Dogs and Fireworks: How to Help a Frightened Dog

Reading time: about 12 min

Dogs and fireworks are a topic every New Year’s Eve, but for a frightened dog the difficult period often starts well before Christmas. A single bang during an evening walk can turn a familiar street into somewhere the dog no longer wants to go. I would not take a dog to a fireworks display even if it has always seemed calm. A familiar, safe home and a person who helps the dog feel secure are a much better starting point.

Dogs can hear higher frequencies than humans, but that difference does not automatically mean that every dog is more sensitive to noise or frightened by it. Very loud sounds can, however, physically damage a dog’s hearing. Noise-induced hearing loss has been documented in working dogs, including cases confirmed by brainstem auditory evoked response (BAER) testing. Some dogs recovered their hearing, while one of the reported dogs suffered permanent damage. Sudden, loud firework explosions therefore carry a possible risk of hearing injury, not just fright. Risk depends on loudness at the dog’s position, distance, duration and repeated exposure. We cannot simply transfer the human hearing-damage threshold to dogs. That is another reason not to take even a seemingly relaxed dog to watch fireworks.

Fear does not always show up as trembling. A dog may pant, pace, drool, whine, hide, refuse food or try to escape. Destroying furniture or vomiting may indicate more than mild discomfort. At the same time, we should not automatically blame every symptom on fireworks, particularly if it continues once the environment is quiet.

If fireworks have already started, begin with the immediate steps below. Training and longer-lasting changes belong to calmer moments.

Prepare a safe place before the first bang

The refuge should be familiar, accessible and as quiet as possible. One dog may prefer an inner room, another its usual bed or a crate it has already learned to enjoy with the door open. Blankets and cushions can make the space comfortable but do not stop powerful low-frequency noise. A basement may be quieter if it is safe and the dog feels comfortable there. An unfamiliar room or a cupboard that amplifies sound could make matters worse.

Shut the windows and curtains. If flashes still enter, leaving a light on may reduce the contrast. A familiar blanket or clothing that smells of the owner can be reassuring. The dog should be free to use its hiding place without someone repeatedly calling it out to check on it.

Calm music, including “Through a Dog’s Ear”, may be worth trying if the dog already likes it. Music will not mask every bang and is not a proven cure for noise phobia. Do not turn it up so loud that you create a second unpleasant noise source. The presence of a familiar, calm dog may also help, but fireworks night is not the time to invite an unfamiliar animal over. Watch whether the companion really helps or adds tension.

Schedule walks for daylight and quieter times if you can. Use a well-fitting harness or collar and lead. A dog with a high escape risk may need two secure attachment points. Check contact details and microchip registration. Even a familiar fenced garden is not escape-proof when fireworks are going off; do not leave a frightened dog outside alone.

Play, treats and the owner’s presence

If your dog is still able to eat and play, use that opportunity. After a bang, offer an especially tasty treat, a squeaky toy or a simple familiar task. The aim is for the sound to begin predicting something pleasant. The dog does not have to earn the treat by sitting perfectly still. Nor does every dog find squeaky toys relaxing, so choose what your own dog genuinely enjoys.

Chewing or a food puzzle may provide an activity. Choose a safe chew appropriate for your dog and supervise it. A bone is not an obligatory solution, and it is unwise to give a panicking dog something it could swallow in a hurry. If the dog can no longer accept a treat, do not keep pushing food towards its nose. Reduce the demands and review your support plan.

In Riemer’s 2020 questionnaire study, offering food and play was associated with a more favourable course of fireworks fear. Owners also rated counterconditioning and relaxation training as useful. These were owners’ reports, not a randomised comparison trial. The findings offer practical direction, not a promise that the same technique will work for every dog.

A 2016 study of German Shepherd Dogs reported an association between play and hair cortisol, giving us another reason to consider everyday wellbeing. It was not an experiment showing that play alone cures fear of fireworks.

Never punish a dog for showing fear. Gentle petting does not automatically reinforce the fear or teach the dog to be frightened. If the dog seeks your closeness, you can offer it. If touch increases its tension or it prefers to hide, give it space. Behave calmly and familiarly. There is no need either to hover anxiously around the dog or to put on an exaggerated cheerful performance. Feeling worried about your dog does not mean that you caused its fear.

Exercise, massage and gentle pressure

Before expected fireworks, a walk and time to sniff, appropriate to the dog’s abilities, are sensible. The goal is comfort and an opportunity to toilet, not to exhaust the dog so thoroughly that it has no energy left to be afraid. One long workout cannot guarantee the absence of anxiety.

