A dog that is scared of fireworks rarely shows it for the first time on New Year's Eve. The unease usually begins in the days leading up to it, when the first rockets go off in the neighbourhood, and the dog suddenly stops in the middle of a walk, flattens its ears or wants to head home early. That is the window you need to use. The earlier you start building up a sense of security, the less dramatic the evening itself becomes.

Dogs hear in a far more nuanced way than we do, and a firework blast is not just loud to them. It is unpredictable, it comes from shifting directions, and it is accompanied by flashes of light, the smell of gunpowder and a general change in the household. It is precisely this unpredictability that is at the heart of the problem, and that is why the measures that work best are those that make the rest of the dog's world as predictable as possible.

Why do dogs become scared of fireworks?

Fear of loud noises is a completely normal reaction in dogs, and it can arise at any age. Some dogs have never liked thunderstorms or bangs from building sites, while others only react after a single unpleasant experience. What they have in common is that the body goes into a state of alarm: the pulse rises, the dog moves away from the noise or towards you, and the ability to concentrate disappears.

It is worth holding on to the fact that you cannot pamper the fear away, and neither can you reinforce it by comforting your dog. If your dog seeks contact, then give it. Calm in your own voice and body means more than anything else, because your dog reads you constantly. What rarely helps, on the other hand, is dragging the dog out into the noise to show that there is nothing to be afraid of.

Prepare for New Year in good time

Begin a couple of weeks beforehand. Make sure your dog gets plenty of exercise during the daytime in the run-up to New Year's Eve, so that it is mentally satisfied rather than pent up and restless. Schedule the longest walks in the morning, when there is rarely any fireworks, and keep the evening walks short and close to home. Always use a lead, even where your dog normally walks off-lead, because even a well-behaved dog can react impulsively to an unexpected bang.

At the same time, check that the collar, harness and ID tag are in order. A great many dogs go missing precisely around New Year, and a well-fitting harness that the dog cannot wriggle out of is one of the most effective things you can do. If your dog has reacted strongly in the past, it is a good idea to talk to your vet in good time rather than being left with it the evening before.

How to set up a safe zone at home

Most dogs instinctively seek out something that feels like a den. So set up a spot in the home where the sound is dampened as much as possible, ideally an interior room without large windows. Draw the curtains, turn on ordinary lighting so that the flashes from outside are not as noticeable, and lay out the dog's own bed, blankets and a few familiar things. A table with a blanket over it, an open crate or the space behind the sofa works for many.

Background noise helps more than you might think. Music, radio or television at moderate volume smooths out the sharp bangs so that they do not come quite as suddenly. Introduce the zone in good time, so that it is already associated with something pleasant before it needs to be used for real. And never shut the dog inside it, because the feeling of being able to get away is a big part of the sense of security.

The distraction that works: chewing and absorption

Chewing is one of the most natural ways in which dogs settle down on their own. The activity requires concentration and fills the senses in a way that makes the incoming sounds less intrusive. So lay out something your dog really appreciates, and do it early in the evening, while it is still relaxed enough to accept it. A couple of good marrow bone treats for dogs provide exactly the kind of long-lasting absorption where the dog settles at its own pace.

If chewing does not work for your dog, you can try small search exercises in the safe zone. Scatter a few pieces of the dog's usual meal on a blanket and let it sniff them out. Scent work noticeably slows the pace down. If your dog prefers the more delicate rewards, THE SILENT SHADOW is well suited to the small, calm exercises where every bite should mean something.

Meals and routine when the dog is anxious

Fixed routines are an underrated tool around New Year. When the rest of the surroundings are noisy, it is a great help that the meals arrive at the same times as always. Serve the main meal earlier in the day, while things are calm, because many dogs lose their appetite once the unease sets in. A fixed feeding pattern gives your dog an anchor on an evening when everything else is different.

The quality of what is in the bowl also matters for overall wellbeing. BALANCE is formulated for dogs with a more moderate everyday life and is well suited to days when the walks are shorter, while STAMINA is intended for dogs with a high activity level that still get their long morning walks. If the appetite stalls completely throughout the evening, a tasty meal such as BALANCE PÂTÉ can tempt where the dry food alone does not do the trick. If you are in doubt about what suits your particular dog's everyday life best, ESSENTIAL FOODS' nutrition advisers are ready by phone, chat and email, and you can also get an overview in our selection of dog meals, where you will find relevant products gathered with everyday needs in mind.

The thinking behind ESSENTIAL FOODS' meals is described in more detail in BOF, Behaviour Optimizing Food, where the connection between nutrition, behaviour and wellbeing is the starting point for the entire range, and you can read more about the philosophy behind it on the page about ESSENTIAL FOODS. If your dog is anxious to a degree that worries you, then contact your vet.

Once New Year's Eve is over, take an extra round of the garden before the first morning walk. There are almost always leftover firework debris, and most dogs are curious after an evening indoors. Also let your dog sleep in the day after. Fear is exhausting, and a dog that has been on guard for hours needs to recover before everyday life finds its usual rhythm again.