Firework Survival Guide

We are excited to announce our new partnership with Dr. Anita from Behavet, which kicked off with a live-streamed, free behaviour training session in the Stronger Together Animal Rescue Facebook group!

We are incredibly grateful for this collaboration with Dr. Anita, an experienced and knowledgeable Clinical Animal Behaviourist, who shared her Firework Survival Guide during the session. We’ve summarised some of her key points in this blog to help you and your dogs get through the firework season with less stress. For those who missed the live event, you can still catch the full recording in our Facebook group.

Stock up on Favourite Treats

Prepare for the season by stocking up on your dogs favourite enrichment toys and high value treats. Think frozen stuffed KONGS, a Lickimat, big chews, or a snuffle mat.

Limit Stimulation, Encourage Rest

Limiting your dog’s stimulation ahead of events like Halloween or Bonfire Night can help them stay calm and reduce their stress levels when fireworks occur.

  1. Decompression Time: Dogs can need up to 72 hours to fully decompress from stimulating experiences, whether those are positive (like an exciting outing) or negative (like a stressful event). By reducing stimulating activities in the days leading up to fireworks, you’re allowing their nervous system to settle, helping them cope better when the loud noises start, this includes training sessions, agility work, and walks.
  1. Rest and Recovery: It’s perfectly okay to skip or reduce walks in the days before the fireworks. Walks are optional, and giving your dog more downtime can be beneficial.
  2. Encourage Sleep: Did you know dogs can need up to 20 hours of rest per day? Facilitating as much sleep as possible before and during firework events is important. Provide them with a quiet, comfortable place where they can rest undisturbed. Rest is crucial for maintaining your dog’s mental and emotional well-being, especially before potentially stressful event.

Comfort your Dog

If your dog experiences fear or anxiety due to fireworks, then comfort them. It’s a myth that comforting your dog will reinforce their behaviour.

Play Music

Using loud music like drum and bass can be an effective strategy for helping your dog cope with fireworks by masking the sudden, startling sounds. Here’s how to incorporate this method:

  1. Get Them Familiar: Begin introducing loud music now, well in advance. This gradual exposure helps your dog get comfortable with the sound without associating it with stress.
  2. Create Positive Associations: Play the loud music while giving your dog their favourite toy, chew, or engaging them in a fun play session..
  3. Increase Volume Gradually: Over a few days or weeks, slowly increase the volume of the music.
  4. Play Music ahead of Fireworks: If you expect fireworks to be going off then ideally try to have the music playing from the afternoon, rather than putting it on in response to fireworks.

Respond to Their Response

Fireworks can trigger intense fear in dogs, and understanding their specific stress response is key to helping them cope. Recognising the signs of fight, flight, fidget, or freeze allows you to respond in ways that best support your dog’s needs:

  • Fight: Your dog may bark, growl, or lunge. Comforting them and guiding them away from the source of noise can help.
  • Flight: Dogs might try to hide or escape.
  • Fidget: If your dog acts in unusual ways (like licking, eating or tail wagging at odd moments), this can be a sign of anxiety. Redirecting this nervous energy with attention or toys can soothe them.
  • Freeze: This is when fear causes your dog to become immobilised. It’s important to gently encourage movement, as this can help break the fear-induced paralysis.

In all cases, engaging your dog in activities that activate their natural seeking system—such as playing with toys, doing scent work, or offering chew toys—can shift their focus from fear to fun. Using snuffle mats or hiding treats for them to find engages their senses in a positive way, helping to alleviate their stress.

Seek Medical Help

And finally, if your dog really struggles with fireworks, Dr Anita would always recommend speaking with your vet about situational medication to reduce the emotional impact and therefore avoid their reactions intensifying each year.

To find out more about the Noise reactivity group consults visit the Behavet website. To rewatch the Facebook livestream, visit our Facebook Group.