Battersea releases playlist to keep dogs calm during firework season

With Bonfire Night and Diwali celebrations taking place this month, Battersea has issued advice to pet owners during periods of unexpected flashing lights and sudden loud noises.

To help keep dogs happy and relaxed, experts at the animal welfare charity have created a playlist of tranquil music to help make the season more enjoyable for the whole family.

When developing the playlist, Battersea’s experts took inspiration from the music that is played for animals in the charity’s kennels, using soothing melodies to create a serene environment for animals.

Janine Pemberthy, canine behaviourist and training manager at Battersea said: “Fireworks season can be a worrying time for our pets, but thankfully there are many things you can do to help them relaxed, including playing some calming music to distract them and help to mask the noise of fireworks.

“Battersea’s playlist includes a range of classical music that doesn’t have a repetitive beat or any sudden loud noises to create a soothing environment.

“Listening to our carefully curated playlist alongside following Battersea’s other useful advice like setting up a cosy 'safe space’ for your pet as a quiet retreat and closing the curtains to muffle the sight and sound of fireworks will help to keep them happy and stress-free.”

Listen here: https://tinyurl.com/2ahkjany

Battersea also has plenty of tips for keeping your dogs safe during fireworks season. They include:

• Avoid letting your dog outdoors at times when fireworks are likely to go off and make sure your home and garden are escape-proof.
• Create a ‘safe place’ indoors for your dog to hide from fireworks but don’t confine your dog to one room as they may hurt themselves if stressed and trying to get out.
• Cover the windows to minimise the lights from the fireworks and mask the loud sounds by keeping the radio or TV on.
• Distract dogs with a long-lasting chew.
• Desensitising dogs to loud sounds over time can help them associate sounds with something positive, and could reduce their anxiety.

For more visit: https://www.battersea.org.uk/pet-advice/