Camp Bow Wow Reviews 28

This is the second time my dog has come back with a respiratory virus. This has cost me $800 twice: once for the vet to examine him and again to prescribe medication to stop the coughing. It's super convenient to drop my dog off, but I'll put in more effort to find a sitter. It's super uncomfortable for him to sound like he's coughing up his lungs. I get annoyed, like when something is wrong with my car or having to visit a dentist for a toothache. It's an extra thing to add to "to-do" list that costs me an arm and a leg.

I was going to sign up for this camp for my puppy, and was looking at the requirements they want. What stoped me cold is where they want your dog spayed or neutered by 7 months old. We have owned dogs for over 60 years, and we had and still have show dogs, rescues, and rehomed dogs looking for a forever home. The fact is that if you spay or neuter any dog less than a year old for a small dog or a year and a half for a large breed, you are actually hurting their body before they fully mature. The hormones needed for their growth is stunted causing them to be Langley, and with out their needed maturity, females in particular will develop leaking urine issues early in their lifetime. Ask any veterinarian before having this done. If you are looking for a place for your pet, look into Rover for a pet sitter. We have used them for the past 10 years when we needed for our pets to stay some where safe. Be sure to do a meet and greet with the sitters, and check out their reviews. And no I do not work for Rover, just a satisfied customer. As we have lived in Florida, Colorado, Pennsylvania, and North Carolina, we have used Rover wherever we lived.

I thought it was a good day care but my dog gets targeted by the staff. They look for any excuse to put her in the kennel during the day.

I can't speak for other Franchised Camp Bow Wow camps nationwide, however, I can speak on my experience at the Camp Bow Wow in Raleigh NC, and although mine and my pup's experience may be a bit premature, considering my pup only had a 1-day consultation experience, just to see how well he socialized w/Camp Bow Wow staff , and the other pets in the facility, based on our "1" time consultation experience, I would have to rate Camp Bow Wow "5" out of 5 scores, My pup (7-1/2 m/o Shepherdore) enjoyed himself, and Camp Bow Wow staff took great care of my fur baby for the 3 -hours he was in their care. Importantly, b/c my pup was "already" house trained, I didn't have any issues w/ him growling, barking or even biting any of the staff or other pups. A matter of fact, one of the staff commended me for how well trained he was while playing w/him in the lobby, she noted, other pups even larger animals haven't learned how to play gently w/o using their teeth; however, my pup was able to play while controlling his teeth from coming into contact w/ the staff's hand. Nonetheless, my pup and I are looking forward to beginning full time on next week, starting out w/2x a weekday care/camp, to allow him that comradery not only around people (staff), most importantly, around other animals.

I originally left a review hoping to get a response from management after multiple attempts to reach out directly went unanswered. While someone did respond publicly, the concerns themselves were not meaningfully addressed.

I enrolled my dog in Level 2 training and ultimately withdrew due to repeated issues with the trainer’s approach. Throughout the sessions, there were multiple instances of aggressive or dismissive communication directed at me. Instructions were often overridden mid-process, with the trainer stepping in to physically take control of my dog rather than allowing me to follow through. This created confusion for my dog and undermined trust between us.

There were also inappropriate remarks made during sessions. In one instance, when my dog was in heat, the situation was handled with urgency and comments that felt unnecessarily harsh and unprofessional rather than supportive or either none at all— considering the unnecessarily drive of Mike, the trainer/part-owner, to worsen an very minor situation.

More importantly, I observed behavioral regression in my dog over the course of training. Skills she had already learned became inconsistent, and introducing new methods (such as hand signals that were not part of her original training) without proper transition seemed to create confusion. The inconsistency between how I was guiding her and how the trainer intervened made it difficult to maintain structure at home.

Customer service was also a concern. Phone interactions were often abrupt, with being placed on hold without clear communication and occasional argumentative responses. In-person interactions at the front desk were inconsistent as well. On one occasion, a staff member physically moved my dog’s leash to reposition her without asking, rather than communicating directly and respectfully. A simple request to adjust positioning would have been more appropriate.

I’m sharing this to highlight concerns around communication style, training consistency, and overall handling approach. A more collaborative and respectful environment would make a significant difference for both dogs and their owners.

Been bringing my dog for daycare for 6 months - all was well UNTIL they began a new policy - No human needed in the 'teacup' room unless there are 10 dogs. Website clearly states dogs will receive 'a safe, SUPERVISED, enriching experience'. I watched a dog eat another's poop because it was unsupervised. Tried to call and couldn't get a person on the phone. I wasn't notified of the change and I have 10 day re-paid package for daycare. I'm will be demanding a refund unless this policy is remedied. Can't recommend leaving your small dog at Camp Bow Wow at this time. Can't speak for the medium or larger dogs.

