Preparing dog for fireworks

[swizzlestix]

Our puppy is now 6 months old and I'm aware that it won't be long until fireworks start going off.
What can we do to prepare him, can anyone recommend an app we could play with the sounds / or anything else that might help.
I'm worried that as organised displays won't be taking place, more people will do their own in their gardens.
Thank you 😊

If you search socialization sounds for puppies on you tube it will bring up a big selection including fireworks, thunder, sirens etc.

The idea is to begin playing these very low and if pup is calm increase the volume slightly. Rinse and repeat

The Dog Trust have a variety of firework (and other) noises you can download and use on their website.

Turn the telly up loud, that’s what I do.

I've been watching spooks on iplayer with my pup! Lots of gun fights on there which as long as not too quiet are a similar sound for a starting point.

Next step is hunting out firework sounds on youtube for me

I found the sound socialisation tracks you can get on youtube and downloaded tended not to work as well for my pups as the Clix desensitisation CD.

We start off just playing it really quietly in the background and gradually increase the volume over a few weeks. I have been known to even take the wireless speaker and put it outside the window and crank up the volume, so that the noises are coming from outside as well.

I have only had one dog that was firework phobic and she was the only one that we didn’t use the CD with, as I couldn’t find it after moving house. She was also generally pretty sound sensitive, so probably more prone to sound induced fear.

Just to add, I think the desensitisations you download would probably work as well if you play them through a decent speaker, rather than through a computer or laptop.

I played the sounds and always took mine out for a walk during the early part of the evening and he couldn’t give a damn now (it might be too late for you to do that, so would not recommend now). He’s also a lab so very chilled anyway. He didn’t care about the vacuum or washing machine etc either. I’d say play the sounds and gradually increase the volume, do not react to the sounds. Build him a den and give him lots of exercise during the day time, before they start. We don’t have fireworks ourselves and never did.

Thanks all some great advice there, I'd better start tomo as time is ticking!

We gave ours dog treats during fire works when young. They now sit in the garden and watch them each year. They don't react to shot guns or air cannons on walks for this reason also

I think it massively depends on the breed of the dog as well. Eg some dogs are bred for the gun - labs/spaniels - even going back generations so can be completely disinterested.
My rescue dog (breed unknown and unguessable - but some terrier probably) doesn't give a monkeys about fireworks. But if a door bell rings (even on TV) they go nuts. I don't even have a door bell, so she now goes nuts at the sound of knocking (and that's why I don't need a door bell)

My littlest one, a tiny Yorkie, goes outside & barks at them. She takes them as a personal insult & tells them off.

It might sound crazy, but my dog (born in the August) was used to evening walks with me, so when the fireworks started (about two weeks before!) we were out every night. On the 5th of November we went to an organised fireworks display and he loved the people, the fuss, the excitement etc. He’s 7 now and never blinks an eye, inside or out. I don’t know if he’s a one off, or if it’s because we live on a busy road, but I’ve never left him on fireworks night, we always go out together!

PS he’s an Irish Setter!