What ‘being a dog’ does for a dog — and a dog-owner
Posted in Animal on October 6, 2011
To be honest, I wasn’t really keen on going to Camp Unleashed. I tend to be a tad curmudgeonly about many popular aspects of having a dog, especially if they have a whiff of silly about them.
For example, I tend to wander through the halls of pet-products trade shows with a pained look on my face, wincing at all the pointless crap cynically aimed at people who seem to think their dogs are some sort of fashion accessory that needs to be further accessorized. And then tossed when fashions change. You know, like how Paris Hilton treats her handbagspets. Good for the business of selling puppy-mill stock and crap from China, but not so hot on any other level.
But I wasn’t catching a vibe of cynical disrespect for dogs from the Camp Unleashed folks, and I knew I’d get a good story out of the experience. So bought a cheap sleeping bag, tossed some crap and three dogs into a rented SUV and headed for a YMCA campground in the mountains east of Fresno for four days without phone or Internet. I haven’t camped since 1979, haven’t been to camp since 1966, and these gaps were intentional — I don’t like having to leave my room to shower, brush my teeth and use the toilet, and I prefer room service over camp food, any day.
I surprised myself by having four of the best days of my life. And I’m pretty sureabsolutely certain the dogs did, too.
The folks at Camp Unleashed get it about dogs. From the first orientation we were told the experience was about letting dogs be dogs, and drafting on their joy of being themselves. Our dogs spend so much time locked alone in houses, walked on leashes and nagged at constantly by us to fit better into our pavement-covered human lives. Who could blame them the first day for looking a little uncertain? And who could blame us for continuing to poke at them — here, sit, down, no, no, no — as we, too, tried to settle in as well to a new experience?
Perhaps because they are always closer to their natural selves than we are, the dogs caught on more quickly. My rambunctious 2-year-old retriever relaxed and started to listen and learn, and my dying 14-year-old Sheltie started to live again. In the middle, my 6-year-old retriever never stopped her focus on retrieving and swimming, preferably retrieving while swimming.
It took me the better part of two days to let go of the fact that I couldn’t check e-mail. But then … I caught on, too. Relaxed. Let go. Listened. Learned. Smiled.
I’m going to write about this more after some thinking. For now, let a few pictures be worth a few thousand words:
I absolutely LOVE the picture of Drew! I can totally see what you mean about him starting to live again. These are great photos, Gina. : )
Wonderful post, Gina! Our dogs would love it there, and I’m sure we would, too. By the way, the hounds have taken to the field again, and Driver is doing very well! We miss you!
This looks like a lot of fun, a real blast for humans and dogs alike. In doing pedigree research on Celeste I found out that her lines go back to another breeder who runs a camp on Lake Tahoe. Ever since I found that out the idea of going to one has been rolling around in the back of my head.
The photo of McKenzie with the ball in her mouth is hilarious, did you notice the magic phantom ball that suddenly appeared in FayBee’s mouth too?
The Camp Unleashed folks are looking to add camp locations — and Colorado is one in which they’re interested. You should contact them!
I am not a camper but this sounds like something even I might enjoy…
So is that McKenzie with the ball? What a manic look of intensity!
Drew looks wonderful. Nothing better than that “light” in an old dog’s eyes.
And even more important, YOU look happy!
Yes, that’s McKenzie. I think she slept with a ball in her mouth.
What a wonderful weekend. Camp Unleashed is an experience I intend to repeat, and I encourage everyone to try.
Wonderful post! Lightened my spirits….I think this is the best type of camp there could be, and only wish the Midwest would wake up a bit and maybe franchise. The wires would be in Heaven, and we all need to get away….let’s face it, we all could learn a lot from the dog’s outlook on life. Drew looks marvelous! Love all the photos…what a great time you all had!
I like your super-short hair. And I’m glad that everybody had such a good time.
Thanks! I am keeping it this short because I have a riding helmet on so often.
This kinda sounds like where I want to go when I die.
I recommend visiting while you’re still alive as well.
Have I missed something Gina? What’s happened to Woody?
Sounds like…err, looks like… all the dogs had a fantastic time.
Woody dumped me for 100 acres of ranch in Texas. After the book tour, I had to admit he was happier living with his co-owner. One of the hardest decisions of my life, and I miss him every day. He wasn’t unhappy with me, but he’s happier as a working dog.
Oh, I noticed you hadn’t talked about him in a while, so I suspected something like that. I always had a soft spot for Woody. Seems like Faith soaked up all the attention, and poor well behaved Woody got little notice. I’m a sucker for the underdog, of course, even when it’s a literal dog. Glad he’s happy.