In anticipation of the Fourth of July festivities, a Los Angeles doggy daycare has taken an innovative approach to help its canine guests stay calm during the holiday’s traditional fireworks. The facility has started playing recordings of fireworks throughout the day to gradually condition the dogs to the loud sounds.
An Instagram video highlights dogs at the center engaging in various activities like treadmill exercises, napping, and negotiating obstacle courses, all amid a soundtrack of fireworks. This is part of the daycare’s desensitization initiative aimed at easing the dogs’ anxiety when the actual fireworks begin.
Situated in Culver City at the intersection of Obama and Jefferson boulevards, Dingo Doggies Campus brands itself as a “school for dogs.” The facility emphasizes training that enhances listening skills, impulse control, and respectful social interactions.
The Instagram post accompanying the video explained, “With the Fourth of July just around the corner, we’re conditioning our dogs to be used to fireworks! The fireworks soundtrack runs all day every day, and on July 4th evening, it will be played in the kennels to blend with the actual fireworks outside.”
Renée Bogaarts, who owns and serves as the lead trainer at Dingo Doggies Campus, explained her motivation. She shared her passion for dogs and noted that in urban settings, many dogs’ biological needs often go unmet, leading to problematic behaviors.
Her passion for service and love for dogs led her to start the Dingo Doggies Campus in 2014, she had told Voyage LA.
For many canines, Fourth of July fireworks serve as an incredibly terrifying trigger. This intense fear leads numerous dogs to flee their homes or yards. They face a significant risk of getting lost or being involved in road accidents.
To prepare fearful dogs for the Fourth of July, the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine advises starting training months in advance. The process involves counter-conditioning, replacing fear with relaxation and desensitization, which uses gradual and controlled exposure to triggers without causing distress.