It's a well-known fact for a any dog owner that the days surrounding Bonfire Night are not ones our dogs enjoy. Thanks to their acute senses, the loud bangs and bright flashes of fireworks can leave them panicked and anxious.
This year, we've already heard about a canine anxiety helpline which will be open for owners to call from 6pm to 11:30pm on 5th November, offering professional advice. But there's another new initiative to help keep our dogs calm this weekend and into Monday, and it's one we'd rather like to join in with ourselves.
Battersea Dogs Home have teamed with Classic FM to create the station's first ever radio programme dedicated to dogs. The idea runs on the premise that classical music relaxes dogs and helps keep them calm.
Presented by dog-lover Bill Turnbull, the Pet Sounds show will play soothing classics, including Edward Elgar's Mina and Johann Sebastian Bach's Sheep May Safely Graze. In the run up to the show, Classic FM visited Battersea to test the pieces on some very willing volunteers...
“The programme has been specifically devised for pets who may be upset or nervous on Fireworks Night and may need something to calm them down," says Classic FM presenter Bill Turnbull. "This will be their radio refuge. The music we play on Classic FM is always relaxing, but what we’ve got lined up is even more chilled than usual and a lot of it will be pet-related.
"There is a piece that Elgar named after his cairn terrier called Mina and John Barry has got a lovely lyrical composition called Crazy Dogs. I’ve been very happily presenting to humans for the past two-and-a-half years on Classic FM, so hosting this show will be a pleasure and possibly a step up!”
Tune into Classic FM’s Pet Sounds with Bill Turnbull Saturday 3rd November, 7-9pm
