Camp Four Paws

When we were looking for a place to take our 7 month old golden retriever, we were referred to camp four paws by a family friend. I’m so glad we decided to let our Bailey spend her spring break here! She came home happy, healthy, and exhausted from all the play time that goldens so desperately need! Her report card when we picked her up was stellar as well. So glad we found a good fit for everyone involved. Will definitely be bringing Bailey back for extended visits when we go on vacation again. Thanks Camp Four Paws, keep up the extra cuddles, Bailey loved them!

Whenever we turn onto the road towards Camp Four Paws, my lab, Bear can barely contain himself. The minute we get in the door, he’s like «OK, OK, BYE!!!» as he runs back to play with his friends. With the beautiful grounds, great staff and fun puppy activities, I know whenever we need to leave town, Bear is having a vacation too. Plus, when he gets back from his forest romping fun, he sleeps for two days straight… no complaints about that either! :)

10/​24/​2014
Another stay at The Camp. C.C. came home happy, exhausted, and wonderfully clean from her end of camp bath. Thank you, again, Camp Four Paws for taking such good care of «my girl».

Great place to leave your dog if you’re going away on vacation. Kind of pricey though, but totally worth it if it’s in your budget. This summer we went on a trip over a week long, so we needed a place for our doggies to stay. My heeler mix had been there before, so no worries with her, but we had since gotten a pit bull puppy and I was unsure about her getting accepted. I wasn’t worried about anything on the dog’s end, other than normal puppy naughtiness she is a fantastic dog, as sweet as they get and very playful with dogs of all sizes. I was concerned about the breed’s reputation and whether or not she would be fairly evaluated. There is an entrance test for all dogs to determine if they have the temperament for a group setting.
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I needn’t have worried. I met with the owner and she told me that she had gone to classes learning about bully breeds and their specific behavior and needs. She was knowledgeable about dog body language and my pooch passed without incident. She was really friendly too, we ended up geeking-​out on dog facts for a while, which I’m totally into.
When our vacation was over, about three days after we initially planned on being home… airline issues…(Camp Four Paws was accommodating of this) we picked up two very happy dogs. Their whole time there was spent running and playing with the staff and other dogs. They got baths before they came home and had agility play every day. Our pitty was so muscular, we couldn’t believe it! All the working out she did there really showed! Worth the price of it all was this picture they of her they took mid-​air, catching a tennis ball, an expression of pure joy on her face.
After talking to the staff who released them to us it was clear that my Storm and Diana were cared for the whole time. They are true dog enthusiasts who love their job and the dogs they work with. They were genuinely sad to see the dogs go. It made me feel good knowing they had fun and had people there who cared about them.

did not get a chance to physically use camp four paws but was treated very honestly and straight forward during my call to make an appt for our dog to be assessed for boarding approval, the young lady I spoke to was very kind and told me that due to our dogs breed she was not a candidate for boarding there, our dogs breed are escape artists and can and will jump tall fences as well as climb anything especially if a wild animal is within sight such as squirrel, turkey, deer etc due to their high prey instincts, I have owned this breed for over 35 years and understand fully why she is not a candidate for boarding at this facility and their honesty was refreshing and also their understanding of our breed, a lesser facility would have just taken our dog in and taken their chances, my hats off the Camp Four Paws for your honesty and care about all that they board or choose not to board, its clear to me that the safety of all is their
priority, thanks sinc The Hannah Famil

I wouldn’t take my dog here. They use bark collars on the dogs that bark a lot when they’re in their kennels. The staff is a bunch of teenagers.

Had our little pom-​chi puppy stay over for a few days recently (our first visit — after evaluation). I loved how the staff all kept me in the loop with how she was doing when I would call in and they never made me feel stupid for checking in every so many hours. She seems to have adjusted well, sounded pretty spoiled (which I loved to hear)
We can’t wait for our next stay !

If there were more than 5 points, I’d award them! While my dogs have a great time in a beautiful setting, they are engaged in play and other stimulating activities like Agility, walks and loving interaction with staff. I think that when they come home it is a bit of a let-​down. Troy is selective about the dogs she takes (behavior) and she is personally aware of each dog’s uniqueness as well as their owner’s concerns. I know that any dog in her care is safe. Camp Four Paws is committed to a culture of safety, is well organized with high business ethics. They are small but elite and cost a little more but worth every penny!

