Dog owners urged to desensitise pets before Bonfire Night

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 19 Oct, 06:07 · Archive

Guide Dogs urges owners to desensitise pets to firework sounds before Bonfire Night, as nearly two-thirds of UK dogs suffer fireworks anxiety.

Guide Dogs has urged dog owners to desensitise their pets to firework sounds ahead of Bonfire Night. The charity has launched The National Fireworks Archive, a free training video made from public footage to help owners gradually introduce their animals to the associated noises.

According to Guide Dogs research, firework anxiety impacts nearly two-thirds (63 per cent) of dogs across the UK, equating to an estimated 9.9 million animals. However, 79 per cent of dog owners say they do nothing to prepare for Bonfire Night, and 35 per cent say they did not know dogs could be desensitised to fireworks.

The charity plans to expand the archive with a wider variety of clips recorded from different distances and locations, capturing the whistles and crackles of screechers and Catherine wheels alongside the sudden bangs of rockets and larger displays. Haley Andrews, a Guide Dogs expert, said: 'It's straightforward, relatively easy to do and can help avoid the heartache, expense and disruption so many dog owners experience in the weeks running up to and even after Bonfire Night on November 5.'

How it is being reported

• Dog owners urged to start training pets as fireworks anxiety grips nearly 10 million British dogsA leading charity has urged dog owners to play fireworks sounds for their pets to desensitise them ahead of Bonfire Night. Guide Dogs has launched The National Fireworks Archive, a free training video of fireworks footage filmed by the public to help owners gradually introduce their pets to the associated sounds. Almost two-thirds (63 per cent) of British dogs, an estimated 9.9 million animals, are impacted by fireworks anxiety, according to research by the charity. However, 79 per cent of dog owners say they do nothing to prepare for Bonfire Night, and 35 per cent say they did not know dogs…GB News · 19 Oct, 04:40
• Dog owners urged to do this one thing now before Bonfire NightFireworks often unsettle dogs in their homes around Bonfire NightThe Independent · 19 Oct, 00:01

In this story: Guide Dogs · UK

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