Camp DogWoods

At Camp DogWoods, we know that a tired dog is a happy dog is a good dog! Training is built into many of our interactions, and we seek the balance between exercise and rest. On Adventures, we explore our local parks and experience new sights and smells. We ensure mental stimulation by catering to a dog’s umwelt; seeking out scents in breezy areas or spending some extra time near a particularly pungent aroma allows our pack to experience the world around us in a way that is both enriching and relaxing.

Camp DogWoods is conveniently located 20 minutes NW of Chapel Hill.

212 Monotropa Trl, Efland, NC 27243

When we’re back at Camp, the pack spends a majority of their time enjoying our fully-wooded, 42+ acre property. We spend most of the day from sunrise to sunset either playing in the fenced clearing or hiking on the forest trails. We have wide-open spaces to run in the sun and plenty of covered areas to enjoy the shade. We tailor our schedules to the season and forecast so that we’re outside when the weather is ideal and have plenty of options when it’s not. During inclement weather, our dogs can relax on elevated platform beds under our spacious covered porch, lounge in our comfortable home, or settle down into their private crate for treat time and a well-earned nap. We provide veggies from our garden, frozen treats to keep cool in hot weather and blankets to keep cozy in winter.

While our pack is relaxing, we minimize visual stimulation and play classical music specifically made for dogs so they can unwind and doze off to soothing sounds. Dogs that get tired or over-stimulated are given opportunities to rest and rejoin the activity as needed. Dogs who prefer a higher-stimulation environment will always have options at their disposal, including a variety of enrichment activities when the weather is not ideal. Spaces are limited; we keep our pack small to ensure the highest quality standards of care, so please plan ahead and sign up well in advance.

Thank you and welcome to the pack!

General Information

Please begin by filling out an intake form on our website. We will reach out soon to schedule your tour of the property and your dog’s first Day Camp. We require all new dogs to try out Day Camp before signing up for Stay Camp. This allows us to do temperament tests and ensure that future stays will be safe and enjoyable. Assuming all goes well on their first day, we look forward to welcoming you and your dog to the pack!

Intake Form: See below to fill out our Intake Form, either right on this site, or open in a new window to view it nice and big.
Vet Records: We require proof of current vaccinations for Rabies, Bordatella and Distemper, negative fecal and heartworm exams, and use of a flea and tick preventative. Dogs over one year of age must be neutered/spayed. Proof documents can be uploaded to the Intake Form below!
Tours: We would love to give you a tour of the property at Camp DogWoods! Tours are by appointment only, so please sign up for one through our website. When you arrive at the cul-de-sac on Monotropa Trail, continue up the gravel drive and park at DogWood Den on our concrete pad, which features an ADA-accessible entrance. After you’ve seen the facilities and we have satisfactorily answered all of your questions, we’ll send you on your way and begin the process of introducing your dog to the pack!
Pick Up & Drop Off: Camp DogWoods makes your convenience a top priority; we pick up all dogs from their homes between 9-11 am and drop them back off between 3-5 pm. Once we have our solar panels in place and can upgrade our company car to fully electric, our business will be powered entirely by the sun!
DogWood Den: Our dogs sleep in the efficiently designed DogWood Den, which is a bone’s throw from our front door. The structure, which we keep locked at night, is equipped with safety equipment like motion sensor lights, carbon monoxide and smoke detectors, and audio monitoring. The powerful mini-split HVAC system keeps the space at a perfect temperature and humidity level year-round. Everything is powered by the solar panels attached to the steel roof. The utility side features cabinets for storage, a freezer and refrigerator for storing food, a washer and dryer for keeping blankets and beds clean and a utility sink for daily water and bowl-washing needs. The kennel side features clean, spacious crates that are durable, comfortable and safe. The walls are made of PVC panels which are antimicrobial and waterproof. When it’s time to relax, we play soft classical music, some designed specifically for dogs!
Crates: Besides for a short chew and nap period during the hottest, coldest or wettest part of the day, our dogs are only in their crates during sleeping hours, with a late night pee break for optimal comfort. Our crates are safe, durable, and comfortable with orthopedic sleeping pads to protect joints and promote optimal rest. The crates are specially coated to prohibit rust, and are elevated from the ground for excellent air circulation. Every dog in our care is so thoroughly satisfied from a full day of fun and exercise that returning to their crate for sleep is a pure pleasure. After plenty of peaceful rest, our pack wakes up happy and energized, ready for another day of fun!
Food and Medications: Whatever your dog eats, we will happily serve them their personal meals and will follow your directions closely. Please package each meal in separate zip lock bags, each labeled with your dog’s name, to comply with local health code ordinances. If meals include canned food, please write your dog’s name on each can as well. We have a refrigerator and freezer for safe food storage. Please put each medication in a ziplock bag that is labeled with your dog’s name, the medication name, and the dose. Please do not add medication to the bagged meals; we will administer medication as directed. Please let us know if your dog has any food allergies; free of charge, we like to periodically provide healthy snacks such as fresh veggies from our garden or a chew toy filled with chilled peanut-butter, pumpkin or yogurt!
Green By Design: At Camp DogWoods, we care deeply for this beautiful planet which provides so much. On our little slice of dog heaven, we strive to find the balance between enjoying what our property has to offer while also respecting and supporting the land in return. All significantly sized trees that were cleared for our homesite have been used in the construction of our home and the dog den. Dozens of native trees were planted all over the property to replace what we used. We built with natural, energy efficient materials to frame and insulate our durable living structures. When combined with extra wall and ceiling insulation, very little energy is required to keep our home at the perfect temperature year round. Our sturdy steel roof supports our solar panels, which provide more than enough power for our all-electric appliances and will one day charge our cars as well. Our filtered drinking water comes straight from the brand-new well, and all naturally flowing water on the property is guaranteed clean as we live in the protected Cane Creek watershed. We only use rainwater for outdoor cleaning and gardening, which is collected from our roof and stored in barrels. Our trails and clearings are designed to minimize erosion and maximize proper drainage. Our private road, called Monotropa Trail, is lined with locally sourced Dogwood trees and myriad other native plants and wildflowers. These plants capture carbon, stabilize the soil and feed the local bees and butterflies. By making the extra effort in all of these areas to support our environment, we ensure that our pack will always have a healthy wilderness retreat where they can safely experience natural freedom.
Scheduling and Billing: Camp DogWoods requires all customers to provide a credit card for us to have on file when they register for service. Customers can schedule services on our scheduling and billing app called Time to Pet or by emailing the owner directly. Services must be scheduled at least 24 hours in advance. Customers will receive an invoice on the 1st of each month for the past month’s services, and their card on file will be charged on the 4th.
Cancellation Policies: For Stay Camp reservations, customers must pay a non-refundable $100 deposit, which will be credited toward the total payment. For Day Camp, customers may cancel at any time and will receive a refund, minus a $30 Cancellation Fee. Customers may reschedule a Day Camp reservation once per month, free of charge. Subsequent rescheduling will incur a $15 Rescheduling Fee. If a customer forgets to cancel or reschedule their service and the owner of Camp DogWoods makes the drive to their home but is unable to access the dog, the customer will incur a $45 No-Show Fee. These policies are only in place to deter unfair scheduling practices, and will not be applied in legitimate emergencies. Thank you for your understanding.

