Fireworks and firecrackers have long been an attribute of celebrations. However, dog owners note that they are not at all happy about the colored lights in the sky. On the contrary, flashes and noise often make them anxious and even panic. The reason is the different perception of the world by humans and dogs.

Reasons why dogs are afraid of loud sounds

Unexpected noise can also frighten a person, although he understands the meaning of fireworks and is ready for them. A dog does not know about the calendar and does not understand that some days are special. It notices that the owners are not behaving as usual, but is not able to connect this with the flashes and rumble on the street.

Therefore, everything that happens for it is an unexpected and incomprehensible noise. In addition, explosions and light appear at different intervals, which additionally frightens and disorients the animal.

Even a human may find the sound of a firecracker unpleasantly loud. A dog’s hearing is very sensitive . A sound that is loud to us is deafening to them.

Another reason why dogs are afraid of fireworks: strange loud sounds are a threat to them . The natural reaction to it is to run away or defend themselves. Some try to bark at the fireworks, others try to hide or run away.

The visual and sound effects of pyrotechnics are noticeable at a great distance, it is difficult to find shelter where they will not be heard and seen. Therefore, the dog feels that it is in a hopeless situation and there is no salvation anywhere.

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It may seem that large dogs are less afraid of firecrackers than small ones. In fact, this is not true: the reaction depends on the individual characteristics of the pet, and not on its size.

Fear cannot be ignored: stress can have a negative impact on health. On the street, a frightened animal can break loose from its leash and run off in an unknown direction or jump out onto the road, not noticing the traffic.

When being scared is normal

Fright at an unexpected loud sound is a normal defensive reaction. It is also characteristic of humans, but their fear manifests itself less often: after all, the origin of many sounds is clear to them.

A normal reaction for an animal to a clap is an attempt to hide, bark, tuck its tail, or try to cuddle up to its owner. If this state lasts for several minutes, and then the dog returns to its usual activities, there is nothing to worry about.

How to Stop a Dog from Being Afraid of Fireworks: Methods of Working with Fear
Shyness not only reduces the quality of life and prevents the animal from calmly enjoying a game or a walk. Frequent stress can lead to deterioration of health. In addition, fear can have a cumulative effect – the dog becomes more anxious, and even a minor noise, such as a ringing phone or a car alarm, can cause panic.

What to do if your dog is afraid of fireworks? It won’t be easy to teach your dog not to be afraid, even owners of easily trained breeds will have to be patient. However, it is quite possible to reduce the fear of sounds.

How to Prepare Your Dog for Fireworks

It is impossible to predict an unexpected rumble, however, if your dog is afraid of fireworks and firecrackers, you can prepare it for future holidays. This will help reduce stress levels.

Fireworks enthusiasts are most active after dark. Therefore, it is better to go for a walk with your pet in advance so that the noise does not catch you outside. Try to tire him out with a long walk and games, and feed him well at home. Well-fed and tired, he will pay less attention to what is happening around him.

Create a hiding place: a closed house, a fenced-in corner, a space under furniture covered with a blanket – so that you can hide. Close the windows and draw the curtains, turn on the TV or another source of familiar sounds.

Make sure your pet’s bowl is filled with fresh water: stress causes increased thirst.

Don’t show anxiety and don’t pay attention to what’s happening. The dog will see that the owner is not worried and will be less anxious. If it behaved calmly, reward it with affection, play, or a treat.

What to do if your dog is scared of fireworks

If the noise of pyrotechnics has taken the dog by surprise and frightened it, it needs help. You can’t ignore such behavior: after all, it trusts you and seeks support and protection.

Switch attention to habitual actions: for example, command “come to me”. Do not forget to reward for execution, even if the command has been worked out for a long time and is usually performed without encouragement.

If the animal does not react and shows signs of fear, not letting go of the leash, step aside and pretend that you have found something interesting. Squat down and look at something on the ground. This way the pet will understand that nothing terrible has happened, but you have something that will be interesting to study.

If your pet is rushing around and trying to run away, hug him, talk to him in a calm, gentle tone, without reacting to the fireworks.

To calm themselves and their relatives, dogs often yawn. Stand in profile to your pet and start yawning.

If the animal is timid, you can contact a veterinarian in advance so that he can select sedatives for a time especially rich in unexpected noise. Do not try to select such drugs yourself: this can be dangerous to health.

During the holidays, replace the collar with a harness: it is more difficult to quickly get out of it. Do not let your pet off the leash and do not let it out of your hands. Buy a special tag, indicate your contact information in it, so that the fugitive can be returned if it does get lost.

What not to do

Do not shout at the dog or scold it under any circumstances: this will only increase anxiety.
Don’t try to distract with affection or treats. Otherwise, fear will become ingrained as correct behavior: after all, it was rewarded.

Do not disturb the animal if it is hiding: the reaction may be aggressive. Talk to it in a calm voice, behave as usual. Then it will calm down faster and get out on its own.

How to Help Your Puppy Not Be Afraid of Fireworks

The period of childhood fears in a puppy usually ends by 6-7 months, when the baby already has time to make a “list” of what is worth fearing and what is not. In order for him to get used to not reacting to noise, it is important to help him with this.

Support him so that he feels protected by a person in any unfamiliar situation.
Don’t use “shock therapy”: you need to gradually accustom yourself to noise, otherwise the level of stress and anxiety will only increase.

If there is another animal in the house, especially an older dog, it can be a positive example. If it is not afraid of noise, the puppy will understand that there is nothing to worry about.

What to do if an adult dog is afraid of fireworks and firecrackers
If you got your pet as an adult or for some reason has never encountered fireworks before, training will be more difficult than for a puppy. However, do not despair: it is quite possible to teach an adult animal to be more relaxed about noise.

Observe: if you notice reactions to frightening sounds and attempts to calm down, it will be easier to select a training program.

Increase self-esteem: praise more often for following commands, calm behavior and other achievements. Treats, affection, favorite games are a great way to let the dog know that the owner is pleased with it.

Study information from dog handlers, zoopsychologists, and other dog breeders. All this will help you gain experience and find the best solutions for your pet.

Prepare yourself for systematic, long-term work: weaning off fears is a long process that requires constant practice. This applies even to those pets who usually grasp everything on the fly.

Contact a professional dog trainer. Working with an adult dog with established behavior is much more difficult than with a puppy. Help from a professional will help you cope with this task faster and easier.