Dogs Trust > Information > Poppy's Opinions > Fireworks >
I was born in the month of October near a busy city. You may not know this, but it makes me a very lucky dog because it means that during my youngest puppy days I was exposed to the loud noises and bangs of the firework season. Apparently, pups up to the age of 14 weeks find it easy to get used to new experiences without becoming scared, and so fireworks (or any other sort of loud noises) don’t upset me in the slightest.
However not all dogs are so lucky, as some of you will know from your own dogs’ experience. Many, like my collie ‘sister’ Meg, are terrified of the crashes and bangs of the firework season and others find it terribly stressful. Some won’t go out after dark and others will bolt as for their very lives. Laws that are supposed to control the noise level are not always effective, so sadly we have to learn to live with them.
How can you help your faithful firework-phobic friend get through firework nights? Here are some tips:
• Hard as it may be, try your best not to comfort him, as you will encourage his fears. Ignore your dog as much as possible when he seems scared, so that he learns to cope on his own. If you give him too much fuss he’ll think this means that there really is something to be scared about! Of course, once he has cheered up a bit or relaxed, you must give him some love and attention – so that he knows he’s acting in the right way.
• At very noisy times around Bonfire night, provide your dog with a safe hiding place (a cardboard box would do) in his favourite room of the house, close the curtains and turn up the volume of your television or radio to drown out the firework noises. Remember not to shut any internal doors, as he may feel trapped and panic.
• A stodgy high-carbohydrate meal (for example, with well-cooked rice or mashed potato) in the late afternoon will help make your dog more sleepy and calm during the evening. Also make sure he goes out to toilet before it gets dark and the fireworks start.
• Try to keep your dog busy with games or reward-based training, to keep his mind off the noises.
• Ask your vet about DAP – Dog Appeasing Pheromone. This is a scent that comes in a plug-in diffuser that can comfort your dog and help him cope with his fears.
If fear or phobic reactions are severe or cause aggression in your dog, you must see a behaviourist or a vet, who may want to put your dog on a desensitisation programme – but this will only work if you start long before the firework season begins. Remember that medical conditions can also cause phobias in your dog, so it may be best to get him checked out anyway.
So now you’ve read my tips on helping a petrified pooch through noisy firework evenings and I hope you find them useful.
My question to you is: What do you find helps to calm your canine companion if he is scared of loud noises?
Let’s try to get many suggestions together, so that we can help as many furry friends as possible.
Until next time, when I'll be barking on about another hot hound topic,
Best woofishes,
Poppy
Office Dog
Poppy says,
We have a new factsheet called Firework fear and your dog with lots more information and tips on this subject. Download this factsheet.
Hi Poppy,
My 10 1/2 year old collie used to be terrified of fireworks, to the point of absolute panic. The best help I have found is with Tellington TTouch which is a great way to help your animal. Further details can be found on www.ttouchtteam.co.uk.
There is also a 'Firework Remedy' available from Peak Pharmacy which is very effective. Tel: 01709 53 1177. Unlike some other firework remedies this does not have to be given in advance but works more or less instantly. A very useful remedy to have to hand.
I will be more than happy to provide more information on TTouch if you are interested. After attending one workshop and witnessing the benefits not only to my dog but the others on the course I enrolled on the Practitioner Training programme which I complete next year. Tellington TTouch is celebrating its 30th year and is now widely accepted and used across many countries.
Kind Regards,
Lynne
When my oldest dog Danny who is now 9 years old, was a 3 month old pup I took him to a musical firework display so his first experience of fireworks would be a pleasant one where everyone was enjoying themselves. Food and treats for him, Danny grew up into a very confident dog who is not frightened of fireworks but actually enjoys them and every year sits on the front row at the caravan and camping annual bonfire.
When I adopted Phoebe 3 years ago from Dogs Trust Merseyside, she was very shy but I did exactly the same with her as I had with Danny. At her first bonfire rally she sat on my knee and was a bit nervous but in my own experience dogs communicate in body language and as she could sense Danny and I were enjoying ourselves, she soon relaxed and enjoyed a plate of potato pie when it came round. Now 3 years later she's not at all frightened.
