Hi I'm Lilly one of the Canine Behaviourist and Training Advisors here at Battersea
Today we're going to be talking about how to make your dog feel safe during fireworks season
There are lots of times throughout the year where people like to celebrate with fireworks but many dogs can find them scary and stressful
We're going to show you how to gradually desensitise your dog to the sound of fireworks and then teach them to associate them with something positive not something scary
However if it's too late to do this we'll also show you how to manage your dog's stress at the time
If your dog is still extremely stressed after following our advice we recommend consulting your vet
You will need access to some firework sound effects and a way of playing them out loud as well as some of your dog's favourite treats or a toy
It's best to start this training indoors away from distractions making sure your dog can leave if they want to
Play the fireworks sounds on a low volume for five to ten minutes three to four times a day and increase this very, very slowly until you see the first sign that your dog is reacting to the noise such as twitching their ears
Once your dog has stopped responding to the noise you can increase the volume slightly
Keep doing this every day over a period of weeks until your dog does not respond to the sounds even at a high volume
If at any point during these steps your dog is scared remain calm and stop the session immediately
You may have progressed too quickly so start from a lower volume next time
Once your dog has been desensitised to the sounds
You're going to start building a positive association to them
Get out your dog's food, treats or a favourite toy
When they get excited don't give it to them straight away
Instead sit down calmly for a few minutes
Once your dog has calmed down play the firework sounds at a low volume again
If possible use a remote control so they don't see you do it
As soon as your dog hears the sound give them their food or start to play with them
Once they have finished eating or playing turn off the sounds immediately
Keep repeating this process until your dog begins to get excited when they hear the sounds then you can increase the volume a little each time
Eventually your dog will begin to associate the sounds with something enjoyable like eating or playing
Next we're going to look at ways you can manage your dog's stress during fireworks
Even if you've desensitised your dog to the sounds
We'd still recommend taking these steps to manage your dog's stress
No matter how much your dog may appear to not mind fireworks we don't recommend taking them to a display
Before the fireworks start make sure your house and garden are secure
Also ensure that their microchip and tag are up-to-date incase they get out
Create some safe, comfy hiding places your dog can retreat to
You can cover a crate or a table in blankets and put their bedding inside
Don't lock them in the crate or confine them to just one room as this may stress them out even more
Drawing the curtains can also help as the sudden flashes can be distressing too
If your dog has never used a crate before check out our crate training video
You should stick to your dog's normal routine as much as possible but you may want to make a few minor changes
Take your dog for a walk and a toilet break before it gets dark
If your dog is particularly scared of fireworks you may want to feed them early too
If you have time introduce these routine changes gradually over the course of a few days
Remember not to act differently around your dog
If you follow them around or are overly affectionate they may sense that something's up
If you remain calm this will help your dog to remain calm
However you can still reassure your dog by doing something that they enjoy like playing a favourite game
Mask some of the noise and help your dog stay calm by putting on the TV, the radio or playing some music
Finally try to settle your dog before the fireworks start give them something enjoyable to do which will keep them occupied such as a toy stuffed with food or a long-lasting chew
Those are our tips on preparing your dog for fireworks season
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