If your dog is anything like my Coco, you know that some of the most stressful times of the year are when fireworks are lighting up the sky. When you have a dog scared of fireworks, it can feel like there’s no way to help soothe their anxiety no matter what you try to do, which can completely break your heart!
In this post, I’m going to walk you through some tips and tricks for helping ease your dog’s anxiety if you have a dog scared of fireworks at home.
Why Is My Dog Scared of Fireworks?
There’s no rhyme or reason as to whether or not you’ll have a dog scared of fireworks. Some dogs have no problem with the sight and sound of fireworks – in fact, I used to foster some puppies that would just sleep right through a huge fireworks display! And then there are other dogs, like my own pooch, Coco, who sits in the corner shaking any time a firework bursts in the evening sky.
It’s completely natural for dogs to be scared of loud noises. They aren’t used to the sounds and it triggers their nervous systems, causing them to become anxious and afraid. In our blog post on dogs and thunderstorms, we talked about this same idea. The difference with fireworks is they are often quite different than natural loud noises like thunder. Fireworks are closer to the ground, more vibrant and are accompanied by loud booms, flashes and burning smells.
It’s no wonder so many dogs run away during fireworks displays! In fact, more dogs scared of fireworks run away during the Fourth of July than any other day because of the fear and anxiety they experience. That’s why it’s so important to make sure you are preparing yourself and your pup to survive the inevitable firework displays.
10 Tips For A Dog Scared of Fireworks
Below you will find the top ten ways you can help a dog scared of fireworks get through the night (and actually allow you to enjoy the evening as well!)
Make alternate arrangements
When you have a dog scared of fireworks, one of the worst things you can do is leave them alone in the house terrified. If you are going to be out for the evening celebrating, make sure you have someone who can watch your pup – a friend or relative. It’s important that your pooch is comfortable with this person (or their home) so, if need be, take your pup over there a few times before the dreaded evening arrives.
Create a safe spot in your home
If you are going to be home for the evening with your pooch, designate a safe space for them to escape to when the big sky booms start. This could be a crate with lots of comfy blankets and toys that your pooch can treat as a safe haven for the evening. If you aren’t familiar with how to train your dog to use a crate, check out our blog post for more information.
Remove or reduce the stimulation
Often the scariest part of fireworks are not just the loud noises but the visuals that accompany them such as flashing light (and even the burning smell from the firework going off). When you have a dog scared of fireworks, those other sensory stimuli cause just as much havoc on their anxiety as anything else so do what you can to mask or hide those from your pooch. This means closing windows to avoid the smell, drawing the curtains or blinds to stop your pooch from seeing the flashes, and turning on some white noise (the TV or some music) to muffle the sound can help your pooch make it through the night.
Reassure your dog
What’s the best way to reassure a dog scared of fireworks? Petting them with long, slow, firm strokes along the entire length of their body can be very soothing for a dog. Make sure you are speaking to them in a calm, soothing and even tone. Sometimes just being near them in their safe place can be comforting for your pooch. When Coco gets really scared, she often hides in the bathroom so I’ll often take a book in there and just sit with her calmly reading and stroking her until the fireworks (or thunder) are over!
Stay calm
This is the one that I always have to remind myself of when firework season comes around. Dogs communicate with energy and will look to their pack leader for clues on how they should be responding or behaving. This means that if you are making a big deal out of the fireworks, your dog is going to make a big deal out of them as well! By staying calm, your pooch will feed off your energy and remain calm as well.
Anti-anxiety tools
Another option you can explore are some of the tools created to help dogs with general anxiety. Some of these tools include the classic Thundershirt or anxiety blanket, designed to help calm your dog by wrapping a tight shirt around him or her, or even calming medications or chews. These tools should be introduced to your dog prior to fireworks starting as you want your dog to understand that the tool is there to keep them calm – once their anxiety level has risen, they aren’t going to respond to the Thundershirt or blanket in the same way.
Feed before fireworks
When dogs are highly anxious, they are less likely to eat dinner or drink water. It’s important to make sure you feed your dog and give them access to water before the big event starts – otherwise they may end up feeling anxious, hungry and dehydrated! What a terrible trifecta! I recommend making sure they eat and drink before taking them for a nice long walk (see the next tip on our list) so they have the opportunity to empty their bladders before it gets dark!
Tire your pup out
A tired pup is a pup that won’t get as scared when the fireworks hit! Take your pooch for a long walk before the sun sets and the sky booms begin to help tired them out. This is also really important so they have the opportunity to relieve themselves before the scary noises start – because once the fireworks begin, there’s no chance you are going to get them outside for a pee before bedtime!
Occupy your pup
Just like a tired pup is going to get less anxious, so is a busy one! Before the fireworks begin, move your pup to their safe area and use that time to occupy them with their favorite toys or treats! Coco has grown to “like” thunderstorms and fireworks more because she often gets her favorite treat during that time – peanut butter! Try to make it a treat that will last for a long type to help your pooch stay occupied!
Desensitize your pup
If you are able to, plan ahead to work with your pup on getting used to the sounds of fireworks in advance of the actual big day. And when I say plan ahead, I’m talking 2-4 months in advance! The process is simple but takes some time to really work well for your pup. Start by playing the sounds of fireworks on a recording at a low volume, gradually increasing it over time. Play this right before a walk, before eating or before play time so your pooch associates it with something positive. This will help your pup get used to the sounds and can result in you not having to deal with a dog scared of fireworks!
Make Sure Your Dog Has ID
Even though you may follow many of the tips listed above, it’s imperative that you have updated ID tags for your pup on the off chance that they get out of the house and run away while scared. Make sure your dog is microchipped and has a GPS device so you have a much better chance of them being returned to you if the worst thing happens and they run away. Obviously, that’s the last thing we want to have happen but it’s better to be safe than sorry!
*Disclosure: I only recommend products I would use myself and all opinions expressed here are our own. This post may contain affiliate links that at no additional cost to you, I may earn a small commission.