Massage can be pleasant if the dog is used to it and enjoys it. My previous dog Bemmu received massage, and after just a few sessions he would sleep with his head on a pillow while being massaged. That is my personal experience of his relaxation, not evidence that massage treats firework phobia. Learn gentle techniques from a professional and never force massage on a painful or tense dog.

A pressure vest, such as a ThunderShirt, may be worth trying well before a difficult evening. Evidence is limited, and the marketing figure of “80%” is not a reliable promise for an individual dog. The vest must fit comfortably; monitor breathing, movement, heat and the dog’s reaction. Remove it if the dog freezes, becomes distressed or tries to escape it.

Improvised body wrapping can easily go wrong because of pressure or placement. If you choose to use this approach, have a knowledgeable professional show you how and supervise the dog throughout. The often-quoted limit of “15 minutes” does not guarantee that a wrap that is too tight is safe for that long. Remove it immediately if the dog is uncomfortable. Do not try a new wrap or vest for the first time while the dog is panicking.

Pheromones, scents and calming supplements

ADAPTIL pheromone products may be used as additional support alongside a refuge and appropriate training. Evidence of their effects is mixed, so assess whether your own dog actually responds. Buying another diffuser should not be the only answer to a dog in panic.

Oral ADAPTIL tablets and chews are not the same as a pheromone diffuser or collar. For example, the manufacturer describes ADAPTIL Express as a product containing amino acids and vitamins, without pheromones. Ingredients and timing vary between products. A broad claim such as “50% less fear after seven days and an effect within two hours” cannot be applied to every product currently sold. Check the specific label and ask about combining it with medications.

Lavender and chamomile scents are sometimes used in integrative approaches to relaxation. That is not the same as proven effectiveness against firework phobia. The risks of essential oils depend on their concentration, ingredients and method of use. Do not apply concentrated oils directly to a dog’s skin or give them by mouth. Do not trap a dog with a strong scent in a closed refuge: it must be able to leave. Be especially careful around animals with breathing problems and in homes with cats. If a fragrance causes coughing, panting or restlessness, stop using it.

When medication can be the right kind of help

For mild fear, improving the environment and appropriate training may be a good starting point. But if a dog has previously panicked, escaped or injured itself, there is no need to wait until every natural product has been tried in succession. A treatment plan developed with a veterinarian ahead of time can reduce suffering and may make learning easier later. Medication and behaviour work can belong in the same plan.

Sileo gel contains dexmedetomidine and is intended to alleviate acute anxiety and fear associated with noise in dogs. Under veterinary and package instructions, the gel is applied to the mucous membrane between the cheek and gum. It is not an ordinary treat to be swallowed. Whether the medicine is suitable depends in part on the dog’s medical conditions and other medications.

In a randomised, double-blind study by Korpivaara and colleagues, 182 dogs participated. Owners rated the effect as good or excellent for 72% of dogs in the treatment group and 37% in the placebo group. This measured owners’ assessments over one New Year’s Eve, not permanent recovery or the absence of rare adverse effects. The study was associated with the product manufacturer, which matters when interpreting the results.

Warnings about correct dosing are justified. The FDA received reports of accidental overdoses linked to the locking mechanism of an earlier dosing syringe. In 2023 the FDA reported work on a redesigned syringe. That historical US information does not establish which syringe is supplied with a product purchased in Estonia. Ask your veterinarian to demonstrate the particular device you have and follow its enclosed instructions.

Severe drowsiness, collapse, very slow breathing or a dog that is difficult to wake require urgent veterinary care. Do not administer an extra dose on your own initiative just because the dog still seems frightened. Anyone handling the medicine must also follow the package’s exposure and handling precautions.

The integrative aim of avoiding unnecessary medication has value. It does not follow that medication risks always outweigh benefits. Nor does the available evidence support a general claim that Sileo usually makes dogs more sensitive to noise. A bad reaction in an individual dog is nevertheless a reason to review its use with the veterinarian immediately.

Train when your dog is able to learn

If noise fear first appears in old age or unexpectedly becomes worse, check the dog’s health. Fagundes and colleagues’ analysis of 20 dogs suggested assessing musculoskeletal pain, among other possible issues. The small study does not show that every noise-sensitive dog is in pain, but it is a good reason not to overlook pain.

