I Swear By These Noise-Canceling Dog Ear Muffs for My Pup for Fireworks and Thunderstorms—and They’re Only $14

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When you own a dog, your life kind of becomes one big game of “How can I make my dog the most comfortable they can be?” And when summer comes around, fireworks and summer thunderstorms force dog owners to really assess how to help their dogs’s stress and anxiety because of the loud noises. While ThunderShirts are a major help in reducing dog anxiety and stress, blocking out loud noises with dog ear muffs is also a big help that a lot of dog owners might not think about.

Again, from dog enrichment toys to the healthiest foods to ways to reduce a dog’s stress, puppy parents are notorious for finding ways to pamper their dogs usefully. Let’s be honest, we’d probably spoil our dogs anyway, but finding ways to make their lives easier is also a great way to help ourselves (and our sanity) too.

When July 4th comes around (and unfortunately, the weeks before and after), dogs are scared silly with the loud noises and flashes of light. Again, compression shirts help a lot with dogs’s anxieties. However, if you block out the loud bangs and pops, it can greatly reduce your dog’s stress.

My dog is a very anxious girl; she’s a rescue pup and her previous situation left her with a lot of behavioral problems—including constant anxiety. I’ve worked closely with a dog behaviorist to figure out the best ways to help her be the happiest dog she can be with medicine, training and supplemental objects and tools like ThunderShirts and dog ear muffs. In fact, a snood or HappyHoodie is one of the first things my dog behaviorist, Rachel Findley at Dog Behavior Solutions, Inc., mentioned that would help my dog on walks near busy streets or during thunderstorms. Since then, I’ve used a HappyHoodie for noisy situations, moving to a looser option recently, and they’ve both really been a lifesaver for me and my dog.

So, if you’re looking for ways to reduce your dog’s stress and anxiety during fireworks or a thunderstorm, I’ve listed out a handful of dog ear muff options including dog noise-canceling headphones (yes, those do exist!). These are great year-round, so if you find a snood or dog ear muffs that you really like and aren't sure if they'll get to you before the 4th, I still cannot recommend these enough. 

Related: Signs Your Dog Has Chronic Anxiety, According to Veterinarians

Dog Noise Canceling Ear Muffs Help My Very Anxious Dog During Thunderstorms and Fireworks

The main dog ear muffs I’d recommend are the SSaYo Adjustable Dog Noise Canceling Ear Muffs. They’re currently $13.99 for most medium sizes (it comes in a handful of colors) and the purple ones I own are adorable thanks to the little pom pom ears on top.

With any snood (which is technically what they’re called), your dogs are going to need some time to adjust to having their a tight wrap around their head and ears. But because this one has adjustable elastics and a looser fit around the head, I’ve found that this one is great for my dog to lounge around in in the house. She also is less likely to shake these off like she used to with her HappyHoodie (which I do also still recommend, more on that in a second).

Adjustable Dog Noise Cancelling Ear Muffs Noise Protection (Purple, Medium), $13.99 on Amazon

Again, this one is made with a very soft, plush material and is comfortable so that my dog can sleep in them while still blocking out noise. They definitely still get the job done, giving my dog immediate relief from loud fireworks or thunder (which has been a big issue for us recently).

These doggy ear muffs, depending on the color or size you get, might be able to get to you before July 4. The same goes for the following dog ear muffs and noise-canceling headphones. While the first product linked might not come before July 4th, other colors or sizes under the same listing might. I don’t recommend getting a snood or headphones that don’t fit your dog, so play around with the different colors available to find ones that can come before the holiday. But I recommend this one the most (out of the couple that I have), because of how comfortable it seems for my dog and how well it works.

Related: 6 Signs Your Dog Is Happy, Pet Behaviorists Explain

5 Other Dog Ear Muffs and Snoods for Noise Cancelation

Happy Hoodie The Original Calming Band for Dogs & Cats (Large, Pink), $12.49 on Amazon

This HappyHoodie is the first snood I bought for my dog, and it does the job very well. It is pretty tight, which makes it great for noise protection while grooming (i.e. blow dryers). It's also good for walks near busy streets. Again, I prefer the first one because it's a little looser but still stays on, but this HappyHoodie still gets the job done and is one of the original ways to cancel out noise for your pup.

Zoo Snoods Panda Costume for Dogs- Warm No Flap Ear Wrap Hood for Pets (Medium), $19.99 on Amazon

If you want to have fun with your dog's snood or ear muffs, then Zoo Snoods are a great way to go. Similar to the purple one I mentioned first, these have the cutest little ears so it makes it a bit of a cute costume while also serving a purpose (blocking out noise). They also have so many animal ears to choose from, like bunny ears, giraffe ears and even Baby Yoda aka Grogu!

This is still a snood, so it fits over the head, holding the ears back like the HappyHoodie. It doesn't seem to be as tight, and a lot of people use this to keep their dogs's ears warm or for medical reasons. But reviewers do still mention that these are good for muffling noise from fireworks and more.

Quiet Ears for Dogs, Dog Ear Muffs Noise Protection Knitted Dog Hats for Medium to Large Dogs Cats Pets (Pink), $13.99 on Amazon

In the same vein as dog ear muffs that are looser and more comfortable, these Quiet Ears by Frienda give warmth and block out noises. They seem to fit well and dogs don't seem to mind wearing them. These have a cozy inside and yarn exterior with adorable ears on top.

Related: 'I'm a Dog Trainer and I Wish All Pet Parents Knew That This Is One Common Command Can Do More Harm Than Good'

Dog Ear Muffs Noise Protection, Noise Cancelling Headphones for Dogs, 22dB NRR Dog Earmuffs (M, White-Pink), $74.99 on Amazon

Getting into dog noise-canceling headphones, this newer model by Famikako on Amazon is so cute with the paw print design on the side. They're on the more expensive side, but these are made with more precision than the snoods or dog ear muffs we mentioned before. These have the look of noise-canceling ear protection you'd see humans wear to concerts or at work sites. They have a 22dB NRR meaning they have a 22 decibels Noise Reduction Rating, meaning anything under 22 decibels should be blocked out. These types of headphones and dog ear protection devices are often seen on service animals at concerts and loud events.

Dog Earmuffs For Hearing Protection 29dB NRR Ear Muffs Noise Protection (Medium, Pink), $54.99 on Amazon

These are a similar type of dog hearing protection ear muffs as the one above, with a nearly identical design. The main difference is that these are a solid color (no design on the ear muffs) and they take a bit longer to ship. But they have really good ratings and seem great if you are at a louder venue like a concert or if your dog needs some serious noise cancelation.

Next up: The #1 Sign Your Dog Is Stressed, According to Experts