Wellbeing
How to prepare your dog for fireworks
The short answer
The best way to prepare your dog for fireworks is with gradual sound desensitisation. Try playing firework recordings very quietly during relaxed moments and pairing the sound with treats, then slowly increase the volume over several weeks until your dog gets used to it. Start this training at least a month before Bonfire Night, and don’t forget to build a safe den your dog can retreat to ahead of the big day!
If your dog struggles with celebrations that come with a bang, like Bonfire Night and New Year’s Eve, now is the right time to start training them for it. Here’s a handy training checklist to help your dog keep calm during fireworks.
When should you start preparing your dog for fireworks?
The earlier you start, the better. If Bonfire Night is close, start anyway at a gentle pace and lean on the night-of steps in the training plan below. This plan will also get your dog ready for New Year’s Eve.
Fear of fireworks is a common form of noise anxiety in dogs. Left untreated, this fear can worsen over time. In your dog’s mind, it’s likely loud bangs suggest something bad is happening, rather than a celebration!
That’s why desensitisation and counter-conditioning can help fix the fear, by gradually teaching your dog that firework sounds are boring at worst, or something to look forward to at best.
However, this method only works slowly. Trying to rush (or starting training when the fireworks begin) can easily backfire and make your dog’s fear stronger. The sooner you start, the more likely it is your dog will feel calm during the commotion.
How do you desensitise your dog to fireworks?
Look for ‘firework sounds for dogs’ on YouTube or Spotify. You’ll need a speaker to play them through and a supply of high-value treats your dog only gets during these training sessions.
As you train your dog, two things are happening at the same time:
Desensitisation - where the sound becomes familiar and unremarkable through repeated low-level exposure to it
Counter-conditioning - where the sound starts to signal good things (e.g. treats, play time, dinner)
By exposing your dog to the scary sound at a level so low it doesn't trigger any fear, and pairing it with something they love, you can increase the volume so gradually that your dog barely notices. This helps to flip a sound’s emotional meaning from a threat to a non-event.
The pairing part is really important. In every session, the sound should coincide with something great happening. Scatter treats, start a game, or give them a stuffed food toy. The idea is to turn your dog’s reaction to a distant bang into "where's my snack?"
Your 5-week dog firework training plan
If your dog reacts badly at any stage of this plan, don't push through. Go back a step, halve the volume, and rebuild from there. A slower programme that works beats a faster one that further sensitises your dog.
Week 1: barely audible
Play the recording at the lowest volume your speaker allows during a relaxed moment. This could be while your dog is chewing something, playing, or eating dinner. Your dog shouldn’t react at all. If they glance at the speaker, that's fine.
If your dog stops eating, freezes, or their ears pin back, the volume is too high. Start with short sessions of five to ten minutes, once or twice a day.
Weeks 2-3: gradual increases
Raise the volume one small notch every few days, always watching your dog rather than the dial. The golden rule: your dog sets the pace. Any sign of worry means drop back to the last comfortable volume and stay there for a few more sessions.
Weeks 4–5: realistic volume, varied context.
Work up towards a volume that resembles distant real fireworks, and vary when and where you play it — different rooms, different times of day — so the calm response generalises rather than only working in one spot on the sofa.
How to set up a safe den for your dog
Even a well-prepared dog appreciates somewhere to retreat. Set a cosy den up now so it's a familiar, positive place they can use long before it's needed.
Choose a quiet indoor spot - this could be under the stairs, behind the sofa, or a crate with the door permanently open. Add bedding that smells of home, a bowl of water, and a favourite toy.
Feed your dog treats and chews in the den over the coming weeks so it becomes a happy place. Never shut your dog in the den - it's a chosen space, never forced.
How should you prepare your dog for Bonfire Night?
