For many families Deepavali is the most beautiful night of the year. For many dogs it is the most frightening. A few days of preparation, a safe den and a calm plan make the night much easier for them.
For many families, Deepavali is the most beautiful night of the year: lamps in every window, sweets, visitors, and crackers into the night. For many dogs it is the most frightening night of the year. They cannot know the bangs will stop, or where they are coming from. With a few days of preparation, you can make the night much easier for them.
Why Fireworks Frighten Dogs So Much
Dogs hear far higher frequencies than we do and pick up sounds from much further away. Fireworks are sudden, loud, unpredictable and come with flashes and smells. To a dog, they look a lot like danger with no obvious source. Fear of fireworks is very common, and it often gets worse each year if nothing is done, so this year's preparation helps next year's dog too.
In the Days Before
- Build a safe den. Choose an inner room with few windows. Put your dog's bed there, cover a crate or table with a thick blanket to make a cave, and let them get used to resting there with a chew. A den works best if it already feels safe before the noise starts.
- Check ID. Frightened dogs bolt, jump walls and slip collars. Make sure your dog wears a collar with a tag showing your phone number, and that gates and fences are secure.
- Talk to your vet early if your dog has panicked in previous years. There are safe medications that reduce noise fear, but they need to be prescribed and often trialled in advance. Never give human medicines without veterinary advice.
On the Day
- Walk your dog early, well before dusk, and keep them on the lead.
- Feed dinner a little earlier so they are full and settled before the noise peaks.
- Close windows and curtains to reduce flashes and sound.
- Turn on a fan, the radio or the TV to mask the bangs with steady background sound.
- Give a long-lasting chew or a stuffed food toy in the den. Chewing and licking are calming.
During the Noise
Comfort them. The old idea that comforting a scared dog "rewards the fear" is not supported by behaviour science. Fear is an emotion, not a trick. If your dog comes to you, a calm voice and a steady hand are fine. If they would rather hide, let them hide, and do not pull them out.
Stay calm yourself, do not scold them for trembling, barking or toilet accidents, and never take a frightened dog out to "face" the fireworks.
Know the Signs of Fear
Not all frightened dogs howl. Watch for panting when not hot, trembling, tucked tail, pacing, hiding, drooling, lip-licking, yawning, refusing food, or trying to dig or escape. Some dogs simply go very quiet and still.
Visitors and Sweets
With guests coming and going, gates are often left open. Keep your dog in a closed room during the busiest hours. Deepavali sweets are often rich in sugar, ghee and sometimes chocolate or raisins. Ask guests not to share them.
The Morning After
Expect your dog to be tired and maybe a little clingy. Check the garden for spent crackers before letting them out, because the casings can contain chemicals that are harmful if chewed. Keep the day quiet. If your dog panicked badly, talk to your vet about a longer-term plan before the Christmas and New Year fireworks.