Bonfire Night is great fun for us and a confusing evening for many dogs. The bangs and flashes they cannot understand make some dogs pace, hide or refuse to settle — and the fireworks season now stretches across several weeks.
You cannot control the fireworks, but you can control the evening. A calm, predictable routine gives your dog something steady to hold on to while the noise goes on outside.
Walk early, settle before dark
Take the main walk in daylight, well before the fireworks are likely to start. Then settle in: close the curtains, put the TV or some music on at a normal volume, and keep the household calm. Dogs read our behaviour — a relaxed evening from you helps more than you might think.
Build a den they can choose
Set up a cosy spot — a crate with the door open, blankets behind the sofa — and let your dog choose to go there. Do not shut them in; the choice is the point. Familiar smells, a favourite chew and your company nearby all help a dog feel the evening is under control.
Small additions some owners try
Some owners add small things to the evening routine around fireworks season. Pawer Water Calming (£9.99 for a 5-stick pouch) is a water additive some owners mix into the bowl as part of the settling-in routine. It is one small piece of a bigger calm evening — the routine itself does most of the work. And if your dog is very distressed by fireworks, talk to your vet: they can advise on the best approach for your individual dog.
The Pawer Water Calming 5-stick pouch is £9.99 in our Fireworks Calming for Dogs collection. For more on the season, see our guide to helping your dog feel settled on Bonfire Night — or, if you are settling in for the evening yourself, our cosy night at home ideas.