New Year’s Eve with a Dog – What You Need to Be Aware Of

Every year, the new calendar begins with loud bangs and fireworks. Every year, dogs and their owners are fed up with it. In this article, you’ll learn how to make New Year’s Eve more comfortable for your dog and which safety measures are essential.

New Year’s Eve and Dogs: The Dangers at the Turn of the Year

Rockets, firecrackers, tabletop fireworks – explosions strangely still belong to New Year’s Eve. From the popping of firecrackers to the corks popping, the turn of the year is marked by aggressive noises. For many people, this is already bad enough. For animals that don’t understand what’s happening, it is even worse.
Although fireworks around New Year’s Eve are anything but new, the same predictable and avoidable dangers and problems arise every year. These include:

• Escaped dogs (and animals in general)
• Sold-out sedatives
• Accidents in the house
• Fear and excitement leading to circulatory collapse

With a little logical thinking and some preparation, you can make the new year more enjoyable for both you and your dog.

First Danger on New Year’s Eve: Dog Escaping

It should be clear, especially on New Year’s Eve, that dogs should remain on a leash, not be left alone in the garden, and long walks at the turn of the year are a silly idea.
However, just as some people lock their dogs in cars during the summer or make them walk on scorching hot asphalt in extreme heat, every year, late December proves there are plenty of clueless dog owners.

Don’t join the idiots, but learn from their mistakes. No, your dog doesn’t need to run off-leash on December 31 to be tired in the evening. Instead, you should not let your dog off-leash at all during the week before and at least two weeks after the turn of the year, and you should be extra cautious with security.

To prevent panicked animals from quickly slipping out of their collar or harness, they should ideally wear both. Check the fastenings and go out during quiet times.
Even in supposedly safe areas, don’t rely on your dog not running off in fright. The sentence, „He’s never done that before!“ won’t bring your sofa wolf back.

Second Danger on New Year’s Eve: Lasting Panic

Stress panting, trembling, restless pacing – some dogs become panicked, with significantly increased body temperature. The tongue swells and can turn dark red to bluish. The whole body is in an emergency state.
This is often the case not only for dogs that already have an anxious and nervous constitution. Older dogs and animals that have undergone one or more anesthesias also often react extremely to firecrackers and the like.

If there is also a health problem, such as heart failure or another form of weakness, there is a risk of death.

Even without this, you should take extreme cases seriously and take preventive measures. The fear is not just uncomfortable for a few hours. The stress hormones released during the panic take time to dissipate. Your dog will become more sensitive and may react to loud noises months later.

The fear often solidifies and spreads. Thunderstorms, blenders, the neighbor’s drill – if many everyday noises become stress triggers, alleviating the condition becomes difficult and time-consuming.

But there are ways to prevent it from getting that far.

Checklist for New Year’s Eve – How to Help Your Dog

How you can make New Year’s Eve more comfortable and safer for your dog depends on various factors. These include:

• Place of residence
• Noise level
• Previous reactions of the dog
• Possibilities for soundproofing
• Health condition

If it’s only a little noisy in your surroundings, your dog reacts mildly, and you can further shield your apartment for the turn of the year, then different measures are necessary compared to hours of fireworks and a dog who wants to dig a hole to the other side of the world with the first bang.

Visit a veterinarian early who can recommend suitable medications and prescribe them for your dog. Some medications need to be given over a longer period before the right effect is achieved. Additionally, veterinary appointments and the right medications are scarce just before New Year’s Eve.
Start the planning process by October or November at the latest so that your dog isn’t left without help or the effect doesn’t come too late.

Tip 2: Prepare Your Apartment

The bright flashes of rockets and the rumbling and banging of firecrackers, shrill whistles, and noisy people – much of this can be at least somewhat reduced or, in the case of the light, blocked out by covering your windows with soundproof panels and sound-dampening curtains.
If possible, find the quietest room in your apartment. A bathroom without windows, the basement, or a storage room are often the places where dogs want to retreat on New Year’s Eve. If you can temporarily improve soundproofing, you should do so for your dog’s sake.

Create a retreat for your dog. Even if they are already receiving calming medication, stress will still be reduced. Unfortunately, complete elimination of stress is not possible this way.
A running TV, music, and lowered blinds can help mask the threatening soundscape.
Don’t leave your dog alone on New Year’s Eve. If you can’t be there for them yourself, get them used to a reliable caregiver who will also take good care of them during anxiety.

Tip 3: Dog-Friendly New Year’s Eve Vacation

If you don’t want to deal with loud bangs and chaos yourself on New Year’s Eve, look for a dog-friendly New Year’s Eve vacation. Out in the countryside, literally far away from the noise, the new year can begin peacefully.
But be careful: The special dog-friendly vacation spots away from fireworks are in high demand. Therefore, book your trip as early as possible, preferably in spring or summer, as the spots are limited and quickly taken.

Safety After New Year’s Eve

In many areas, it’s not unusual for people to set off fireworks in the days before and after New Year’s Eve, using up the remaining fireworks from the holiday.
Be prepared that not only midnight on the first day of the year will be a torment. Your dog may react more frightened to loud noises for weeks or even months afterward.
Therefore, don’t immediately let go of the leash. Prefer quiet areas and calm times. Supplements for relaxation and balance can also help regain calm.

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