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Key Takeaways
How to get a dog to wear ear muffs comes down to one idea: the muffs must predict good things long before they ever meet a loud night. One owner summed up the usual failure, “Mine was unhappy about wearing it so have only tried it once and for her it didn’t seem to make any difference.” One rushed wear on a bad night, and the muffs end up in a drawer.
At BOLLSEN, a Slovenian hearing protection brand trusted by 1,000,000+ people, we make Dog+ earmuffs (SNR 27 dB, sizes XS to L) as our dedicated dog hearing protection. The plan below uses 2-minute sessions over two to four weeks.
Why should the first wear never be on fireworks night?
A dog that meets ear muffs for the first time minutes before the bangs can learn that muffs predict fireworks, and trainers call that a poisoned cue: a signal linked with something unpleasant that stops meaning anything good.
The American Kennel Club’s guide to poisoned cues says the repair is going back to earlier steps that worked. Force does damage too. In a study of 92 dogs from 7 training schools, Vieira de Castro and colleagues (2020) found aversive methods produced more stress behaviours and higher cortisol rises than reward-based training. So never hold your dog down to fit the muffs.
Does the fit need checking before training starts?
Yes, because a cup that pinches or slips turns every session into a bad experience, so check dog ear muff sizing before the first treat. The quick test is two fingers under the strap, no finger under the cup rim, cups that stay put after a head shake, and a dog that can still pant and take a treat.
If any check fails, measure again first. Our dog ear muff sizing guide explains where to run the tape and how to match the centimetres to XS, S, M or L.
How do you get a dog to wear ear muffs, step by step?
You get a dog to wear ear muffs by pairing them with high-value treats in seven small steps, each repeated for about five short sessions before you move on. The AKC’s ear muff introduction starts the same way, in a familiar room.
1. Let your dog sniff the muffs on the floor
Put the muffs down and treat every sniff. Put them away while your dog still wants more.
2. Touch one cup to an ear
Hold a cup against one ear for a second, then treat. Swap sides.
3. Rest the muffs on the head for a few seconds
Place the muffs on unfastened, treat, then lift them off. Build from 2 seconds to about 10.
4. Fasten them for 2 minutes with food
Close the strap and feed small treats for about 2 minutes, then remove the muffs before your dog tries to. UK charities use the same pace for muzzles: Woodgreen’s muzzle training guide suggests 3 or 4 short sessions a day, restarting from the previous step if your dog gets worried.
5. Add walks and play
Wear the muffs during a garden walk or a sniffing game. Movement shows whether the cups stay put.
6. Add mild everyday noise
Once your dog wears them happily, put them on while a hoover runs in another room or the lawn is being mown. One owner fitted the muffs “halfway through” mowing so the dog noticed the difference, a trick that only works after acceptance and never with fireworks.
7. Build to 30–60 minutes, then do the first real wear early
Aim for 30–60 minutes of relaxed wear at home. On the night itself, fit the muffs before dusk with dinner or a chew, not when the first rocket goes up.
How long does it take a dog to get used to ear muffs?
Most dogs need two to four weeks to go from first sniff to 30–60 minutes of relaxed wear, so start at least two weeks before the noisy date, ideally three to four. UK fireworks go on sale on 15 October, so start by early October for 5 November.
| When | Steps | Target |
|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | 1–3: sniff, touch, seconds on | Up to 10 seconds on the head, treats every time |
| Week 2 | 4: fastened with food | 2 minutes, five sessions, then 5–10 minutes |
| Week 3 | 5–6: walks, play, mild noise | Up to 30 minutes |
| Week 4 | 7: long relaxed wear | 30–60 minutes at home |
| 5 November | First real wear | Muffs on before dusk |
Training is one part of planning for dogs and fireworks, alongside a safe den. Our guide to dogs and fireworks sets out the full timeline, and our Bonfire Night and dogs countdown plan covers the final two weeks before the 5 November end point.
Storms give less warning, so a dog that already accepts its muffs is ready. Read how to help a dog through thunderstorms for a forecast-led plan built around a quiet room and fitted muffs.
Will my dog still hear me with ear muffs on?
Yes, your dog will still hear you: a raised voice or whistle at around 70–80 dB lands at roughly 41–54 dB under Dog+ because the muffs reduce mid and high frequencies by 26–29 dB. One Border Collie owner put it simply: “He could still hear them but it must of been quite muffled”.
How much noise dog ear muffs reduce varies by frequency, with low rumbles reduced least. Our breakdown of how much noise dog ear muffs reduce shows each frequency band. For whistle work in the field, see our guide to gundog hearing protection.
How long can a dog wear ear muffs at a time?
A dog can wear ear muffs through a noisy evening if you take them off every 1–2 hours to check behind the ears and under the cups for rubbing and heat, and never leave your dog unsupervised or alone in a closed crate wearing them. Pressure, heat and when not to use them belong to a separate question: are dog ear muffs safe?
Matija Medved, DVM, of the Dr.Vet clinic, notes in Dr.Vet’s expert review of Dog+ hearing protection that dogs can feel discomfort from about 85–90 dB, roughly the level of a hoover.
What if my dog paws them off, shakes or freezes?
Pawing, head shaking and freezing usually mean the step was too big or the fit is wrong, so go back one step and check the strap. A dog that goes still is not accepting the muffs; freezing is a stress signal, like lip licking or yawning.
| Sign | What it usually means | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Paws at the muffs | Session too long or too fast | Go back one step, shorten sessions |
| Shakes them off | Strap loose or new sensation | Recheck the two-finger strap test, reward a still head |
| Freezes or goes still | Stressed, not settled | Remove, go back two steps |
| Refuses treats | Over threshold | Stop and return to the last easy step |
| Rubs head on the floor | Cup pressing on the ear | Check sizing and cup position |
If well-fitted muffs still come off, check the strap design. See best dog ear muffs: what to look for to compare chin and head straps. If your dog truly won’t tolerate anything on its head, our comparison of dog ear muffs vs snood vs pressure wrap explains what each option does.
If the size is wrong, our 40-day money-back guarantee lets you return them. If your dog trembles, hides or panics with loud noise, speak to your vet about a wider plan.
Is getting used to ear muffs the same as noise training?
No. This plan teaches your dog to accept equipment; it does not change how your dog feels about bangs. Noise programmes use desensitisation and counterconditioning, which VCA Animal Hospitals says start at a volume that causes no distress and can take several weeks.
That work is covered in our guide to desensitising a dog to fireworks and thunder. The muffs add a physical layer alongside it, reducing the noise reaching your dog’s ears.
Check the fit, keep sessions to 2 minutes and let food do the persuading for two to four weeks. Then fireworks night is just another wear, not the first.
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.