With firework season fast approaching, Sky and NOW have teamed up with Dogs Trust, the UK’s largest dog welfare charity, to launch a dedicated pop-up TV channel designed to help our four-legged friends stay calm during the potentially stressful period.

The aptly named ‘BonfireNight’ channel will feature a range of soothing, funny and distracting movies specifically curated for dogs to enjoy with their owners, helping to ease anxiety triggered by loud noises. Found on Sky channel 310, it will air from 6am on November 1 until 6am on November 6, featuring hit movies perfect for owners and dogs alike. The collection of movies will also be available to watch on demand and with a NOW Cinema pass.

Sky and NOW’s extensive back catalogue of more than 1,000 films were whittled down with the help of Dogs Trust. The charity’s experts said feel-good, relaxing, and familiar content was a must-have, as it helps keep dogs’ owners calm, which in turn can help pooches relax too. Films that promote laughter and general positivity were essential, while anything with negatively associated emotions and intense content were ruled out.

The final list of 21 includes blockbuster titles such as Barbie and Anyone But You – as well as comedy classics David Brent: Life on the Road and Step Brothers – which are guaranteed to put a smile on owners’ faces. Classic, familiar, flicks include the iconic E.T., the Bridget Jones trilogy and Shrek.

• Barbie

• Angus, Thongs and Perfect Snogging

• Migration

• Shrek

• Bonus Track

• 10 Lives

• Arthur’s Whisky

• The Amazing Maurice

• Anyone But You

• Bridget Jones’s Diary

• Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason

• Bridget Jones’s Baby

• No Hard Feelings

• Couples Retreat

• The Five-Year Engagement

• Step Brothers

• Shakespeare in Love

• Wimbledon

• Girls Trip

• ET

• David Brent: Life on the Road

Sky and NOW worked with Dogs Trust’s behaviour expert team to come up with an exclusive list of films from our giant back catalogue. One of the key criteria points was that they must help owners remain calm, laugh and experience joy – so that their pets in turn also relax. Feel-good, relaxing content with bright colours, slow pacing, gentle music, and positive emotions were a must have. Dogs Trust said that familiar content that the owner has enjoyed in the past can have a calming effect.

Films to be avoided were those that include intense or suspenseful content with sudden noises, loud dramatic music, or sound effects like gunshots, thunder, or fireworks. We also discounted any that had scenes that induce fear, anxiety, or anger in viewers. Also cut were films with negative, emotional human sounds such as crying, screaming, or shouting. And films with extensive visuals and/or sounds of other dogs or animals were also excluded as this can be a trigger for some dogs.

The exclusive channel can be found on Sky channel 310. It will air from 6am on November 1 until 6am on November 6, featuring hit movies perfect for owners and dogs alike. The collection of movies will also be available to watch on demand and with a NOW Cinema pass.

As a nod to our four-legged friends, Sky TV has added a brand-new voice command which will direct users straight to the Sky Cinema page where they’ll be able to find all the movies from the Bonfire Night collection. Simply say “bark” into your Sky Glass or Sky Stream remote.

In addition to creating the ‘BonfireNight’ pop-up movie channel, Sky and NOW are further helping pet owners with veterinary surgeon and broadcaster, Dr Scott Miller, providing expert tips on how to best ease anxiety during fireworks.

• Stay upbeat: “Watch something cheerful on Sky and NOW’s new ‘BonfireNight’ channel to keep a positive vibe – your pet will take cues from your calm and happy energy, being much more relaxed as a result. Snuggle up on the sofa, close the curtains, and dim lighting.”

• Keep pets active: “Make sure your pets get plenty of exercise during the day. Take your dog for a walk or engage your cat in active play to help them relax later. This will help them deal with any noise – they may even sleep through it!”

• Create a calm atmosphere: “In the evening, close curtains and blinds to block out flashes from fireworks, creating a soothing environment. Play some music or turn on the TV, distraction tactics are a great way to help your pets get through the evening.”

• Set up a safe space: “Prepare a cosy, central spot with your pet's favourite items where they can retreat if they feel anxious. Make sure you check on them regularly and reassure them that it’s ok and will be over soon.”

• Consider calming aids: “Consult your vet about calming products like diffusers or sprays to see how your pet responds during Bonfire Night. These can be bought in pet shops or online and are a comfort to some pets.”