It’s important to be able to recognise what’s wrong; and during fireworks season, you might find your poor pooch is a lot more jumpy than usual.
It’s normal and common for your dog to be scared or sensitive around fireworks and unexpected noises. A pooch who’s feeling anxious, nervous or frightened, will often show behaviour such as:
Nobody likes to see their dog feeling frightened! So what can you do to help?
Unexpected flashes and loud sounds are enough to make anyone jump. With their expert senses, your dog will be able to hear much more than you can, so even if the fireworks don’t seem loud to you, your dog may still find them scary.
If you can, it helps to mask fireworks noises and flashes by keeping your dog inside, and closing doors, windows and curtains. This will also stop them from trying to run away from the noise. Though it’s a natural instinct to escape, you don’t want your poor pup to be lost and frightened outside. Playing calming music and talking to your dog will also help to block out scary sounds.
A comfy, familiar environment is always best if your pooch feels uncertain! Make sure your dog always has access to their own safe haven. This should be a calm, doggy-friendly space, filled with their favourite toys, blankets and bedding. If your dog is feeling afraid, never force them out of this space - it’s important that they have a place to escape to.
There are lots of ways to make fireworks seem less scary; distraction is a great way to stop your pooch from feeling nervous! It often helps to:
If your dog is especially sensitive to unexpected sounds, training and sound familiarisation can be a big help. Using a noise soundtrack or sounds CD can help your dog adapt and learn not to be afraid of unfamiliar or surprising noises. When training your pooch:
With repeated training sessions, your furry friend will gradually get used to unfamiliar noises and learn that they don’t always need to be afraid.
With love, support, and a calm reaction from you, it’s possible to help your dog be less nervous or surprised by fireworks. However, using an ADAPTIL Calm home diffuser can bring a little extra support; creating a comforting environment to ease firework fears.