on Youtube https://youtu.be/_e-tmot1DlA?si=p7RrODx1xCDbncjd or Spotify.
🐾 Keep your blinds and curtains shut. This will help prevent your dog from being startled by any unexpected flashes.
🐾 Walk your dog whilst it's still light to prevent any unexpected fireworks going off during your walk which could cause a flight response.
🐾 If you need to let your dog out for the toilet in the garden, go out with them, and keep them on a lead. Again to prevent a flight response if they hear a firework.
🐾 Have some enrichment planned for the evening, such as a frozen lickimat or kong that you can provide your dog with to help keep them occupied whilst the fireworks are going off. (Be aware, some dogs will not eat if they are stressed)
🐾 Contact your vet, if your dog gets extremely stressed, please do contact your vet for further advice or support.
🐾 Remember fireworks are likely to continue over the weekend, so please do take extra care with walking your dog.
🐾 If you have any questions about supporting your dog or if you want to put into a place a desensitisation plan for next season, feel free to drop me a message.
