For a lot of dogs, Bonfire Night isn’t one night at all. Across North West London, fireworks start popping in the days before 5 November and carry on well after. To a dog’s ears, each bang is sudden, loud and impossible to explain. Some barely notice. Others pant, shake, pace or try to squeeze behind the sofa.
After sixteen years of walking dogs through firework season, here’s what we’ve seen work.
Get the walking done in daylight
The single most useful thing you can do is make sure your dog’s exercise is finished well before dark. A dog who has had a good, calm walk is far more likely to settle in the evening than one who’s been cooped up all day with energy to burn.
Our walks fit this naturally: morning pick-ups are around 9:30am and afternoon walks set off around midday, so our dogs are home and resting long before the first rockets go up. If you’re walking your own dog in the evening this time of year, keep them on the lead, even if their recall is usually perfect. A frightened dog can bolt in a second.
Make home the safest place in London
- Build a den. A crate or corner with their bed, a blanket over the top and a favourite chew gives your dog somewhere to retreat. Let them choose to go there rather than putting them in it.
- Close curtains and shut windows before it gets dark, to muffle the noise and hide the flashes.
- Add some background sound. The TV, radio or some calm music helps soften the bangs.
- Check doors and garden gates. Lots of dogs go missing around Bonfire Night. Make sure the garden is secure and their tag and microchip details are up to date.
- Feed a little earlier so dinner is done before things get loud. A long-lasting chew or a lick mat afterwards gives them something calming to focus on.
Stay calm yourself
Dogs read us far better than we think. Our whole approach to walking is built on keeping energy calm and steady, and the same applies at home. It’s fine to comfort a worried dog; you won’t “reward the fear”. But try to keep your voice and movements relaxed and ordinary. If you’re jumping at every bang too, your dog will take that as confirmation that something really is wrong.
If your dog really struggles
Some dogs are genuinely terrified of fireworks, and that’s worth taking seriously. If your dog’s reaction is severe, speak to your vet a few weeks before November. There’s a lot they can help with, and it’s much easier to plan ahead than to deal with it on the night.
And the rest of the year
Dogs who are used to calm, steady routines tend to cope better with surprises of all kinds, whether that’s fireworks, sirens or a skateboard flying past. That’s a big part of why we walk the way we do: small groups, no ball-throwing frenzy, a calm pack that stays relaxed. Read more about what happens on one of our walks, or have a look at our dog walking service.
Happy Bonfire Night from all of us at Premier Dog Walkers. Here’s to a quiet one on the sofa.