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Key Takeaways
Yes, when they fit without pressing, are introduced over a few short practice sessions and are only worn while someone is with the dog. Take them off every 1–2 hours and check the skin under the cups.
No, as long as the dog accepts them. Muffs are partial and removable; forcing them onto a dog that is fighting them is the welfare problem, so take them off and go back to training.
For the noisy part of an evening, with a check and a break every 1–2 hours. They are not designed for all-day wear or for sleeping in unattended.
Yes. Dog+ is rated SNR 27 dB, not silence, so a normal speaking voice is lowered, not silenced, and still reaches your dog. Take the muffs off for walks.
No. A strap can catch on a crate or paw, so never leave a dog alone in muffs, in a crate, in a car or overnight while you sleep.
Some do. Matija Medved, DVM, of the Dr.Vet clinic reviewed Dog+ for us. For a dog with strong noise fear, the RSPCA’s advice is to speak to your vet.
Are dog ear muffs safe? For most dogs, yes, provided the muffs fit properly, the dog has practised wearing them before the noisy night and someone stays with it while they are on. The risks people worry about (pressure, rubbing, heat, tangling, not hearing traffic) are real, but each one is managed by a simple rule.
At BOLLSEN we are a family-owned hearing protection company, founded in 2016 and trusted by 1,000,000+ people, and dog hearing protection is part of what we make. Owners who fly or travel with their dogs say tolerance varies a lot; one reported the muffs stayed on only once in eleven flights, while another’s dog barely noticed them. Below are the rules we give every owner, including the times muffs should stay in the drawer.
Are dog ear muffs safe?
Over-ear dog ear muffs are safe for most dogs because they sit outside the ear canal, cover the ear flap (pinna) with padded cups and come off in one movement, so the main risks come from poor fit, rushed introduction and leaving a dog unsupervised rather than from the muffs themselves.
The American Kennel Club says muffs should sit securely without pressing too tightly, and that dogs still need to hear environmental sounds for safety. Both points shape the rules below. Nothing goes into the ear, which is why we never suggest plugs; the reasons are in our explainer on whether can dogs wear earplugs, covering the L-shaped canine canal.
Is it cruel to put ear muffs on a dog?
Putting ear muffs on a dog is not cruel when the dog has learned to accept them, because they are optional, they lower the noise rather than shut it out, and they can be removed the moment the dog shows it is unhappy; forcing them onto a struggling dog is where welfare goes wrong.
Pawing, rubbing the head along the floor or freezing are signs to stop. Take the muffs off, give the dog space and practise again another day. A dog that never accepts them can try a snood or a pressure wrap instead, and our comparison of dog ear muffs vs snood vs pressure wrap sets out what each one physically does.
Can ear muffs hurt a dog’s ears?
Ear muffs can rub or press if they are the wrong size or the headband is overtightened, so after every session check for redness, flattened fur or pressure marks around the ear base, and make sure the dog can open its mouth, pant and swallow normally with the muffs on.
A useful rule is two fingers under the strap. If the cups keep sliding off, the size is wrong; owners sometimes improvise extra ties around the neck to hold them in place, which we would never do. Dog ear muff sizing starts with measuring around the ear base, and the dog ear muff sizing guide explains how to measure and adjust for a sealed fit without pressure.
Our Dog+ earmuffs are built around that fit, with soft padded cups, an adjustable flexible headband, reflective stitching and four sizes from XS to L that suit most breeds. They are rated at SNR 27 dB.
If you are comparing models on fit and published attenuation rather than looks, our Dog+ earmuffs (SNR 27 dB, sizes XS to L, £69.95) list the size chart and octave-band test data on the product page. Measure first, because the right size matters more than any other feature for comfort.
How long can a dog wear ear muffs?
A dog can wear ear muffs for the noisy part of an evening, such as a fireworks display or a storm, with a check and a short break every 1–2 hours; they are not meant for all-day wear, and the first time a dog wears them should never be the night of the noise.
Start weeks ahead with around five sessions of two minutes each, paired with food, then build up to wearing them around the house and garden. The full step-by-step method belongs to how to get a dog to wear ear muffs, but the principle is short, positive and often.
At each break, lift the cups, look at the skin and let the ears air for a few minutes. If the dog is settled and asleep once the noise has passed, take the muffs off rather than leaving them on until morning.
Can my dog still hear me with ear muffs on?
Your dog can still hear you with Dog+ on, because an SNR 27 dB rating lowers sound rather than silencing it: a busy street at around 80 dB lands at roughly 54 dB, about a quiet office, and a normal speaking voice is lowered, not silenced, so it still reaches the dog.
That is a safety feature. A product promising total silence would cut a dog off from your voice and from traffic, which is why muffs come off for walks and anywhere recall matters.
