We know it’s Bonfire Night. We know why the sky is suddenly lighting up, why there are enormous bangs outside & why people are standing in gardens watching things explode. Our dogs don’t.
For a dog who is frightened of fireworks there is no explanation for what is happening. One minute everything is perfectly normal & the next there are explosions coming from somewhere they can’t see or understand.
I think that’s something worth remembering before we become frustrated with a dog who is pacing around the house, barking, shaking, hiding behind the sofa or refusing to go outside. They aren’t being difficult. They are frightened.
Not every dog is scared of fireworks of course. Some will sleep through the whole evening without appearing to notice anything is happening while others will briefly look up at a particularly loud bang before carrying on with whatever they were doing.
Then there are the dogs who are absolutely terrified. And if you live with one of those dogs Bonfire Night can be incredibly difficult. Actually calling it Bonfire Night isn’t particularly accurate anymore because fireworks rarely restrict themselves to one evening. They can start days or weeks beforehand & continue for days afterwards. Then we do the whole thing again around New Year.
That unpredictability makes things particularly difficult for dogs because we can’t always prepare for the exact moment somebody a few streets away decides to set off a firework.
There are things we can do though. If you know fireworks are likely that evening get your dog’s main walk done before it gets dark. I wouldn’t wait until the fireworks begin & then discover the dog is too frightened to leave the house. If they do need to go outside later make sure the garden is secure & stay with them.
A frightened dog can behave very differently from the dog you know. A fence they have never attempted to climb suddenly becomes something they will try to get over. A gate they have ignored for years becomes an escape route.
Fear can make dogs run. Once they are running in panic they aren’t necessarily thinking about where they are going.
Inside the house we can make things a little easier too. Closing curtains can reduce the flashes from outside while the television, radio or some background noise can help soften some of the sound.
If your dog already has somewhere they choose when they are worried let them use it.
I also don’t subscribe to the idea that comforting a frightened dog will somehow teach them to be frightened. If my dog comes to me because they are scared I am not going to ignore them.
The important thing is watching the dog in front of you rather than deciding every frightened dog needs exactly the same response. Some dogs cope with fireworks by staying close to their person. Others want distance. Let them tell you.
There are dogs for whom all of this simply isn’t enough. If every Bonfire Night means hours of severe distress it is worth speaking to your vet before fireworks season rather than waiting until your dog is already terrified. There may be options which can help & a veterinary professional can advise you about what is appropriate for your individual dog.
It is also worth making sure your dog’s identification details are up to date. We hope they will never be needed but fireworks are exactly the sort of event which can result in frightened dogs escaping. Check the microchip details are correct & make sure the information attached to your dog’s identification tag is current.
There is another thing I think we sometimes forget when talking about fireworks. A dog doesn’t have to be visibly shaking to be struggling. Watch them. Panting when they aren’t hot, pacing, repeatedly licking their lips, refusing food, trying to hide, becoming unusually clingy or simply being unable to settle can all tell us a dog isn’t coping particularly well.
Know what is normal for your dog & pay attention when their behaviour changes.
If your dog needs help becoming less frightened of fireworks that work should happen gradually & carefully, long before somebody starts launching rockets into the sky outside your house. My trainer friends tell me to start in the summer.
However many people tell me nothing works & I believe them. Fireworks in 2026 are louder than ever & the frequency of them relentless. The only advice I can give is make an appointment with your vet. They are the best people to help reduce the stress your dog is experiencing.