How To Calm Your Dog During Fireworks Season – As Heartbroken Owner Reveals How Bangs KILLED Her Pet

With numerous fireworks displays set to be held over the coming months, canine experts have warned dog owners that the loud noises and flashes can take a very real toll on animals, describing them as ‘nothing short of trauma’ for millions of pets.

Expert Jo Boughton-White who runs the UK’s oldest herbal pet care company, Dorwest, has joined forces with dog trainer and behaviourist, ‘Dogtor’ Adem Fehmi to advise owners with anxious dogs how they can prepare for this stressful time.

They have urged the public to avoid hosting unorganised or spontaneous firework displays, which are harder to predict and prepare for, leaving pets vulnerable and owners even more powerless.

The consequences of these noisy displays can be devastating when it comes to wildlife as well as pets, with one heartbroken dog owner revealing how her beloved pooch died as a result of her reaction to fireworks.

Jo said: ‘Many of our customers panic at this time of year because they know the next few weeks could be very traumatic for their dogs.’

Adem has spent more than 20 years tackling canine behavioural issues – including those that stem from anxiety.

He helps owners prepare and support their pet at what can be times of worryingly high anxiety – and agreed with Jo that this time can be extremely stressful for animals, and so it’s worth planning ahead to try and mitigate some of this.

‘When the fireworks are on their way, it’s so important to plan ahead so you can give your dog the best chance of getting through the season with minimal stress’, he said.

According to Jo: ‘When I talk to (our customers) about our calming herbs, I usually sense a mixture of curiosity and hope.

‘The idea that a few drops of herbal tincture or a daily supplement might melt away anxiety and transform a nervous dog into a calm, confident companion is, understandably, very appealing.

‘But while our products can be a powerful tool in any natural healthcare kit, they are not – and never will be – a magic bullet.’

She added that the message she wanted to stress was that ‘any kind of on-the-night treatment will only ever be temporary’.

Jo continued: ‘Dogs are incredibly perceptive creatures. They pick up on our moods, body language, and routines – and they thrive on predictability and security.

‘If we only address their stress chemically, even with the gentlest herbs, we’re missing half the picture.

‘We need to look at this from a whole lifestyle, training and behaviour perspective.’

Meanwhile, Adem said that prevention is always better than cure.

He advised: ‘If possible, try to build up your dog’s exposure before the rockets start going off. Find videos of fireworks on YouTube or even play the sounds through Alexa, for example.

‘Play them in the background without any visuals at first and if your dog copes well with this, then gradually, over time, you can increase the volume and introduce the sight of fireworks via a screen such as your TV.

‘Reward your dog for positive and calm behaviour when hearing the sound or seeing the sight of fireworks – you want your dog to almost not notice and to positively reinforce this “not noticing” behaviour.’

Another way people can prepare, Adem said, is when ‘the noisy season is set to start’, to check with their neighbours and local authority to find out where fireworks displays are happening.

‘If you know that your dog has an adverse reaction, it may be better to arrange for your dog to stay with a friend, family member, or sitter – somewhere they will be away from the direct action,’ he added.

On the day of any fireworks displays, Adem recommended exercising dogs early, noting that a ‘well exercised dog is more likely to rest and settle than a dog with unspent energy’ – this, he said, can turn into anxious energy.

He concluded: ‘If you exercise your dog early, you are also less likely to encounter a firework being let off whilst you are out, which could worry your dog or cause them to develop a phobia of fireworks.’

One canine casualty of fireworks was Betsy, a whippet owned by Lucy Gell from New Mills in Derbyshire.

Betsy was a healthy whippet, but as she aged, her reaction to fireworks became increasingly severe.

One night, while a fireworks display was in full swing, Lucy had gone to bed.

Meanwhile, Betsy had suffered an adverse reaction to the fireworks.

When Lucy went downstairs, she found Betsy in severe distress.

The dog had lost the use of one of her back legs and her tongue had gone white.

Lucy rushed Betsy to the emergency vet, where she discovered that the blood supply to Betsy’s leg had stopped because of a stroke.

This led to the full loss of her legs.

Tragically, Betsy had to be put down as a result.

Amy Ratcliffe from Leeds has also experienced issues with how her rescue dog Nara, who she adopted in July 2021, reacts to fireworks.

And it doesn’t only affect them for one night – firework displays – both organised and personal – can last for an entire month, causing the dog enormous ongoing stress.

In fact, Nara gets so terrified while fireworks are going off that Amy will plan trips away during what she described as the ‘big’ fireworks night.

However, this year, the event falls mid-week, so they won’t be able to avoid it.

Amy didn’t get Nara as a puppy, and as a rescue dog, she didn’t know what Nara may have previously experienced.

‘Trying to desensitise her is an ongoing challenge,’ said Amy. ‘She’s always been terrified.

‘When the bangs start, she’s panting, shaking, can’t engage.

‘She claws her way under the bed – the smallest place she can find. She won’t go outside for days afterwards.’

If someone sets off a firework while the pair are out, Nara will drag Amy home.

When this happened when they were out for a walk, Nara was so frightened, she refused to go on the same walk for six months.