Dogs Don’t Have to be Afraid of Fireworks

Preventive exercises and training are good for dogs’ fear of fireworks, study shows. Photo: NachoChaves/Shutterstock By Zazie Todd, PhD Up to half of dogs are afraid of fireworks, but a survey of 1225 dog owners shows there is hope, both in terms of preventing such fears in the first place and helping dogs who are already afflicted. The research, by Dr. Stefanie Riemer ( HundeUniBern ) is published in PLoS One, and has important implications for dog owners and dog trainers. Dr. Riemer told me in an email, “From this study, perhaps the most important takeaway for dog owners is not to wait for problems to appear but to be proactive. Teaching dogs to associate loud noises with something positive appears to be highly effective in preventing a later development of firework fears. This is especially true for puppies, but it also has beneficial effects in adult dogs. And maybe the other point is, if you have a dog affected by noise fears, I highly recommend to seek profession