Anxiety & Calm

New Year's Eve Fireworks and Your Dog: A Calm-Night Plan for Europe

Silvester, Oud en Nieuw, Nochevieja or Halloween in Ireland: a simple plan for before, during and after.

By 6 min read
Puppy settled on a rug in the evening, licking a filled lick mat

For many dogs in Europe, the loudest night of the year is not a thunderstorm. It is New Year's Eve. In Germany and Austria, Silvester can sound like a battle from early evening until well after midnight. In the Netherlands, Oud en Nieuw often brings bangs for days. Ireland has its own fireworks season around Halloween, and Spain, Italy and France all greet the new year with rockets over the rooftops. If your dog shakes, hides or tries to run when the sky starts cracking, a bit of planning makes a real difference.

To help your dog through New Year's Eve fireworks, plan ahead. Walk them in daylight, long before the first bangs. Keep them indoors with curtains closed, background sound on and a cosy hiding place ready. Hand over a frozen lick toy just before the fireworks usually start, stay calm and close, and keep your dog on a lead for a few days afterwards.

Why are fireworks so frightening for dogs?

Fireworks are loud, sudden and impossible for a dog to predict or escape. Dogs hear sounds we cannot, and each bang comes with flashes of light, the smell of smoke and excited voices outside. To your dog, there is no pattern and no warning. That is why even a confident dog can become nervous after one bad night.

Signs of fear include panting, pacing, trembling, drooling, barking, hiding, clinging to you and trying to escape. Some dogs simply freeze and go very still. Take all of these seriously, because a calmer night this year can make next year easier.

When do fireworks start in different European countries?

It depends on where you live, and it is often earlier than you think.

WhereMain fireworks nightWhat to expect
Germany and AustriaSilvester, 31 DecemberPrivate fireworks are common. Expect noise from early evening that peaks at midnight and carries on into the small hours.
NetherlandsOud en Nieuw, 31 DecemberBangs often start in the days before the night itself. Local rules differ from town to town.
IrelandHalloween, 31 October, and New YearFireworks can be heard on and off in the weeks around Halloween, so your plan may need to run for longer.
SpainNochevieja, 31 DecemberFireworks and parties around midnight. The twelve grapes tradition means grapes on the table, and grapes are toxic to dogs.
Italy and FranceCapodanno and the Saint-SylvestreRockets and firecrackers around midnight in many towns and cities.

Rules on private fireworks differ between countries and cities, and they change. Your town hall or city website is the best place to check what is allowed where you live.

What should I do in the weeks before New Year's Eve?

Start in early December, because the calmest New Year's Eves are prepared weeks ahead, not at 23:00 on the night.

Build a safe den

  • Choose a quiet room with few windows, such as a hallway, bathroom or bedroom.
  • Add your dog's bed, a blanket and a worn T-shirt that smells of you.
  • A crate with a blanket over the top works well, as long as the door stays open.
  • Feed treats and chews there so your dog links the den with good things.

Practise with sounds

  • Play recorded firework sounds very quietly while your dog eats or plays.
  • Raise the volume a little every few days, but only while your dog stays relaxed.
  • If your dog looks worried, turn it down and go more slowly.

Check ID and escape routes

  • Make sure your dog's microchip details show your current phone number and address.
  • Put an ID tag on their collar.
  • Check garden fences, gates and balcony gaps. A frightened dog can squeeze through spaces you never noticed.

Talk to your vet early

  • If your dog panics badly every year, book a vet appointment in November or early December.
  • Some options need time to set up properly.
  • Never give your dog human medicines.

Also practise with the frozen toy itself. Give one a few times a week in December, on quiet evenings too, so it becomes a familiar treat rather than a sign that something scary is coming.

How do I get my dog through New Year's Eve itself?

Keep the day quiet and predictable, and have everything ready before it gets dark.

