Bonfire Night is on Thursday 5 November, and for many dogs it is the hardest night of the year. The bangs start without warning, they come from every direction, and there is nothing a dog can do about them — which is exactly why giving them a job can help. A snuffle toy turns a stressful evening into a puzzle: nose down, brain busy, treats to find. It will not silence the fireworks, but it gives your dog something absorbing to focus on while they pass.
Why nosework works on fireworks night
Dogs experience the world through their noses, and sniffing is genuinely tiring work for them. Ten minutes of searching through fabric pockets can tire a dog out as much as a much longer walk, and it does so indoors, where they feel safe. On Bonfire Night that matters twice over: your dog stays in their familiar room, and their attention is on the next hidden treat rather than the next bang. Think of it as a quiet, absorbing game rather than a cure — a way to make a long evening feel shorter and calmer.
How a snuffle toy works
A snuffle toy is a plush toy with folds and pockets you tuck treats into. Your dog noses through the fabric to find them, one by one, working at their own pace. Start easy: place a few treats in the shallowest pockets with the toy on the floor in front of them, and let them work it out. Once they understand the game, you can hide treats deeper and add a few more. Short sessions are best — five to ten minutes, then a rest — and always supervise, especially the first few times, so you can see how enthusiastically your dog plays with it.
Our pick: the Snuffle Mouse Dog Toy
The Snuffle Mouse Dog Toy (£17) is a nosework puzzle plush with hidden treat pockets, shaped like a mouse for a bit of extra fun. It is a simple, low-fuss addition to your Bonfire Night plan: tuck in your dog's usual treats, set it down in their den or favourite corner, and let the game begin. Use treats your dog already knows and likes — a new flavour on a stressful night is an unnecessary gamble — and keep a few spare treats in your pocket to top the pockets up between rounds.
Build the whole evening around it
A snuffle toy works best as part of a calm routine, not as a last-minute rescue. Feed at the usual time, draw the curtains before dark, and put the radio or television on low for gentle background sound. Set the toy out a little before the fireworks are due to start, so your dog is already playing when the first bangs arrive. If they lose interest and retreat to their bed, let them — a dog that chooses its own safe spot is a dog coping in its own way. Offer the toy again later in the evening if they come back out for a wander.
You can find the Snuffle Mouse Dog Toy (£17) in our dog accessories collection, and our calmer Bonfire Night evening routine for dogs covers the rest of the night, from safe dens to steady routines. Here is to a quieter 5 November for every dog in the house.