A few weeks ago we went to Southport's musical fireworks display where she was wagging her tail enjoying the atmosphere and lots of treats, although as yet she doesn’t actually watch them intently like Danny. I was surprised at how many dogs were there this year and also not frightened.
I think, Poppy, it depends whether dogs experience fireworks in a pleasant way or a scary one where idiots of the human kind are throwing fireworks around etc. Hope this is of help to anyone.
Bye for now Poppy,
from me, Eileen. Danny and Phoebe send lots of licks.
My name Is HOLLY I'm a 7 year old West Highland White Terrier and I really hate fireworks , it's never just one night it last over several weeks. I get very agitated, bark at the loud bangs and run up and down the stairs in my home and wear myself out almost. My mistress and Master shout at me but I can still hear the bangs even over the loud television. Your new WAG just arrived but all those ideas have been tried apart from the DAP one which I’m sure my lovely mistress will get for me if it will help.
I have a sister Mitzy, she is 5 years old and she isn't bothered at all and just looks at me as if I've gone barmy!!
Any help would be greatly received by the household!
Hello Poppy,
We have 3 dogs; 2 Whippets and 1 Greyhound (all rescued). All 3 of the dogs are frightened of fireworks and the only thing we have found helps them is playing classical music. It has to be reasonably gentle music - not music with lots of crashes of drums, and needs to be played louder than the fireworks! They seem to find it very restful, and will go to bed and sleep.
Regards
Kirsty
Dear Poppy
I am a Lurcher called Daisy & I like to stand outside & watch nearby rockets shoot up into the air but my 'sister' Dolly , a terrier gets into a terrible state & ends up frothing at the mouth if she hears too much of them. My boss thinks it is because she is more intellectual than me & so worries more. This is probably true. It seems to help to have radios on in every room, all on different stations to build up a cacophony of sound & she sits under a little 'blanket tent' in her own patch of darkness. All seems a bit unnecessary to me.
Love Daisy
Hi I've just read your article in my copy of Wag. My parents have two dogs and one is very frightened of loud bangs, especially fireworks so I told them to try Valerian compound available from Dorwest Herbs. You can buy it in two different sizes and is given by the pipette supplied with the bottle. They find it really good and best of all it does not harm their dog in any way as it is natural. The telephone number for Dorwest Herbs if anyone is interested is 01308 897272 and their website address is www.dorwest.com.
Hope this helps others as it has helped my parents’ dog.
Julia
Hi Poppy,
I'm Max, and I'll be 4 years old this November and was adopted from Dogs Trust Kenilworth. I'm a collie-cross and very excitable. I'm not afraid of fireworks or thunder but I get totally overexcited by both and used to go absolutely nuts, much to the despair of my humans. They got me a sister 2 years ago, she'll be 3 years old next April. She's a staffy-cross and doesn’t bat an eyelid at fireworks or thunder, but she'll run for cover if anyone shouts because she was hurt by her first humans. But even having her around didn’t calm me down.
My humans had tried everything with me, even drugs from the vet to try and knock me out but I get so wound up they just worked out of my system after and hour and I was back to my usual nutcase self! Then one weekend my dad-human went away and left us both with my mum-human who was a bit unsure about looking after us all by herself. I was really good until the last night when there was a huge thunder storm, with massive flashes and HUGE roars of thunder. I went nuts, as usual, and my mum-human came downstairs and sat with me on the floor for 2 hours in the middle of the night. She kept her hand through my collar, and talked quietly and sung to me when I was quiet, and said a firm "NO" when I tried to jump about, then praised me lots when I sat down again with her. She never let go of me at all, but she didn’t make me feel trapped. She let me bark if I wanted to, but went silent when I did, and then sang to me again and praised me lots when I was quiet. She did this until the thunder had totally gone, then she played a game with me to distract me and make me forget about it, before I had to go back to sleep.