I just got Winnie back from the evacuated area (Clayton dog park) since there was a wild fire going on not too far from Camp Four Paws. The evacuation was uneventful as far as I am concerned, but I am pretty sure a lot of dedicated work has been put in there to secure all the dogs a safe passage. I am very pleased of the outcome and appreciate Troy’s and her crew’s efforts. A BIG THANK YOU. I was so worried in the afternoon.
I can see why some people may not like Troy because she probably acts like a strict parent. Running a group of dogs, large and small and of total different breeds and temperament with a variety of upbringing background is a no easy job. Imagine you need to run a 7×24 day care for the 3-​year old, and you are accountable for their safety, health, food, life and death and have to let them roam around and play in an open space, interacting with each other. In a way dogs are no different than 3-​year old except they wont grow any older than that intelligently. So I would actually do the same — be very very careful with what you choose to take on and take care of, assuming you have pretty good crew members who love animals, and a lot of them! All the issues are «management» issues and not, imho, have much to with Troy’s attitude or character. It is what it is. If one dog keeps barking, all the others will follow suit, then what do you do? Dont take on a barking dog next time!
Have been using her services since Winnie was born in 2008. OK, no one says Camp For Paws is cheap. People can send their dogs to Metro Dogs or any place that lock dogs up in Kennel all day. All prices are listed out on the form every time when you sign in, just check the items youwant. I thought it has clear, fair, and predictable.
I hope this site is safe from the fire and god bless them all! Keep up the great work for your dog loving community! Joe

As our time with Camp Four Paws draws to a close, I felt compelled to write this review. My husband and I relocated to Pleasant Hill this summer from Oregon for a 3 month summer internship, and the first priority on our list was finding a daycare for our 1.5 year old chocolate lab.
I read all of the reviews below. The three star rating was discouraging. However, I kept coming back to the pictures on the camp four paws website. I looked at the well kept up property, the tired looking dogs, the pools, the agility course, and all of the incredibly quality toys littering the property. I decided that I was going to take the internet with a grain of salt, and call for an interview anyways.
I’m so glad I did. This has been the greatest experience that I have ever had with a dog daycare. You will not find a place as well equipped, staffed, and cared for as Camp Four Paws within a 100 mile radius. The staff are AMAZING. They know my dog, her habits, her favorite areas to be scratched, and are constantly working with me to help extend and improve her manners and obedience training. Once, my dog had an allergic reaction to a bug (at my house.) I called in to cancel daycare for the day. For the entire next week, staff were asking how she was because they had heard that she was sick and missed her.
My dog experienced rather severe anxiety from the move. The owner, Troy, took great interest in my dog, her issue, and making my life easier. You won’t find someone who knows her stuff better than Troy. Every time I saw her, she had a suggestion on some new training video to watch, or an observation and insight based on Sudo’s day.
This is a quality business, and the price reflects that quality. You have CPR/​FIRST AID trained staff constantly watching and interacting with your dog. You have acres of amazing toys and other stimulus. Don’t cheat your dog by paying for some cramped and stuffy, understaffed place that will try to interact with your dog as little as possible. Pay for quality, and it will reflect in your dogs physicality, social abilitity and happiness.
These people are flexible, loving, active, and friendly. We’ve boarded her overnight with no guilt on our part. I highly recommend this daycare to anyone looking to have a tired and happy dog. Once you meet Troy and her staff, you’ll understand the quality of the care your dog will be receiving and any lingering doubts will be gone.
For my thoughts on bark collars, the commute from Pleasant Hill, and Sudo’s Anxiety you can read my review of this business on my personal blog here:
Thank you so very much for a wonderful summer Camp Four Paws! You will be missed FIERCELY.

Camp 4 Paws is the greatest! The staff are very knowledgeable and helpful. My dog LOVES going to Camp 4 Paws. I’ve been bringing my dog here for nearly a year for both day care and boarding. She loves it and is very happy there.
Troy and her staff are lovely. I have an 80 lb American Bulldog who is very friendly but at times can play a bit rough. They always make sure they keep an eye on her and calm her down when she needs it. Sure, having that much attention costs a little more but I’d rather have my dog be safe and happy than locked in a crate because she was too rambunctious (which is the solution at other dog kennels). She plays with a lot of dogs there regularly and has a great time. Troy has made recommendations for training (such as agility training which my dog LOVES) that have been tremendous.
I’ve boarded dogs several places in Contra Costa and this one really is the best.

