5 Tips to Keep Your Dog Calm on Bonfire Night

Bonfire Night, or Guy Fawkes Night, is a quintessentially British tradition. But for our beloved canine companions, the sudden, loud bangs and flashes of fireworks can be a source of intense stress and anxiety. Your dogs hearing can be up to four times more sensitive than ours, making the 5th of November a truly terrifying experience for many pets.

The good news? With a little preparation, you can significantly reduce your dog’s stress levels. Here are 5 essential, tried-and-tested tips to help your dog stay calm, comfortable, and safe this Bonfire Night, including how COYA Pet's range can support your preparation.

1. Create a Fortified ‘Safe Den’ Early

The most effective step you can take is to give your dog a secure, comfortable space to retreat to during bonfire night. Dogs instinctively look for a safe hiding place when they are scared, so help them out!

• Location, Location: Choose an interior room with thick walls and minimal windows (like a utility room or a downstairs bathroom), or simply use their crate covered with a thick blanket.
• Insulation: Use blankets, pillows, and your dog’s favourite bed inside the den. This physical barrier helps dampen the sound.
• Familiar Smells: Place a recently worn t-shirt or blanket inside. Your scent is hugely comforting to your dog.

COYA Pet Tip: This safe den is the perfect spot for their evening meal. A full belly and a comfy spot can work wonders for relaxation.

2. Stick Rigidly to Their Routine

Dogs thrive on predictability. The chaotic, unpredictable nature of bonfire night can be less frightening if the rest of their world remains normal and comforting. Maintain your dog's daily schedule as closely as possible.

• Walk Time: Ensure their last walk and toilet break of the day is done well before dusk, ideally before 4 PM, when fireworks typically begin. This prevents them from being outside when the noise starts.
• Play Time: Engage in a stimulating play session earlier in the day to tire them out, making them more likely to rest in the evening.

COYA Pet Routine: Make their dinner time consistent. Providing their usual, comforting, and high-quality COYA Pet Freeze-Dried Raw Food as part of a predictable evening routine offers a vital anchor of normality when the outside world is loud and scary.

3. Offer High-Value, Engaging Distractions

Anxiety often manifests as pacing, whining, or barking. Distraction is a powerful tool to redirect that anxious energy into something positive and engaging.

When the fireworks start during bonfire night, give your dog a long-lasting, highly desirable chew toy or a food puzzle. The mental focus required for these activities is incompatible with panic and can help switch their brain from 'fear' mode to 'focus' mode.

COYA Pet's High-Value Treats: For a distraction that they can’t resist, use some of the COYA treats as a filling for a KONG toy. Soaking some of the raw food in water and freezing it inside a rubber toy will create a challenging and rewarding activity that will occupy them for a long time—often outlasting the worst of the fireworks.

4. Mask the Noise of Bonfire Night with Sound

While you can’t completely eliminate the sound of fireworks on bonfire night, you can certainly muffle it. Sudden, sharp bangs are often what triggers fear.

• Close Up: Close all windows, curtains, and blinds. This blocks both the sound and the bright flashes of light.
• Sound Masking: Turn on a radio or the TV, playing calming classical music or a talk show. The consistent, familiar human voices can be more comforting than silence. You can also find specific 'calming dog music' playlists online.

5. Lead by Example: Keep Your Own Calm

Your dog is incredibly tuned into your emotions. If you are tense, anxious, or fuss over them excessively when the fireworks start, they will interpret this as a sign that there truly is something to be afraid of.

• Be a Rock: Try your best to act completely normally. Use a calm, low voice. Sit and read a book, or watch a film. If your dog comes to you for reassurance, give them a gentle, calm stroke, but avoid dramatic fussing.
• No Punishment: Never shout at your dog for barking or showing anxiety. This will only increase their stress and confirm that the situation is scary.

By combining a safe, prepared environment with the comfort of their established routine and high-value distractions, you can make Bonfire Night a much more tolerable experience for your best friend.

Ready to prepare your dog for a calmer Bonfire Night? Explore the full COYA range to support your dog's well-being and distraction efforts this November!