Ever since then, although I still get a bit excited, I don’t try and rip the place apart anymore, and if someone puts a hand on my head, or fusses me gently, I'll stop barking and running about because I know how my humans want me to behave now. I thought this might help humans who have dogs like me, who are excited rather than scared.
Lots of licks,
Maximus - Eater of Bones and Worrier of Small Cats.
Dear Poppy,
I am a cross Border Collie/Springer Spaniel called Paddy and I came from the Dogs Trust in Leeds about four years ago (my paws don’t fit on the keyboard, so Mum is typing this for me)
I get really scared of fireworks and wish that shops wouldn’t sell them.
My Mum has found that if she gives me a couple of drops of Bach Rescue Remedy (you get it from the chemist) to drink in some milk it really helps to keep me calm.
I hope that this tip might help some of my fellow canines.
Best regards
Paddy
I found a homeopathic remedy worked wonders for my dog. They do need to be prescribed by a qualified practitioner, preferably (but not essentially) one qualified to work with animals.
Homeopathic soft pills, (or tinctures), are so easy to administer, causing no stress or side-effects.
Many vets unfortunately don’t like them, which is very sad for both dogs and owners.
Yours faithfully,
C. Ramsey
My now 13 year old Yorkie Jack Russell cross came to me 9 years ago, and was very scared of thunderstorms, fireworks and gunshots (not too many of them round here!) and my vet gave her a mild sedative which helped. Now, though, she has a heart condition and can't have the sedative, but he recommended Dr. Bach's Rescue Remedy, which is marvellous for her. I think it is animal strength and I have bought replacements in the vet's surgery. I have told several dog owners this.
From B. Moors, Watford
Hi Poppy
Sometimes even the most careful owner can get caught out close to Bonfire Night. My mother's Yorkshire Terrier, Cassie, has a mass of phobias, including fireworks. So she does all the sensible things around Bonfire Night - above all, she's not outside at all when or where there are likely to be fireworks about.
But how do you legislate for behaviour which is not just irresponsible but illegal? While walking her in a public recreation ground three weeks before November 5th, Cassie was unlucky enough to be underneath a salvo from a Category 3 battery of fireworks set off by an adult in his back garden in broad daylight. It was like being in the trenches! Of course, she bolted in terror.
Six days later and two miles away Cassie was finally found, thin but alive, in the middle of the countryside, disorientated and afraid. She was undoubtedly lucky to be found at all. It was six days of trauma for her and for her owners.
So what about the fool who was responsible? With the canister from the firework in hand, a complaint to the police still produced a shrug of indifference. There is no question that this individual - and, yes, we think we know who he is - should be prosecuted for several offences under the various Fireworks and Explosives Acts. But while nobody is bothered, people like him will continue to defy the law.
Simon Pawley
Hi there.
Our vet has just prescribed anti-depressants for my dog who is terrified of fireworks, also thunder. Apparently they work better than sedatives, which merely relax the muscles, leaving the mind still frightened which must be worse. These are called Anafranil and are also given to humans. She seems to be a little calmer already (they take about a month to fully integrate into the system). It’s worth asking your vet about them. Also, buying a cd with firework and thunder noises on it, playing it at first quite low while the dog is eating or enjoying treats, gradually increasing the volume. This should be done some months before firework night though.
Kindest regards
Yve Jeffries
Dear Poppy
Having read your article regarding firework phobia, I would like to offer a tip which I used on my dog (now sadly deceased).
It is a herbal remedy called BACH RESCUE REMEDY.
Put a few drops in the dogs water bowl a few hours before firework time and it will calm the dog down. It will not make it sleepy and the dog is still alert and can hear the bangs but does not get distressed. The rescue remedy can also be used by humans with the same effect.
Hope this helps all you pooches out there.
Regards
Sandra Worsnop
Hi Poppy
I'm a 11year old Golden Retriever who never used to mind the odd bang and whizz but over the past few years the noise has got so loud and scary that it gets me all worked up and I can't find a place in the house to get any peace - have tried hiding in cupboards, under tables, behind the cat but nothing works. This year I was given some tiny pills (Homeopathic Phosphorus 5c) and they worked a treat - even when the neighbours started banging off again(!!!) after midnight I didn't feel the need to go upstairs beside mum and dad but stayed curled up in my own bed.
