Getting ready for ‘noisy season’ with your dog

• Game shooting season: 1st October until 31st  January
• Halloween: 31st October
• Bonfire Night: 5th November
• Diwali: Usually the week before or after Bonfire Night
• New Years Eve: 31st Dec
• Chinese New Year: January – February

It is natural to be worried by a big bang, for example, and fear of loud or strange noises is very common.  Our dogs have such sensitive hearing some may find loud noises physically painful.  And noise sensitivity typically gets worse every year, without help.  

Part of puppy socialisation

Ideally, all puppies will be carefully exposed to a variety of sounds while they are still young and in their prime socialization phase, from around 4-5 weeks old. If you have recently acquired a puppy, start within a couple of weeks of bringing them home.  

There are some brilliant online resources available from organisations such as our partners Hearing Dogs for Deaf People or the Dogs Trust, including step-by-step guides and sound clips to safely and effectively introduce your dogs to new sounds. You can also take a look at our guide on Preparing your pets for fireworks.

The first time

Many puppies don’t seem at all worried during their first ‘noisy season’ but issues commonly emerge the second time around when they are 1-2 years old.  It is best to be over-prepared, than for them to have a traumatic experience, so here are some tips for your first, and second, noisy season:

• Do not leave your dog home alone when there are likely to be fireworks, or gunshots nearby.
• Don't walk your dog when you know shooting is likely, or after dark.
• Create a safe space for them to hide, such as a covered crate or under the bed.
• Use background noise to mask the external sounds, like classical music or white noise.
• Keep the curtains closed.
• Provide plenty of distraction through toys, games and treats during noisy periods.

What if your dog is scared?

Common symptoms of fear are:

• Being jumpy
• Trembling
• Panting
• Staring
• Pacing / running around
• Hiding
• Laying very still and not willing to move 

If your dog shows any of these signs, reassure and comfort them, but accept they might prefer to be left alone. Stay nearby so they can come to you if they want, and ensure they can get to their safe place.

If fireworks or shooting begins while you are out walking, return home or to the car immediately, and don’t force them out for a walk if they are still distressed the next day. 

Preparing for next year

If there are signs of your dog being scared this year, begin planning for next year early.  Helping your dog to change how they react to loud noises & fireworks can take months, but avoid introducing new, potentially scary sounds to desensitize them until the noisy season is over in the Spring.  If your dog shows mild signs, try working through some of the online resources, above. 

If your dog is very frightened and distressed, or taking more than 24 hours to recover from their anxiety, seek professional support, initially with your vet, who may direct you to a veterinary behaviourist. 

What can you do now if your dog is already showing signs of distress / likely to

Contact your vet ASAP, who may prescribe medication to help them right now. The most suitable will depend on your dog, as well as how predictable, long lasting and frequent the noise events are. Drugs can be a brilliant option to help your dog be less scared, and prevent their fears getting worse, but you must then follow up with training to try and improve things for next year. 

Sudden onset of noise sensitivity

If your adult dog suddenly starts being afraid, there are a couple of things to consider: 

• Has something happened to scare them, like a siren going off next to them on a walk?  If so, that’s a likely cause, and the advice above should be followed. 
• If you are not aware of any reason for their fear of noise, visit your vet to discuss the possibility your dog is in pain. Research has linked dogs with musculoskeletal pain from arthritis, back problems or hip dysplasia, etc., to noise sensitivity; probably because it hurts them if they jump or are startled when they hear the noise. 

Other animals

Dogs aren’t the only animals who might be terrified by loud noise and fireworks: cats, rabbits, horses and farm animals can be very distressed too. Keep animals indoors and in secure enclosures, as far from the source of the noise as possible. Create a comfy, safe hiding place for your cat, where they can sleep it out. Bring small animals into the house at night in a pet carrier, and cover it with a blanket to muffle the sounds and block out the flashing lights.

If any of your pets seem frightened, stay calm yourself; animals take their cues from us, so the more relaxed and cheerful we seem, the less they will feel there is something to worry about. Do comfort them though, and consider how to help them before next year comes around.