How to desensitize a dog to fireworks?

To begin with, get your dog settled in the room and play the sounds they are least scared of at the lowest possible volume. Increase the volume very, very slowly, until you see the first signs that your dog is reacting to the noise. Once your dog starts to react, leave the sounds at that volume for a few minutes to let them get used to it. Play the sounds at this low level for 5-10 minutes, 3-4 times a day. Once your dog has stopped responding to the noise, you can turn the volume up slightly, until they begin to respond again. Keep playing the sounds in this way daily, over a period of weeks, until your dog no longer reacts to the sounds, even at a higher volume. Building a positive association between your dog and loud noises is also important, to start, prepare your dog’s food or get out one of their toys. As soon as you hear the sounds give your dog their food or start to play with them. Once your dog has finished eating or playing, turn off the sounds straight away. This is so that they start to associate the sound with something positive happening.

With fireworks, the process involves exposing your pet to audio recordings of fireworks over a few months, very quietly at first and gradually increasing the volume. To get the best results, we recommended that you start at least six months before fireworks season. When your pet is in their safe haven, start to play the fireworks audio at a very low level – so low that your pet either doesn’t respond at all or reacts by just turning towards the source of the noise. Reward your pet after each loud noise, to change your pet's emotional response to the noise, throw a pea-sized piece of their favourite food onto the floor for them. Increase the volume of the fireworks sounds once they’ve stopped showing any signs of anxiety in response to the sounds and seem able to engage in other activities happily while the audio is playing. Give your pet 10 to 30 seconds to get used to the increased volume, then start to interact by offering some treats or toys after each loud noise. Vary the volume during the training, make the general trend that the volume increases, but do vary it lower as well as higher, this will give you a better response. Go very slowly; the more time you’re able to take over this, the more likely you are to have a positive result. Keep going until you can play the recording at a volume that mimics the sound level of real fireworks. Reward your pet’s calm response after each loud noise, using praise, play and treats – this will reinforce good behaviour.

Dogs that are safely and gradually exposed to many different experiences, including loud noises, during their essential socialisation period of three to 16 weeks of age, are often able to cope more effectively with loud, frightening sounds like fireworks or loud engine noises. Sound therapy can help your dog feel more comfortable with new and scary life noises. Sounds Scary can help your dog deal with distressing noises such as fireworks. Sounds Scary is not only backed by years of clinical experience, but it is also scientifically proven to be safe, effective and easy to use. Sounds Sociable is designed to help puppies adapt to their new life as a pet and includes a collection of sounds that every puppy should be familiar with, including traffic, domestic noises, children, and fireworks.