Keeping Your Pet Calm and Happy on New Years Eve

The sounds of celebration on New Year’s Eve – the horns, fireworks, continuous doorbells announcing guests – are great fun for people, but not always for our dogs. In fact, 46% of dog owners reported their dog showed signs of stress during the holidays; that stress could be due to noise aversion.

Here are some tips to help keep you pet calm and happy:

• Try to exercise your pet earlier in the day of the event.
• Keep your pet inside during the fireworks show.
• Provide a safe place inside for your pet to retreat. When scared of sounds pets can not orient very well. If your pet is happy in a crate, that is a great option. Covering the crate can also be helpful. Removing visual stimulation can calm most pets.
• Make sure all your pets are wearing ID on a properly fitting collar or harness, in case they escape. Get them microchipped, if they aren’t already.
• Give your pet something fun to do – like a frozen treat.
• Sound Therapy is most effective when you first play music before the fireworks start, at a time the dog is already feeling peaceful and relaxed. He will begin to associate the music with being calm and content.