We have used Camp Four Paws on several occasions during the past year since moving to California. We have boarded dogs in many other locations and Camp Four Paws is by far the BEST BOARDING FACILITY WE HAVE EVER USED! It is perfect for our energetic and very social lab.
He knows when we are heading to Camp Four Paws and gets excited when we get close. Once he is in the office, he bolts for the back to be with his friends. He is always in great spirits when we pick him up but is lean and mellow from all the play and exercise he receives.
The evaluation process is careful and picky but we were happy for the care and attention the owner and her staff give each dog.
While Four Paws is not cheap, it is competitive and good value for the services they provide. The staff is very good on the upsell, however, and the extras can really add up. It is important to only order what you think you dog needs as there are lots of things that seem enjoyable to humans that the dogs probably don’t care much about. We try to stick to a bath on departure day, agility training and one river walk for our water loving dog. Despite that we usually agree to a couple of additional extras to assuage our guilt at leaving him.

Really? It’s not ok to give a 16 lb. dog adult Benedryl.
I see you still have a bad memory, Troy.

I just picked up my dog Max from Camp Four Paws and he is exhausted from all the play! He is a 1.5 y/​o lab /​boxer mix who is very playful. He loves to chase and be chased, so I knew this was going to be a great place for him.
They also post pictures on their website on a regular basis, so even though I was away for the weekend, I was able to check in and see pictures of Max playing. This made me really happy to see what a great time he was having.
In regards to what a lot of the people are complaining about in their reviews, the staff was very friendly with me when I brought Max in for his assessment. They were also very straightforward about the additional cost of Max doesn’t play well with other dogs and needs to be separated, or the potential for a shock collar if he’s barking too much. I completely understand where they’re coming from on that… the dogs are playing in a large field together most of the day (yes it’s dirt, but who cares?), so if one dog is creating a problem, the situation could very quickly be out of hand and cause injury to a lot of dogs. Max has been bitten at the dog park before, where owners are supposed to be actively watching their dogs, so I appreciate the extra steps they take to keep dogs safe. And if it’s my dog on the receiving end of that discipline, then so be it. And yes, it is a bit expensive, but I think it’s totally worth it for the amount of play time they have, as well as the facilities available.

My dog and I LOVE Camp Four Paws. I am compelled to write a review because they really don’t deserve the negative comments here. I interviewed over four boarding facilities and Four Paws was by far the best qualified, most affordable, safest, and most caring facility of the bunch.
I have brought my dog here many, many times, both for day care and long term, and she always comes home happy and exhausted. They post photos of your dogs so you can say hi from afar.
They have a masterful agility training program and yes, your dog will be evaluated but seriously if your dog can’t pass the most basic interactive tests then you need a trainer.
They run a tight ship, are very organized, and wash the dog and the doggy bed before they are picked up. They have always been responsive to my dog’s medication/​feeding/​cuddling requirements, and the staff has been wonderful.
I don’t work there or know the staff personally, and feel free to send me a message if you want to hear more. I caution people who blast off bitchy reviews to remember there is a person reading your nastiness. When I first went to Four Paws the owner thanked me for not letting a few bad apples spoil the bushel.

Beautiful area, rediculous prices. You better make sure you get a quote in writing before you board your dog there. We went in expecting to pay $ 200 and we’re charged over $ 300 for 4 nights of boarding! I tried to reason with the manager who got really hostile. I told her I was going to write a negative review and complain to the BBB. She told me to go ahead! She said this wasn’t their first complaint and it wouldn’t be their last! I couldn’t believe it!
They also proceeded to tell me that my dog started getting aggressive toward the little yippie dogs toward the end of his 3 day stay and that we would be charged $ 55 because he would have to go into a special training status. First of all I was told that they keep little and big dogs separate, secondly I thought that it was odd that Dexter started getting aggressive seeing as how he is a well socialized dog and we have never had a problem with this. Then I come to find out if two dogs are play-​wrestling that they pull them off of each other after 30 seconds. THAT’S HOW DOGS PLAY!
These people are super knowledgeable when it comes to dogs, but it seems to me they don’t really LOVE and understand dogs… this place should be called doggy boot camp.
Since camp four paws we have taken Dexter to other boarding facilities and have been told that he is sweet and playful. Not once have we had another incidence where we have been told our dog became aggressive… hmm… It is my belief that Camp Four Paws creates a stressful environment for animals.
PS– It’s not 54 acres… it’s 1 acre.
And I have been permanently banned from commenting on their guest page because I don’t have a stellar review to write!

