Dog Enrichment: Keeping Your Dog Calm During Fireworks and Halloween

Dog enrichment can be particularly useful during October and November, when our homes and routines can start to look a little different.

Halloween decorations appear, strangers in unusual costumes might knock at the door, visitors may come and go, and then there are the fireworks.

For some dogs, all of this can be exciting. For others, it can be confusing, overwhelming or genuinely frightening.

While enrichment can’t make a fearful dog suddenly stop being scared, the right activities can give them something familiar and enjoyable to focus on when there are extra distractions around.

And that’s where enrichment toys can be really useful.

Why can dog enrichment help during spooky season?

Dogs don’t just need physical exercise. They also need opportunities to sniff, search, chew, lick, forage, explore and solve problems. We’ve talked about this many times, and we’ll keep talking about it because it’s so important!

Providing these activities gives your dog something meaningful to do, rather than simply expecting them to ignore everything unusual happening around them.

A food puzzle, treat dispenser or snuffle mat can also encourage your dog to spend time working out how to access something they enjoy.

For some dogs, this can be a great way to add a little normality to an evening when there are strange noises, visitors or changes happening around the house.

But it’s important to watch your individual dog.

If they’re hiding, trembling, pacing or clearly distressed, don’t try to force them to play with an enrichment toy. Give them the space to choose what they need.

Create a calm space before you need it

One of the best things you can do is prepare your dog’s safe space before Halloween and fireworks become a regular occurrence.

Dogs Trust recommends creating a safe space where your dog can retreat when they feel anxious or overwhelmed, and getting them used to it in advance.

This could be:

• A quiet corner of the room
• Their usual bed or crate, if they already enjoy using it
• A cosy area away from the front door
• Somewhere with familiar blankets and favourite toys

Make it somewhere your dog can choose to go rather than somewhere they’re sent as a punishment.

You can also start putting some of their favourite enrichment activities there so that the space becomes associated with good things.

Dog Enrichment = Dog Focus

If your dog enjoys food-based enrichment, October and November can be a good time to bring out some of their favourite activities. It will keep them focused and busy while fireworks go off or trick or treaters come to the door.

You could try:

• A treat dispenser filled with some of their usual food
• A snuffle mat for sniffing and foraging
• A lick mat with an appropriate dog-safe spread
• A food puzzle that encourages them to work out how to get the food
• A stuffed food toy that takes time to empty
• A scatter feed around a safe area of the house or garden

The important thing isn’t to find the most complicated toy you can buy.

It’s to find something your dog actually enjoys using.

Dogs Trust’s fireworks advice specifically recommends preparing favourite treats and games in advance, including long-lasting treats and enrichment such as lick mats, while also allowing your dog to choose whether they want to engage once fireworks begin.

Try a few simple dog enrichment activities

You don’t need to buy something new every time you want to give your dog something interesting to do.

Some easy activities can be made using things you already have at home.

The sniffing box

Take an empty cardboard box and put some scrunched-up paper or old towels inside. Hide a few pieces of your dog’s usual food or their favourite treats among them and let them sniff them out.

Always supervise this type of activity and make sure your dog isn’t likely to eat the cardboard or paper.

The treasure hunt

Hide a few treats around one room and encourage them to search for them.

Start with easy hiding places so your dog understands the game, then make it slightly more challenging as they get the hang of it.

The towel roll

Scatter some dry food across an old towel, loosely roll it up and let your dog work out how to unroll it.

Keep this supervised and choose a towel that you’re happy for your dog to investigate.

The evening enrichment box

Put together a few familiar favourites that your dog already enjoys. A chew, favourite toy, food puzzle or snuffle activity can all be brought out during an evening when you know there may be more going on outside.

The aim isn’t to overwhelm your dog with activities. It’s simply to have some things available that they already know and enjoy.

What about Halloween visitors?

Fireworks aren’t the only thing that can make this season difficult for some dogs.

The front door opening repeatedly, people wearing unusual costumes, children knocking and unfamiliar voices can all be a lot to process.

Dogs Trust recommends considering whether your dog would be happier at home in their safe space with their favourite enrichment and toys rather than being taken trick or treating.

If you’re having people over, think about how your dog may react.

Some dogs love being involved with visitors. Others would much rather retreat somewhere quiet.

You could give your dog a long-lasting chew, food toy or snuffle activity in their safe space while visitors arrive, allowing them to choose whether they want to come and investigate later.

If your dog is worried about strangers, don’t force them to interact.

Don’t wait until Bonfire Night

Fireworks aren’t limited to one evening.

In the UK, fireworks can be heard around Halloween, Diwali, Bonfire Night and sometimes for days or weeks either side. We hear fireworks all year round where we live, usually the type that is one single loud bang (and when I say loud, it’s the volume that shakes the house!) which leaves you wondering why they bothered.

But our senior jack russell isn’t happy when they go off. Her hearing isn’t so good anymore, so she doesn’t hear some of them but, those single rockets, she can feel them and that’s just as bad.

So this is why it’s worth getting your dog’s enrichment activities ready now rather than waiting until the first big bang.

Try out different toys and activities while everything is calm.

You might discover that your dog absolutely loves working out a treat dispenser, while another dog couldn’t care less about it but will happily spend twenty minutes sniffing through a snuffle mat.

Finding out what works before you need it means you’ll have a better idea of what to offer when the environment around them becomes more challenging.

Enrichment isn’t about distracting your dog from fear

This is an important distinction.

If your dog is frightened by fireworks, giving them a puzzle toy doesn’t mean they’re no longer scared.

Some dogs may happily eat, sniff or play when they’re worried. Others may completely lose interest in food and toys.

Don’t try to force an activity because you think it will calm them down.

Instead, give them options.

Make sure they have access to their safe space, stay nearby if they want reassurance, reduce noise and flashes where possible, and let them decide whether they’d like to engage with an enrichment activity.

Don’t ever punish a frightened dog and always seek veterinary advice if you’re concerned about their reaction to fireworks.

Keep enrichment going throughout autumn

The great thing about enrichment is that it doesn’t need to be reserved for scary evenings.

Autumn is a brilliant time to introduce more sniffing, foraging, food puzzles and interactive toys into your dog’s normal routine.

You could make a simple autumn enrichment routine that includes:

• A sniffy walk during daylight
• A food puzzle at mealtimes
• Five minutes of trick training
• A snuffle activity
• A suitable chew
• Some relaxed play
• Plenty of time to rest

That way, enrichment becomes a normal and enjoyable part of your dog’s life, rather than something you only bring out when the fireworks start.

Our final thoughts

Every dog is different. Some will happily get stuck into a snuffle mat or treat puzzle, while others just want a quiet spot to curl up and feel safe. Try a few things, see what your dog enjoys, and don’t force it if they’re not interested.

Most importantly, try to stay calm, let your dog take things at their own pace and remember that enrichment is there to add a little enjoyment, not fix every worry. And if you’re looking for ideas to try, our enrichment boxes are a great place to start! 🎃