Dogs have excellent hearing, so loud bangs can cause them to startle. This, mixed with bright lights in the sky and potential crowds, can cause a lot of stress and discomfort, making fireworks season a daunting time for many dogs. Although fireworks will always be startling, you can help prepare your dogs for when the time comes and help to make the sounds less scary.
While the Blue Cross advises owners to start preparing their dogs for fireworks six months in advance, their animal behaviourist, Becky Skyrme, has shared what owners can do to help in the next few weeks ahead of Bonfire Night. She said: "A great way to do this is by familiarising them with the sound of fireworks, which can be done by playing a recording of fireworks via a speaker."
