⏱️ Estimated reading time: 10 min
Key Takeaways
The dog breeds most scared of fireworks are not a matter of guesswork. Three large studies from Norway and Finland, covering more than 18,000 dogs between them, found clear breed differences in how often dogs react strongly to bangs and flashes. One question comes up from owners every autumn: why does one dog in the house shake through the display while the other sleeps on?
Breed is part of the answer, and only part. Our wider guide to dogs and fireworks covers the season itself, from preparing the house to the hours after the last rocket.
At BOLLSEN we have made hearing protection since 2016 and are trusted by 1,000,000+ people, and dog hearing protection is part of that range. Because we make one of the tools owners use on noisy nights, we keep the research and the product clearly apart.
Which dog breeds are most scared of fireworks?
In a 17-breed study of noise fear, Storengen and Lingaas (2015) surveyed owners of 5,257 dogs from 17 breeds in Norway and found the highest rates of noise sensitivity in the Norwegian Buhund, the Irish Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier and the Lagotto Romagnolo. Breed differences were statistically significant.
The paper, published in Applied Animal Behaviour Science, reported that 21.17% of dogs showed strong or very strong fear during fireworks. A further 14.4% reacted that strongly to loud noises and gunshots (asked as one combined question), 10.14% during thunderstorms and 2.85% in heavy traffic.
The full text sits behind a paywall, but the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior summarised the breed gap as 32% of Norwegian Buhunds fearful of fireworks against 8% of Chinese Cresteds. Dogs with strong noise fear were also more likely to show separation-related behaviour and fear in new situations. Our condition guide to noise anxiety in dogs explains those wider signs, how the fear tends to spread to new sounds and when a vet visit makes sense.
What did the Finnish studies find about breed and fireworks?
A Finnish survey of 13,700 pet dogs from 264 breeds found noise sensitivity to be the most common anxiety trait, with 32% of dogs highly fearful of at least one noise and 26% afraid of fireworks. Noise sensitivity was most common in the Lagotto Romagnolo, the Wheaten Terrier and mixed-breed dogs.
That paper, Salonen et al. (2020) in Scientific Reports, overlaps with the Norwegian results on two breeds, which makes the Lagotto and the Wheaten the most consistent findings across both countries.
A second analysis of the same Finnish data looked at fireworks on their own in 9,613 dogs. Hakanen et al. (2020) found the Cairn Terrier, mixed-breed dogs and the Pembroke Welsh Corgi among the most fearful of fireworks, and smaller breeds tended towards more fear of this kind overall.
For thunder, the same analysis put the Lagotto Romagnolo, Cairn Terrier and Rough Collie at the top. Storm fear and firework fear overlap, but thunder adds pressure changes and rain, so our guide to helping a dog through thunderstorms covers the storm-specific steps for these storm-sensitive breeds and any dog that shares the trait.
Which breeds were least scared of fireworks?
The breeds least scared of fireworks in the Norwegian study were the Boxer, the Chinese Crested and the Great Dane, while the Finnish firework analysis placed the Labrador Retriever, German Shepherd Dog and Miniature Poodle among the least fearful.
The Chinese Crested appears near the bottom in both countries. Salonen’s survey also found Miniature Schnauzers and Staffordshire Bull Terriers noise sensitive less often than other breeds. A low ranking describes a breed average, so plenty of individual Labradors and Boxers still struggle on Bonfire Night.
Is fear of fireworks in dogs genetic?
Fear of fireworks has a strong genetic contribution according to the authors of both the Norwegian and Finnish studies, yet the same research shows age, neutering, socialisation and home life shifting the odds too.
In Norway, neutered dogs had 1.73 times the odds of noise fear and females 1.3 times the odds of males, and fear rose with age. Hakanen’s Finnish data found no sex difference for fireworks, and firework fear became more likely with age until about 10 years, then fell. Dogs with less puppy socialisation were more fearful.
Household factors mattered too. An only dog had 1.44 times the odds of firework fear, a dog that was its owner’s first had 1.53 times, and dogs trained or taken to activities seldom or never had 1.41 times the odds of those active at least weekly. Gradual sound work is covered in our guide on how to desensitise a dog to fireworks and thunder months before the season.
All three studies relied on owner questionnaires from Nordic breed clubs and volunteers. A breed missing from these lists was simply not studied, so its absence says nothing about how it copes with fireworks.
How does breed affect ear shape and Dog+ size?
Breed decides ear shape and roughly decides head size, and those two traits shape how an over-ear muff sits. Erect ears stand inside the cup clear of the rim, while drop ears fold flat inside it. Ear shape changes the fit, not the amount of noise the cup reduces.
Weights in the table are typical breed-standard ranges, not study data, and head circumference always decides the final size.
| Breed | Study finding | Natural ear shape | Typical adult weight | Likely starting Dog+ size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Norwegian Buhund | Highest noise sensitivity (Storengen and Lingaas 2015); 32% firework fear per the AVSAB summary | Erect | 12–18 kg | M |
| Irish Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier | Highest (2015); among the most noise sensitive (Salonen 2020) | Drop | 16–20 kg | M |
| Lagotto Romagnolo | Highest (2015); among the most noise sensitive (Salonen 2020); most thunder-fearful (Hakanen 2020) | Drop | 11–16 kg | M (S for smaller dogs) |
| Cairn Terrier | Among the most firework-fearful (Hakanen 2020) | Erect, small | 6–7.5 kg | XS or S |
| Pembroke Welsh Corgi | Among the most firework-fearful (Hakanen 2020) | Erect, large | 10–14 kg | S or M |
| Mixed breed | Among the most firework-fearful (Hakanen 2020) and most noise sensitive (Salonen 2020) | Varies | Varies | Measure |
| Labrador Retriever | Among the least firework-fearful (Hakanen 2020) | Drop | 25–36 kg | L |
| German Shepherd Dog | Among the least firework-fearful (Hakanen 2020) | Erect | 22–40 kg | M or L |
| Miniature Poodle | Among the least firework-fearful (Hakanen 2020) | Long drop | 5–8 kg | XS or S |
| Chinese Crested | Lower (2015; 8% per AVSAB); among the least fearful (Hakanen 2020) | Erect, large | 2–5.5 kg | XS |
| Boxer | Lower (2015) | Drop | 25–32 kg | L |
| Great Dane | Lower (2015) | Drop | 45–90 kg | L may be too small; measure first |
Four sizes cover head circumferences from 17.7 to 58.4 cm, which fits most breeds but not all, and the largest Great Danes can exceed the L band. To measure head circumference and check the band before ordering, follow our dog ear muff sizing guide, which uses weight only as a rough cross-check.
What can owners of a noise-sensitive breed plan ahead?
Owners of a high-sensitivity breed can plan the season early, combining a safe den, a familiar routine and gradual sound work, and should speak to a vet if a dog shows strong fear, injures itself trying to escape or develops a new fear of noises as an adult. The PDSA’s guidance on noise phobias sets out when to book that appointment.
Fireworks at close range are far louder than the levels a dog meets day to day. Our guide to how loud is too loud for dogs sets out the decibel scale for common sounds and where discomfort begins for canine ears.
Ear muffs are one physical layer some owners add to that plan. Our Dog+ earmuffs (SNR 27 dB, sizes XS to L, £69.95) sit over the ears and reduce the noise reaching them during a display. They are not a treatment for fear, and they work best when a dog has learned to wear them on quiet days first.
Breed studies give owners a starting point, not a verdict. Age, socialisation and daily life move the odds for every dog, so a plan agreed with a vet and practised well before the first rocket suits any noise-sensitive dog, purebred or mixed.
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.