My dog almost died after boarding here a week. If I had picked her up even 10 minutes later, she would gave been dead. It turned out she had pneumonia and was clearly gasping for breath. Her throat was swelling shut she was gasping so hard. Took her to the closest vet two blocks away. Her tongue was turning blue, she was intubated to literally save her life. The thing that upset me was NO ONE NOTICED. If I hadn't been there, she would have laid down and died and they would have just thought she was sleeping. $1500 vet bill later (so far) wasn't worth saving some money from having an in home person come in. 7 news just did a story on them that another dog died of an allergic reaction and no one did anything for half an hour. They were also overbooking and putting dogs in laundry rooms and closets instead of a kennel. Hard no from me.

They are not transparent at all. They have a very high employee turnover. Every time I drop off my dog at the Camp Bow Wow facility, if a dog gets constipation, or poop gets stuck in thier butt, they would call us and ask if they could clean it up. I wondered how much. They said $25. I asked for a picture. They never sent me a picture. They are hungry for money. They even asked us for a tip. Seriously?

They have webcam but provide to be viewed between,I believe 9 am to 6:30 pm. It is unfair that we are not able to view at any time. It tells us they are hiding something from us.

I want to warn other dog owners about my recent experience at Camp Bow Wow in Grapevine, Texas over Thanksgiving. My dog has stayed here many times without issues, but what happened this time was unacceptable, dangerous, and negligent.

Camp Bow Wow advertised a $5 “special Thanksgiving dinner” of “turkey, green beans, and pumpkin”. At no point did anyone disclose that the “turkey” was actually Great Value processed deli meat, not real cooked turkey.

When I picked up my dog, an employee casually told me, “Oh, she has a bit of loose stool, probably from the dinner.”

This was not “a bit” of loose stool. My dog was lethargic, shaking, and having puddles of bloody diarrhea. I had called ahead before pickup and no one mentioned she was sick. Had they notified me, I would have come immediately.

After seeing the magnitude of bl00d, I called to ask exactly what they fed her. That’s when I learned it was Great Value oven roasted deli turkey—something any knowledgeable pet-care provider should know is unsafe. The ingredients include:

Sodium phosphate, carrageenan, potassium lactate, sodium diacetate, sodium nitrate, modified corn starch, and very high sodium levels—all of which are known to irritate a dog’s gastrointestinal system and can be toxic in large amounts.

I had to rush her to the vet, where she was put on three medications. She was ill all weekend, and thankfully feeling better today.

What reputable boarding facility feeds processed deli meat to dogs? This is basic, common-sense pet-care knowledge. If Camp Bow Wow does not understand the dangers of these ingredients, what else are they doing that isn’t safe?

I’ve trusted Camp Bow Wow many times before, but after this experience—lack of transparency, poor judgment, and failure to notify me when my dog became ill—I can no longer recommend them or trust them with my dog. Please be cautious and ask detailed questions before leaving your dog here. Don’t assume they know what’s toxic just because they work in pet care.

Kind staff, good service. Has always been communicative, reliable, and friendly service!

When I picked up my dogs recently one was coughing and our other dog had black bowel movements. The following day we took our two dogs to the vet and they said one dog had kennel cough and a skin rash from where they were boarded. The second dog the vet felt he must of gotten into something at Camp Bow Wow. I tried to email and text them and asked in a email who is the manager so I may call them. The other dogs are now open to kennel cough and the skin irriation being it can transfer to other dogs.

If I could give it ZERO stars I would. I had 2 previous dogs go there years ago and they mistreated one of them. I had video of it, they apologized and said to give them a second chance and if it didn't work out, we would agree it wasn't the right fit. They went back in for day care and my one dog (the one they mistreated) was on time out every time I checked the camaras. My other one was always out playing. I must say that Ritter can be a handful, esp since he was only a few years old and he's a boxer. WE agreed we wouldn't have him go there but that my other dog was allowed. Recently, I signed up my new puppy, he was 9 months old at the time. They emailed me and this is the response I got.. "We appreciate your interest in Camp Bow Wow Elk Grove. Unfortunately, we are unable to accommodate your request. I have read notes on your account from your past visits with a previous dog and unfortunately at this time we think it would be best that you seek services elsewhere." Now, I had went in personally and talked to them prior to my reactivating my acct and was told that Ritter could not attend but Whiskey was still welcomed, Whiskey has since passed, and it was my NEW puppy that we were interested in having attend. That was the response I got! This is a place that says they understand and are trained in Dog behaviors, yet they were not willing to even evaluate a 9-month-old puppy!! Their loss because he is going elsewhere as well as Ritter (my so-called BAD dog) and they LOVE him! Just beware that if you call them out on their BAD behavior your dog and any future dogs will be banned. I Will say we travel across the states, and we never had any problems with other Camp Bow Wows.

I use the Camp Bow Wow central in Colorado Springs and it's the best place EVER. I don't know what they're doing in New Jersey to piss everybody off. But Colorado Springs is a fantastic daycare center and boarding center. They have never ever screwed up an instruction for an elderly dog with lots of arthritis they've always made sure she had an easy schedule she gets played with by the counselors and she absolutely has loved going there for the last 12 years. I'm sorry to hear New Jersey doesn't have good Camp Bow Wows, but most of them are outstanding. They deserve a much higher rating than what you see here. This review covers the period from September 2013 through today, April 2025.

