New Doggy Daycare 'Camp Bow Wow' Opens In San Ramon

SAN RAMON, CA — Here's something to wag your tail over: Monday saw the opening of the San Ramon location of Camp Bow Wow, an 8200-square-foot boarding, daycare, training and grooming facility for dogs. The facility, which is currently accepting interviews for any of those services, offers four play yards both indoors and outdoors, 13 certified dog counselors, 70 boarding cabins, and limited grooming options.

This one-stop-shop was started by dog trainer and army veteran Danny Kimbrell, and sales operations manager and longtime dog lover Amy Taube. The two met several years ago when Kimbrell was training Taube’s dogs.

“They came to me actually saying ‘Hey Danny we’re looking to start a dog daycare - would you like to help us manage it or be a part of it in some way? I was like I’ve actually been looking to start a dog daycare and boarding facility as well,” Kimbrell told Patch.

The two have been working on getting this off the ground since 2018, when they purchased 0.6 acres of undeveloped land off Faria Preserve Parkway.

“Through planning a little thing called COVID and us being experts at dogs but not buildings, it was a long struggle, but we’re finally here,” said Taube.

The new facility, which is part of a nationwide franchise, hews to an “all-play” model that emphasizes regular play and exercise for all dogs throughout the day.

“If you’re in daycare, unless you ask for a nap or a lunch break, you’re going to be in the play yards all day, and that’s always with a camp counselor monitoring,” Taube said. Pet owners can log on through a client portal to watch their dogs on a webcam.

Kimbrell said that letting dogs run around all day means less work for their owners when they come home.

“What I find is when I would use a dog walker, I would get that night off from having to exercise my dog,” he said. “When I used a daycare, I would get that night and the next day off most of the time, because it gives so much more mental and physical stimulation, and a tired dog is a happy dog.”

Not all dogs have the right personalities to enjoy a daycare with so many other new dogs, however, and any owners interested in signing their dogs up for daycare must pass a personal interview. Dogs must also be spayed or neutered, and current on vaccinations before they are accepted.

Once there, the dogs are supervised all day by certified counselors trained in dog behavior, CPR, and first aid.

Anyone going away for a while can also leave their dog at Camp Bow Wow, which offers 70 boarding cabins 8 feet tall and 16 square feet. Six by ten-foot family cabins can fit three dogs in the same family together, while luxury suites are large, closed off suites with cameras their owners can access.

Boarding dogs are also playing most of the day, but receive cabin breaks for three meals a day. Owners are also encouraged to pack lunches for their dogs.

Next month, boarding dogs may be able to participate in training, which is contracted through Kimbrell’s training company.

Limited grooming services will also take care of baths, teeth brushing, and nails.

For pricing, interview scheduling, video tours, and more information, visit campbowwow.com/san-ramon.