Dog Camp

The Call of the Wild

By Eric Sparling | Photographs by Blue Sky Dogs

Nervousness the night before the first day of summer camp is natural. No, I'm not talking about the children, but the parents.
" Did I pack a warm enough sweater for little Ben?"
" Will Dolly's counselor be responsible?"
" How difficult will it be for Ben to make friends? He's so much smaller than the others!"
How different would it be if you could go along to summer camp, too? And what if your little camper is covered in fur, wags a tail when she's happy, and has canine teeth long enough to puncture a watermelon?

Camp ain't just for kids anymore. More and more human dog parents are opting to send their pets to camp-and then going right along with them. They're experiencing the same rush of pride and anxiety parents have enjoyed for decades as they witness their loved one's first exposure to the great outdoors and a mob of exuberant, unleashed playmates.

Dog camp is a great way to de-stress, meet like-minded people, bond with your fourlegged best friend, and experiment with new canine sports. And who knows? You may even be able to help a charity along the way.