Fireworks fright

By Rachel Bean who is a qualified veterinary nurse, canine behaviourist, and a leading teacher of canine first aider. 

Many dog owners prepare for fireworks season and work to desensitise their dog, but for some owners the dog does not appear to be scared at all, so they carry on with their regular routine. For some, this even includes taking their pet along to fireworks displays.

However, just because your dog appears calm, it does not mean they are not afraid, dogs are people pleasers, and they might be suppressing their fear to be part of their pack.

My advice would be to avoid fireworks displays altogether with any dog, no matter how calm they appear, as it could lead to behavioural issues in the future.

Welcoming a dog into your life is the best thing in the world, but we need to remember that our dogs do not think like we do.

It is our responsibility to recognise the signs, and avoid any potentially triggering scenarios, dogs don’t enjoy the same things that we do.