Fireworks might magically light up the sky for us, but for dogs, they often signal fear, panic, and confusion. The loud bangs, flashing lights, and lingering smoke can be terrifying, especially for pets with sound sensitivities or past trauma. As a pet-care professional, you’re in a unique position to help ease that fear in your facility and by educating the pet parents you serve.
When a dog is displaying signs of anxiety, it can be upsetting for pet parents and their trusted caregivers. Taking proactive steps to keep them safe and comfortable can make a world of difference. Whether you run a boarding business, daycare, or grooming salon, offering thoughtful guidance can strengthen client relationships and their trust in your services.
Rule No. 1: Keep dogs away from fireworks displays! Yes, Duke and Lassie might look adorable posed with the family outside in front of a lit-up sky, but if they're anxious around the noise, having them close to the action is going to cause unnecessary stress.
Encourage clients to create a cozy "den" inside where their dog can feel secure during fireworks. This might include a crate with their favorite blanket and toys, blackout curtains, and white noise or calming music to mask the booms.
While enrichment and fun activities stimulate pups' minds, it's also important to set up low-stimulation areas in your boarding or daycare space. Use dim lighting, classical or ambient music, and, if possible, pheromone diffusers like Adaptil to help ease anxiety.
Pro Tip: Offer calming rooms or crate spaces as a premium add-on during peak fireworks holidays.
Dogs often seek out enclosed, quiet spots during stressful moments, so helping clients understand how to provide that comfort can be a major anxiety reducer. Even a bathroom or laundry room in their homes with sound-muffling materials can help.
Many pet parents try products like the ThunderShirt, calming chews, or CBD oil to ease anxiety when the booms are loud. While these tools can help, it’s important to set realistic expectations.
Wrapping pups up as snug as a bug in a rug can help reduce their fear, but it's definitely not a cure-all and may not be effective for every dog. These tools are best used as part of a holistic plan, not the only solution.
As a business, you can offer:
Pro Tip: Bundle these into a Fireworks Relief Package that clients can purchase in advance of major fireworks holidays.
Always remind pet parents to consult their veterinarian before using supplements, especially with dogs on medication or with health concerns. When using any kind of scents with dogs, consult this guide from the American Kennel Club and speak with a trusted veterinarian first.
An exhausted dog is less likely to be wound up and enter full-blown panic mode. Encourage pet parents to give their dogs a long walk, play session, or puzzle toy earlier in the day—before the noise begins.
At your facility, ramp up enrichment on days when fireworks are expected, such as:
Pro Tip: Share a video of your staff doing enrichment activities and use it in your marketing channels to promote bookings with captions like, “Tire them out before the fireworks fly!”
Mental stimulation can be just as important as physical. Dogs working through puzzles or scent games are focused, which lowers overall stress levels.
You’ve probably heard the advice: Play fireworks sounds on a speaker at low volume and give your dog treats to create a positive association. That’s the basic idea behind desensitization.
But here’s the thing: any pet-care professional knows how smart dogs are! The sensitive canine ear knows the difference between the real (loud) thing and a YouTube video.
That doesn’t mean desensitization is useless—but it does require time, nuance, and consistency. For most pet parents, it needs to start weeks (if not months) before the holiday and be reinforced regularly.
If you offer training or partner with local trainers, you can:
Pro Tip: Clarify to clients that this training won’t be effective in a single afternoon, but it can make a big difference with time.
There’s a long-standing myth in dog training that comforting a scared dog reinforces the fear. But fear isn’t a behavior you can reinforce—it’s an emotion. Modern trainers and behaviorists now agree: you can and should comfort your dog during fireworks.
Let your clients know it’s OK to:
At your facility, make sure staff know how to respond to fearful dogs with patience and gentleness—never punishment or force.
Pro Tip: Educate your clients through a blog or email that explains why comforting isn’t harmful and helps dispel outdated training advice.
A huge part of pet-care leadership is education. In the days leading up to major firework holidays and events (like July 4, New Year’s Eve, Guy Fawkes Night, the Olympics, or even local festivals), your business can stand out and earn pet parents' trust by providing timely, helpful reminders.
Use email newsletters, texts, or social media posts to:
You could even include a checklist or downloadable “Fireworks Prep Guide” branded with your logo.
Pro Tip: Send reminders 5–7 days in advance, not the day before, so pet parents have time to prepare or book services with you.
While laws around local fireworks displays exist, big booming celebrations are unavoidable. Pet-care professionals can help minimize their impact on the dogs that you care for, from setting up calming spaces to to educating pet parents. Your guidance can make a world of difference for dogs who suffer from anxiety.
And even when tools like desensitization training or ThunderShirts offer only modest results, your support and compassion go a long way. Sometimes, just letting a worried dog know they’re not alone can be the most powerful tool of all.
Revelation Pets is here to support your caring pet business. From built-in communication tools to features that help you upsell, get the all-in-one software built for pet lovers. Try us free for 14 days!