Fear of dogs of firecrackers, fireworks and the like.

Dogs are extremely afraid of firecrackers, fireworks, etc. Do you know why? This fear is known as loud noise phobia in dogs and is quite common. 

Dogs, having sharper hearing than humans, are more sensitive to loud sounds such as firecrackers and fireworks, which can cause them anxiety and fear.

When we detect that we live with a puppy with this type of sensitivity, the main thing is not to scold him if he behaves undesirably, such as trying to escape or scratching things. We must accompany them with all our love and patience. If they are looking for us, be there for them, if they try to hide, provide them with a safe space, as isolated from noise as possible, and leave them alone.

Although it used to be frowned upon as a way of reinforcing fearful behaviour, there is no scientific support for this. It is cruel that when a member of our family needs us we turn our back on them, accompanying them and making these moments more bearable does not reinforce this fear.

Key guidelines for helping dogs with firecrackers and fireworks:

1. Create a safe haven: we will provide a safe and quiet place for the dog to retreat to during times of noise, such as an interior room without windows or a cage covered with a blanket to reduce noise. If the room has windows, close them and lower blinds. If possible, use curtains that also dampen noise.
   
   
2. Avoid leaving him alone during noisy events: if we know there will be loud noises, such as parties or events with firecrackers, fireworks or thunderstorms, try not to leave your dog home alone. The presence of a human companion can provide comfort and reassurance.
   
   
3. Create white noise: we can use quiet, soft sounds, such as soothing music or a fan, to mask loud noises and help calm him or her down.
   
   
4. Positivise the moment: after isolating him as much as possible inside the house and securing doors and windows to prevent him from escaping. You can try to play, search for sweets or food, and relax with a few caresses to keep calm.
   
   
5. Consult an ethologist: if the phobia of loud noises is severe and significantly affects their quality of life, with symptoms such as tachycardia, respiratory problems, tremors, lack of response to stimuli, and they may even suffer cardiac arrest, it is advisable to consult an ethologist. The work of an ethologist will consist of desensitising the dog to noise, the first thing he will do is to get to know the dog and your family, your way of relating to each other, your environment, and based on this he will draw up a work plan. He will give you some handling guidelines, a series of exercises to do, and may even prescribe some medical treatment such as anxiolytics that will help the dog to manage these moments of crisis better.

What we should not do in any case is to expose the animal to these noises voluntarily, we should not try to do things that we have seen or heard around since many are not based on scientific studies and are harmful (such as ignoring them as punishment when they are suffering a crisis), nor should we play down the importance of the problem if the animal is suffering since this can lead us to ignore the risk of escape, accidents or a severe health problem.

In short, if you live with a dog with a fear of noise, the ideal would be to treat them with an ethologist to reduce this fear or learn how to manage it, but if this is not possible, you should avoid exposing them to noise as much as possible.