13/10/2026
With fireworks season approaching, now is a good time to prepare your furry friend for the occasion. Many pets find fireworks stressful, and putting in place a plan to help reduce their anxiety early makes a big difference to how well they cope on the night. As we draw closer to fireworks season, the window for acclimatising our furry friends to calming strategies is slowly closing, so starting now is the best way to ensure your pet is set up for success.
👚 Week 4: Calming Wearables 👚
Some pets respond well to wearing something snug during stressful situations. This involves applying even pressure to the body which some pets can find reassuring. Thundershirts and pressure wraps work by applying this pressure to the torso, while Happy Hoodies work by covering the ears, helping to muffle the sound of fireworks. If your pet wears a coat when they go for walks, they may already be used to wearing a jacket, and have a positive association with doing so, potentially making this a suitable option!
It’s important to note that every pet is different. Some may find wearing shirts uncomfortable, and its important to introduce these objects before the stressful event – putting a thundershirt on a dog that’s never used one before, especially during a stressful event, can build a negative association with that item and cause more stress.
Introduce these products in short, positive sessions. Start by letting your pet investigate the object at their own pace, and make it positive by sprinkling treats around it to encourage interaction. Once they’re comfortable around the item, you can progress by feeding treats while the object is touching their body, then graduate to short periods of them wearing the item while being rewarded for a few minutes at a time. Take these steps slowly, and only move to the next one when they’re comfortable.
Remember to observe your pet’s body language when introducing these items. If your pet struggles, begins panting, attempts to remove the item or becomes agitated, take it off and try a different approach. Depending on your dog’s personality and experiences, they may respond better to a hood than a shirt, or to other calming strategies instead. Wearable items are just one part of a larger plan that can be tailored to suit the needs of your pet.