By the way, above my bed hangs a photo of my current Dogs Trust pal Mickey B - look forward to your Xmas card Micks.
Love and licks
Bridie
My pet pooch Teddy (a Pekingese) used to practically climb the walls of our conservatory, where he sleeps, if fireworks were being let off outside - he was absolutely terrified and the only way to calm him down without resorting to tranquilisers from the vet was for me to sit out in the conservatory with him on my lap. He reacted then to the sound of the fireworks by sitting up and looking scared - but at least he didn't try to escape!
Since he became totally blind and depends on us a lot more for company and reassurance, so long as Teddy is on my lap or even in the same room with me he's fine on Bonfire Night. So long as he knows I'm in the same room as him when fireworks are going off he hardly seems to stir from his snoozing.
Dear Poppy
I am so lucky not to be afraid of Fireworks or Thunder. My first big storm I woke my human mum and dad to see if they were alright with the loud noise and strange flashing and they were so proud of me for being so brave. I have to be a very brave boy as, although I don't mind fireworks, my human mum is terrified of them. Every November I make sure to stay extra close so she knows she's safe with me around. I think these horrible things should be banned completely!
Licks and Wags
Zebedee
We have three dogs. An 11 year old Collie, 10 year old Lurcher and one year old Lurcher. My two eldest are absolutely terrified to the point we have to sedate them. The fireworks started two days ago. I was out before dark with them when a banger went off. Our collie who was on the lead at the time pulled out of her collar and bolted. She does run home but unfortunately on the road. This happens every year. We change the routine completely as they will not go out in the dark so last walk is around 4pm then they refuse to do the toilet until morning. But even that doesn't help as idiots are letting them off in daylight. We have tried everything DAP, the desensitising cd, we have made a large den for them to hide but nothing works it really is awful. Weeks of suffering for us all. As hard as it is for them at least they are loved and indoors unlike many thousands of animals alone outside in the dark. Our pup has not responded to the fireworks and I intend to keep it that way! I will take her to our enclosed garden and we will have fun amidst all the bangs-although I do fear she will copy her peers. If I can help in any way with photos or a story I would be more than happy as I fully understand how absolutely awful it is at this time of year.
Vicky Findlay Dogs Trust supporter
Hi there
Just received your magazine and read "Reasons to be Fearless". All good advice. Just thought I'd mention though that apart from things like DAP and Diazepam, there are other things which may help. Bach Flower Remedies for instance.
Although obviously your vet is your first port of call for anything affecting your animal's welfare on emotional issues several of the Bach Flower Remedies have been found to be extremely useful and effective. Several animal practitioners do work with the remedies via veterinary referral.
For further information contact the Bach Foundation, Wallingford Oxon, who will give you a list of registered animal practitioners in the UK.
Stefanja Gardener
Dear Poppy
My mum read your article about fireworks to me and even the article was scary. What my sister Poppy and I do is get in mum's car and she drives down to a Motorway service station about 20 miles away and she sits and reads and Poppy and I go to sleep on the back seat. We stay there for about 2 hours by which time the big firework display in the town where we live is usually finished. We do have the occasional odd bang or whizzz at other times but I can mainly cope with these it is just when it goes on for a long time I find it scary. Mum says that her previous dog, Inky, used to go and sit in the shower!! My sister Poppy isn't at all frightened and indeed if there is thunder and lightning she'll go out in the garden and watch until it starts to rain. Personally I think she's bonkers.
Love and woofs Barney
Hi,
I drive my dog up to Shap which is the most remote part of the M6 on really bad nights and we sit in the car as far away from the noise as possible.
Also, on less loud nights she likes to sit in the laundry room with the radio on and the tumble dryer going which seems to relax her a little.
