It’s coming up fast! The noisiest nights of the year for our pets. Your dog’s hearing is very sensitive, they cannot rationalize what is happening like we can creating a heightened fear and potentially a generalized fear of loud noises well after the firework occasions have gone. Some dogs can develop anxiety in even leaving the house after these noises outside the home have scared them. My top tips on helping your dog through this scary time 😔

  1. Start playing firework noises at low level every morning from today. Increase volume slightly each time. These can be found on You Tube.
  2. Exercise your dog well earlier in the day on the potential noisiest nights.
  3. Research has found that Reggae and Classical Piano beats help to relax and muffle sounds. outside. It is important to play these types of music at other times, even better when associated with nice chew times, settle periods, stroking and mealtimes.
  4. Feed a higher carbohydrate meal by adding some sweet potato to the meals that day, this can induce a more restful sleep.
  5. Close all the doors and curtains.
  6. Put the volume of the TV or radio up with the music mentioned above.
  7. Create a den for your dog with blankets over a table or chairs or utilize a crate.
  8. Research some calming tablets, room plug ins or sprays most pet shops supply.
  9. Keep calm yourself if your dog feels your anxiety with the situation, it will worsen its own state.
  10. If your dog benefits from touch, then comfort in a calm manner with soothing massage. Some dogs just want to retreat, pace, pant and whine, by offering a retreat place they may take themselves there for short periods. Try to divert onto interaction with you that you have done before, play, training games.
  11. Use an inner room of the home if possible.
  12. Anxiety wraps, thunder jackets and coats can give a sense of security.
  13. Give your dog a chew, frozen Kong and hide some treats. Food may not be eaten in the height of anxiety, but it is there for afterwards to bring the anxiety levels down with calm chewing or foraging.
  14. Try to distract with interactive play this may be possible in less severe cases. Seek veterinary assistance for prescribed medication
  15. When you have a family that wish to go and see a firework display it is difficult to balance but try to consider your dog and put in place as much as possible of the above and best scenario is for someone always to be with the dog at these times. As even if you believe your dog to be fine with fireworks there can be extra loud bangs that could create fear for the future. Your presence is reassuring.