Tips to prepare your dog for firework night

It's a difficult time for anxious dogs.

These are just some tips to help keep anxious dogs as calm and as safe as possible over the firework season:

1. Keep all pets indoors, keeping doors and cat flaps shut so pets cannot accidentally escape. Make sure your pet does have a tag just in case they do escape.
2. Close all curtains and put on lights and television or music to help cover the bangs and flashes.
3. Let your pet hide where it feels most comfortable or make them a den where they can feel safe and secure during the noise.
4. Give your dog a long active walk during the day so that they want to sleep through the worst of the noise and avoid a night walk.
5. During the peak of the fireworks display give your pets as many distractions as possible, such as toys, chews and small treats.
6. If you have a very anxious pet speak to your vet about homeopathic treatments for stress, such as Bach Flower Remedies. Discuss any treatments with your vet before using them on your pet.
7. You can always plan ahead and buy a fireworks effects CD and gradually get your dog used to the noises in the weeks or months leading up to bonfire night.
8. If you are having your own firework display or are in the middle of a noisy fireworks area then your dog maybe happier staying with a friend or relative in a quieter area.

Obviously it is better to work with your dog when it is a puppy and get them used to noises etc before fear or phobias set in. Puppy training classes will set you on the right path. Meanwhile we hope these points help.