I have been taking my very active English Labrador to Camp 4 Paws since she was 6 mos old and she is now 5 years old. She gets so excited as we make the turnoff to Morgan Territory Rd because she just loves going to «camp»! I can’t say enough great things about her time there. The staff is wonderful.
I saw postings where they talk about «interviewing» the dogs. I think that is a key compenent on how they can have the dogs all play together without harm to any of our beloved dogs. If a dog has agression to other dogs they will tend to attack vs. play when dogs like my lab try to get them into a chase. So I am all in favor of that approach. I feel much better knowing this when I leave my best friend here.
I did lots of research on boarding facilities when looking for a place to board my bery active lab. The majority of kennels allow the dogs 30 minutes 2 times a day to get out and play. For my lab this would have never worked. What I love about this facility is the dogs get to play with other dogs all day. My lab loves the water and gets to play in the pools with her dog friends and gets to chase the ball with the other dogs and go for walks and fun dog things for my best friend.
I feel my best friend deservs to have a fun time while I am off vacationing or traveling for business and that is exactly what she does.
For those reviewing this post, I currently take my lab to «camp» every other week so have had a lot of experience working with the staff. They are all wonderful and very caring with the animals. I always recommend them if the dog is not an aggressive dog. Recently I was getting work done on my car and talking about boarding my dog and they said they boarder their lab at Camp 4 Paws too and their dog loves it as much as mine. At my vet, a couple of the girls there and their families also board their dogs at Camp 4 Paws and love it as well.
Highly recommend!!!

I have been taking my two dogs here for 10 years and I have never been disappointed. My dogs LOVE it here! I cannot get their overnight bag together until the very moment I am ready to leave the house because they get so excited! They know that the bag means they are going to camp!
Regarding the negative reviews that I see on here… I frankly disagree 100%! I for one am thankful that they have a picky selection process when it comes to what dogs they will choose. I don’t want my dogs to be around aggressive dogs or those with behavior issues. And the use of shock collars? Seriously… since when? I’ve never seen it and it goes against what I have always seen and heard about this place.
I never have to worry about my dogs or feel guilty about leaving them when I go on vacations (especially long vacations). That’s why it is worth the money to me to send them to Camp Four Paws.

I lived in the Bay Area for 9 years, and during that time, I had to relocate internationally for up to one year. I was a bit hesitant to enter into a long-​term boarding situation. My ex-​pat stint was only 8 months, and when I came back, my dog was trim and fit and HAPPY!
I continued using Camp Four Paws for years, and with more than one dog…
I now live in Washington, and wish that there were Day Care and Boarding facilities as wonderful as Camp Four Paws.
After reading these reviews, I’m happy to see so many 5-​Stars, but it is the negative reviews that have compelled me to write.
The fact that Troy assesses each dog before she accepts them is a RESPONSIBLE practice. It enables her to take on many dogs, with what some perceive as a small number of employees. If all the dogs get along, they are easier to manage.
My guess is that those who have given negative reviews have done so because they have not taken the time or energy to be responsible dog owners, and have not addressed behavioral issues.
The dogs at Camp Four Paws are not kept in kennels all day long. They have a huge fenced in area, where they play fetch, or play in pools; or run around with their many camp friends.
What I truly loved about Camp Four Paws is that they intermingle big dogs with little dogs with mid-​sized dogs.
too many people with small dogs are threatened by big dogs. I have news for you: your small dog doesn’t know that the Great Dane is a big dog. Dogs should be socialized with humans and other animals, and Camp Four Paws promotes this… in a responsible and fun way.
If you live in the Bay Area, and are looking for a great boarding facility, you are SO lucky to have Camp Four Paws.
What is better than coming back from YOUR vacation to a Happy and exhausted (from playing with all his friends) dog? There is no wonder that dogs get happily excited when your car pulls into Morgan Territory Road.

Have been using them for years and they are awesome. Your dog will be able to play ALL day — not like boarding facilities that «say» they will let them out for a 10 min walk twice a day.
Negative reviews are obviously from people who’s dogs were not accepted. They are EXTREMELY picky about the dogs they accept and that is a good thing because it will avoid having an aggressive dog in the play area. Know they will put your dog thru a thorough test to see how they handle certain situations. If your dog becomes fearful from someone with their hands in their pockets than this is NOT a dog that will be accepted. They will touch your dogs gums, teeth, paws tail and make sure they don’t flip out — I mean this place is picky and I am so glad because I don’t want my dog left with a dog that can’t handle touch. This makes me know my dog is in a safe environment while I am gone.
I highly recommend this place — but know that only 25% of dogs evaluated pass all their test. Don’t get all pissy and write a bad review when your dog hasn’t even been accepted. This is a première dog day care and I for one am glad they are picky.