Is your dog scared of fireworks? Start training now

Why is my dog scared of fireworks?

It's natural for a dog to startle at a loud bang. The LICG, the Dutch information centre for companion animals, says this fear is directly linked to the survival instinct. Fireworks are also more than noise: the flashes, the vibrations and even the smell of gunpowder can unsettle a dog. Some dogs are more sensitive to it than others.

How common is it? Stefanie Riemer, a behaviour researcher at the University of Bern, asked dog owners from many countries, the Netherlands among them, in an online survey published in 2019. Of the 1,225 dogs, just over half were afraid of fireworks to some degree. For most, the fear started in their first year of life. After the age of seven, only a few dogs became fearful for the first time. These are owners' own reports, not measurements.

In the same study, fear of fireworks was strongly linked to fear of gunshots and thunder. Health problems were linked to it too. The LICG also points out that in dogs, health problems can contribute to fear of noises. That's why a good plan starts at the vet (more on that below).

How to recognise firework fear

The UK dog welfare charity Dogs Trust lists signs including these:

• whining, whimpering or barking
• becoming very clingy and wanting to stay close to you
• a lot of panting, drooling or lip-licking
• the tail tucked between the legs
• hiding, for example under furniture
• trying to escape
• trembling, pacing or restlessness
• not wanting to eat

Some of these signs can also point to a health problem. If in doubt, ask your vet.

Will New Year's Eve be quiet now fireworks are banned?

Quieter perhaps, but not silent. From the 2026-2027 New Year onwards, consumers in the Netherlands are banned from setting off fireworks. Small category F1 fireworks, such as throw-down snaps, party crackers and sparklers, are allowed all year round for anyone aged 12 or over. And clubs and foundations can get permission from the municipality for fireworks over New Year.

Heavier fireworks, such as rockets, cakes and bangers, may now only be set off by professionals with permission from the province, or by a club or foundation with the municipality's permission. That permission is called an exemption (ontheffing).

What are the rules in Wassenaar?

In Wassenaar, clubs and foundations with a demonstrable local connection can, in special cases, apply for an exemption for an organised fireworks event, by 1 November at the latest. With an exemption, fireworks may only be set off between 31 December 2026 18:00 and 1 January 2027 02:00, with at most 200 kilograms of packaged category F2 fireworks on site. The municipality also requires the event to be safe for animals.

So don't assume your dog will hear nothing on New Year's Eve 2026. Snaps and sparklers remain legal, there may be an organised display somewhere nearby, and a thunderstorm can trigger the same fear. Keep an eye on your municipality's announcements in December. Training is still worth it.

How do you get your dog used to firework sounds?

By linking the sound to something good, at a pace where your dog never gets a fright. Play a recording of fireworks very quietly at first, and play with your dog or give him treats meanwhile. Only turn the volume up when he stays relaxed. Always stay below the level at which he shows fear.

The steps below follow the LICG's advice.

1. 1Choose a good-quality recording of firework sounds. The LICG calls the free Sounds Scary recordings very suitable.
2. 2Play the sound so quietly that your dog doesn't react. Play with him or give him something really tasty while the sound plays.
3. 3Keep the session short and stop while he is still relaxed.
4. 4Turn the volume up a tiny bit next time. If he startles, looks up tensely or stops eating, go back to the previous volume.
5. 5Once the sound goes well, also practise with flashes of light and the smell of gunpowder, in different places, indoors and outdoors. Always with play or treats.

Expect a number of days to a number of weeks: that is usually how long it takes before an animal no longer looks up even at full volume. The LICG recommends starting as early as August. December is on the late side, but still possible. Our suggestion: start now, in mid-October.

Give a treat after every unexpected bang

You can help outside training sessions too. Give a treat or start a game straight after an unexpected loud noise, such as thunder or a backfiring motorbike. The treat must come immediately after the bang, so your dog learns that the bang predicts something good. So keep closed tubs of kibble in a few places around the house, and take some on every walk.

