Guide Dogs trains puppies to stay calm around fireworks
Guide Dogs is exposing puppies in Lincolnshire to firework sounds and offering an online toolkit to help owners prepare dogs for Bonfire Night.
How it was covered
- Channel 5 was the only channel found covering it.
- BBC News, BBC One, BBC Two, Channel 4, GB News, ITV and Sky News: not found in tracked broadcasts.
The Full Story
A plain summary built from the channels that reported this story. Facts only one channel reported are attributed to it.
Guide Dogs is running a training session in Lincolnshire to help puppies get used to the sound of fireworks before Bonfire Night. The puppies are being exposed to firework noises as part of their training, so their first experience of the celebrations is less likely to cause fear.
The charity says the session is aimed at getting the dogs ahead of the game. At 13 weeks old, the puppies in the session will face their first Bonfire Night this year. The training is intended as a preventative measure for dogs that may have some awareness of fireworks but no known fear.
Guide Dogs has also published an online desensitisation training toolkit for all dog owners. It includes tips and videos of actual fireworks that owners can play to their dogs, gradually increasing the volume so the animals get used to the sound. The charity says almost 80% of dog owners do nothing to help their pets ahead of fireworks season.
An owner at the session said they had had dogs in the past that were very reactive to fireworks, making the season incredibly stressful. The charity said noises, smells and vibrations from fireworks can have a real impact on dogs, and that the emotional wellbeing of animals is important.
Key Claims
Claims reported during this story's coverage, grouped by how many channels reported each one. Select a dot to see the source excerpt.
| Claim |  |
|---|---|
| Only on one channel | |
| Guide dog puppies were exposed to firework sounds ahead of displays. | |
| Guide Dogs created an online desensitisation training toolkit for dog owners. | |
| The charity reported that almost 80% of dog owners take no action to help their pets ahead of fireworks season. | |
Channel Perspectives
What each channel focused on, with key quotes.
The report led on the charity's practical training session in Lincolnshire, with a warm tone and a focus on puppies and owner reassurance. It also highlighted the online toolkit and the charity's claim that most owners do not prepare their dogs. It did not compare other charities or include any opposing view.
- “These little guide dog pups are getting ahead of the game by being exposed to the sound of fireworks before displays take place”
- “The charity says that almost 80% of dog owners don't do anything to help their pets ahead of fireworks season”
- “guide dogs has created a desensitization Training toolkit online for all owners to better prepare their pets”
Broadcast Timeline
News broadcasts tracked for this story, in time order.