Dog owner shares simple trick to keep pets calm during fireworks on Bonfire Night

While Bonfire Night may delight both children and adults, the constant loud noises can be a terrifying ordeal for pets. Dogs, with their heightened sense of hearing, find this time of year particularly distressing. However, there are methods to help your pets cope with this sudden sensory assault.

A dog trainer and walker has revealed how he successfully trained his two American Bulldogs, along with many others, to sleep through the whizzing, banging, and popping sounds that often occur right outside your window on Guy Fawkes Night. Charles Steward, also known as Bulldog Bob on his Facebook page, posted a video of his dogs lying in his living room while he played a loud video of fireworks on the television.

One of the dogs was sound asleep under the wall-mounted TV, while the other sat completely unfazed next to him on the floor. He explained that one of his pets was never bothered by the noise of fireworks, but the male was terrified.

To alleviate his fear, he employed a successful technique he had used on other dogs previously, reports the Mirror. This method involves playing YouTube videos of fireworks while the dogs are in the room, starting with a low volume and gradually increasing it over time.

Charles, who works as a trainer with dogs that others may refuse to, said: "I thought I would use my two as an example for ways of getting around anxiety and fear of fireworks. You should be doing this months and months in advance of fireworks night. Build up and up and up so if they're outside having a pee when one goes off, it's not going to terrify them."

Every year, thousands sign petitions to ban the sale of fireworks to the general public, but Charles doesn't believe this is right. He thinks the responsibility for animal welfare is the responsibility of the pet owners, and that they should find methods to help their animals cope.

Claiming that his technique can also help young children grow accustomed to the noise of fireworks, he said: "This is what people should be doing at home instead of petitioning to ban fireworks - it's never going to happen. We should be resolving the problem, not moaning about it. I do feel sorry for the dogs that get scared but we should be doing things to prevent it."

Blue Cross animal behaviourist Becky Skyrme backed this method of training and said dogs should gradually be prepared for the noises of Guy Fawkes Night. "A great way to do this is by familiarising them with the sound of fireworks, which can be done by playing a recording of fireworks via a speaker," she said.

Becky also offered another piece of advice to make dogs feel more secure at home: "Prepare a 'den' for your dog where they can feel safe and comfortable - perhaps under a bed with some of your old clothes," she suggested. "They may like to hide there when the fireworks start."

She advised against leaving pets alone on the night, but if it's unavoidable, she urged owners not to scold them if they've been destructive upon your return. Shouting will only exacerbate their distress.

Another tip is to walk your dog before the fireworks really begin, and never take them to a display. However, as many people set off fireworks in their back gardens, it can sometimes be impossible to escape the loud noises just outside your window.

This can cause dogs to try to flee, so Becky recommends ensuring all exits are secure. "Make sure you have measures in place to keep your dog indoors if you know that fireworks will be set off nearby, as dogs are prone to bolting in an attempt to seek out safety and can risk injuring themselves or going missing," she warned.

"Make sure dogs have some form of easily readable identification to wear- even in the house. They should have at least a collar and tag. In addition, make sure your dog is microchipped so that if they do run away, they have a better chance of being quickly reunited with you."