  1. Walk early. Take a good long walk in daylight, around midday, and a short toilet break in the late afternoon. Use a lead and a well-fitted harness, even if your dog is usually fine off-lead.
  2. Feed dinner early. Your dog should have eaten and been to the toilet before the noise begins.
  3. Close everything. Shut windows, curtains and shutters. Turn the lights on so the flashes outside are less obvious.
  4. Add background sound. Put on the TV, the radio or calm music at a normal volume to soften the bangs.
  5. Hand over the frozen toy. Give it as the first fireworks begin, in the den or wherever your dog chooses to settle.
  6. Stay calm and close. If your dog wants a cuddle, that is fine. If they want to hide under the bed, let them. Never drag a dog out of a hiding place.
  7. Guard the doors. Guests coming and going are a common moment for escapes, so keep your dog in another room when the front door opens.

Freezbone tip

Fill and freeze two toys the night before. Give the first one in the early evening and save the second for midnight, when the noise is at its loudest. A slow frozen fill keeps your dog licking and chewing for much longer than a handful of treats.

“Love it, kept my dogs busy and quiet for 20 minutes!”
Bethany R., verified buyer

Which frozen toy works best on fireworks night?

The best choice is a toy your dog already knows, in the right size for their jaw. The Freez Doughnut is made for strong chewers and comes in two sizes: the small holds up to 80 ml and suits dogs of 5 to 10 kg, and the large holds 120 ml for dogs of 10 to 20 kg. For medium and large dogs who chew hard, the Freezbox is our most rugged toy. It holds up to 350 ml and suits dogs of 10 to 30 kg. The FreezSwirl, at 170 mm across, takes liquid and solid fills and suits dogs of 10 to 40 kg.

Keep the filling simple. Kibble soaked in plain, unsalted broth without onion or garlic, plain natural yoghurt or mashed banana all freeze well. For more ideas, watch our Freezbone recipe videos or try our festive frozen dog treats. Keep party food well away from your dog. Our guide to Christmas dangers for dogs covers the foods that cause the most trouble at this time of year.

What should I do after the fireworks?

Expect the effects to last a little longer than one night.

  • In many places, leftover fireworks go off for days afterwards. Keep your dog on a lead for walks well into January.
  • On the morning of 1 January, walk your garden, balcony and usual route before your dog does. Pick up spent rockets, firecracker cases and broken glass.
  • Keep the day quiet, with gentle walks, normal meal times and plenty of rest.
  • Make a note of how your dog coped. If it was very hard, talk to your vet well before next year.
  • Call your vet if your dog hurt themselves trying to escape, or cannot settle for many hours after the noise stops.
  • Call your vet if your dog has eaten fireworks debris, or festive foods such as chocolate, grapes, raisins or stollen.
  • Call your vet if your dog stops eating or drinking for more than a day after New Year's Eve.

Will my dog ever get used to fireworks?

Many dogs grow calmer over the years when every fireworks night follows the same safe plan. The den, the sound and the frozen toy all start to mean a quiet night in. If your dog also struggles when you go out on ordinary days, our guide to separation anxiety in dogs is a good next read. And if you live in a busy city building, these ideas for keeping dogs content in small spaces help all year round.

General information, not veterinary advice. If you're worried about your dog, talk to your vet.

Frequently asked questions

  • Yes. Staying close, speaking softly and stroking your dog if they want it will not make their fear worse. What matters is that you stay calm yourself. If your dog prefers to hide, let them, and sit nearby instead.

  • It is best not to leave a nervous dog alone while fireworks are going off. If you have to go out, plan to be home before the evening gets loud, or ask a calm friend or sitter your dog knows to stay with them. Leave your dog in their safe room with background sound on and a frozen toy.

  • Walk your dog in daylight, ideally around midday, when fireworks are least likely. Give a short toilet break in the late afternoon, before it gets dark. Always use a lead and a well-fitted harness, even if your dog is normally reliable off-lead.

  • Search your immediate area first, because frightened dogs often hide close to home. Call local vets, shelters and animal wardens, and contact the database where your dog's microchip is registered. Share a clear photo on local social media groups and leave your door or garden gate watched in case your dog comes back.

  • A puppy's first fireworks season is a good time to build calm habits. Play recorded firework sounds very quietly during meals and play, and raise the volume slowly over several weeks only while your puppy stays relaxed. On the night itself, follow the same plan you would for an adult dog.

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Written by Freezbone Team

We design freezable, refillable natural-rubber chew toys and test every fill and routine on our own dogs before we write about it. Freezbone Limited ships across the European Union from Ireland.

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