How to Keep Your Dog Calm During NYE

The New Year is almost here! While that means fun and celebrations for us, it can be a stressful time for our pets. Between extra commotion and loud fireworks, it’s easy for our dogs to freak out on New Year’s Eve. Here are a few tips on how to keep them calm and happy!

Tire Them Out

Before the celebrations start, spend that day exercising your dog. Dogs are less likely to freak out if they’re tired and sleepy. Take them for a job, play ball at the park, or just run around the house. A worn-out pup is less likely to stress out, so be sure to give them plenty of exercise leading up to the night time festivities!

Create a Safe Space

Who doesn’t like retreating to a safe space when things become too much? Our dogs are the same. Ensure they have a safe, dark, and quiet space to retreat to when they start to become stressed out. Most dogs prefer a smaller, enclosed space. If your dog is really freaking out, consider waiting it out with them in there. That way, they know both them and you are safe.

Limit Visual Stimulation

Watching fireworks is fun for us, but the bright colors can be a lot for our pets, even with the reduced sound. Try to reduce visual stimulation by keeping the blinds and windows closed. This can help keep your dog calm.

Use Distractions

When in doubt, use distractions! Distract your dog from their stress by playing with their favorite toy or tossing them some of their favorite treats, like Just Raw’s Dehydrated Treats. Be sure to have plenty at the ready! If your dog is distracted, they’ll be less likely to stress out.

Look into Anxiety Wraps

Anxiety wraps or thunder vests have been proven to calm even the most skittish pets. These products wrap around your dog, providing pressure to calm them down. Some of these products have an 85% success rate! You may want to try these out once or twice beforehand as some dogs need a few tries to get used to it.