New Year’s Eve – for us great fun, for our pets huge stress. Although this is often the reality, it doesn’t have to be that way at all. There are plenty of ways to minimize our friend’s stress and make the celebration together in a pleasant atmosphere. How to calm your dog on New Year’s Eve?

What do you find in the article?
Show your pet that you are calm
Your dog will be much calmer on New Year’s Eve if we ourselves do not give him additional reasons to be anxious. So let’s try to behave as we usually do – let’s not comfort or hug him excessively. Let him hide in a safe place, but monitor the situation all the time. The best place for your pet will be a familiar room in the house, where the doors are locked and the windows are closed with blinds – our pet will then not hear outside sounds as much, and flashes of light will not make him afraid. We can also prepare a safe corner for the pet ourselves – for example, a dog bed full of blankets under which he can hide. We can also create a nice atmosphere with soothing and calm music. Also, the sounds of nature or songs from the radio can drown out the fireworks and distract your pet. If we have such an opportunity, it is worth leaving the city with the pet – for example, visit an aunt or uncle in the countryside, where it will certainly be much quieter.
Distract your pet
Let’s make New Year’s Eve with your dog, an evening full of activity. Let’s treat your pet to a long walk on the festive day. However, it is worth remembering that the route should lead away from the sites of possible gunshots, and the walk itself should end before the evening arrives. Why should we not go out with our pet after dark? Every year a lot of pets are found missing during New Year’s Eve. During the explosion of fireworks, a dog can become frightened, run ahead and consequently get lost. So if we go out with our pet, we need to have a dog leash with us and we should not let him off the leash. What else can you keep your pet occupied with? Here, our favorite dog toys come to our aid. It’s best to keep your pooch occupied with a joint game that will distract him from the fireworks. It can be a game of looking for treats, pulling with a string or jumping and agility exercises with a tunnel. Dried treats for your dog can also be a great option to catch your pet’s attention for a good few hours.

What to give your dog to calm him down on New Year’s Eve?
Properly composed dog food can reduce your pet’s anxiety. What is worth including in a dog’s diet at the beginning of December? Valuable amino acids – for example, tryptophan, taurine or theanine, which positively affect the nervous system of pets, and contribute to the production of serotonin, the happiness hormone. They also have a calming effect, stabilize mood and reduce stress. These valuable ingredients can be contained in high-quality dog food or dietary supplements. Also, vitamin B12 is essential in the diet of our pets during this difficult period, as it positively affects the nervous system and increases resistance to stress. We can also help with natural tablets for a dog on New Year’s Eve, which have herbal extracts such as valerian, lemon balm or hops cones in their composition. DAP pheromones, naturally produced by nursing bitches, are also a popular calming solution. Studies show that their soothing effects also affect adult dogs. They come in the form of a spray, contact diffuser or are contained in a special dog collar.
Go to the vet
If your pet’s anxiety is extreme and natural remedies are of no use, it’s worth seeking help from a specialist – perhaps the only solution is calming dog medications for New Year’s Eve. With our pet it is worth going to the doctor as early as the beginning of December, as some preparations are used even 3-4 weeks earlier to get the best results.

Emily Carter is an experienced pet enthusiast and writer, with over a decade of experience caring for and working with animals. From her early days volunteering at animal shelters to becoming a pet care advisor, Emily has dedicated her life to understanding the unique needs of pets and helping pet owners provide the best possible care for their furry companions. She is especially passionate about topics like pet nutrition, behavior, training, and animal welfare.