Camp Bow Wow was founded in 2000 by Heidi Ganahl in Denver, Colorado. The company operates a franchise of doggie daycare and boarding facilities.
Currently, the company has more than 150 franchises and expects another 30 to open by the end of 2017. The company was acquired by VCA Animal Hospitals, Inc. in late 2014. VCA, Inc. has plans to have at least 1,000 locations in the next 5 years. Heidi Ganahl remains CEO of the company.
In addition to boarding and daycare, the company also offer training. Ms. Ganahl recently opened a non-profit company, The Bow Wow Buddies Foundation, to help pay for pets with veterinary bills that their owners cannot afford.
The company announced that it had a 12% increase in franchise growth in 2018.
Entrepreneur listed Camp Bow Wow as the #1 Franchise in 2019.
A second Camp Bow Wow location was opened in Montgomery, Alabama, in mid-2019.
Camp Bow Wow now has 200 locations across the country.
Camp Bow Wow offers pet food, webcam viewing of dogs, as well as shuttle service to and from daycare, as well as vet’s appointments and grooming. Headquarters were moved in May of 2017 to Westminster, Colorado.
Camp Bow Wow was founded in 2000 by Heidi Ganahl in Denver, Colorado. The company operates a franchise of doggie daycare and boarding facilities.
History
Currently, the company has more than 150 franchises and expects another 30 to open by the end of 2017. The company was acquired by VCA Animal Hospitals, Inc. in late 2014. VCA, Inc. has plans to have at least 1,000 locations in the next 5 years. Heidi Ganahl remains CEO of the company.
In addition to boarding and daycare, the company also offer training. Ms. Ganahl recently opened a non-profit company, The Bow Wow Buddies Foundation, to help pay for pets with veterinary bills that their owners cannot afford.
The company announced that it had a 12% increase in franchise growth in 2018.
Entrepreneur listed Camp Bow Wow as the #1 Franchise in 2019.
A second Camp Bow Wow location was opened in Montgomery, Alabama, in mid-2019.
Camp Bow Wow now has 200 locations across the country.
Camp Bow Wow offers pet food, webcam viewing of dogs, as well as shuttle service to and from daycare, as well as vet’s appointments and grooming. Headquarters were moved in May of 2017 to Westminster, Colorado.
I have to agree, they only accept dogs that are easy to handle and staff is not trained properly. Today we had an interview for our 8 month old Aussie Bernie-Doodle, that consisted of a 5 minute interview with a camp counselor. Seemed like the check in process took longer that the actual interview. In reviewing the response from Owner of the Tracy location, one of the items bulleted is that an interview consists of “staying a minimum of 3 hrs”. We were not given any information as to what to expect of the interview. Upon arrival, we were asked for vaccination information, which was taken and scanned by the front desk staff. My husband and daughter were asked to take a seat and wait for the interviewer. There were several monitors, one area with a group of small dogs, another with a group of large dogs and an empty open area. Our pup was placed on a leash and taken back. The “interviewer” was not the same individual that placed the leash on the dog. We saw as our dog was walked into an open area, with 2 others individuals that appeared to be in training. We watched the interaction from the cameras provided. The area he was brought into was adjacent to the area that had roughly 20 bigger dogs in it, with just 2 camp counselors. The dogs were running around. They were interacting with one another, but the counselors were not interacting with the dogs. Our interviewer dropped the leash and allowed our pup to “explore” or roam free for about 1-2 mins. He ran from door to door. Being in a new environment, this would be expected. He was looking for a way out. The counselor didn’t try to give our dog any commands to see if he understood sit, stay, or down. The other 2 counselors just watched. Another large dog was brought into the same area, on a leash by another counselor to see how our dog reacted. Our “interviewer” walked our dog around the other dog twice. Our dog was not aggressive in any way towards the other dog or any of the counselors. Being that our dog is still a puppy (but large at 46lbs), he does need to be redirected at times. The “interviewer” attempted to pull on the leash and our dog reacted by putting his front paw over the leash. He did not try to bite her. He is used to wearing a “gentle leader”, which he did not have on. He will try to bite on the leash when attached to his collar, which he tried to do. The entire interaction could not be more than 5 mins. The “interviewer” returned with our dog and said that he tried to put his mouth on her and it was a “no” based on that short interaction. I inquired about a re-interview and she said that is only for timid dogs. I asked if we could bring him back after more of his training and she told me no. I asked how they could make that decision based on just one interaction and just her assessment. She told me I could speak with her manager. When the manager came to the front, I explained that our dog was interviewed for 5 mins and mentioned that he was reacting to the leash. Our dog has gone to the large dog park and interacts very well with large dogs like him. I implied that I was in healthcare and would not bring in my dog if I believed he would harm another animal or potentially another person. She stated that our dog was not labeled “as aggressive”, but because of her assessment he could not attend. When asked if I could bring him back at a later date, she responded “not to Camp Bow Wow Tracy”. I told her that I didn’t understand how this business could run this way and that it would be a bad review. I turned to leave. She raised her voice and told me “so it’s ok that your dog tried to bite my employee”. Which he had not. She stormed to the back, while raising her voice. I walked back to the front desk and asked for her name. At first, I was told by the front desk staff, “that she didn’t want to give it to me”, but then was told her name is Maddie. Maddie again, yelled that I needed to leave. I thanked the front desk and left.
