Published October 2026
Some dogs sleep through Bonfire Night. Others pant, pace, shake, hide behind the sofa or try to get out of the house, and the season now runs from Halloween to Diwali with bangs most nights in between. If your dog is one of the second kind, none of this is a failing on their part or yours. Noise fear is common, and there is a fair amount you can do to make the evenings easier.
These ten points follow the advice the main UK dog charities give each year. They are not a substitute for your vet, who knows your dog.
1. Know when the bangs are coming
Public displays are the predictable part. Our regional fireworks guides on Discover list the public displays in each part of the UK with the time the fireworks are due to start, so you can plan the evening around them. There are links to every region at the end of this guide. Private fireworks in gardens tend to cluster on the same nights: the weekends either side of 5 November, the night itself, Halloween and Diwali (8 November this year).
2. Walk in daylight, on a lead
Get the main walk done before dusk on display nights. Keep the lead on, even if your dog's recall is usually good. A dog that bolts at a bang can cover a long way before it stops.
3. Check their ID now
Make sure the microchip details are up to date with your current address and phone number, and that your dog is wearing a collar with a tag. In England, Scotland and Wales a dog in a public place must wear a collar or tag with the owner's name and address on it by law.
4. Set up a den in advance
Give your dog somewhere to hide that they choose themselves: a crate with a blanket over it, a space behind the sofa, under a table in a quiet room. Set it up a few days ahead so it is familiar, put a worn jumper and a favourite chew in it, and let them go in and out freely. Never shut them in.
5. Close the house up before dark
Shut windows, curtains, blinds and cat flaps before the first fireworks are due. It cuts the flashes as well as some of the noise. Have the TV or radio on at a steady volume to blur the bangs.
6. Feed and toilet early
Give the evening meal a little earlier than usual and let them out to the garden before it gets dark, on a lead if your garden is not fully secure. A dog that is already anxious may not eat or go out once it starts.
7. Stay in with them
On the big nights, try not to leave your dog alone in the house. Stay calm and carry on as normal as far as you can. It is fine to comfort a frightened dog if they come to you; that does not make the fear worse. What does not help is telling them off, or forcing them out of their hiding place.
8. Do not take them to a display
Even a calm dog can be overwhelmed by the crowds, the smells and the noise close up, and most public displays do not allow dogs anyway.
9. Speak to your vet early
If your dog's fear is severe, talk to your vet now rather than on 5 November. There are options, including medication for some dogs, and some need starting days or weeks in advance to work. Never give your dog medication meant for people.
10. Start on next year in the new year
The longer-term fix is gradual sound training, where your dog hears recorded fireworks at very low volume and builds up over weeks with treats and calm. It works best months away from fireworks season, ideally with a qualified behaviourist. January is a good time to start.
Signs worth watching for
Panting, trembling, pacing, yawning, drooling, hiding, barking, accidents in the house and trying to escape are all common signs of noise fear. If your dog hurts themselves, will not settle for hours after the noise stops, or seems worse each year, mention it to your vet.
If your usual walk is near a display
The BarkFind map shows parks, woods and beaches near you, so you can pick a quieter route for the evening of a local display.
Find the displays near you
Each regional guide lists the public displays in that part of the UK, in cities and towns, with the date and the time the fireworks are due to start.