A few things are much easier to check early:
Check your dog’s microchip details are up to date - frightened dogs may bolt; 2023 research by The Royal Kennel Club found an 81% rise in dogs going missing during the two weeks of November (versus the previous two weeks)
Check their ID tag - it should be legible and securely attached
Plan earlier walks - during fireworks season, make sure your dog has exercised, gone to the toilet and is safely back home before dark
Check garden fencing - look for any gaps a panicking dog could squeeze through and seal them
On the night: how to keep your dog calm during fireworks
Fireworks often go off for days either side of 5th November, and again around New Year’s Eve. Even a well-trained dog can find them hard to deal with, so have a plan for the night itself.
Get the basics done before dark
Feed, walk and take your dog to the toilet early, while it’s still quiet. Frightened dogs often lose their appetite, and you won’t want to be outside once the bangs start.
Shut the noise out
Close curtains, doors and windows, and keep your dog in a room in the middle of the house if you can. This can help muffle bangs and flashes, and keeps the smell of gunpowder out too.
Play background sound
Put on the TV, radio, a podcast or audiobook. Studies suggest playing calm classical music helps dogs relax - also useful for covering up any loud bangs.
Leave the doggy den open
Let your dog go into their den whenever they want, making sure it has fresh water and one of their favourite toys. If your dog would rather hide behind the sofa or sit next to you, that’s fine too.
Keep your dog busy
A stuffed food toy, lick mat or scent game gives your dog something nice to focus on instead. Don’t push it if they’re too worried to eat. Some dogs also settle better with a pheromone plug-in or collar.
Stay calm and act normal
Dogs read their human’s mood, so ensuring your own behaviour is normal can help calm a scared dog. Don’t make a big fuss, and never tell your dog off for being scared of fireworks, as it can reinforce their fear.
Stay close and keep them on a lead
If you can, stay home with your dog on the night itself. Take them out on a lead for toilet trips, even in the garden, in case a loud bang makes them bolt.
When to see a vet about your dog’s fear of fireworks
For most dogs, a steady desensitisation programme can make a real difference. But if your dog's fear is severe, with destructive escape attempts, self-injury, refusing food for hours, or trembling long after the noise stops, speak to your vet. Underlying pain can heighten noise sensitivity, especially in older dogs, so it’s worth a check.
Severe noise phobia is a genuine welfare issue, so a vet can also refer you to a qualified behaviourist and discuss whether short-term support is needed alongside training. Starting that conversation early gives you every option before the fireworks season begins.
If your dog is insured with Napo pet insurance, you can also use the FirstVet app to video chat with a vet and discuss any concerns, day or night.
Dog fireworks FAQs
Is it too late to train my dog before Bonfire Night?
If fireworks start before the training has taken hold, or you’re reading this in November, lean on the night-of steps above and don’t try to rush the plan.
If this is the case, it’s a good idea to start desensitisation training on a quiet evening (not a night with real fireworks!), take a break during the real thing, and then pick up training again after 5th November. Before you know it, it’ll be time to prepare your dog for New Year’s Eve fireworks!
Starting a gentle desensitisation plan now will help give your dog a head start, but be prepared to come back to it in the new year once things have settled down again. Winter and spring are the ideal time to train, as real fireworks aren't interrupting you.
Should I play firework sounds on Bonfire Night itself?
Not as training, no. Your dog can’t learn calmly when the bangs are real and unpredictable, so save the recordings for quieter evenings. On Bonfire night, use background music or the TV to soften the noise instead.
Can I train a puppy not to be scared of fireworks?
Yes, and it’s generally easier than trying to fix a fear later. If you don’t know where to start, Dogs Trust has some free resources you can use to help teach puppies to relax around noises. Use the same pairing of quiet sound plus treats, and let your puppy’s reactions set the pace.
Can calming plug-ins, collars or treats replace training?
No. While these may help take the edge off, they don’t teach your dog that fireworks are safe. Talk to your vet before giving your dog any supplements or calming treats.
How do I keep my dog calm on New Year’s Eve?
Follow the exact same steps in our 5-week training plan. If New Year’s Eve falls during the training schedule, take a break and finish the training in the new year, once things have quietened down and you haven’t got real fireworks to contend with.