Upon reading reviews, I thought this would be a good possibility for our pup to interact with others. I do feel that this location is ran by a group of unprofessional individuals who feel very overwhelmed with the responsibility of managing such high levels of attendance. I feel that this situation could have been handled by the staff much differently. I don’t feel that the interview process was explained to us or much explanation was given after. It is unfortunate that this interaction occurred this way, resulting in a bad review.
There are things going on that shouldn’t be. The manager doesn’t have fair standards for night shift as for day shift I understand that her mother doesn’t do anything in job description that is required of her so it falls on night shift to do their job and hers. When family works together they are not different than anyone else do you damn job, it makes you look sorry, lazy, and not give a crap because your the manager’s mom. If mom can’t handle it, then mom needs to go!! If nightshift has to do day shifts job, maybe night shift need to make day shifts pay and you can continue to them for hiding in camera blind spot. Please direct attention to this because this is a great experience for dogs, as well as owners, and why would you hire people who don’t like dogs. This needs corporates attention bad, really bad. Paying a manager for a full day, everyday leaving 3-6 hours early. That stealing no matter how you look at it. Makes corporate look bad to, very bad
Unfriendly staff, the GM Leah was rude, aggressive, and unable to provide expected service. During a horrible phone conversation she continuously mentioned “I DON’T CARE ABOUT YOUR DOG AND YOUR MONEY!”
Once I mentioned I needed to contact her supervisor her first reaction was to suspend my dog from going back to daycare, because I caught her employee on a lie!
Still expecting a follow up from the upper management.
Called for set up interview first day pup camp. I was told NO…NO TOURS ALLOWED.DUE TO COVID AND CORPORATE RULES.
The employees are not wearing masks..but their scared of covid..no tours allowed. Expect to just leave your dog with no idea where they will be staying or playing? No masks..but they no allow tours…really? doesn’t make sense! Concerns on every level!
What about the employees giving covid to my dog? That’s what all this sounds silly..stupid.
I worked for the duluth, GA location where the owner is doing illegal things as well as having a horrible boarding/daycare place. nobody is trained right, the owner is the most disgusting horrible little man i’ve ever met and ever worked for. i’ve been calling corporate about him cutting my last paycheck in half and have not gotten a response. i’m about to email them and prove i didn’t sign anything accepting that my paycheck will be cut in half if i do not give a 2 week notice. he also failed to tell me i even had my last paycheck and that he used a paper one so i had to come in and bring my t shirts back. he’s stolen from employees before. so he was planning on keeping my check hoping i wouldn’t say anything. i’m going to pursue legal action if corporate doesn’t do anything. the amount of horrible reviews every location has is so embarrassing to anyone who has worked there and continues to work there. the duluth location has people quitting every few weeks or couple months because of how evil the owner is. i recommend taking your dog literally anywhere else. i could not ethically stay where i was working which is why i didn’t give a two weeks notice.
IF YOU LOVE YOUR DOG DON’T LEAVE THEM HERE!!!Worst experience ever. I paid $325 for my dog to be bullied and handled harshly by the Camp counselor. I even have video proof of the dogs being mistreated, as all rooms have cameras constantly rolling, however the manager refused to even watch the video, even though I explained what happened in them. In one video, you can see the counselor shoving dogs, so hard that they’re bumping into one another, keeping them from coming inside out of 95 degree heat and in the other, the same counselor is seen using a hose to spray the dogs with water, for absolutely no reason at all. 1. The excuse give for the counselor shoving the dogs was that they only allow one dog in at a time, however, from the beginning of the video to the end NOT EVEN 1 dog was allowed to come in out of the heat, ALL were shoved back outside.
