A special place where dogs can be dogs
Glencadia Dog Camp’s founder, Will Pflaum, recently published a review of his 17-years running the upstate (#pupstateny) dog boarding facility for New York City Dogs. With more than 60,000 individual dog vacations under their belts up in the Hudson Valley, Glencadia has become something of an institution for NYC dog owners.
Dogs have psychological profiles, as do humans. Human needs are built into the environment we have created for ourselves. We are able to express our fundamental social urges and natural inclinations in churches, schools, dance clubs, bars, parks, gyms, museums, libraries, restaurants, and an infinite variety of settings. Dogs, on the other hand, as accessory animals, often have only the dog run, the floor, and the leash, perhaps a backyard and a playmate if they are lucky.
But dogs do have another option: dog camp. Glencadia has been designed and dedicated to satisfying the basic psychological needs of dogs. Digging holes, sniffing butts, hiding, running, swimming, chewing, socializing: there are few fundamental activities, aside from procreation and fighting, that are not allowed and promoted at Glencadia.
Look at this and tell me this doesn’t look like fun.
How can these dogs play in this kind of environment without fighting? There are a number of tricks. Glencadia Dog Camp’s founder notes that his crew has whistles, squirt guns, airhorns, and radios to call for backup, but that this gear is not the secret to safety. Rather, using a state-of-the-art app to share information and studying the behavior of dogs, the team can manage the social environment.
While there is always a risk of a fight when dogs socialize, there are also significant dangers inherent in not letting them spend time together. Dogs living with humans can exhibit the signs of boredom associated with prison. By signing your dog up for camp, you can not only travel guilt-free, but you can also provide your dog with a stimulating and exciting environment.
In New York City, there are three main dog camps that offer delivery. Eva’s Play Pups, Far Fetched Acres, and Glencadia Dog Camp. Here is an assessment of those three options.
If you have a dog and a life, you are likely to be faced with a dilemma. You probably love the company of this creature - s/he centers you and brings you back to the essentials of life, a bit of the natural in this manmade environment. However, you want to travel. What should you do?
You can ask someone to take care of your dog. You take my dog when I travel. I’ll take yours. But… my dog is better than yours. Your dog destroyed my sofa. I only travel once a year and you go away every month. I asked you to watch my dog just once and you said you couldn't do it! You can try Rover, or boarding in the city. None of these usually work out the way you might hope.
There is a way to provide a healthy, psychological environment for your dog and travel all you want. We know how the story of dog ownership ends. Until then, try a dog camp.