Short answer: The best way to keep your dog calm during fireworks is to give them a safe, sound-dampened place to retreat, mask the booms with steady background noise, stay calm yourself, and hand them a long-lasting chew to redirect the nervous energy. Do this before the fireworks start, not after your dog is already panicking.
I'm Preston Smith, co-founder of Bully Sticks Central. Every year around the Fourth of July and New Year's Eve we hear from dog owners whose pups shake, hide, or bolt the second the fireworks begin. Here's the plain, practical routine we recommend.
Why do dogs get scared of fireworks?
Dogs hear far better than we do, and fireworks are loud, unpredictable, and paired with flashing light and changes in air pressure. Because your dog can't understand where the noise is coming from or that it's harmless, their body treats it as a threat. According to the American Kennel Club, noise aversion is extremely common, and more dogs go missing around July 4th than any other time of year. None of this means something is wrong with your dog — it's a normal fear response.
Set up a safe space before the fireworks start
Give your dog a den they can retreat to: an interior room, a covered crate, or a basement where the walls muffle the sound. Close the windows, draw the curtains or drape sheets to block sudden flashes, and use baby gates so a startled dog can't bolt out an open door. The ASPCA recommends keeping pets indoors and away from the noise entirely during firework displays. Make sure their ID tags and microchip info are current, just in case.
Mask the noise
Steady background sound helps drown out the sharp, unpredictable booms. A fan, a white-noise machine, a TV, or a calm playlist on low volume all work well. The goal isn't to be loud — it's to give your dog a consistent sound to focus on instead of the fireworks.
Stay calm yourself
Dogs read our energy. If you rush over anxiously every time there's a boom, you can accidentally confirm that something scary is happening. Act normal, reward calm behavior, and reassure them gently without making a big fuss. You won't "reinforce fear" by comforting a scared dog, but staying relaxed yourself gives them a steady example to follow.
Give them something to chew
Chewing is one of the most effective natural ways to lower a dog's stress. It's a self-soothing behavior that releases calming energy and gives an anxious dog a job to focus on instead of the noise. A long-lasting chew handed out right before the fireworks start can keep your dog occupied through the worst of it.
This is exactly what our single-ingredient chews are made for. Our bully sticks are 100% natural, single-ingredient, 100% real meat, fully digestible, and contain no rawhide — ethically sourced from grass-fed American and Argentinean farms and 100% high-quality guaranteed. Because they're fully digestible, they're a safer pick for a long chewing session than rawhide, which can be hard on a dog's stomach. If your dog is a heavy chewer, a beef trachea or gullet stick is another good single-ingredient option. Always supervise your dog with any chew and pick a size suited to them.
When to talk to your vet
If your dog's fear is severe — panic, destruction, or hurting themselves trying to escape — talk to your veterinarian. As VCA Animal Hospitals notes, a vet can recommend a desensitization plan, calming aids, or medication for dogs with real noise phobia. A chew and a quiet room help most dogs, but they aren't a substitute for veterinary care when the fear is extreme.
Frequently asked questions
How do I calm my dog during fireworks quickly?
Move them to a quiet interior room, turn on a fan or white noise to mask the booms, stay relaxed yourself, and give them a long-lasting chew to focus on. Setting this up before the fireworks begin works far better than reacting once your dog is already panicking.
Does chewing really help an anxious dog?
Yes. Chewing is a natural self-soothing behavior that helps release nervous energy and gives your dog something to concentrate on other than the noise. A single-ingredient chew like a bully stick is a simple, natural way to redirect that anxiety.
Should I comfort my dog or ignore the fear?
You can comfort a scared dog — you won't reinforce the fear by being kind. What matters most is staying calm yourself so you don't signal that the fireworks are something to panic about.
This post was last updated at August 23, 2026 14:46
