How to Keep Your Dog Calm During Fireworks (Halloween and Bonfire Night)
Updated: 3 days ago
Fireworks season brings weeks of bangs, whistles and flashes, whether it's Halloween, Bonfire Night, Diwali or New Year, often starting well before the night itself and carrying on long after. For a lot of dogs it's the most stressful time of the year. You can't stop the fireworks, but there's plenty you can do, from closing the curtains and walking before dark to starting the game they love when the real bangs begin, so the bang means something good. And yes, comforting your dog is fine.
THE SHORT ANSWER
To keep your dog calm during fireworks, walk them before dark, close the curtains, put on the TV or music, and set up a cosy den where they can hide. Stay home with them, comfort them if they come to you, and give them a long-lasting chew or lick mat. Make sure gates are secure and their microchip and ID tag are up to date, because frightened dogs can bolt. If your dog panics every year, speak to your vet now, before the busiest nights, about what might help.
IN THIS POST
ā Why fireworks frighten dogs
ā On the night
ā What not to do
ā Halloween extras
ā FAQs
Why fireworks frighten dogs
Fireworks are loud, sudden and unpredictable. Dogs hear far more than we do, so the bangs, whistles and crackles can feel huge, and the flashes and smells add to it. Your dog has no idea what's happening or when it's going to end.
Signs your dog is frightened:
Shaking, panting or drooling
Pacing, hiding or trying to escape
Clinging to you or following you around
Barking, whining or howling
Refusing food
Toilet accidents in the house
Before fireworks season
1. Build a den
Set up a quiet, cosy spot away from windows, such as a covered crate with the door open, or a bed under a table with a blanket over it. Let your dog use it every day, so it's already a safe place when the bangs start.
2. Check ID and security
Make sure your dog's microchip details and ID tag are up to date, and check that fences and gates are secure. Frightened dogs can run.
3. Talk to your vet early
If your dog struggles every year, speak to your vet a few weeks before. There are calming options and prescription medications that can help, and some need time to start working.
4. Start sound work for next year
Gradual sound training, playing firework sounds very quietly and pairing them with food and play, can help a lot. It takes weeks, so it's best started well before the season. It isn't something to start the night before.
On the night
1. Walk before dark
Take your dog out for their walk and toilet trip earlier in the day, before the fireworks start. Keep them on lead, even in the garden, once it gets dark.
2. Close up the house
Shut the windows, close the curtains and turn the lights on. It muffles the noise and hides the flashes.
3. Add background noise
Put on the TV, the radio or calm music to soften the bangs.
4. Give them something to do
A long-lasting chew, a stuffed food toy or a lick mat can help your dog settle, if they're calm enough to eat.
5. Comfort them if they need it
It's fine to comfort your dog. You won't make them more scared by being calm and kind. Stay relaxed yourself, and let them choose whether to hide or stay close to you.
6. Stay home
Try not to leave your dog alone on the busiest nights.
What not to do
Don't take your dog to a fireworks display
Don't tell them off for being scared or for accidents
Don't drag them out of their hiding place
Don't leave them outside or alone in the garden
Halloween extras
Halloween brings the doorbell, knocking and people in costumes too. If that unsettles your dog, keep them in a quiet room away from the front door, or put a sign on the door asking trick or treaters not to knock.
Puppies and fireworks
A puppy's first fireworks season is a big moment. Keep them indoors, stay with them, and make the evening calm and boring, with chews and gentle play. If your puppy seems relaxed, you can reward them for calm behaviour when they hear a bang. If they're frightened, comfort them and help them settle in their den.
RENEE'S TIP
Open the den a few weeks before Halloween and feed some of your dog's meals in it. By the time the fireworks start, it's somewhere they already love going.
FIREWORKS CHECKLIST
ā Den set up and used every day
ā Microchip and ID tag up to date
ā Walk and toilet trip before dark
ā Curtains closed, TV or music on
ā Chew or lick mat ready
ā Vet spoken to early if your dog panics
FREE DOWNLOAD FROM RENEE
Firework Survival Guide for Dogs
A free guide with a simple plan to get your dog through firework season, from the weeks before to the morning after.
ONE-TO-ONE HELP
Fireworks fear getting worse each year?
If your dog panics, can't settle for days afterwards, or their fear is spreading to other noises, a one-to-one plan can help. I can work with you online on sound training and a plan for next season.
Online on Teams, wherever you are. 30 or 60 minutes.
FAQs
How do I keep my dog calm during fireworks?
Walk them before dark, close the curtains, add background noise, set up a cosy den, and give them a long-lasting chew. Stay home and comfort them if they need it.
Is it okay to comfort my dog during fireworks?
Yes. Comforting a frightened dog won't make the fear worse. Stay calm and let them choose whether to hide or stay close.
Should I walk my dog on fireworks night?
Walk them earlier in the day before it gets dark, and keep them on lead even in the garden once the fireworks start.
Can my vet help with fireworks fear?
Yes. Speak to your vet a few weeks before. There are calming options and medications that may help, and some need time to work.
How do I stop trick or treaters knocking?
Put a sign on the door asking people not to knock or ring, and keep your dog in a quiet room away from the front door.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Renee Patience Ā· National Dog Trainer of the Year 2025
Founder and head trainer of Paws Academy, with more than 30 years training dogs and a Level 6 Diploma in Applied Canine Behaviour. Renee has competed in agility, obedience and heelwork to music across the UK, including at Crufts and Olympia, has appeared on CBBC, and is the author of the Modern Training Guides and the Modern Breed Handbook series. Pictured with her boxer, Kookie.
