Our furry pals also restrict what we can do and where we can travel. Last September, I was speaking with my dog’s agility trainer about this “hole in the market.” I asked her if she knew of a cruise or something like that where you could take your dog on vacation and she said, “Have you heard of Wild Blue Dog Camp on the South Shore of Lake Tahoe?” I had not, but after exploring wildbluedogs.org, I couldn’t write a check fast enough!  The location was practically in my back yard and the activities offered variety and access to a stretch of private beach at the 4H Campground. The 2024 six-day fall session had just completed, so I signed up for the 2025 spring session which took place in June.  My dog, Janny and I had been counting the days until we could try this, and after returning from a wonderful experience - Wild Blue Dog Camp is going to be an annual event for us from now on!

There were a couple of options for accommodations.  In an effort to not miss anything, we stayed on-site in the cabins, which was also the less expensive option. Although the cabins are a bit rustic with no in-room restrooms, there are multiple clean and close by facilities at the private 4H Facility. About half the campers who come are dedicated regulars who have been coming for 2-7 years.  Some people prefer to stay in a local, designated hotel that co-ops with the Wild Blue Dog Camp and they drive a short distance each morning to start their day with the full breakfast that is served at 8 am. I loved staying in the cabins and being right there without driving.  However, as we return each year, it is comforting to know that a hotel option is available as both my dog and I age and our “camping gene” fades.

 My dog, Janny, did her first pack hike safely with ten off-leash dogs to Burke Creek… a huge boost in her confidence and a very proud moment for me. Kayaking, paddleboarding, all levels of agility, massage (both dog and human), tricks, a lure course, obedience training, scent work, color identification, senior dog tips, supervised play, nutritional counseling, behavior concerns, rattlesnake safety…and the list goes on.  Six classes occurred each day with activities in between…and then there was the private beach and pier! Janny was walking around the camp a little bit wet most of the time from her swims. Campers could be as busy as they wanted because, while very up-beat, the atmosphere is also very calm and casual.  Dog people are just the best and a lot of wonderful ideas passed between the campers while just relaxing and chatting.  It was important that everyone was so kind, considerate and cooperative because this particular session hosted around forty people and about sixty dogs. Campers were all ages, some came with friends, some with spouses and some came just with their dogs.  Some knew each other from previous camp stays and some were first timers, like me. The fall session is typically eighty campers and about one hundred dogs.

With three tasty, hearty meals a day, plenty of snacks around and “Yappy Hour” each night before dinner, all the training we received and sleeping accommodations, the value was pretty hard to beat, especially since each human is allowed to bring up to three dogs.  

Somehow, magically, one of the very attentive staff members was always right there when I needed something.  The team consisted of people from various backgrounds on an invite only recruitment and they all worked well together, even with the seeming randomness of it.  It was an educational environment offering anything a dog might want with the camp schedule built around communicating better with our furry friends.  We got little gifts, enjoyed films, campfires and finished off the week with a costume and talent show. I was expecting an education but was really surprised how much fun Janny and I had as we received that education. Janny is a pretty serious, working dog and I am not typically a silly person, but we decided to step out of our comfort zone. I bought her a $5 dog wig that was like a lion’s mane and was really impressed with how much she enjoyed parading around and hamming it up.  She was introduced on stage to the group as “Janny’s Bad Hair Day” and I think her “talent” was having the courage to keep it on as long as she did.  I’m pretty sure she did it for all the applause. She didn’t win anything, but she definitely got my vote!

In short, this was just the best vacation ever and a lot of value for $1,900! It opened up a whole new world for us! Those six days completely exceeded my expectations in every way. It’s good to get away and break ruts and routines. There is no doubt that this experience matured my dog and strengthened the bond between us. Wild Blue Dog Camp is the only non-profit dog camp in the nation, and they accept all types of dogs. Victoria Rhodes, the founder, lost her beloved dog, Willie to cancer and every penny of profit goes to dog cancer research and to provide grants for dogs with cancer, whose owners are in financial need. 

Want to join the next camp with your dog/s? Please contact Victoria at (775)790-3446., or visit her website:  

wildbluedogs.org. She is a S. Lake Tahoe resident now after moving there from Seal Beach, CA. a year ago.

You can also view really fun photos and video reels here: facebook.com/wildbluedogs/.