Keep up the good work. Alison Marland
Hi Poppy,
We have read your article on fireworks. Murphy, our lurcher who looks very like you, agrees with you about them.
Rather than give him tranks (which, he reminds us, are tested on animals in labs - not at all nice), he has herbs, which he likes much better.
When he can get his paws on the keyboard, he visits www.hiltonherbs.com and orders Tranquillity. This is very helpful for all sorts of worries. His friend Charlie from West Calder has separation problems. Although Murphy tells him his people will be back soon, he still needs calming before he believes me, and is now much better. It takes a while for the herbs to kick in - two to three weeks for the full effect. There are no side effects at all.
Lots of pats, Julie & Jim Martin-Nichols
Hi
I just wondered if you are aware of Bach Flowers Rescue Remedy - this is totally natural and safe and it really does work wonders for animals too.
You can get it in a handy spray container which is good and just a couple of sprays on the tongue or the nose helps so much in any stressful situation particularly the nightmare of fireworks.
Just thought this information may be useful to you - we are never without it for the all the family!
Very best wishes. Sue
I am the owner of a 2 year old Staffordshire bull terrier, who as a puppy was very nervous of noise. If a bus or large lorry passed us he would cower pull back and almost slip his harness. I found that when I stopped him from walking he got close to my leg and I spoke to him encouragingly and soothingly and he coped better we moved on to him sitting whilst offering him his favourite treat, not giving it to him just letting him nibble it – he wanted to run but the treat was more tempting after the vehicle passed I then gave him the piece of cheese. He doesn’t need the treats now and will walk comfortably when large vehicles pass although if large vehicles are travelling fast from behind us I stop him from walking and keep talking to him until they have passed.
I found the same principle works with fireworks. If he hears the bangs his back legs almost meets his front legs, he has pulled me back home during the first year. It may sound comical but the dog was frightened and he almost pulls my arm out of the socket. When I hear the initial sound of a firework I stop him and show him the full display talk quite soft but excitingly and he was okay with the bangs. By the time bonfire night arrived last year he was happy running round the garden watching the fireworks, he wasn’t barking or showing any signs of anxiety. This year so far he hasn’t been fazed by fireworks. We have overcome problems with the vacuum cleaner too.
The down side of me desensitising Duke to noise is that he is not fazed when someone knocks on the door and does not bark. We know when someone is arriving as he gets giddy, wags his tail frantically and runs to the door. It doesn’t matter to us whether he barks at the door or not but that wouldn’t suit some people.
Kind regards. Sue Isaacs
I'm a great believer in using Bach's Rescue Remedy (available from chemists and health stores) for stressful situations, either a couple of drops in the drinking water bowl during the day on Bonfire night or a couple of drops on the tongue for unscheduled noise of fireworks or thunder. Combine that with drawing the curtains, having the radio playing quite loud and acting like nothing out of the ordinary is going on will hopefully your dog calmer.
Christine Drake
Hi poppy, i was out with my 2 lhasa dogs a couple of years ago and some idiots set off a firework that from the sound could only have been a display one, this was well before bonfire night, the noise was so loud that the houses around us shook, it was so loud that the floor seemed to shake , my 2 dogs were terrified from that moment, previously they were okay but since then no way can they stand them. I have just started them on valerian compound tablets and liquid if needed on the night. The trouble as with all the fireworks is that it is not kept to the 5th, they go off anytime. I took them out last week and it was only 4pm and one went off around the corner. So what chance do we have? Maybe we should all get together and sue the manufacturers, I see no need to have 99 bangs in one firework do you? From a devoted sponser thanks for all you do and the advice you share.
Joan fellows
...I have given some advice on your page but have found that my 2 dogs lhasa apsos, were still terrified and I had to finally give rocky diazepam
They were doing well until someone let what sounded like a bomb off last night, rocky was so scared he was slavering all over did not know where to hide so I got a soft brush out and started to brush him as well as sing to him lullabys I had given him his pill but it took an hour to work so I just kept brushing him and stroking holly we eventually got through yet another night. What annoys me is we are advised to take our dogs out during the day yet around near where I live we have morons that think it is funny to let them off during the day, how are we supposed to cope, I think they should be kept to one night or better still banned altogether, also how come the vets are so silent in all this could it be they make more money from our pets fears.