Training with recorded sounds starts at such a low volume that the dog notices the sound but remains relaxed. Add something pleasant: the sound occurs and is followed by food or a game. This is called counterconditioning. Remaining below the threshold that triggers fear and gradually increasing the difficulty is part of desensitisation.

1. Choose a recording resembling the feared sound and start very quietly in a familiar, calm place.
2. Offer something pleasant straight away and watch the dog’s body language. Eating does not by itself prove relaxation.
3. Keep sessions short, even just a few minutes at first. Up to ten minutes on five days a week may work if the dog stays relaxed throughout. A short, pleasant session is better than an overlong test.
4. Increase only one difficulty at a time, and only when the previous level has repeatedly been easy. If the dog becomes tense, stop and make the next attempt easier.
5. Keep a brief diary. If there is no trend towards improvement after a few weeks, the fear increases or you cannot find a tolerable starting level, adjust the plan with a qualified behaviour professional and veterinarian. No one can promise that every dog improves within one month.

Real fireworks involve flashes, smells and vibrations as well as sound. Thunderstorms may include other environmental changes. A recording cannot reproduce the entire experience, and tolerating it does not guarantee the same reaction during the real event. The possible role of electromagnetic phenomena is a separate hypothesis, not a sufficient explanation of an individual dog’s response.

A simple routine helps owners too: choose one manageable goal, schedule practice for a time such as after breakfast, decide in advance what you will do and discuss the plan with the family. Then the work is less likely to be left until the last evening. Progress may mean recovering more quickly or being able to rest calmly in the dog’s own bed. Freezing should not automatically be counted as success.

Prevention starts before the first fear

A dog that was calm last year can develop noise fear later. The fear can worsen or improve over time; it does not inevitably travel in only one direction. Helping puppies form pleasant associations and avoiding frightening experiences are sensible even before a problem appears. A calm reaction also does not prove that fireworks are at a safe volume for the dog’s hearing.

Do not take a puppy close to powerful noise in the hope that it will simply get used to it. Habituation and increased fear are different possible outcomes. Prepare a refuge and agree on a plan before the difficult evening. If the problem also involves vacuum cleaners, traffic or everyday sounds, the dog needs a broader assessment, not just a plan for New Year’s Eve.

Sources

• Schneider, D. C. jt (2019). Noise-Induced Hearing Loss in 3 Working Dogs. Topics in Companion Animal Medicine, 37, 100362. DOI 10.1016/j.tcam.2019.100362. Three cases of hearing loss confirmed by BAER testing.
• RSPCA. How fireworks impact animals. Overview of firework noise levels and the risk of hearing damage in animals.
• Riemer, S. (2020). Effectiveness of treatments for firework fears in dogs. Journal of Veterinary Behavior, 37, 61–70. DOI 10.1016/j.jveb.2020.04.005. Owner survey with 1,225 respondents.
• Riemer, S. (2019). Not a one-way road — Severity, progression and prevention of firework fears in dogs. PLOS ONE. Development and prevention of fear in an owner survey.
• Korpivaara, M., Laapas, K., Huhtinen, M., Schöning, B. ja Overall, K. (2017). Dexmedetomidine oromucosal gel for noise-associated acute anxiety and fear in dogs — a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical study. Veterinary Record, 180, 356. DOI 10.1136/vr.104045.
• Fagundes, A. L. L. jt (2018). Noise Sensitivities in Dogs: An Exploration of Signs in Dogs with and without Musculoskeletal Pain Using Qualitative Content Analysis. Frontiers in Veterinary Science.
• Roth, L. S. V. jt (2016). Hair cortisol varies with season and lifestyle and relates to human interactions in German shepherd dogs. Scientific Reports. DOI 10.1038/srep19631.
• EMA and the EU veterinary medicines database. Sileo — current product information and assessment documents.
• FDA (2023). Update on new dosing syringe and training materials for the noise aversion drug Sileo.
• BSAVA. Fireworks and thunder. Professional association position on behavioural work, the environment, medication and supportive measures.
• Ceva, ADAPTIL. Express product information and frequently asked questions. Manufacturer’s instructions, not an independent efficacy study.
• ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (2022). The Essentials of Essential Oils Around Pets.
• Westlund, K. Fireworks, Thunder, and Fear: The Complete Graded Guide to Canine Noise Phobia. Practical source used in the original article; an evolving discussion.
• Anderson, E. (2015). Six Ways to Prepare Your Dog for Fireworks. Pet Professional Guild. Practical source used in the original article.
• Stilwell, V. Dealing with Fireworks Anxiety. Practical source used in the original article.

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