Why Are Some Dogs Scared of Fireworks While Others Aren’t? How to Help Your Dog Cope
Fireworks can cause completely different reactions in different dogs.
Some hide, shake, pant or desperately try to find somewhere safe. Others seem almost completely unfazed by them.
And then there was Chester.
Chester did not appear to understand that fireworks were something he was supposed to be frightened of.
Quite the opposite.
To him, they seemed more like exploding fluffy toys in the sky that obviously needed to be ragged about if only he could somehow get his teeth on them.
My mum’s Shih Tzu could not have been more different.
As soon as the fireworks started, he would shake like he was freezing his nuts off. He was genuinely frightened, and there was absolutely no mistaking the difference between his reaction and Chester’s.
So why are some dogs scared of fireworks while others seem excited by them?
And even if our dog looks perfectly happy, does that necessarily mean the noise cannot affect them?
Why Are Dogs Scared of Fireworks?
To us, fireworks might mean Bonfire Night, New Year or a celebration.
To a dog, there is no explanation. There is simply a sudden bang from somewhere they cannot see, followed by another one from somewhere else.
Then there are flashes in the sky, strange smells and sometimes vibrations they can feel as well as hear.
Dogs also hear differently from us.
Their hearing covers a wider range of frequencies than ours, and sounds that seem loud to us can be particularly intense for them.
That means fireworks are not only about whether a dog appears frightened.
Very loud noise can potentially affect hearing too, particularly if a dog is close to it or exposed for long periods.
So there are really two different questions.
Is my dog frightened by the fireworks?
And:
Am I protecting my dog from unnecessary levels of noise?
The answers are not necessarily the same.
Chester Thought Fireworks Were a Game
I never took Chester to fireworks displays, and I never deliberately put him close to really loud bangs.
Most of the time, he was indoors with me.
But when fireworks started going off, he would sometimes bark at the noise because he clearly did not know what it was.
Rather than completely hiding him away from it, I would sometimes let him out into the garden for a short while so that he could see what was actually happening.
Once he seemed to understand where the noise and flashes were coming from, that was it.
Game on.
He would charge around the garden barking at the sky and launching himself upwards as though the fireworks were exploding fluffy toys that just needed grabbing and ragging about.
And Chester could jump. Bloody high at that too.
He would throw himself into the air, land heavily back on all four feet and then look straight at me with that expression that seemed to say:
“Didn’t I do well?”
His whip-like tail would be slashing backwards and forwards with pride.
He looked absolutely delighted with himself.
As far as Chester was concerned, he had just saved the garden from another firework.
I Never Left Him Out There for Long
This was never a case of leaving Chester outside for hours surrounded by noise.
Ten or fifteen minutes was usually more than enough.
He could see what was happening, have his mad little game and then come back inside where he had somewhere quieter and familiar to retreat to.
I think that distinction is important.
I did not completely shield him from the noise, but neither did I deliberately overexpose him to it.
He had a safe base indoors.
And once he appeared to understand what was causing the noise, he generally seemed more interested in trying to catch it than worrying about it.
Whether Chester was naturally confident, whether being used to everyday noise helped, or whether it was simply another part of his personality, I honestly cannot say.
It was probably a mixture of things.
But I would never claim that what worked for Chester would work for every dog.
My mum’s dog proved that very clearly.
My Mum’s Dog Was Completely Different
My mum’s Shih Tzu wanted absolutely nothing to do with fireworks.
There was no running into the garden.
No barking proudly at the sky.
No attempts to catch anything.
He would shake badly and just wanted the whole thing to stop.
Seeing the two dogs react so differently really showed me how individual animals are.
The same noise that Chester appeared to turn into entertainment could leave another dog genuinely terrified.
And that is why I think advice about fireworks has to begin with one simple thing:
Know your own dog.
Not Every Dog Shows Fear in the Same Way
Fear is not always as obvious as shaking.
Some dogs hide.
Some pace around the house.
Others pant heavily, become unusually clingy, refuse food, bark repeatedly or try to escape.
A dog might also repeatedly lick its lips, yawn or struggle to settle.
Those behaviours can sometimes be overlooked because they are not as dramatic as a dog trembling under the table.
Even barking can be complicated.
With Chester, I knew his behaviour well enough to recognise the difference between his excited barking and how he behaved when he was genuinely unsure about something.
That is another reason why knowing your own pet matters so much.
Excitement Doesn’t Mean Unlimited Exposure
Chester appeared to enjoy fireworks once he knew what they were.
I would never have deliberately put Chester close to extremely loud fireworks, even though he appeared to enjoy watching them.
There is a big difference between hearing fireworks in the distance and having them launched from neighbouring gardens only a short distance away.
