It’s that time of year again when pooch owners begin to wonder how to keep their dog calm during fireworks displays, which can be incredibly loud and startling.
With a host of celebratory events on the horizon that will undoubtedly involve fireworks, it’s important to know the ways in which you can help your beloved four-legged friend remain calm and settled throughout this time.
Whilst it will be an exciting time for many people - especially after having the majority of last year’s events cancelled due to Covid-19 - fireworks can prove to be pretty traumatic for dogs.
A firework’s loud bangs and unpredictable bright flashes are not only frightening for animals, but can cause them to suffer from severe stress and anxiety. For some, it can put their health and safety at risk.
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“Fireworks are a dog’s worst nightmare”, explains Natural Instinct's Animal Behaviorist Kirsten Dillon. Celebrating “at public displays and at home this year, it is likely there will be an increase in loud bangs from different places”, which can terrify pooches.
That’s why Kirsten strongly discourages the setting off of fireworks in backyards and, instead, urges people to consider celebrating away from residential areas this year.
“It’s important to make sure that your dog feels as safe as possible”, Kirsten states.
There are traditional ways such as closing the windows and drawing the curtains to quieten the sounds of the fireworks, as well as ensuring that they have somewhere they feel safe to escape to should they feel overwhelmed.
More unusually, Kirsten recommends playing Reggae music. Studies have found that this particular genre of music works to soothe and calm any dogs that may be feeling anxious during firework season.
Alternatively, you could try playing an audiobook for your cute canine. Research shows that audiobooks help produce a calming environment, with Roald Dahl’s books coming out on top as the best audiobooks for pups!
Will you be testing out these unusual techniques?
