Fireworks are the nemesis of many a dog; their big lights in the sky and crashing sounds can turn even the bravest dog into a shivering wreck who is foaming at the mouth.
While the level of anxiety caused by fireworks can vary from dog to dog, it is sensible as an owner to start building your dog up to the sounds a few weeks before any local firework displays.
ThunderShirt ($39.99 here)
These shirts wrap tightly around your dog and work on acupressure points on the dogs body to encourage calmness in Fido. We have used Thunder shirts during storms, fireworks and even vet visits with great success.
They have a very high success rate and in some countries/states, they have a money back guarantee if you find they don’t help.
We buy our thundershirts here
Adaptil Spray and Plug In ($29.99 here)
This spray or plug in is used to connect with your dog on a chemical level. They release a dog appeasing pheromone that helps calm your dog down in stressful situations. The plug in you can leave in the room the dog will be kept, and the spray is perfect for spraying bedding or a thundershirt.
You can buy Adaptil The Dog Appeasing Pheromone here
Puppy School App ($2.99 Apple or Google Store)
The Puppy School app is a fantastic tool for building up a dogs tolerance to certain noises. Using the app, you have the particular noise very slow in general every day calm situations (rewarding your dog if they don’t react). Then over the next few weeks, you gradually increase the volume with the end goal being that Fido can listen to fireworks without any issues at all. The app comes with full instructions.
You can read our detailed review of the app here
A free tip you can use for your dog with firework phoebia is make them a safe area that they can burrow or hide. This may be as simple as a crate on the floor covered in blankets, or a pile of blankets under the bed that Fido can bury himself in.
Keeping the curtains closed and the radio on low can also help drown out the noise of any fireworks.
Do you have any other tips for dealing with Firework phobia in dogs?
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Those are three interesting options. We have heard about some success with different essential oils.
lavender is said to be good
We have a thundershirt for our Lyla for storms and fireworks and it does work! I can’t say it solves ALL of her issues (she has many) but it IS comforting. I will check out your other suggestions. Thanks!
No problem. Thank you for commenting
I’m familiar with Thundershirt and Adaptil but the Ap is new to me. Sounds like a great way to counter-condition!
exactly. I wish I had invented it lol
Thunder phobia is such an important topic to cover. It can be very challenging and very stressful for the dog and the dog guardians. Thanks for the add on suggestions.
Thank you for your comment
We used a Thundershirt on Dash. It is something that needs a bit of training and getting used to but it can work wonders and we recommend it 100%
We use Feliway for the cats, the same sort of thing I guess? and having a plug-in calmer means you can focus on doing other distracting things as well.
We are not great firework people, we love formal displays but backgarden fireworks? No thanks!!
Everyone now seems to be having garden displays
Fantastic tips to help dogs deal with loud noises. Luckily I’ve never had a dog that was bothered, but it’s nice to know there are ways to ease their anxiety.
Thank you
We think the puppy school app is such a great idea! We bet that would work wonders.
We discovered it a few months ago and absolutely love it
Great tips! We never had to deal with fireworks until moving to Washington (we lived on a military base before and fireworks were prohibited). They’re crazy out here with their fireworks so we’re trying to help Mauja and Atka acclimate to the noise.
It takes time but once they are over the fear, the human anxiety is reduced also
My mom uses the Thundershirt all the time and it really helps her dog.
It’s so great
We’ve used Thundershirt on our foster pups – they’ve worked really well for anxious dogs!
We use them on the foster also
I really need to try the thunder-shirt out, my aussie has some fear issues.
We love it
My dogs don’t mind thunder or fireworks (they stay home, though), but I’ve known a few dogs who are very frightened of loud noises. I’ll let their people know about these products.
Thank you
We have New Years fireworks – so we have a number of things we do to prep Sherm for that evening. (we stay home). He’s super anxious and noise sensitive. I like the Thundershirt and think that’s awesome to have in your toolkit.
it has such a high success rate that it it worth trying
Thankfully, my Huskies are fine with fireworks. But my furangel Chelsey really had a fear of them. I really like the app. I had not heard of that before, but what a great idea to help desensitize them to sounds! Will check it out for sure! Thanks!
We love it
Great info, I have found that a simple t-shirt works wonders with Layla when she is afraid
So glad you found something that worked
We have the anxiety wrap. I’m curious about that app though.
We love the app. Bought it a few months ago and it has been brilliant
We have the thundershirt and it does help. I love the idea of the app, and the Adaptil might even work for separation anxiety! Thanks for sharing.
We use it for sep anx also. Adaptil is great
My Husky totally has firework phobia! I’d love to try one of those sprays. For now, I just turn up the volume on a Zen type CD I have that usually puts her right to sleep! Thanks for the reommendation.
Love & Biscuits,
Dogs Luv Us and We Luv Them
Start practising early with the CD to get them calm before the fireworks start