Bonfire Night is upon once more, and while many look forward to the spectacle of fireworks illuminating the sky, pet owners are bracing for a stressful evening. Anguished dog and cat owners have flooded Twitter with posts expressing their dread of the festivities.
One owner explained: “Another night of watching two of my dogs hyperventilating and physically shaking for hours on end due to the fireworks. You’d think that as a nation of dog lovers, we wouldn’t put our pets through this year after year. And that’s without the thought of what it does to wildlife!”
Another wrote: “Dear neighbours Just to let you know that Bella is shaking like a leaf from your #firework BOOMS. You may be having a great time but many dogs and cats, wildlife and others are being terrorised by the noise you are making. From your fed up neighbour.”
To help pet owners, however, Green Pantry has teamed up with a professional dog trainer offering strategies to soothe anxious pets during the noisy celebrations. Managing Director Simon Booth cautions: “Fireworks can trigger a fearful or stress response in dogs and cats as they struggle to make sense of the loud and unpredictable bangs. They associate loud noises and flashing lights with danger, which can trigger an instinct to run away.”
Dog Trainer Phil Legood, meanwhile, provides a plan aimed at giving pets a more serene night amidst the chaos.
How to keep dogs calm during fireworks
Diet
Simon emphasises the significance of diet in managing your dog’s anxiety, particularly during stressful events like fireworks displays. “Don’t overlook the importance of diet when it comes to reducing your dog’s anxiety levels,” he advises.
For those times when your pet is under stress, Simon suggests choosing meals that are designed to alleviate anxiety. “If you know your dog gets particularly stressed or anxious over fireworks, consider opting for an anxiety-reducing meal to help them.”
He also points out specific ingredients to look for in dog food. “Look out for dog food with Valerian and Hemp on the ingredient list as these natural relaxants can aid canine calm. Alternatively consider a natural calming supplement containing hemp and valerian properties to sprinkle over their regular food to help support relaxation and manage stress.”
Simon also notes that these ingredients are not just for fireworks-related stress, adding: “These natural relaxants are also particularly useful in settling overactive dogs or even those prone to separation anxiety.”
Escape routes
Phil offers advice on how to prepare your home to prevent your pets from panicking and potentially escaping. He explains that it’s crucial to stay with your pets to keep them calm and to ensure your home is secure.
“It’s always a good idea to make sure your house and garden is escape-proof too, as your pet could try to run away if they get spooked, so make sure doors, windows and fences are secure,” Phil says.
Close curtains
To further protect your pets from the stress of fireworks, Phil recommends taking measures inside the home. “To avoid flashing lights disturbing and stressing your pet, make sure to keep curtains closed on bonfire night,” he suggests.
Additionally, he advises using sound to your advantage. “Play calming music or put on background TV, to help disguise the noise.”
Note your pet’s behaviour
Phil also stresses the importance of being observant of your pet’s behaviour during these times and responding in a way that helps alleviate their anxiety. “For example, if your dog wants to hide, let them stay where they feel safe,” he advises. “If they seek reassurance, calmly give them attention and comfort to help ease their anxiety.”
He adds: “Your dog might be unbothered by the noises. To help keep it this way, keep them busy with their favourite toys to further distract them. Your dog might make a mess by accident if they get stressed. While typically you should discipline your dog for this, avoid telling them off during fireworks as this might make them feel more scared.”
Scent-based distractions
Phil suggests scent-based distractions to keep your dog occupied during fireworks, such as hiding treats around the house or using a snuffle mat with new treats inside.
Hiding spaces
Regarding cats, Simon recommends keeping them indoors on Bonfire Night to prevent stress. “You might want to consider microchipping them, in case they do find a way to escape,” he notes.
“To help cats that are afraid of fireworks, ensure there are hiding places in your home like under furniture or a quiet corner they can retreat to. If your cat does go to hide, don’t stress them further by trying to coax them out – leave them until they’re ready.”
Desensitisation training
Looking to the future, Phil emphasised the need for “desensitising” pets to loud noises and suggested considering sound training to build their resilience. He advised: “To do this, play recordings of fireworks at a low volume in the weeks leading up to bonfire night, to help them become familiar with the sounds. Gently praise them if they remain calm.”
He also recommended playing the soundtrack during mealtimes or playtime to associate the sounds with positive experiences.
Elsewhere, TikTok’s Ben the Vet (@ben. the.vet) added his own tip, suggesting calming music or something “bassy with drums” to help “muffle out” firework noise. “Just turning up the volume on your TV is a good idea,” he said, aligning with Simon and Phil’s advice on closing curtains and creating safe spaces for pets.