2. The excuse for the young man spraying the dogs with a hosepipe was that this is what they do when dogs get aggressive….Again, I watch the cameras religiously when my dog is there, and the counselors usually always see a small spray bottle to break dogs up when they play roughly, however, in this particular situation, NOT EVEN 1 of the dogs were acting aggressively…as a matter of fact they’re laying around and minding their own business, all in relaxed stances (I know dogs body language) and yet the counselor goes over to the powerful hose that they use to clean the floors and sprays it at the dogs for no reason.
I’m thoroughly disgusted by this experience. I’ve spent thousands of dollars here, you would think the management would at least listen to me and watch the video…but no, they made excuses and refused to do anything….we will not support this business again.
If you’d like to see the video proof reach out to me on here with you information and I’ll be more than happy to share it with you, as I’d hate for this to happen to anyone else fur-baby.
Zero Stars.
Major breed discriminators and terrible customer service. We weren’t there more than 5 minutes for our initial temperament testing when the employee conducting the testing, who is far too old to be doing that type of work, comes back to us and says, “our dog was growling and had her hackles up, I am just not comfortable with letting her stay”. This was a complete surprise to us, as we watched the entire temperament testing. Our dog could have cared less about the dogs she was introduced to. Oddly enough, our dogs have kenneled at several other facilities, multiple times, and we have never once had an issue. At one of the kennels we use, they use our dogs to conduct the temperament testing. Odd that they didn’t pass at this facility….
Its pretty obvious, Camp Bow Wow Brighton breed discriminates. Don’t dare take a dog there that could even LOOK like a bully breed. If I could give zero stars I would.
My daughter was hired to work at the 1623 W Pioneer Pkwy,Peoria Ill. At The time she was 15 years old, After receiving very positive employee reviews she was fired for leaving a walki talki on. Too add insult to injury it was handled via text message at 6:00 am. You can imagine the effect on a 15 year old girl who had worked for them whenever they called no notice, 12 hour days ect. As my daughters parent I was upset at the time but wanted to gather facts,After speaking to my daughter I came to understand after my Daughters friend was fired for taking a pre planned and approved vacation by Cassie. Moral as a whole dropped this includes my Daughter attitude as well. So instead of bad mouthing Camp Bow Wow we figured we would take the high road have my Daughter learn her part in this and jut move on, which we did, My Daughter promptly got another job in town in the same field.All This went down 7-8 months ago…so flash forward to last night we get a call from Cassie making wild accusations that my daughter is slandering Caseys business and at that point Casey threatened me with legal action. When asked for examples of wrong doing by my daughter Casey said she had saved it all and would provide us with it,However after a follow up call today Cassie admitted she had nothing to substantiate her claim,however went on to threaten me again with legal action and hung up on me. Can you please help,before we have to take legal action or take to social media, Thanks for your time,
Longmont Colorado has terrible new ownership. I’ve been a regular customer over a year now, no more. Carly who stared she was the “standing owner”, asked me not to return when I said that the TECHNO music blasting in the back by the dogs was too loud. Just goggle loud music with dogs and you will see it’s NOT good. No wonder my dog is super hyper when I pick him up. Carly said it actually calms them down, what??? It was so loud they couldn’t hear me come it and even after opening and closing the front door several times they still couldn’t hear it. I had to go into the back and find someone. Kids are running this place!!! STAY AWAY!! It was great before but not anymore. Good riddance, my poor dog!
feel gigi should of gotten a free bath after spending almost 300.00 on boarding for vacation, this is terrible, we spend a lot of money there
Awful experience boarding dogs. Didn’t follow instructions left in 3 places. Suddenly there was a weight limit enforced so my two dogs were in separate play care during the day…even though they go to play care at other times and always together. Witnessed girl kicking dog food bowl across room and further dragging my dog out of the room by collar once she realized they were to be separated when feeding. Fed my dogs together a second day and little dog didn’t get to eat. Overall AWFUL boarding experience. And zero beds, play activity etc for the dogs while indoors. They all just stand there in a corral. Take note of area competition who costs less, cares more and has a lot of activity for the dogs to jump, run and lay on…and indoor / outdoor depending on Texas heat.
We are planning on traveling around the country and Canada and would like a list with contact info for all Camp Bow Wows so we can leave our pups for a day of people only touring.
Management lies to employees, does not solve problems, manager and assistant manager have no odea what is going on. Favoritism is bad there. If you are new well good luck they f**k you over.
I had a similar experience there. The manager lied to owner , showed extreme favoritism, let dogs in that did not need to be there. CBW experience was horrible, and some poor dog is really going to get hurt.