Dog owners in the North West urged to train pets for Halloween and Bonfire Night

Over eight in ten (84%) dog owners in the North West have revealed their pets are distressed by loud noises – and a quarter (26%) have even had to SEDATE their dogs to calm them down.

Three in five (61%) dog owners in the region say their beloved pets become especially distressed during Bonfire Night or other firework displays.

The situation has become so bad for a third (30%) of North West dog owners that they have taken their pets to the vet to be treated for their reaction to sudden noises, according to a survey of 2,000 dog owners for Adaptil.

Dogs develop a phobia to loud bangs that becomes gradually worse.

But over half (57%) of dog owners in the North West have no idea they can train their pets to cope with sudden noises - such as strangers knocking on the door at Halloween.

TV Vet Cat Henstridge aka ‘Cat the Vet’, said: “In the run up to fireworks night it is important to follow our top 10 tips to help your dog cope with the loud noises.  

“But what many owners do not realise is that you can work with your dog outside of the fireworks season to help them overcome and manage their fear.  

“This is called desensitisation and counterconditioning. Desensitisation is when you expose them to fireworks noises but at a very low level and over time slowly increase the volume (as long as they are coping).  

“Once they are less sensitive to fireworks you can then train them to associate fireworks with nice things (like tasty treats and toys).”

Two-thirds (64%) of dog owners in the North West dread Bonfire Night because of the effect it has on their pet and 22% have had to ask neighbours to stop letting off fireworks because they were making their pet distressed.

The majority (64%) of dog owners in the region say they will stay in on Bonfire Night to make sure they can comfort their pet, while a third (32%) will stay in at Halloween and three in ten (32%) will remain at home during New Year’s Eve.

Halloween is also tough for the UK’s 8.9m dogs, with three in ten (29%) owners – and 24% in the North West - saying their pet becomes anxious due to strangers knocking on the door throughout the evening.

The worst symptoms of distress in dogs include cowering, excessive barking, running around furiously, panting and howling.

Two-fifths (41%) of owners in the North West say their dog is distressed by storms and a quarter (25%) say their pet is disturbed by the sound of the vacuum cleaner.

To calm their dogs, 64% of owners simply stay beside them, 69% stroke them and 47% close the curtains and doors.

Vet Andy Fullerton said: “For dogs, the sounds of fireworks naturally startle them as their hearing is much more sensitive than ours. This activates their primitive fight or flight response releasing adrenalin and cortisol.  

“Fireworks tend to be more than one bang and therefore if they are unable to get away from them and have a bad experience their fear can worsen and they can develop a phobia over time.  

“Firework phobias are when the “fight or flight” response has gone into overdrive resulting in a reaction way out of proportion to the threat posed by fireworks (there is no actual threat).

“Many other factors such as genetics, life events, socialisation and medical conditions can influence whether a dog develops a phobia of fireworks. A recent report by the PDSA states 51% of veterinary professionals say that they have seen an increase in pets with phobias (such as fireworks) in the last two years. This highlights the need for us to work together and raise awareness of what we can do to help our beloved dogs.”

Top 10 Tips to keep your dog calm:

1. Provide a den (safe haven) or hiding place for your pet
2. Use a calming diffuser as close to the den or hiding place as possible or where your dog spends most of its time
3. Walk your dog early in the evening before fireworks start
4. Keep dogs inside during fireworks and check that their microchip is up to date
5. Ensure windows, doors remain closed during firework season to reduce noise and prevent them running away
6. Draw curtains and put the TV on to mask any noise (only if TV/radio is normal to them)
7. Ensure your dog has access to its den or hiding place at all times (this also applies to food and water)
8. Make it a positive time by providing distractions, in the form of new toys and chews.
9. DO NOT punish your pet! This will only make your pet more distressed
10. Try not to leave your pets alone when fireworks are going off. Do not ignore or over fuss. Just keep calm and carry on

Fireworks are not just in November so follow this advice over the whole fireworks season (until January).