Who takes their dogs to a firework display.

I came home from work yesterday and my golden retriever was in the back garden. He’d bought a Standard box while I was out and was nailing a Catherine Wheel to the fence.

I have 2 dogs. One is petrified of fireworks, shakes, pants, paces around the house looking for somewhere to hide and is generally miserable. The other one loves them and sits down on walks to watch them when they are inevitably going off all throughout October and November. I have taken him to displays before. I could not take his brother. I would genuinely be scared he would have a heart attack

it absolutely depends on the dog

About 30 years ago I was living in the UK and had an Irish Wolfhound. Rosie was about 60kg and at the time I was about 75kg (sadly no longer..😥).

One evening I took her along the riverside path on the River Thames, and there was a firework display somewhere. It completely spooked Rosie and I got hauled along the river bank for about 1km so fast my arm was nearly pulled out of its socket.

Conclusion...dogs and fireworks is just a really bad idea.

Hot air balloons also had the same effect!

YANBU. If the dogs were distressed
my previous 2 dogs used to love fireworks and would run into the garden wagging their tales with excitement when they were on. I probably wouldn’t take them to a display though.
The dog I’ve got now would be hiding under a table so it would be an absolute no to take her out.

We have 4 dogs and only one of them is ok with fireworks and loud places. You could honestly take him anywhere loud it wouldnt bother him. The other 3 are terrified! One of them will be panting and shaking all night even once they stopped!

I definitely agree with you. It's cruel to take animals you know are scared to places like this. I really hope that poor dog is found safe and they have learnt their lesson!

We take our rescue dog. He gets stressed at noises he can't see but he can associate the bangs with the flashes and smells if he's at the fireworks so it's actually better to take him than leave him at home.

last year at our local school fireworks they were turning people away at the gate with dogs.

I did think who would take dogs to that event… they’re not allowed in the playground during the normal day and so why on earth would they be allowed in the dark for a firework show! Bonkers

The first bonfire night we got our rescue dog we sweated blood making all kinds of provisions to ensure she was comfortable. Walk early, lots of blankets, treats, a hidey place, gentle music on. She didn't give a toss. Sat and snoozled all through the almighty racket going on outside.

Same with thunder and lightening. I got up the first night it happened to sit with her - she was snoring her head off.

My dog stood by the side of a bust dual carriageway while a bloke from the AA hammered my tyre out. The sound of the metal clanging was louder than fireworks but he wasn’t bothered. Very chilled.

Not all dogs are afraid of loud noises, even per your op seemingly (the people with their 2 dogs didn’t seem to have any issue?).

Obviously if you know your dog IS afraid, it’s a stupid idea to drag them along - I cannot understand that at all and that is unfair and potentially dangerous

But plenty of dogs are nosy and want to be where everyone else if, and if that means putting up with fireworks and music they’re fine with that.

I wouldn't take our Poodle to a fireworks display but he would be completely fine if I did. He just isn't bothered by fireworks, bird-scarers, shotguns. We took him to a WW1 re-enactment once which we didn't know would have pyrotechnics at quite the level they did, but he just ignored them (whilst eyeing up our hotdogs!)

My dogs love them I hold them up at the window to see the bang bangs. But if I had a dog who was anxious in the slightest I'd do all I could to avoid fireworks with them.

Christ it absolutely does my titty in when people respond blatantly disregarding a large chunk of the OP. The dogs were bothered and then ran off, and still missing! Really irresponsible of the owners. Should never have taken them, should have left when they got distressed and held on better to them when they really kicked off.

We always took our lab to bonfire night.

He would have been (he's dead now) mightily pissed off if we went for a walk without him!

We got do gooders being mouthy on several occasions. They did however have the good grace to apologise whe they realised he wasnt bothered.

Thoughtless Idiots who don't care about their pets are who.

Happened at the village display near us a few years ago, a terrified dog ran off and then got run over on a nearby very busy road. I hope the owners were suitably ashamed of themselves.

My dogs have no issue with fireworks either. Totally unbothered. Reckon because we don’t flap and bicker about them - and because they’re a gun dog breed who seem to have an innate tolerance for bangs!

🤣🤣🤣 The only reasonable response.

My old dog used to love watching them, he would be delayed though, it was quite funny to see his head shoot up a second after the shhhhhtttttt sound of them going up, rather sad actually after he went deaf because he was never aware of them after that so didn't see them (he wasn't one for being manipulated like to look up at the sky, and if I tried to point he just thought I had a treat, he wasn't the sharpest)

Sad to hear that people brought dogs who wouldn't like them though, although maybe they're fine with garden fireworks but the louder/constant bangs of a display might have been different which the owners didn't expect. I never did take ours to a display as our local ones banned dogs

My dog isn't the least bit bothered by fireworks.She watches them just like she watches telly. She isn't spooked at all. I haven't taken her to a display - mainly because of me. Fireworks = dark/cold weather and crowds and I'd rather watch from the warmth of home (I suspect she does too). But she is perfectly happy to out to the garden to do her business.

I understand you view and the view of the couple with the dogs. To some dogs are just pets, but to others dogs are personal friends. To each his own.

Mine's another that doesn't mind them.

However, I don't agree with bringing dogs to places where there are crowds. Dogs don't enjoy it. They're not even walking and you never know if they could take a bite out of a stranger who grabs them or gets in their face, until it happens.

Yes, I hate the really loud ones that sound like a bomb’s gone off. There really is no need for them. As well as spooking animals and wildlife (potentially to the point of death in some sad cases) they can also terrify people with dementia, PTSD and learning difficulties, amongst others.

Mainly idiots who don’t take into account how reactive their dogs could be. But also people with dogs who are able to manage it having made a judgement call knowing their dog well.
Where I live they build a ridiculously huge bonfire (fireman and police have to attend) and have constant loud fireworks going. It’s at the end of a very long street that leads to my house. I can see the flames from second floor windows. My cats (indoor) just about tolerate that but my immediate next door neighbours use fireworks in their back garden that sound like an absolute war zone. Cats are terrified. They don’t even plant the rockets properly so they fly over fences. Last year I was doing sparklers with my daughter and 4 year old niece in the back garden when NDNs started the fireworks. Both girls autistic, both screaming and running from the ridiculous amount of noise, the little one screaming “Oh no Mummy! It’s an emergency!” I got them inside before the inevitable misplaced rockets shot over. It terrifies our outdoor pets too so I spend most of the night going out reassuring them and prepare beforehand so that they have extra hay to hide in etc.
I don’t understand why people need the extreme noise to enjoy fireworks. Quiet ones can be just as nice to look at 😡