If you have a puppy, or a dog that isn't afraid yet, you're in the best position. Riemer's data indicate that teaching puppies, or adult dogs that aren't yet afraid, to link the noise with something good is highly effective in preventing firework fear later on. Again, these are owners' own reports. How to get a puppy used to new sounds is covered in puppy socialisation.

What plan should you follow from now to New Year's Eve?

Start now with the vet and the sound training. Build up in November while it is still quiet outside. In December, prepare your house and neighbours. On 31 December, walk in daylight and be indoors before dark. Then keep a closer eye on your dog for a few days. What to do at each point, and why:

Ear defenders: teach him to wear them first

The LICG mentions ear defenders made specially for dogs mainly for people who only start in December: they protect your dog from bangs outside training. Do teach him to wear them calmly first, ideally with two people. First hold one ear cup over one ear with your hand while the other person feeds him tiny pieces of something tasty. Then both cups very briefly, then a little longer, and only then the strap. Give him treats while they are on and stop as soon as they come off.

What do you do on New Year's Eve if your dog is scared?

Stay with him, make the house calm and let him choose where he wants to be. Close the curtains and turn on the lights and the radio or TV, so the stimuli from outside stand out less. If he wants to hide, let him. If he comes to you for comfort, do comfort him.

• Don't leave him alone. Both the Dierenbescherming and Dogs Trust advise against leaving your dog alone on New Year's Eve. How to build up time alone in ordinary weeks is covered in leaving your dog home alone.
• A safe spot. For one dog that is a crate with a blanket over it, for another it's being close to you or the quietest room in the house. Practise the spot at calm moments, for example by rewarding him for lying relaxed on a towel. Then put that towel in his spot.
• Comforting is fine. Dogs Trust writes that research shows ignoring him won't help. Stay calm yourself and talk quietly and normally.
• Something to chew. A good chew can be relaxing. Give it before the fireworks start, not once they have begun.
• Never punish. If your dog wees indoors or does something else you don't want because he is scared, don't tell him off. That can make him even more frightened.

When should you see a vet about firework fear?

Ideally now, before you start training. Some illnesses can lower the threshold for reacting to noises, the LICG writes. Dogs Trust advises speaking to your vet as soon as possible if your dog shows signs of fear of fireworks. Your vet can also refer you to a behaviourist and discuss medication with you.

The LICG recommends medication for animals exposed to fireworks for a long time, for example if fireworks go off in your area for weeks beforehand. The same goes for animals with several behaviour problems and for animals that are already extremely frightened when the recording plays quietly. Don't wait too long in those cases, as otherwise the fear will only get worse. Which medicine suits your dog is your vet's decision. Follow the instructions exactly: many need to be given before the fireworks start.

After New Year

How quickly a dog recovers varies a lot. In Riemer's study, almost three-quarters of fearful dogs were back to normal by the next morning. For 10% it took up to a day, for 12% up to a week, and for more than 3% several weeks or even months. If your dog is still not himself after a few days, call your vet.

Even if he bounces back quickly, don't wait until next autumn to start training. The LICG warns that a dog can generalise his fear: first he fears loud bangs, later softer sounds too, such as a kitchen cupboard slamming or a car door. Riemer found that firework fear often improved, but also often got worse. Ideally, do the training with the guidance of a qualified behaviour therapist or a recognised veterinary behaviour specialist. Ask your vet for someone who uses reward-based methods.

In the days after New Year, also watch out for firework debris. Pet Poison Helpline, an American poison line for pets, writes that contact with a recently ignited firework causes burns to paws, lips, nose and mouth. A firework that never went off can, if eaten, cause gastrointestinal upset, organ injury or seizures. If you think your dog has eaten something, call your vet straight away.

If your dog is tense on the street in December, even in daylight, choose quiet places and times. You'll find them for Wassenaar in our guide to walking an anxious or reactive dog. If you'd like help with the walks, have a look at our private walks.

Frequently asked questions about a dog scared of fireworks