Dogs Trust and University of Salford launch free calming 'Sound Blanket' to help dogs cope with fireworks season

The Sound Blanket is a research-backed collection of sounds developed by the University of Salford in partnership with Dogs Trust to help mask the noise of fireworks.

 

New data from Dogs Trust's National Dog Survey shows that almost one in three (29%) of UK dog owners say their dog has experienced sound sensitivity to fireworks in the past 12 months.

 

Many dogs find fireworks frightening and distressing, which can lead to behaviours such as trembling, pacing, panting, hiding, bolting and striving to run away, and vocalising. This is also often incredibly upsetting for owners who feel powerless to help their pets.

 

Bea, whose six year-old Greyhound Gilly is terrified of fireworks, says: “We live in London, so every year there are fireworks going off all around us. If Gilly hears them, she starts shaking uncontrollably and panting – it’s horrible to see. We do our best to prepare by creating a cosy safe space at home, but we’re hoping the Sound Blanket will help keep her calm this year.”

 

As fireworks displays begin to take place across the UK to celebrate Halloween, Bonfire Night, Diwali and New Year's Eve, Dogs Trust is encouraging dog owners to start preparing now to help their pets feel safe and secure.

 

To support owners during the fireworks season, the UK's largest dog welfare charity has launched the Sound Blanket, a free collection of specially designed sounds available on YouTube and Spotify that aims to help mask the sounds of fireworks.

 

Developed over the course of a year, the Sound Blanket was created through a partnership between Dogs Trust and the University of Salford. Researchers investigated the acoustic characteristics and soundwave patterns of fireworks and used their findings to develop a collection of nine sounds specifically designed to mask the sounds which triggered the fear response in dogs.

 

With millions of people across the UK expected to attend fireworks celebrations over the coming months, Dogs Trust is reminding owners that planning ahead can make a significant difference to their dog's wellbeing.

 

In 2025, Dogs Trust approached the University of Salford to explore whether science could help provide an additional tool for owners whose dogs struggle during fireworks season. Following extensive research, some of which took place at Dogs Trust rehoming centres, the team created the Sound Blanket to help mask the unpredictable noises associated with fireworks.

 

Additional testing carried out by Dogs Trust found that 99% of dogs tolerated the Sound Blanket and did not show adverse reactions, providing reassurance for owners looking for new ways to support their pets during fireworks displays. Most dogs can try the Sound Blanket, but it may not be suitable for dogs who are very sensitive to music or spoken radio. The sounds are available from the Dogs Trust website.

 

Dr Zuzanna Podwinska, researcher in acoustics and sound perception at the University of Salford, carried out the study. She said: “We looked at what makes fireworks scary for dogs. By looking at what sounds were associated with negative behaviours we could find what is driving the impact and then work out how to combat it.

 

“One of our ideas was to use other sounds to mask the fireworks, to make them inaudible to the dogs. For that to work the masking sounds have to be in the same frequency range as the fireworks, so we made recordings and modelled how fireworks would be heard in the home. It is mainly the low frequency sounds that get through the walls.

 

“We then created a noise-like sound with a frequency spectrum which matches the fireworks. We also mixed that in with more natural sounds which can act as a distraction. It’s really rewarding to see my work out there in the world and hopefully it will make a real difference to owners and their dogs.”

 

For Dogs Trust, supporting dogs through fireworks season is a priority not only for the thousands of dogs in its care each year, but also for the wider dog-owning community. The charity is encouraging owners to begin preparations early rather than waiting until fireworks events are underway.

 

Owen Sharp, Chief Executive of Dogs Trust, said: “As a dog lover, I know fireworks season is something a lot of owners dread every year. If your dogs are afraid of fireworks, the sight of them trembling in fear and not feeling like you can comfort them is devastating.

 

“We wanted to give owners back some sense of control during fireworks – you can help your dog in lots of ways. Create a safe, comfortable space at home, close curtains and windows, provide enrichment activities, and now you can also try out our free sound blanket as another tool to help your dog.”