In most of the places we have lived in our long lives, fireworks were permitted for everyone. Every 4th of July and New Year, fireworks stands open up and sell all manner of explosives and explosive rockets to individuals who them set off their own fireworks shows around their homes. The noise, aerial displays and strong smell of gunpowder fill our senses for around 2 weeks before and during the holiday itself and is tradition for many families. It is great fun for humans but terrifying and painful for Golden Retrievers and most any other breed of dog.
Your furbaby’s reaction can be more than just fear. Dogs can panic so badly they can injure themselves, break windows, knock over furniture and run away, often in such a panic that they run into the street and be killed or injured by passing cars. 
For most dogs, fireworks represent the scariest thing they will ever encounter and many thousands are lost and/or injured every year in the United States during fireworks displays.
I wrote an article on preparing your pup for the holidays that I also recommend you read but this article concentrates on one thing: fireworks, thunder and loud noises and the wide-eyed panic they can cause in your lovely pup. Note also that I speak to fireworks and to a lesser extent, guns but these practices can also help with fear caused by thunderstorms.
Why fireworks scare them
Golden Retrievers have sense of smell and hearing that are FAR superior to human senses and in fact, better than many other dogs. Imagine if you will that you could hear 4 times better and a 2 times greater range of sounds and without warning, multiple explosions happen near you and concussive waves wash over you and shake the ground. Now imagine that this happens and you have no idea what fireworks are, much less why they are going off. Now couple that with as sense of smell that is 8 to 10 million times better than yours and the unfamiliar acrid smell of gunpowder assails you along with the noise. It would be terrifying and could hurt! This is what it’s like for Golden Retrievers when not carefully trained and desensitized to these sorts of sounds and smells.
Yes, Golden Retrievers can be trained to live with loud noises and often are since they are one of the best hunting retrievers that exist but it takes practice and training from a very early age. In practice most Golden Retrievers are not trained this way since they are most often family pets. Goldens are very emotional dogs. The loving, friendly and loyal nature you value so much also means that they can also fear as much as they love. Fear is irrational and instinctual so it will win the battle of emotions if not properly trained and/or cared for.
Training
If you want your precious Golden Retriever to attend the fireworks with you or become a hunting dog or even sit quietly in the house when it’s all happening outside, training will need to start early, often and be prepared to do this for weeks or months and then occasionally ongoing. Start as a young puppy by making increasingly loud noises around them. Start by simply clapping of hands close to them. Slowly increase the volume and add actual recordings of fireworks at ever increasing volumes. Eventually try popping some firecrackers or shooting guns at decreasing distance from them to add the gunpowder smell and more realistic experiences. In all cases make it a positive experience and/or a game; usually with rewards. The object of the exercise is to desensitize them; in most cases they will never lean to enjoy it since loud impact noises typically hurt their ears but you can make is so that they don’t freak out.
Prepare and plan
If you have not trained out the sensitivity to fireworks then be prepared for a known event and execute your plan. Here are some ideas:
Make absolutely SURE your pet is micro-chipped and that the chip is properly registered.
- This is absolutely the most important single thing you can do. Despite your best preparation and intentions, it is possible your panicked pooch could get out and just blindly run from the noise; sometimes for miles.
- Massive numbers of pets get loose in their panics and are lost every year during fireworks. A properly registered and functioning microchip dramatically increases you chances of retrieving your loved pet if they get out.
- Provide a properly fitted Thundershirt of something similar
- Put it on well before the event. Soothing pressure shirts help a dog control their breathing and provide some amount of security but once the dog is scared, it’s too late; get it on beforehand.
- Provide a “safe” room
A room that is preferably small with no windows and no outside walls. Basically the most quiet room in the home.- The room should be really familiar and be sure to put beds and toys that are familiar in with them.
- If you are not in the room then visit often and sooth him
- Crate your Golden
- Put the crate in the quietest part of the home, preferrably near where you will be.
- Cover the crate so that it’s dark and warm; like a den
- Provide familiar distracting noise
- Watch a movie that is not upsetting to the dog (Harley watches the TV closely and barks at horses, dogs and obvious villains)
- Play some soothing music
- Be present
- Dogs are pack animals and more specifically for Golden Retrievers; people animals. Just being there and soothing them carries a lot of weight with your pup.
- Play games inside the home
- Distract your pup with something she likes to do.
- Provide some extra high value treats for good behavior
- Make it a very exciting treat. Maybe boil up some chicken and chop it into little bites and use it to reward good behavior.
A room that is preferably small with no windows and no outside walls. Basically the most quiet room in the home.Some combination of these ideas may help or prevent or cure the issue however it’s best if you do these things proactively before they are ever scared by the noise and smell. It is MUCH easier to prevent the panic than to cure learned behavior. If they are already scared it is never too late to soothe them and make them more secure but advance prep and execution is much more effective.
About the Authors
Bryan and Terri Curry love all dogs in general, especially Golden Retrievers. They have had dogs for all but 6 months of their long lives and all have lived happy and much longer than average. Bryan and Terri are co-owners of Texas TLC Goldens; a small responsible breeder producing high quality Golden Retriever puppies.