Why Dogs Don't Like Fireworks

Hello friends, it’s Kiwi here! 🐾

I love lots of things — squeaky toys, cuddles, and long walks in the park — but there’s one night every year that I really don’t enjoy… fireworks night!

Every 5th of November, people all over the UK celebrate something called Bonfire Night. It began hundreds of years ago when a man named Guy Fawkes tried to blow up the Houses of Parliament with gunpowder. Luckily, he was stopped — and ever since, people have remembered the event with bonfires and fireworks.

It’s all very exciting for humans, but for dogs like me, it can be really scary. Here’s why:

💥 They’re too loud!

Dogs have super-sensitive hearing — we can hear things four times farther away than you can. So when fireworks bang, crackle and whistle, it sounds incredibly loud to us! Even fireworks far away can make our ears hurt or make us jump.

🌈 They flash and flicker

Fireworks light up the sky with big bursts of colour. That’s fun to watch, but to a dog it looks like the world is suddenly flashing and changing shape. It’s confusing and makes us feel unsafe, especially if we don’t know where the lights are coming from.

😨 We don’t understand what’s happening

Humans know fireworks are just for fun. But dogs don’t know what they are — we just hear loud bangs, see bright lights, and smell smoke. It’s all very strange! So we sometimes shake, hide under beds, or even try to run away to somewhere quiet.

🏡 How to help your dog on fireworks night

If you’ve got a dog like me, here’s what you can do to help them feel better:

• Keep us indoors before it gets dark.

• Close windows and curtains to muffle the sound.

• Turn on the TV or music to hide the bangs.

• Make a cosy den or safe place with blankets and toys.

• Try not to fuss too much — we’ll feel safer if you act calm and normal.

• And remember, don’t take us out for a walk when the fireworks are going off — we’d much rather stay home and snuggle!

When the bangs finally stop, we dogs are very relieved — and then we can go back to our favourite things: peace, quiet, and maybe a biscuit or two.

Stay safe this Bonfire Night, everyone — and please think of us four-legged friends when you’re lighting those sparklers!

Love,Kiwi 🐾