Fireworks and Dog's: How to help our furry friends during firework season.

A blog to help you and your dog during firework season. Whether it's their first one, or 12th, these tips can help you and your dog.

Remember Remember the 5th of November. However firework season doesn't seem to stop (or even start) on this date now and can continue long into

December and then into the New Year. Now if you are lucky enough to own a dog who isn't too fussed by the noise of fireworks, thats great! However there are some of our dogs who just don't like them, and its totally understandable! Here are a few ways you can help your dog during key nights when you know there may be lots of fireworks going on.

Tip #1 - Preparation is key

As with anything with our dogs we should prepare them for whats about to happen. Earlier walks in the day can mean we can a greater chance of them going off by chance on a walk. Brain games and food interactive toys prepped and ready in case they start earlier than you expected can help with distractions. Also feeding a slightly bigger dinner can help.

Tip #2 - Help drown out noise and light.

Closing the curtains or blinds, big lights on, windows closed, and radio/tv as loud as you can (without annoying your neighbours) are great ways to prevent unexpected loud bangs and flashes of light upsetting your dog. I usually play music which has a beat to it (old school garage and dance music) , this helps with the sudden bangs rather than classical music. Providing a safe little spot for them to hide away in, a crate with a blanket on top is perfect as long as your dog enjoys the crate. If not a little den, if they have had a spot where they go to before when scared make it up there.

Tip #3 - Prepare a few nights before.

I always find fireworks harder for people as its only a few days away from Halloween. You have a really busy evening of either your door being knocked multiple times an evening, or increased noise outsides can upset some dogs already. If we then add in fireworks to the mix it can be a lot for our dog to settle in between. Maybe include some extra walks during the day if they are used to one at night, and have lots of calming activities to do for them (Think chewing, shredding, licking and sniffing!) You can train some noise desensitisation by playing YouTube firework noises and simultaneously having food interactive toys out can help. Remember if your dog finds this stressful, you dont want to do this every night to reduce a stress build up and making it worse.

Tip #4 - Stay somewhere quiet

I know its not possible for everyone, but I have known people to stay at family or friends houses who live rural to help minimize exposure to fireworks, or even booking a hotel nights stay somewhere.

Tip #5 - Still struggling? Ask a trainer for help.

Our dogs will be to exposed to new and sudden noises throughout their life not just when a puppy so adding this into regular training can help them desensitize to sudden noises. Our dogs can develop sudden noise phobias, this can be due down to many reasons of pain or sudden exposure (firework set off on a walk), so it's best to seek advice from your vet, behaviourist or trainer.

Help them when needed.

Remember you can not reinforce fear, if your dog seeks you for comfort, please give it to them. They may just come up next to you for contact, rather than to be petted and thats fine, just sit with them. They are asking for help and reassurance and as their guardian you can give them this. Thanks so much for reading .

Rachel