When I first saw Florence, I instantly knew she was an anxious puppy, which made me fall in love with her even more, as I wanted to be the person who was able to protect her for years to come.
But around this time last year, as Bonfire Night was on the horizon, I began to do some research.
I was aware of the effects fireworks can have on nervous dogs, as I’ve seen family pets suffer terribly from the noises (including smashing a bathroom to pieces in distress).
Things to Consider Before Adopting a Pet
I wanted to be fully prepared to help Florence cope, as I wasn’t sure how she would react.
In the end, she had a really calm night, so with November 5 now only days away, I thought I’d share how I helped my anxious dog survive Bonfire Fire night.
It goes without saying that of course this won’t make a difference to every nervous dog, but I can only hope my tips and tricks can make the next few days as stress-free as possible for those who are beginning to dread this time of year.
For professional advice on how to care for your dog on Bonfire Night, visit the RSPCA website.
Don’t leave them alone
It probably goes without saying, but if you think your dog is going to struggle on Bonfire Night, don’t leave them alone.
As their owner, they probably rely on you for comfort and protection. It’s also important to keep an eye on them in case they become distressed and are at risk of harming themselves.
Instead of going out to a firework display with friends and family, you could always make other Bonfire Night arrangements, such as a cosy night in with a “picky tea” and a fun game or two (the Logo Board Game is very good).
Take them on a long walk
Taking your furry friends on a longer walk than usual could make a huge difference when it comes to helping them feel relaxed.
Adding another 10-15 minutes to your daily walk means they can burn a little bit more energy and tire themselves out more.
Or, you could just take them on an extra walk before the evening comes.
Make sure the house isn’t silent
I personally feel this is one of the biggest things you can do around this time of year.
If the house isn’t silent, dogs will be distracted by other noises when fireworks are let off (hopefully).
As I stayed with Florence for her first Bonfire Night, the TV was on at all times, but I decided to increase the normal volume.
Sky and NOW have teamed up with Dogs Trust this year to launch a dedicated pop-up TV channel designed to help our fluffy family members stay calm during the potentially stressful period.
The aptly named ‘BonfireNight’ channel will feature a range of soothing, funny and distracting movies specifically curated for dogs to enjoy with their owners, helping to ease anxiety triggered by loud noises.
@rspca_official Fireworks have become a huge part of our annual celebrations, from Bonfire Night to New Year’s Eve, but the loud bangs and sparkling lights aren’t so magical for our pets, farm animals and wildlife 💔 We need your experiences and stories to help us show the true impact of fireworks. If your animals have been affected, please fill out our short survey via the link in our bio 🔗 #RSPCA #Fireworks #DogsFireworks #DogsFireworksAnxiety #fireworksanxiety ♬ Ambient-style emotional piano – MoppySound
The channel can be found on Sky 310 – it will air from 6am on November 1 until 6am on November 6.
Additionally, you could also keep a radio on in the background – try Classic FM’s Pet Classics, running from 5pm to 9pm on November 2 and November 5.
Make a comfort corner
Choosing a room in the house that absorbs the least sound would be the ideal place to spend the evening, as long as your dog is used to going in it and feels comfortable there.
I would also make sure curtains or blinds are covering the windows to hide the flashing firework lights, as best you can.
A good tip I read about was to make a “comfort corner”, full of your dog’s beds, blankets and favourite toys.
The toys your dog loves to squeak all day, every day could come in handy, as encouraging them to play with these could drown out the loud sudden firework bangs.
Give them extra attention
I don’t think there is any harm in fussing over your pet more than normal around Bonfire Night.
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Just letting them know you are there and are someone to play with could be just what they need.
I even use this time of year as an excuse for Florence to have some new toys, so of course a trip to Pets at Home was organised.
They currently have their festive range in-store and the Christmas Jumbo Jivin’ Gingerbread Tug Of War Dog Toy (pictured above) has already become Florence’s new favourite, especially as the smaller gingerbread rope toy she got last year has recently gone to dog toy heaven.
It might sound daft caring so much because Florence is just a dog (I used to have this opinion too), but becoming a dog owner has completely changed that.
