At Least 50% of our dogs are scared by fireworks
Fireworks can be frightening for people, but for dogs, the noise is even more intense due to their incredible hearing!
Tackling a dog’s fear of fireworks can be challenging and will require some preparation, as there is rarely a quick fix. Our guide below offers strategies to help your dog, whether you're planning ahead or looking for a more immediate solution.
ADAPTIL has been trusted for over 20 years
Helping support dogs during scary periods like fireworks, backed by scientific evidence. It is clinically proven to:
- Decrease signs of fear, such as trembling and hiding, by 93%, significantly reducing 9 out of 14 fear indicators. 73% of owners observed a substantial reduction in overall fear (p<0.01).*
- ADAPTIL Calm is a proven solution for reducing behaviours like hiding, vocalizing, or being startled, and works even more effectively when combined with a desensitisation program.**
Having time to prepare is the best way to help your dog with a firework fear, but not the only way to support them.
If there are surprise bangs you are not prepared for and you are looking for more of a last-minute solution, these are our ADAPTIL recommendations and advice CLICK HERE.
If you have time to prepare, this is what you need to do and which ADAPTIL product to pick.
Why Prepare?
A dog's anxiety will start to build when the season starts to change, they will remember back to the darker chillier nights, and this will remind them of what happened last year = the anxiety begins to build. This is why really good results are seen by being prepared, the longer the dog is exposed to ADAPTIL® Calm ‘comforting messages’ prior to the fireworks or thunderstorms, the better prepared they are to cope with the challenging noise.
The further a dogs anxiety builds, the higher up the ladder they go, and the more extreme their fear becomes. The ideal plan is to keep them at the bottom of the ladder and prevent them climbing.
1| ADAPTIL Product for Preparation - Adaptil Calm Diffuser
This is the best solution to use throughout the season, all you need to do is plug it near where your dog is spending most of their time, ideally their safe place, like their den. This wonderful plug-in will distribute proven comforting pheromones into your home 24/7 and be there providing support ready for any surprise bangs!
2| Build a Den
Ideally you want to build the den in your dog's favourite spot and somewhere they would naturally go. Make it super cosy, with blankets and bedding and add in their favourite toys and other distractions.
The plan is for this to be your dogs safe space, dark and soundproof (or muffled) is what you are aiming for. Use blankets to cover the area, cardboard sheets can line the outside of a crate. Make sure your ADAPTIL Calm Diffuser is plugged close by and you can even spray their bedding with ADAPTIL Transport Spray
3| Play music
You want to muffle the sound. Turn the TV up or play some calming dog music.
4| Keep the big bang away
Shut the curtains and doors and walk your dog earlier in the day before it gets dark
5| Stay with your dog
They may come to you for reassurance, it is important that you do not act like there is something to worried about, if your dog comes to you for reassurance then you want to be there to provide it. It is best not to go out whilst fireworks are going off as your dog could panic further. Some dogs prefer no attention, so just judge it on how your dog is behaving.
6| Be Secure
Dogs can run when spooked. Make sure access to the outside is controlled, all exits and gardens are secure and their microchip is up to date.
If you need immediate support on the night of fireworks, don’t worry—there are effective options that can help calm your dog quickly. These solutions can also be used alongside other ADAPTIL products.
Follow the same strategies as previously mentioned: create a safe space or den, play calming music or turn up the TV, block out the noise by closing curtains and doors, provide distractions like their favourite toy or treat, stay with your dog for reassurance, and ensure that the garden and exits are secure to prevent them from running away.
Best ADAPTIL Products to pick:
ADAPTIL CHEW
A super tasty calming chew which gets to work in 30 minutes will be your perfect tool to have for a last minute solution. The little chew is FULL of proven calming ingredients - Thiamine, L-Tryptophan, Green Tea extract and Colostrum extracts. It can be used daily or as and when needed.
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ADAPTIL Calming spray
This handy spray contains those comforting pheromones. All you need to do is spray your dogs safe spot, 15 minutes before you allow them in the area, for up to 5 hours of comforting support. Its the perfect product to add the extra bit of comfort and coziness to their den!
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Thundershirt
Loved by millions of dog owners worldwide this comforting shirt fits snuggly to your dog, just like swaddling a baby, to provide gentle pressure which relaxes them. What's even better, you can use it with both ADAPTIL products above for triple support!!
Buy NowWHEN IT'S ALL OVER
When the firework season is all over and your dog has returned to their normal self, its time to start de-sensitisation. This is the No1 to help your dog recover from their loud noise fear overall. To find out how to do this, download our EBOOK HERE.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS - PREPARING YOUR DOG FOR FIREWORKS
HOW CAN I CREATE A SAFE HAVEN FOR MY DOG?
Create a safe haven for your dog: a place they can retreat to and feel safe and calm. You can do many things to create an area for your dog.
Our vet's tip: use rewards to help your dog associate that area with good things before fireworks are expected. You could use a tasty calming treat like ADAPTIL Chew, their favourite chew toy, praise...
WHAT ARE YOUR TOP TIPS FOR PREPARING A DOG FOR FIREWORKS?
Some other tips from our Dog trainer:
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS - HELPING YOUR DOG DURING FIREWORKS
WHAT CAN I USE TO HELP MY DOG FEEL MORE RELAXED DURING FIREWORKS?
Using ADAPTIL Calm Diffuser will help your dog feel calm and relaxed during fireworks. It is clinically proven to reduce the signs of stress seen when fireworks are going off. It's very helpful if you can plan ahead, get ready before fireworks season and plug in a few days beforehand, so your dog is calm in advance.
You can also try ThunderShirt calming vest, especially if you cannot plan ahead. It provides an immediate calming effect, your dog will relax quickly. Just pop the vest on and it will sit snugly around the dog’s body.
We recommend building positive associations with ThunderShirt so they know it means 'relaxation' whenever they see it. This helps to keep your dog from associating ThunderShirt with a scary event like fireworks.
HOW DO YOU USE A THUNDERSHIRT?
Top Tips for Using a ThunderShirt
Put ThunderShirt in your laundry basket for a day or two so it absorbs your scent, and smells familiar to your pet. They’ll immediately feel more comfortable with ThunderShirt since it reminds them of you.
Associate ThunderShirt with treats. When you first show ThunderShirt to your pet, have treats on and around it that they will find as they discover the jacket. You could use ADAPTIL Chew as it's a fast calming delicious soft chew your dog will enjoy!
Repeat if your pet is still hesitant. If your pet is especially sensitive or anxious, you might repeat this introduction a few times on consecutive days before you even try putting ThunderShirt on your dog.
See how ADAPTIL helped these Dogs:
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