05/11/2025
🎆 Fireworks getting you down? 🎆
Bonfire Night can be really tough for our dogs - all those unexpected bangs and flashes can make them feel scared or unsettled.
At my house, Monkey and I follow our Calm Protocol, and we practise it throughout the year so it feels totally normal, not a “special reaction” to fireworks. Then, on Bonfire Night (and NYE) I:
🕯 Close curtains and internal doors to muffle the noise and stop echoes.
🎶 Put on quietly. They have a fantastic pet friendly show on this evening! Gentle, familiar background noise is an ideal antidote to loud bangs.
🌿 Spray Pet Remedy (or another dog-safe calming scent) on my clothes & the sofa
🪟 Make sure windows, curtains & internal doors are shut to dull outside sounds.
📚 Settle in together. I light a couple of candles, grab a book, and Monkey curls up beside me in the cuddle chair.
It’s simple, calm, and predictable, exactly what our dogs need when the world outside feels scary.
If your dog struggles tonight, why not try creating your own version of a “calm corner.”?
And if your dog needs extra support with noise sensitivities, get in touch. I can help you work on desensitisation exercises in a positive, gradual way.
Just imagine - by NYE you can have practised your very own Calm Corner and a much happier dog!
You’ve got this 💛🐾🐾