I been dealing with this place for over five years and the staff is great they always welcome me and my lovely Boxer Baron with a great respect and love in fact all the staff knows Baron and Baron knows everyone there!! Great place for your furry!!

First, my dog frequents K-9 Resorts and has never encountered an issue. I choose this Bow Wow location-Lawrence, NJ, simply because of its closer proximity to my home.

I took my dog today for what was supposed to be a three-hour interview. After the front staff disagreed about who would conduct the interview, a young woman explained that I could observe the process on the screen in the lobby which showed four different dog areas. She said my dog would stay in the empty area for a little while to get used to the sounds and smells. After that, she said she would bring in a dog of similar size to interact with my dog.

My dog was in the empty area for approximately one minute and the woman brought in a new dog and then another dog immediately. Our interview in its entirety from start to finish, took 3 minutes and 30 seconds and the woman returned with my dog and said they couldn’t accept her.

Let me state that I have a Veterinary Nursing degree and have held a CVT license for years. You could say that I know small animals pretty well. In what universe is this an acceptable interview process? If you’ve never been there, you should be aware that this facility has at least two inept and unprofessional employees. I’m actually glad that my dog wasn’t accepted at this kennel. Take it from a licensed professional, I will gladly drive a few extra minutes and have piece of mind knowing that my dog is being cared for by the wonderful professionals at K-9 Resorts.

DO NOT USE CAMP BOW WOW FOR ANYTHING!
I had to spend most of Christmas day at the hospital with my dog Mia. Found out she has Vestibular disease due to old age. (basically vertigo) She could not keep her balance and fell down a lot. I was told to keep her safe.
We had a reservation for the 27 - 29 for boarding. I had to cancel (12/26 @ 8:50 am) because I did not want anything to happen to her. I was told when I canceled that I would get credit but not sure of refund. NOW I GET NOTHING!. Have some compassion. My dog could not physically handle the stay, I sure did not want to get out of it.

I know my girls are okay when they are at Camp Bow Wow Duluth Georgia! The staff is ALWAYS kind, courteous, friendly and caring. When they call me for any reason, they always lead with, “the girls are okay”. They know pet parents have instant anxiety when getting a call while their babies are in care. The staff are always happy and it’s apparent that they love their job and my babies. The pictures sent for enrichments could use improvement, I love getting them. I’ve thought about buying you all a better camera. Those moments are priceless and cherished by pet parents; they are worthy of a good camera. My girls, Miah and SamSam absolutely love daycamp. They are 13 and 15 and have SO much more energy and enthusiasm since they started attending daycamp at Camp Bow Wow. I recently had to pull them from daycamp due to financial reasons, however, I can’t wait to get them back to their furry and human friends at Camp Bow Wow. You all are amazing and I’ve never felt so comfortable leaving my babies with anyone.

On November 22nd-November 30th I entrusted the Camp Bow Wow Airport location with the care of my dog during a recent trip, but I was heartbroken by the outcome. Upon pickup, my dog had visible bites makes from other dogs, was emotionally shaken and underweight.

When I emailed the manager of this establishment, I received no email or phone call after spending over $700 for a luxury suite and other services. I expected professionalism and compassion, but this facility failed to meet basic standards of care.

I strongly urge pet owners to look elsewhere for reliable and humane care. Your dog will be left alone in a building with no person on the premises for over 12 hours at night. On more than a few occasions it took the staff over two hours once they arrived in the morning to let my dog out in the yard. If you want one on one care for your dog you will have to pay for it.

The staff has too many dogs per person to provide for proper supervision of your dog. If you care about the well being of your beloved dog I would seriously choose somewhere else to board them.

My parents put their 2 dogs in camp now wow for a week while they were out of the country and it was a TERRIBLE experience!!! Both dogs got VERY sick and the camp did not contact the emergency contact (me) on file. Instead they tried to contact my parents who could not be reached because they were out of the country. What is the purpose of having an emergency contact if they don’t contact you in an emergency!!?? The camp did not have a veterinarian on site, nor did they bother to contact one for a consultation. They simply let the dogs get sicker AB’s sicker. When my parents got back, they took their dogs to the vet and spent thousands of dollars to have them treated. I would STAY AWAY!!!!!!!

I was so disappointed by the one in Cary NC that I had them pull my dog from the “interview” today. I’ll never go back.

They had a screen with the cameras for me to watch but I asked where my dog would be staying and was told that it couldn’t be seen but it was a 4’x4’ from 7pm-7am. When I questioned the small space for long periods of time, she told me that they provide a water bowl but also clean up if they spoil their 4’x4’ area. Well… I would hope so! I was also told that there are 7 employees behind the scenes that can’t be seen. Also a red flag. The camera in the lobby showed 12 cameras on a split screen- all screens were empty until I showed up. Then, they magically let dogs out to play. I won’t be leaving my dog here as long as I’m sucking air-

Based on what I saw, this place isn’t okay.