Camps for Kids and Dogs

Camps are not just for kids anymore. There are a variety of camps that are for kids and their dogs--and these camps can be just as enjoyable as other types of summer camps. Whether kids are learning about a specific type of dog, training worker dogs, or just relaxing with their own dog in the sun, camps for kids and dogs give both the dogs and the children a chance to be themselves.

  1. Working With Dogs Camp

    • Some dogs are working dogs, so many dog camps, like All About Dogs, a week-long camp in Woodbridge, Washington D.C., focus on training a dog to do the work they are meant to do. Some camps have kids train their own dogs to be service dogs, and other camps have the kids work with dogs who are already in training--to be service dogs, police dogs, or other types of working dogs. At these camps, kids get to study the reasons that dogs might have a job, and get to become a part of that training process.

    Fun Kids and Dogs Camp

    • There are also fun camps for kids and dogs together. One example is Shadow Hill Shelties in North Carolina. At this camp, children get together with different types of dogs and learn all of the enjoyable aspects of having dogs. They learn how to be agile with dogs, how to play with dogs, and they spend lots of one-on-one time with different dogs. Some of these camps encourage kids to bring their own dogs, and other camps have the youths working with the dogs that are already there. These are not breed-specific camps, but are focused more on the pleasures of dog ownership.

    Camps for Dog Training

    • Dog training camps that kids attend with their own dogs are held all over the country, in just about any town. Some are puppy camps, and others are for adult dogs. The goal of these camps is both for the dog to become trained and for the kids to learn how to work with their own particular dog. These are typically day camps, so kids can take what they learn back home and teach the rest of the family every day.

    Learning About Dogs Camps

    • Other camps for kids and dogs are those where the children learn about a specific type of dog. An example of this is Camp Border Collie, in upstate New York. At this camp, kids from inner-city New York and Newark come without dogs and spend time with the border collies who live on the property. They learn about collies, how to train them, and how to care for them. Camps of this type, with different breeds, exist all over the U.S. and are a good way for kids who might not have any other exposure to spend time with dogs. Some camps even offer adoptions, so if, at the end of the program, the family of a child thinks that type of dog is best for them, they can apply to adopt one.