On many housing estates in the UK, gardens are close together, and fireworks can be going off from several directions at once. Some of the
fireworks sold for home use are incredibly loud now, and it can sometimes feel as though people are setting off display-sized fireworks in a tiny back garden.
So even if your dog seems confident, it is still worth limiting how long they are exposed to that level of noise and making sure they have somewhere quieter to retreat to indoors.
Dogs have sensitive hearing, and very loud sounds can potentially damage hearing whether the animal looks frightened or not.
So even with a dog like Chester, there still needs to be some common sense.
A confident dog does not need to be wrapped in cotton wool.
But equally, confidence does not make its ears indestructible.
For Chester, a few supervised minutes outside followed by coming back into the house seemed to suit him perfectly.
Why Is One Dog Frightened While Another Isn’t?
There probably is not one single reason.
Personality clearly plays a part.
Previous experiences may also make a difference, as can how a dog has experienced different noises throughout its life.
Some dogs seem naturally more confident.
Others are much more sensitive.
And some dogs may develop a fear after one particularly bad experience.
There are also ways of gradually helping dogs become more comfortable with firework sounds using carefully controlled recordings and positive experiences.
This is generally called desensitisation and counterconditioning.
But that does not mean suddenly turning loud firework noises on and hoping the dog gets used to them.
It needs to start quietly and gradually, ideally well before fireworks season.
If the dog is showing fear, things have gone too far too quickly.
How Can You Help a Dog During Fireworks?
If you already know your dog struggles with fireworks, preparing before they start can make a big difference.
Try to walk them and let them go to the toilet before fireworks are likely to begin.
Once it gets dark, keeping them indoors is usually the safest option.
Close windows and curtains to help reduce the noise and flashes.
Television, radio or music can also help disguise some of the sudden bangs.
Let your dog have somewhere they feel safe.
That might be their bed, a crate they already use, behind the sofa or somewhere else in the house they naturally retreat to.
The important thing is that it feels safe to them.
If they want to hide, let them hide.
Do not drag them out because you think they should be sitting with everybody else.
And make sure doors, windows and the garden are secure.
A frightened dog can behave completely differently when panic takes over.
Should You Comfort a Dog That Is Frightened?
I have heard people say that comforting a frightened dog somehow rewards the fear.
I have never really understood that.
If Chester had genuinely come to me frightened, I could not imagine looking at him and saying:
“Sorry mate, apparently cuddling you might encourage this.”
If your dog wants reassurance from you, there is nothing wrong with calmly being there for them.
Equally, if they want to hide somewhere on their own, let them do that.
The important thing is not forcing them into whatever we think should make them feel better.
Stay calm.
Let them decide whether they want company or space.
And never punish a dog for being frightened.
They are not being awkward.
They simply do not understand what is happening.
What If Your Dog Is Really Terrified?
For some dogs, closing the curtains and putting the television on simply will not be enough.
If your dog is shaking badly, desperately trying to escape, hurting themselves, becoming destructive through panic or struggling severely every fireworks season, speak to your vet.
There may be additional options available.
That might include behavioural advice, a qualified animal behaviourist or, where appropriate, medication.
And it is worth dealing with the problem before Bonfire Night rather than waiting until the fireworks have already started.
Work such as gradual desensitisation takes time.
It is not something that can realistically be started at five o’clock on 5 November and fixed by seven.
Fireworks Reminded Me That Every Dog Is Different
The difference between Chester and my mum’s Shih Tzu could hardly have been greater.
One was shaking with fear.
The other was launching himself at the sky with a look of complete satisfaction every time he landed.
Neither reaction tells us how the next dog will behave.
And I think this comes back to something I keep discovering while writing these blogs.
We talk about dogs as though they are all the same.
They are not.
They have individual personalities, likes, dislikes, confidence levels, fears and their own strange little quirks.
Chester certainly did.
Know Your Dog
If Chester were still here, I suspect fireworks would get exactly the same reaction.
Bark.
Look at the sky.
Launch himself upwards.
Land with a thud.
Look at me as if he had just achieved something magnificent.
Whip-like tail going nineteen to the dozen.
Then repeat.
And I would probably still let him have his few minutes of fun from the safety of his own garden before bringing him back inside.
Because that was Chester.
But my mum’s dog needed something completely different.
And that is probably the biggest lesson.
Do not assume your dog is frightened simply because another dog is.
But equally, do not assume very loud noise is harmless just because your dog looks confident.
Watch them.
Learn their signals.
Give them somewhere safe to retreat to.
Avoid unnecessary exposure to extremely loud noise.
And if they are genuinely struggling, ask for help.
Because whether they are hiding under the table or trying to launch themselves into orbit after an exploding fluffy toy, they are still relying on us to understand them and keep them safe.
Crafted by hand, inspired by love. ❤️