Now Available - “Puppy Phase” - Adventures and Home Care

During the first year of service, Camp DogWoods will be building the facilities on our land, so we will initially offer two limited services: Adventures and Home Care.

Adventures are two-hour on-leash excursions for packs of dogs to enjoy exercise and socialization in a natural environment. Customer’s dogs are picked up from their homes, accompanied on the Adventure for at least two hours and then dropped back off at home. Following the Adventure, customers will receive a written report of the day’s activities, including photos. Customers who are interested in this service can request a meet and greet with the owner, who will come to the customer’s home and answer any questions. The fee for this meet and greet is a $50 deposit, which will apply to the first month’s balance should that balance exceed $100.
Home Care is offered to clients who are travelling and seeking care for both their dog and their home. The owner will stay in your home, ensuring excellent care for your dog with minimal deviation from their normal routine. The service includes a walk in the morning, all meals and medication, quality time during the day, another walk in the evening, and a late-night potty break. The owner can keep your home secure and manage household duties such as rotating lights, bringing in mail and packages, or taking out the trash and recycling. The owner always strives to leave your home just as they found it, and can share many referrals who will attest to the excellent service provided over more than a decade.

Coming Soon - “Big Dog” - Day Camp and Stay Camp

During phase one, we will be building a home and a canine boarding facility that will measure roughly 1600 and 350 square feet, respectively. Once construction is complete, we will move into our home and enter the second and final phase of our business development. Adventures will be included in the Day Camp service, and the Stay Camp service will include all of the above plus meals and overnight care. We will also purchase an electric van and install solar panels so that all services will be powered by renewable electricity.

Day Camp: Does your dog need more fun, exercise and stimulation while you’re at work? We provide all of this and more in an all-natural setting! Our large fenced field provides wide-open spaces where your dog can run and play under the supervision of an experienced trainer. We also spend much of the day hiking either off-site in public parks or on our own land’s extensive trail system, exploring the surrounding 42+ acres of forest. For your convenience, we will pick your dog up from your home between the hours of 9-11 am and will drop them back off between the hours of 3-5 pm.
Stay Camp: Travelling? Allow us to welcome your dog into our home! The lucky dogs who get to stay with us will enjoy healthy snacks, perpetual access to fresh water, clean and comfortable amenities and all of the freedom and joy that our land and home have to offer. We start the day with breakfast and a short hike on the trails. We then welcome our Day Camp arrivals and spend the day enjoying off-site hikes, playtime in our fields and hikes in our forest. We also take breaks for napping or enjoying chew-toys and nutritional treats whenever the weather dictates. At the end of the day, we say goodbye to our Day Camp friends and go for one last hike before dinner time. Our pack then drifts off to sleep listening to soothing music, some designed specifically for dogs. Besides for the late night pee break, a long day of play ensures that our pack sleeps peacefully throughout the night and will wake up well-rested, ready for another day of fun!
Training: At Camp DogWoods, training is not an add-on service; it is included in the base price and is built into everything we do. We are constantly monitoring and communicating with our pack to improve socialization and enforce group etiquette while intermittently practicing leash walking skills and off-leash recall. The owner James is a Certified Professional Dog Trainer (CPDT-KA) who has been handling and hiking with large packs of dogs since 2012. We closely supervise all dogs at all times to ensure that each dog is respecting the others and is being respected in return. We gently correct where needed and use positive reinforcement to shape the dogs’ actions and outlooks to foster harmony within the pack. While hiking the trails, we are solidifying leash-walking skills and while playing in the fenced field, we are periodically practicing off-leash recall. In general, we adhere to the Humane Hierarchy of Behavior Change Procedures; we believe that if a dog's needs are fully met and their environment is properly structured, their behavior will often meet or even exceed our expectations.

Camp DogWoods is conveniently located 20 minutes NW of Chapel Hill.

212 Monotropa Trl, Efland, NC 27243

Hours By Appointment Only: 9 am-5 pm, M-F

Mobile: (919) 391-9593

Email: jamescdw42@gmail.com

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