Image Credit: Pexels
World Cup fever is a national pastime in the UK, but loud noise from an exciting football match on TV can feel like indoor fireworks for your dog, according to veterinary and dog behaviour experts.
Search trends show dog owners are keen to protect their pets from the anxiety that comes with noisy goal celebrations and penalty commiserations. TopDog is asking: What can owners actually do to help reduce anxiety in their dogs on match day?
- Searches for “Dog Stress” up 185%
- Why World Cup noise can feel like “indoor fireworks” for dogs
- Signs your dog is struggling with football match noise
- TopDog’s World Cup Match Plan for calmer dogs
- Planning for an anxiety-free World Cup for your dog
Searches for “Dog Stress” up 185%
Searches for “dog stress” are up by 185% in the last year, now reaching 15-16 thousand monthly searches globally.
Google Trends also shows noticeable spikes in searches such as “dog upset football noise” and “does football noise upset dogs?” around major football matches, including the final day of the 2020–21 Premier League season, UEFA Women’s Euro 2022 and the 2023 UEFA Nations League final.
Additional data from AlsoAsked reveals pet parents' anxiety, asking for advice such as “What calms a dog down immediately?” and “what sounds soothe dogs' anxiety?
What’s clear here is that pet parents are wary of the disruption that an exciting football game can cause, and they want to find a way to prevent it.
Why World Cup noise can feel like “indoor fireworks” for dogs
Experts say these search patterns reflect how many dogs feel every time the living room turns into a World Cup supporters hub, packed with friends and family, snacks and a loud TV.
“Dogs experience the world through sound in a way that's far more amplified than we do,” says Dr. Kathryn Dench (MA VetMB), Chief Scientific Advisor at Paw Origins. “Their hearing range is significantly broader, so what feels like an exciting cheer to us can land more like a sudden, unpredictable shockwave to them.”
It's not just the volume that’s anxiety-inducing for dogs, but the unpredictability of the noise. Dr. Dench adds:
“A quiet room that suddenly erupts into shouting, clapping, or chanting can trigger a startle response and activate the dog's stress system. Events like fireworks are the obvious example, but sporting events create a similar pattern of intermittent, high-intensity noise that can be just as unsettling for certain dogs.”
Certified professional dog trainer Terry Lynn Cuyler, owner of Pawsitive Results Dog Training, says a football fan’s body language can also add to the confusion. “Dogs also watch body language. Jumping, waving, running around, yelling, such things can confuse them. In such cases, dogs go into a stress state as they are trying to analyze whether there is a threat or not.”
Professional dog trainer Christopher Lee Moran, founder of Instinctual Balance Dog Training, sees World Cup season as acoustically similar to New Year’s Eve: “Loud sporting events are one of the most underestimated anxiety triggers in the home. I've had strong success helping owners navigate fireworks season … and the World Cup presents a nearly identical acoustic challenge.”
Image Credit: Pexels
Signs your dog is struggling with football match noise
Unfortunately, dogs might already be struggling with anxiety before owners realise something is wrong. Dr Dench says:
“Dogs rarely ‘tell’ us in obvious ways at first. The early signs are subtle and often missed. You might notice a dog becoming unusually still, turning their head away, or leaving the room. Some will lick their lips, yawn when they're not tired, or pace without settling.”
“As anxiety builds, the signals become clearer,” she explains. “Trembling, panting, hiding, vocalising, or trying to escape are common. In more severe cases, dogs may refuse food, have accidents indoors, or cling closely to their owner.”
Veterinarian Iryna Smyrnova, DVM, Meowoff sees similar patterns in practice. “Once a dog is exposed to a loud noise they will exhibit a variety of symptoms indicating that they are experiencing excessive anxiety,” she says. “These symptoms may be obvious such as shaking, panting while neither hot nor exercising, pacing, attempting to find shelter under a piece of furniture or leaving the room.”
“In addition to the above-mentioned behaviours some dogs may experience other less apparent symptoms including; lip licking, ears down, large eyes, clinging behaviour, and/or damaging property through chewing/barking as they attempt to deal with their extreme anxiety.”
Image Credit: Pexels
TopDog’s World Cup Match Plan for calmer dogs
1. Create a World Cup safe zone
“The key is creating a sense of predictability and safety for the dog while allowing the household to enjoy the event,” says Dr. Dench. “Start by giving your dog a designated ‘safe zone’ away from the main noise. This might be a quiet room with familiar bedding, toys, and access to water. Some dogs benefit from background noise like a fan or soft music to mask sudden spikes from the TV.”
“I would recommend setting up a safe area for him to go to when he becomes overwhelmed,” adds Iryna Smyrnova. “Ideally you should provide a place for your dog to go to that is as far removed from the TV as possible. Additionally, I would recommend playing white noise or calming music in the background during sports events as well as keeping the TV volume low enough so the cheers don't startle your pet.”
2. Tire them out before kick‑off
“Proactive support can also be valuable,” says Dr Dench. “Regular exercise before the match helps take the edge off, and calming aids such as pressure wraps or veterinary-approved supplements can provide additional support. In more sensitive dogs, introducing these strategies ahead of time rather than reacting in the moment leads to better outcomes.”
3. Give them something positive to focus on
Terry Culyer suggests occupying your dog with some new toys or a favourite snack: “You can buy them a toy stuffed with snacks, or give them a chew or a lick mat. These activities are calming for dogs as they mimic the process of hunting.”
4. Manage the volume
Managing the sound profile of your living room before kick-off is also key, as well as moderating your reactions to a goal or red card. Dr Dench says: “Keeping the volume at a moderate level and avoiding sudden, explosive reactions right next to the dog can reduce the intensity of the experience.”
“If you know your dog is sensitive, celebrating a goal a little more quietly or stepping into another room can help prevent a stress response.”
Planning for an anxiety-free World Cup for your dog
With search interest in “dog stress” and “dog anxiety” climbing sharply worldwide, and spikes in “does football noise upset dogs?” around major football dates, we hope the World Cup will be the moment owners start planning for their dog’s emotional wellbeing as carefully as their matchday snacks.
“Ultimately, it's about balance,” says Dr Dench. “With a bit of planning, most households can enjoy the excitement of a World Cup match without it becoming overwhelming for their dog.”
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Sources
Search data sourced from Google Trends and AlsoAsked
About the author
John Skinner
As an avid dog lover, John took the reins at TopDog as a co-director in 2022. His background as a Creative Director elsewhere means that along with business acumen, he brings a keen eye for new harness design ideas and a passion for ensuring TopDog products stand out from the rest of the pack. John is the proud owner of Pippi (staffyjack) and Sonny (staffy cross), who make up for their lack of discipline by bringing boundless enthusiasm to every day. In addition to expertise in the board room, John brings lived experience of training and co-habiting with chaotic four-legged friends to all things TopDog.