Why dogs are more sensitive to fireworks than us humans

Generally speaking, what we can hear from 20 feet away; our dogs can hear from 80 feet away. If you have an adolescent, this might be hard to believe, but your dog can hear sounds at least four times further away than you can, and yes this includes you recalling them.

It does depend on the pitch of the sound as well. Dogs are better with higher-pitched sounds, and where the average human can’t hear above 20,000 Hertz (Hz), dogs can hear sounds as high as 47,000 to 65,000 Hz. When we consider how sensitive our dogs’ hearing is, it’s easy to see why at this time of year fireworks are such a huge source of fear.

Is it possible to help your dog feel less scared of fireworks? Yes, but it does take time, and starting the training early is critical in achieving success. Begin a sound sensitivity reduction programme a few months in advance - we can help you with this inside ClubDogwood.

If you haven't been preparing your dog for a few months, although it's too late to begin a sound sensitivity reduction programme, there are still things you can do that may help your dog feel calmer:

Make a den for your dog to hide in if they choose
Practice gentle TTouch
Apply comforting body wraps or a thundershirt
Try relaxing floral waters
Create a calming playlist
Soundproof a room with heavy blankets
Use over the counter products or ask your vet about prescription drugs

What is TTouch?

TTouch is a massage technique used by owners, trainers, breeders, veterinarians, zoo personnel and shelter workers all over the world. Linda Tellington-Jones developed it, a Canadian horsewoman, who studied Awareness Through Movement, a method of gentle manipulation of the human body through which to activate unused neural pathways to the brain and expand the potential to learn. She started using it on her horses to “stimulate the function and vitality of the cells in an animals body, and to activate unused neural pathways to the brain”, and the results were astounding.

The method engages the parasympathetic nervous system, relaxing muscle tension and allowing heart rate, blood pressure and circulation to slow, in effect bringing stress levels down, which, in turn, allows a dog (or person or horse) to have more body awareness, which can help if the body is compensating because of a past fear or pain.

Where do you hide in times of danger?

Most dogs like a safe space when they are scared. Having a safe space makes it easier for them to cope when they are scared. I once knew a dog that used a safety blanket, just like a child. When he got scared, he would drag the blanket to his owner and nudge it until she would lift it up.

He would crawl under it, roll himself into a ball against her and seemingly forget the world around him until whatever he feared had passed. All his owner had to do was to make sure that that blanket was readily available and gently lay her hand on top of the rolled-up ball during a thunderstorm or fireworks.

Knowing what soothes your dog allows you to help them through scary situations instead of feeling helpless. At Club Dogwood we learn all about how our dogs experience fear and how to best help them through scary times. One of the things we have been working on is building a safe space for our dogs.

Building a safe space for your dog during bonfire night

To build a safe space, start by building a den. Figure out what the quietest room is in your house or if your dog already has a suitable spot where he or she chooses to lie, build your den there. Use a table and cover it with heavy blankets and put nice soft blankets and cushions inside, as well as a bowl of water. Put a pile of old towels in too to give them something to dig. Make sure the den is easily accessible and has enough space for your dog to stand up, turn around and lie out completely flat.

Create this safe space well in advance, not on the day itself. Your dog needs to already know it and feel safe there for it to work. Once you have built the den, regularly feed your dog some treats in the den, preferable something nice and chewy to build positive associations with the space.

Protect the space. It is your dog’s space and needs to be readily accessible to them at all times. Make sure the kids don’t play in it or near it and keep the door of the room open, so your dog can walk in and out when they feel like it.

If you have more than one dog, create a safe space for each dog. Let them choose which one they want to be in and never order them to go there. The sooner they get used to having this space in the house, the more likely they are to use it, so channel your inner child (or ask your kids to help) and build the coolest doggy “blanket fort” you can imagine!

So, thats your prep - what about the day itself?This is your 5th November timeline:

Morning

Go for a Sniff the Dog walk if you can avoid triggers
Keep stress as low as possible the whole day.
Stock up on long lasting chews and prepare your lickimat spreads.
Check your den is ready (if your dog uses one)
Know what times to give over the counter products or prescription drugs

Afternoon

Exploration Zone in the house
Soundproof windows with heavy blankets
Treat searches in the house
Environment activities in the house
A toilet break before it gets dark
If you go out for a walk later in the day, keep your dog on a lead as fireworks tend to start earlier and earlier.

Late afternoon

Try to avoid walks after sunset. If this is unavoidable, keep your dog on lead and make toilet breaks as fast as possible. If you do hear a bang, deliver a quick treat (if they will take it) and head home.

Evening

Once the fireworks start, let your dog decide whether they want to cuddle up with you or hide away in their den.
Play your calming playlist (if you've been working on this, otherwise any music)
TTouch or gentle massage if your dog wants it
Chews and lickimats if your dog wants them

The next day

Take things nice and slowly - you and your dog will need to decompress after the stress so avoid all triggers if possible.
Social sleeping opportunities to catch up on missed sleep
Chews, lickimats, Exploration Zones - anything to decompress

This would be my suggested timeline for today, but of course you know your individual dog best and what they need.

Here's one last thing you can do on the day itself...

Although fireworks are no longer restricted to just Bonfire Night, New Years Eve and religious celebrations, but rather they seem to span October-December, the days of the celebrations themselves, or the weekends closest to them (in the case of Bonfire Night) is likely to be the worst.

Some people drive to a remote location to get away from the worst of it on the night itself. If you think this could be an option, please first and foremost consider your safety.

Recommendations:

Your safety is an absolute priority. Please don’t go to a remote location on your own.
It gets cold and you don’t want to leave your engine running the whole time. Take blankets for you and your dog, hot water bottles, and a flask of something warm.
Make it fun – take a picnic for you and your dog and something for yourself to do.
For safety take a power bank to recharge your phone.
Your dog’s fear may be amplified if they hear fireworks in the car as their flight options are completely removed. You may need to arrive at your spot before it gets dark and return when you think they will be over. This could be very late!
Again, please don’t go on your own.

If you don’t fancy sitting in your car and staying out late, could you book a couple of nights away? Of course this is not practical or affordable for everyone, but if you’re fortunate enough to be able to book a quiet cottage or get away in your caravan or motorhome if you have one, you and your dog may find some peace. Avoid places or locations where the sounds could be worse of course – check in advance.

Good luck. And if you need any extra support to manage your dog's firework fear, you can work with my trainers and I inside Club Dogwood.