New Year’s Eve is all excitement for us: fireworks, countdowns, music, and late-night celebrations. But for dogs, it often feels loud, unpredictable, and overwhelming. Sudden booms, bright flashes, unfamiliar visitors, shifting routines, and that end-of-season chaos all add up fast.
And when your dog isn’t comfortable, you’re not fully enjoying the moment either.
Luckily, with a few small preparations, you can help your dog feel more at ease while you ring in 2026. A little planning goes a long way in helping to secure, soothe, and support a furry friend.
Below are five simple, dog-friendly tips to help your pup stay calm, safe, and comfortable all night long!
1. Create a Quiet, Cozy “Retreat Room”
New Year’s Eve brings a lot of stimulation all at once. New voices, extra movement in the house, and of course, fireworks. Giving your dog a predictable, quiet space to settle into can make the evening feel more manageable.
What helps:
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A crate or corner with blankets (bonus if they smell like you)
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Their regular bed or a soft mat they already love
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A favorite toy or long-lasting chew
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Dim lighting or a warm lamp instead of overhead lights
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Fresh water nearby so they don’t have to leave the space
Why it helps:
Research suggests that when dogs have a familiar “base” to return to, they tend to relax more easily in situations with extra stimulation. Setting this up early in the evening helps your dog settle before the noise begins [1,2].
2. Use Sound to Take the Edge Off Fireworks
You can’t control what’s happening outside, but you can help soften the sharpness of unexpected booms.
Simple sound options:
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Calming dog playlists
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A fan or air purifier
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White-noise machines
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A low TV show with consistent background sound
Why it helps:
Fireworks are startling because they are both confusing and loud. Gentle, consistent sound helps dim the intensity of unexpected booms, giving your dog something steady to focus on.
Pro Tip: Start the sound before fireworks begin. Once the environment already feels “steady,” sudden noises may become less jarring.
3. Keep Your Pup Indoors & Refresh Safety Details
New Year’s Eve is a night when many pets try to escape the unfamiliar noise and activity. A quick safety check can help ensure your dog stays secure.
Quick safety check:
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Keep your dog indoors once the evening gets busy
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Check that collars fit and aren’t slipping
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Confirm ID tags and microchip details are up to date
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Take your dog out for bathroom breaks early in the evening
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Close gates, secure latches, and double-check doors
Why it helps:
Exciting environments can make dogs more alert and unpredictable. A few preventative steps help keep your dog safe and accounted for.
4. Offer Enrichment to Keep Their Mind Busy
Dogs often settle more easily when they have something constructive and rewarding to focus on. Enrichment helps redirect energy, provides comfort, and encourages natural behaviors like licking, chewing, and problem-solving, all of which support emotional regulation [3].
Easy enrichment ideas:
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Lick mats topped with dog-safe pumpkin purée or yogurt
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Puzzle feeders
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Snuffle mats with hidden kibble
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Long-lasting chew toys
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Frozen stuffed toys (perfect during fireworks)
Why it helps:
Licking, sniffing, and gentle problem-solving help support natural behaviors that promote relaxation and focus. Offering enrichment before the evening gets loud sets a calm foundation.
5. Add Calming Support to Their Routine
If your dog tends to react to new environments or seasonal changes in routine, a calming supplement may be a helpful addition to your New Year’s Eve plan.
PupGrade Calming Support includes ingredients that help support:
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Hemp Seed Oil → overall wellness*
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Organic Chamomile → calming comfort*
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Valerian Root → relaxation*
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Passion Flower → normal emotional balance*
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L-Theanine → a calm, alert state*
How to use it:
Offer the recommended serving earlier in the evening so it becomes part of a predictable, soothing routine. We recommend following these directions for use:
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1 Soft Chew: Per 25 lbs.
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Extra Support: Double dosage for the first 4 weeks.
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>1 Soft Chew Daily: Divide between the AM & PM.
*This product is intended for intermittent or supplemental feeding only.
Why it works for many dogs:
Supportive routines paired with calming ingredients help smooth out the sharp edges of a stressful night. It’s a gentle way to help your pup feel more grounded during a noisy, unpredictable holiday.
A Calmer New Year for Everyone
New Year’s Eve doesn’t have to feel overwhelming for your dog. With a bit of preparation—a cozy retreat space, steady background sound, safe boundaries, enriching activities, and gentle calming support—you can help your pup feel more at ease when the night gets lively.
The goal isn’t perfection. It’s comfort, reassurance, and giving your dog what they need to feel secure as you head into a brand-new year.
Cheers to a cozy, comfortable, tail-wagging start to 2026!
Use code BLOG10 for 10% off your first PupGrade order.
Made in USA | GMP Certified | 3rd-Party Tested | Driven By Love
This information is intended for general purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. Always consult with your veterinarian before making any changes to your dog’s diet or health routine, especially if you notice persistent or concerning changes in your dog's movement or behavior.
**These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease or health condition.
Resources:
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Horn L, Huber L, Range F. The importance of the secure base effect for domestic dogs - evidence from a manipulative problem-solving task. PLoS One. 2013 May 29;8(5):e65296. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0065296. PMID: 23734243; PMCID: PMC3667003. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3667003/
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Péter Pongrácz, Petra Dobos, What is a companion animal? An ethological approach based on Tinbergen's four questions. Critical review, Applied Animal Behaviour Science, Volume 267, 2023, 106055, ISSN 0168-1591, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applanim.2023.106055.
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Hunt RL, Whiteside H, Prankel S. Effects of Environmental Enrichment on Dog Behaviour: Pilot Study. Animals (Basel). 2022 Jan 7;12(2):141. doi: 10.3390/ani12020141. PMID: 35049764; PMCID: PMC8772568. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8772568/
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