Joan fellows.
I think a good way to stop dogs from being scared of fireworks is comfort them and keep them as far away from the event as possible. During bonfire night a lot of dogs in my area were barking mad and when me and my friend were taking walk with the dogs, fireworks went off without caution. So i think taking a longer walks in the morning will be better before the fireworks go off at dark.
Rusna Begum (aged 12)
Hi Poppy. Thankfully we don't have nov 5th to worry about here in France but we do have July 14th and New Year's Eve.
I wondered if you were aware of some other products that are available - without using conventional drugs.
We have recently bought a bodywrap from Mekuti products - website http://www.mekuti.co.uk/products.htm for one of our dogs who hates thunderstorms. As yet we haven't had any - but some of the testaments sounds like they could work for some dogs. We also have a small spray from a lovely lady in norfolk, Jane Stevenson - website http://www.creaturecomforters.co.uk/index.htm. We have the general one for distress but there is also some good advice on her web site http://www.creaturecomforters.co.uk/fireworks-help-creaturecomforters.htm.
I know that some alternative remedies do not work for some dogs, just like for humans, you have to try them out and find out what is best for your dog.
I hope this helps as these two ladies have been extremely kind and helpful to us, with our two adopted dogs that have needed some help along the way.
keep up the good work. Val and Mike Stevens. France
Hi Poppy
My name is Chakotay, I am a 7 year old Border Collie, and I have always been very afraid of fireworks. My pack leader tried everything, but I just got worse and worse, until last year I got so frightened of going out that I bit her. I was very sorry, but even the vet couldn't help as I had tried everything to not be afraid. Then my pack leader heard about something called Serene-Um, a herbal remedy. Last year I started it pretty late, so it only helped a bit (where I live there are fireworks for Eid, Diwali, bonfire night, new year, and nothing in particular in between!). But this year we started taking it about 2 weeks before the "season", and I have been a happy dog! I have even stood very close to fireworks going off and I haven't been a bit worried about them. So now that I am a brave dog, my pack leader is very proud of me and I get extra treats which I wasn't allowed before!
Dear Poppy
As a supporter of Dogs Trust I receive Wag and in the recent Autumn publication - you wrote an article "Reasons to be Fearful 1, 2, 3". On TV recently there was a dog therapist and she had dealt with a dog that always climbed into a drawer when fireworks happened. Her suggestion was to wrap the dog around its middle with what looked like a very wide bandage (or material) quite firmly and then to fondle the dogs ears. This certainly seemed to calm the dog down and in the studio noises and scenes of firworks were shown on a tv set and apart from nervously licking her lips she did nothing else. Just thought this might be of interest if you did not see the show.
We, luckily, have two labrador working dogs who show no distress at all which is just as well as we live within noisy Bovington Army Camp's 'gun pratices' ranges!!!!! Sincerely, Ann Johnson
I hate them, I use Rescue Remedy, and the DAP spray and diffuser for my Dog. These really do seem to help. Fireworks should be banned too, G Duffy.
Hi Poppy
You know, this is a subject close to my heart. My little Penny used to be terrified of fireworks; only towards the end of her life did the fear abate, mainly because she became almost deaf. She departed for the Summerlands in 2002, and I miss her still.
I think personally there should be a lot more restriction on who can purchase fireworks and when they can be let off.
I think one should have to have a permit to have fireworks at all, and they should be restricted to specific nights, eg Guy Fawkes Night, New Year, etc. That would alleviate the problem we have where I live, where they start about the beginning of September, all hours of the day and night, with no way of predicting when they are going to be let off, and continue long after 5th November.
I know that doesn’t address the problem of keeping the frightened dog calm, but at least one would know when to expect the fireworks to be let off.
Anyway, that’s my tuppenceworth.
Keep up the interesting writing!
Janie Comber
