Firework season is a fortnight of dread in a lot of households, and most of what an owner can do amounts to making the bangs quieter and less startling. Covering the ears in thick fabric will not silence anything, but it does take the sharp edge off the crack and dulls the sudden change that makes a dog flinch before the sound has properly registered.

The snood is cut in thickened fabric that lies over both ears and down the neck, with a drawstring so you set the tension yourself. That adjustment matters more than it looks: too loose and it slides off at the first head shake, too tight and you have handed an already anxious dog a second thing to worry about. It weighs between 52g and 85g and comes in three colours in small, medium and large.

• Thickened fabric covering both ears and the neck
• Adjustable drawstring closure
• Three sizes, S, M and L
• Three colours: coffee, greyish black and dark red
• Weighs between 52g and 85g depending on size
• Quick to pull on at the first bang

Be honest about what a snood can do. It muffles, it does not soundproof, and it will not fix real noise phobia on its own. Introduce it on a quiet day with treats so that it is not first worn in the middle of a panic, pair it with a den, drawn curtains and background noise, and talk to your vet about desensitisation or medication if your dog is genuinely terrified rather than merely unsettled.

Who it's for: Noise-anxious dogs going into firework or thunder season, as one part of a plan rather than as the whole of it.