What Our Customers Say

You know when you want to take your dog to the dog park, but you’re wary because you don’t know what kind of dogs will be there or how they’ll behave?  Carolyn Leighton might have thought about just this when she wanted to create a place for dogs monitored only by people who know and love dogs. 

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I was lucky enough to reach Carolyn when I found Love Dogs Camp on the Internet.  We had just lost a dog with behavioral issues, and we wanted to make sure we started off on the right foot with our miniature Dachshund puppy, Maverick.  She spent a long time talking with me about what I was looking for, what type of dog I had, what my experiences had been so far, and more. I know now that it’s important to her to really know her clients.

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Hidden in the backroads of Arroyo Grande is a place called Love Dogs Camp: acreage where the dogs can run and play together, watched and constantly related to by professional dog trainers.  As the dogs interact, behaviors are noted and corrected on the spot.  Play is geared not only toward using energy, but also toward learning.  During a six-hour session, the dogs play and learn, have lunch together, and then kick back and relax. No crates, no isolation!   Since learning about their meals of real food, I have started feeding Maverick differently at home:  unseasoned chicken, potato, rice, carrots, or apple chopped into his kibble. 

 

When I pick Maverick up at the end of the day, Brett, the training manager, tells me about the activities of the day.  I take home lessons that I can reinforce.  I’ve learned house training tips, how to stop Maverick from “marking” indoors, how to handle the evening “zoomies” when I’m exhausted from my day, and how to work with Maverick on leash. 

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Knowing that my dog is being happily and lovingly taken care of, not isolated in a crate for hours at a time, allows me to manage the rest of my life and home. I have time for myself for community activities like my book club and hiking group. I go grocery shopping without concern about leaving my dog unattended.  At the end of the day, little Maverick comes home relaxed and content, and I have a dog that integrates seamlessly into my home life.

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Sooz W

Lexi is our six-year-old German Shepherd who suffers from a severe back muscle strain. Given the injury, her vet and dog trainer recommended a doggy daycare that provides a low dog to staff ratio and constant supervision. It was difficult to leave Lexi’s previous doggy daycare, but we needed to find the environment that would allow her to properly heal.

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I was overjoyed and relieved to become acquainted with Carolyn and Love Dogs Camp. Lexi is an important member of our family. Carolyn shares our values of love, care, respect, and safety for our dog family members and Love Dogs Camp provides Lexi a warm, welcoming, safe environment. Lexi gets the needed attention.

 

Lexi immediately bonded with Brett, the resident trainer, who introduced her to each dog individually and then in small groups. His concern for building her confidence was remarkable and she quickly adapted. Lexi has difficulty with getting her nails trimmed, and Brett gets it done quickly and without stress for Lexi. Brett and the Love Dogs Camp team enrich her day with games and play. Who knew that Lexi likes to play soccer? And Carolyn makes home cooked organic lunches, planned around Lexi's food allergies.

 

 

Lexi is excited to go to camp. She is more relaxed and happier at home, and I am confident that she will stay healthy and injury free.

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Nancy Doherty

My dog, Wilson Phillips, goes to Love Dogs Camp. She was a tiny, sick pup abandoned by her street dog mom when my daughter took her to her home in Guatemala. Months later my daughter returned from Guatemala with Wilson.

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Wilson had serious anxiety and would bark at dogs and people she did not know. A trainer was helping Wilson. The trainer soon moved to Love Dogs Camp, and we followed.

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We love that she has room to run, and the Love Dogs Camp staff foster good relations between the dogs. The staff play with the dogs, and they always supervise the dogs. Wilson has made friends - humans and dogs. She knows how to greet new dogs and how to play. Wilson loves Carolyn and often chooses to start her day with a visit. I appreciate that there are a variety of places on the property with toys and activities. Wilson is happy there and “good tired” at the end of the day.

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Kat T

Love Dogs Camp has made a big difference with our dog, Pugsley, since we moved to the area 6 years ago.

He was rescued from the streets of San Jose at the age of 1. Before moving to Nipomo, we researched and visited many places offering daycare and boarding, but Carolyn at Love Dogs Camp gave us the most confidence.

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It offers Pugsley a great environment with no kennels, freedom to roam on 5 acres and the ability to socialize with both big and small dogs.

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Carolyn has a wonderful trainer - Brett - who's very knowledgeable about dog behavior and nutrition and helped Pugsley become less fearful of other dogs.  Supervision is a priority and he is never left alone.

Carolyn does a great job vetting new dogs and their owners to ensure compatibility with her existing clientele.  She also provides healthy home cooked meals for the dogs at least once a day.

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Whether it's for just a day or a couple of weeks for vacation, we have no concern bringing Pugsley to Love Dogs Camp.  It's his home away from home.

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Patti Namm

A “Must-Have” for New Moms!

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Our fur baby Obi-Wan has been going to Love Dogs Camp for daycare for the past 2.5 years and he loves it there! He wears an activity tracker and gets much more activity there than at other doggie daycare places that we tried. He comes home happy and tired, ready for a long nap!

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This routine was very helpful during the stressful postpartum period when I was unable to take him on our daily walks. Getting used to having a human baby in the house was challenging for all of us, but going to camp twice a week really helped him. It gave him a chance to get out of the house and go to somewhere familiar and comfortable, get some good exercise and loving attention from the staff. He always came home more relaxed and better able to handle the changing circumstances. We didn’t have any behavioral issues with him after the baby came home and I know it is because of Love Dogs Camp! I recommend that all parents-to-be get their dogs into a good daycare routine before bringing a new baby home. And having the peace of mind that our dog had somewhere safe and comfortable to go while we were in the hospital was priceless. My husband was able to stay with me the entire 4 days we were in the hospital, and we came home to a relaxed and happy dog who was eager to meet his little brother!

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Erin and Obi

Hoshi has been a regular at Love Dogs Camp doggy daycare for over a year. He needed more exercise, socialization, and playtime with other dogs than we could provide at home. Hoshi is always thrilled to go.

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Hoshi has made many friends and loves playing with other dogs. He has a special bond with the team at Love Dogs Camp. He is thrilled Carolyn comes to greet him. It's heartwarming to see.

 

Love, Fun, and Kindness best describe Love Dogs Camp. They genuinely care about the wellbeing of the dogs and their families. Love Dogs Camp has exceeded all of our expectations.

 

 

Lisa Ramirez