How much noise dog ear muffs reduce depends on pitch, since lows are lowered least (L 19 dB). Our breakdown of how much noise dog ear muffs reduce shows the measured attenuation band by band, from the 63 Hz thump to the 8 kHz crackle.
When should a dog not wear ear muffs?
A dog should not wear ear muffs with a sore or infected ear, a wound or recent ear surgery, when it is alone, in a crate or car, overnight while you sleep, on a walk near traffic, or while it is panicking and fighting them; on hot days, flat-faced breeds need a breathing check first.
Dogs shed heat mainly by panting, and RVC VetCompass research found flat-faced breeds at twice the heatstroke risk of other dogs, with Bulldogs at 14 times the risk of Labradors. In a warm room, watch the breathing and skip the muffs if it becomes laboured. One owner who flies with his Labrador leaves the muffs off whenever he cannot reach the dog, in case they tangle around its neck.
| Situation | Verdict | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Fireworks evening at home, you in the room | Safe to use | Supervised, with a check every 1–2 hours |
| Hoover, DIY or building work (around 90 dB) | Safe to use | Mid and high pitches get the full 26–29 dB |
| Warm room or hot day, flat-faced breed | Check first | Watch panting; remove if breathing becomes laboured |
| Dog pawing, freezing or fighting the muffs | Do not use now | Take them off and go back to short practice sessions |
| Red, smelly or discharging ear, wound or recent surgery | Do not use | See your vet before covering the ear |
| Alone at home, in a crate or car, or overnight | Do not use | Nobody there if a strap catches or tangles |
| Walks near traffic or off-lead recall | Do not use | The dog needs to hear you and the road |
What is the risk of not protecting a dog’s ears?
Leaving a dog’s ears unprotected around loud noise carries a measurable risk: a University of Glasgow study found that after a single MRI scan, more than half of the exposed dog ears showed reduced cochlear function, and the author recommended ear protection for every dog scanned.
The full Glasgow thesis (Venn, 2013) sets out the method and results. A 2024 PLoS One study of 73 dogs in MRI scanners peaking at 87 dB(A) found the stress hormone cortisol rose in the 42 unprotected dogs but stayed unchanged in the 31 wearing hearing protection, with no adverse effects reported. Those dogs were anaesthetised and wore a different set-up, so it is evidence for protecting ears in loud settings, not a test of our muffs.
Matija Medved, DVM, of the Dr.Vet clinic, puts canine discomfort or hearing damage at around 85–90 dB, roughly a hoover, where people are comfortable up to 110–120 dB. That threshold is the starting point for how loud is too loud for dogs.
Do vets recommend dog ear muffs?
Some vets do recommend dog ear muffs as one physical layer for noisy situations, but there is no blanket veterinary endorsement, and the RSPCA fireworks advice centres on a safe den, background sound, staying close and asking your vet if a dog shows strong fear, without mentioning ear protection.
The RSPCA reports that 60% of dogs are negatively affected by fireworks. Muffs lower the noise reaching the ears and nothing more, so noise anxiety in dogs is a conversation for your vet. For an attributed clinical view, read Dr.Vet’s expert review of Dog+ hearing protection, where Matija Medved, DVM, explains fit, supervision and the 85–90 dB threshold.
So are dog ear muffs safe for your dog?
For most dogs the answer is yes, if the muffs are sized correctly, practised in short sessions weeks ahead and worn only while you are there to check them every 1–2 hours. Keep them off for walks, hot-day breathing struggles, sore ears and nights alone.
If fireworks season is the reason you are asking, our guide to dogs and fireworks plans the weeks before and the night itself. Start the practice sessions now, and the noisy night becomes one you have already rehearsed together.
His connection to hearing protection stems from personal experience with sound sensitivity during live events and work in noisy environments, an issue that made him more aware of the long-term risks of unmanaged noise exposure. Today, as both a communicator and a user of BOLLSEN products, he is passionate about raising awareness around the importance of proactive hearing care.
At BOLLSEN, he develops data-driven marketing campaigns, writes SEO-focused articles, and manages communication channels that connect customers with practical knowledge about hearing protection. His work ensures that BOLLSEN’s message—prioritizing health, performance, and sustainability reaches a global audience in an engaging and trustworthy way.
Passionate about writing since childhood, Timotej combines creativity with a strong analytical approach, continuously testing new ideas in digital marketing, performance advertising, and social media. He believes in learning through innovation and collaboration, balancing leadership with openness to new perspectives.
Beyond his professional role, Timotej is committed to a healthy lifestyle and finds inspiration in fitness, sports, and quality time with friends. His personal passion for well-being aligns with BOLLSEN’s core values, making his work not only a career but also a cause he deeply believes in.