Helping Your Dog Stay Calm During Firework Season
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Firework season can be magical for humans, but for our dogs it can be confusing and frightening. Loud bangs, flashing lights and unfamiliar smells can trigger so much stress.
Here at Neerdog we know this first-hand. We spent a lot of time with our two Spaniels Pip and Luna as puppies to help them be calm and confident around firework season. But when our rescue dog Dusty joined our family, we were unsure how he would cope with fireworks. The truth is, helping your dog feel safe is not a quick fix. It takes patience, trust and positive reinforcement built throughout the year(s).
We are by no means dog trainers, and have been given guidance by some fantastic positive reinforcement dog trainers. We wanted to share what helped us and hopefully might help you.
Start early and go slowly. Play gentle firework sounds at a very low volume while pairing them with treats and calm praise. Gradually build up over time so your dog learns that these sounds mean good things happen. Always let your dog choose whether to engage.
We bring our 2nd walk of the day earlier so that we are not walking amongst the bangs and flashes. On the nights, we create a cosy, safe space with familiar bedding and their favourite toys. They have one of their favourite longer lasting treats which is frozen mashed sweet potato and nut butter in a KONG or LickiMat. We close windows, draw curtains and play some soothing background noise. There are some awesome YouTube and Spotify dog calming playlists! If they want comfort, offer it – Pip and Luna are typical spaniels and love to be snuggled up with us on the sofa. Dusty is more of a chill in his bed kind of dog but does come up to us for reassurance at times. If they would rather hide, that is fine too. You are showing them it is safe to do what feels right.
For our fur family, gentle routines, reassurance and positive training have made all the difference. Every calm evening is a small victory worth celebrating.
This firework season, let us set our dogs up for success, not stress, and make every experience a positive one. They are part of the adventure, and we are in it together.
