Camp Dogwood

[Deborah Brown]

I'm finally getting around to giving a report of our dog vacation at Camp Dogwood over Columbus Day weekend.  In a nutshell, we had a terrific time!

Camp Dogwood was located at a summer camp site near Chicago.  I won't go into too much detail because next year it is moving to a location near Wisconsin Dells.  The new location has hotel type accommodations instead of the rustic cabins and lodges we had this year.  We expected it to be mostly Chicago area people who wanted to get out of the city with their dogs.  We found that people from all over the country attended!  We met folks from Tennessee, Nebraska and Texas.

The schedule was full of dog activities, much more than we could do.  My doodles went to nose work classes, agility, flyball and the all time favorite:  lure course!  We also hiked and played at the beach.  Charlie and Penny took their CGC tests.  Their were craft sessions, Doga (yoga for people and dogs), training and behavioral lectures, sheep herding and plenty more than I can remember.

I thought the staff was absolutely terrific.  The trainers really knew their stuff and were so enthusiastic and great with the dogs.  Wayne is a reactive dog and doesn't like people to touch him so he wore an orange bandanna for the weekend and was absolutely fine.

For those of you who haven't seen a lure course, the dogs chase a plastic bag or piece of fur on a string around the course.  For dogs who love it, it is like doggie crack.  My doodles couldn't get enough.  Of course, because it is exhausting they only got to run it twice a day.  On the last day I took a video of them running with my phone.  It's not the best quality but you'll get the idea.  (I can't seem to embed the video so here is the link:

www.youtube.com/embed/rViwfNUi4D0

We also have some great pictures. Unfortunately, these are just scans of the snapshots.  This is Charlie "levitating" with all four off the ground.

And Penny with her ears flying:

And Wayne at Flyball:

The next session is at the end of May.  I'm pretty sure we'll be going again.  If anyone is interested all the info is on their website at www.campdogwood.com

[Robin and Libby Louise]

LOVE your pictures and the video!  Sounds like a wonderful place for doodles and their humans - thanks for sharing!

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Love this post, Deb! The dogs all look like they are having a ball, I especially love that smile on my friend Wayne's face! 

Now that I hear they are going to have "hotel type accommodations", I may think about doing this with JD next year! 

[Deborah Brown]

Next year the camp will be held at the Perlstein Conference Center in Lake Delton. There will be rooms with private baths even - the height of luxury. :)  You definitely should come.

http://www.gojcc.org/perlstein-resort/

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I will definitely look into it, thanks! 

[DJ & Chance]

What fun, and terrific photos!

[jenn D]

This looks sooo fun!

[BG and Gavin]

Great pictures!  Gavin would go wild on the lure course.

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Wow!  This sounds like so much fun.   My dil lure courses her whippets which is very fun to watch.   Next time someone asks how to tire out their dog, you can just give them lure coursing advice! :-}

[F, Calla & Luca]

I it was fun to hear about this place an see your photos. It sounds terrific.

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

This sounds wonderful! Glad you had a good time!!

[Lonnie & Libby Lu]

Wow, that camp sounds like a lot of fun!  Your video was great and the dogs were definitely having a great time too!  Thanks for sharing!   Love it!   

[Judy, Meg & Polly Wolly Doodle]

My dogs would love that...heck, I would too!!