Dogs commonly find the sound of fireworks terrifying because of their highly sensitive hearing, but there are ways to make the experience more bearable for them
Dogs can hear sounds at much higher frequencies than humans, so the whistles and bangs of fireworks can be unbearable for them. Photograph: Alamy/PADogs have a much sharper sense of hearing than humans and they are also able to hear sounds at much higher frequencies than we can. So, the unexpected whistling sounds of fireworks followed by loud bangs can come as quite a shock to them.
One 2022 study by Queen’s University Belfast reported that playing classical music to dogs reduced their barking while increasing their time lying down and resting. However the researchers found that classical music doesn’t help pet dogs relax when they are separated from their owners, so you might like to join them in their musical den if you’re not a fan of fireworks yourself.
So, the second rule is to introduce the sounds to them in smaller doses, maybe even with recordings of fireworks to begin with and ideally when they are puppies. Then, the third golden rule is to link the scary situation to something wonderful. “Make sure the positive experience follows the challenge to ensure that the scary thing brings happiness rather than the good times becoming a signpost for the fright,” writes Ward in his book, What Dogs Want .
Giving them edible treats is the obvious thing here but many dogs will also respond to lots of loving familiar sounds and physical reassurance from their owners too. On that note, I’m off to reassure our dogs that we’ll have their best interests at heart this Halloween.
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