NEW tips on keeping pets safe on Bonfire Night from Bella & Duke
Experts share top tips to protect your pet as Bonfire Night displays come back with a bang!
After a year out, Bonfire Night firework celebrations are coming back with a bang. However, our four legged friends might not be quite as excited to hear that this year's bonfire and firework displays could be some of the biggest yet!
With over half of UK households now owning pets*, it's more important than ever to ensure that we keep our furry friends safe and stress free during firework season.
The loud bangs and flashes are often extremely frightening and can cause stress, anxiety, and unpredictability, potentially putting their safety at risk.
It's not solely the loud noises from fireworks that invokes fear in your pet. It is the sensation that reverberates through their body, the smell of fireworks, and burning bonfires that make them feel uneasy.
Below are some reasons why dogs are scared of fireworks:
- Our reaction and the reaction of other animals in your care
- Sounds of deep booms and bangs to high pitched screamers
- The unfamiliar smell of gunpowder
- Tremors throughout the atmosphere and ground
- Bright flashing lights
- The smell of burning fires
How your pet reacts to fireworks will depend on how much they trust those around them to offer appropriate support.
Bella & Duke's Natural Canine Behaviourist, Caroline Spencer offers you 9 simple tried and tested tips to help your pets keep calm during those noisy nights that light up the dark winter skies.
- Walk before dark - If your dog has an anxious temperament, aim to take your dog for a walk well before dark. The age-old practice of getting dogs to face their fears should be well and truly over.
- Provide a safe haven - Ensure your dog has a safe space they can retreat to when it all gets too much. A cover bed or crate with the door open are great options for this. Sit by this space becoming a calm presence. If they want closeness to you at this time they will approach you in their own time.
- Shut your curtains - This helps in two ways, as mentioned before, when it comes to fireworks and dogs it isn't just the loud noises. The flashes of the fireworks can stress out your dog too. Keeping the curtains closed can help to dampen the sound of the fireworks too.
- Play calming music - Play calm music for your dog during a fireworks display, I love the music by Lisa Spector, Through A Dogs Ear. more on how music can help your dog here
- Be a calm presence - If your dog wishes to be close to you. Massage your dog or hold them close. When your dog leans into you. Lean back into them. Be the support as opposed to the supported. Offer empathy as opposed to sympathy
- Calming dog clothing - Do consider a comfort shirt, jumper, T touch wrap, or sleeve. Some dogs feel more secure with this additional comforting device.
- Use herbal calming products - Alongside behaviour modification, calming sprays ( To put on or near your dog's bed) will help to keep your dog relaxed during stressful times. Our Herbal calming spray for dogs, Calm & Balmy is a great option.
- Feed a natural diet - Feed nutritious, healthy raw dog food. A healthy diet can help to reduce stress pathways in the brain. Helping to calm your dog down in the long run.
- Use calming chew treats - Give your dog a tasty treat to help take its mind off the noises outside. Many dogs help relieve stress by chewing. Our natural chewing sticks, antlers or pizzles are an excellent option.
Caroline Spencer, Natural Canine Behaviourist at Bella & Duke, added: "If you are looking for a long term solution for pets and fireworks stress, become your pets trusted friend throughout the year. One they can rely on to support them in their day to day lives.
"The goal is to remain calm and unflustered. It's so important to reiterate how you react and feel during these times has a huge bearing on how your puppy or dog reacts. If you are expecting a negative reaction you will get one.
"Like anything, let's be positive about anything new or different. Just because a friend's dog or your last dog reacted badly to sights, sounds, smells, and vibrations won't mean your present dog will. Be super relaxed and just take it as it comes with no preconceived ideas."
