How One Woman Built the Ultimate Vacation Experience for Dogs and Their Owners
Small Business Success Stories: by Janice Costa, founder of Canine Camp Getaway
What started as one dog lover’s dream became Canine Camp Getaway—a vacation experience where dogs and their humans bond, learn, and have the time of their lives. From agility and dock diving to therapy dog training and charity raffles, this camp is more than a dog-friendly retreat—it’s a community, a cause, and a place where tails (and hearts) wag nonstop.
I’ve been madly in love with dogs since we got our first English Shepherd when I was barely taller than the dog food bag. There was no time in my life when I didn’t have a dog. But I never imagined I’d be running a vacation business for them. However, when I bought my first house, I adopted a rescue dog that would change my life.
A hundred pounds of fiercely protective shepherd/malinois/collie mix, Jessie was far more dog than I was equipped to handle. Smart, loyal and affectionate, she made me feel safe and loved as I began living alone for the first time in my life. Unfortunately, she was so intensely protective, I could not get anyone in the front door, as she perceived everyone but my parents and sister as a deadly threat.
“In a time where our country remains painfully divided, our dog vacation camp is a place where we come together, bound by our common love of dogs.”
Thankfully, I found an incredibly talented trainer who had experience with high-drive working dogs – and his knowledge, expertise and generosity would alter my career goals and lead me down the path of entrepreneurship.
As dog owners quickly learn, a tired dog is a good dog, so I became involved in a wealth of dog sports as part of my training protocol, and made many dog-loving friends along the way. I also offered to plan social events for my dog trainer’s growing business, and created the first Dog Picnic, Dog Holiday Party (the dogs had a grab bag and picked their own presents!), etc. Little did I know how valuable this training would end up being!
“We’re not curing cancer here, but we make people and dogs happy… and we create memories that last forever.”
Running in dog circles, I saw many people who hated to leave their dogs behind when they traveled, and other dog lovers who, like me, were unmarried and didn’t always have an available travel companion. I realized there was a great business opportunity here, to create a vacation that people could take with their dogs, a place they could come alone or with friends, and meet like-minded dog lovers while enjoying dog-centric activities, from games and dog sports to training classes and vet seminars…basically create a Club Med-style vacation, only for dogs and dog lovers.
Over the years, my business grew steadily, largely by word of mouth, and our offerings grew from a handful of classes to 6-8 dog-centric activities every hour throughout the day, with classes for dogs of all ages, sizes and abilities. Dogs and their owners can participate in agility, dock diving, swimming in the dog-friendly pool, nose work, hiking (we do a regular hike and a second “senior dog stroll” for the older dogs), barn hunt, lure coursing, dog yoga, tricks classes, canine freestyle dance, dog bingo, rally obedience, Treiball (think herding, only with giant beach balls instead of sheep), flyball, dog skateboarding, a dog costume contest, parkour, Ask the Vet and Ask the Trainer sessions, Canine Good Citizen and Therapy Dog prep classes and testing, dog games, Barks and Crafts, a Silent Auction for Animal Charities, 50/50 raffles to support rescue organizations and so much more!
But we offer far more than just dog sport training, educational classes and a way to have fun with your dog. We have built a community of dog lovers that stays in touch year round. Our return rate is 70-80%, but even those who can’t come every year participate in our Facebook alumni group where we stay connected year round, sharing stories, support, resources and friendship. Earlier this year, our campers formed a transport train to get a homeless dog to a new camper who’d recently lost her dog. Previously, our campers pitched in to get a blind, homeless dog from down south to a rescue in Canada.
Indeed, a big part of our mission remains about giving back; Since its inception, our camp has raised more than $70,000 for rescues and animal charities, including the Canine Cancer Foundation, Marty’s Senior Dog Sanctuary, Pilots ‘N Paws, K9s of Valor, Hope for Paws, LI Dog, Susie’s Senior Dog Sanctuary, Canine Companions for Independence, Tuff Tails, Special Needs K9, the Rolling Dog Project, Animal in Distress, Guide Dog Foundation, The Barking Barracks and numerous others. We have hosted Casino Nights to benefit animal shelters, both in the U.S. and Canada, held 50-50 raffles to support pet pantries and senior dog sanctuaries, run pet food drives to support local shelters and more.
We’ve trained and tested hundreds of therapy dogs who serve their communities by visiting hospitals, libraries, nursing homes, hospices, veterans’ facilities and schools. As a therapy dog evaluator, I personally stay in touch with each of my therapy dog handlers to help them as they begin the very rewarding process of sharing their dog with those in need.
We actively support and promote The Healthy Dog Expo, an educational event dedicated to natural dog health, as we are strong proponents of education that will help support dog lovers in their quest to ensure their dogs live their best, healthiest lives.
We also attend, participate in and donate to dog fairs and community events that support dogs in need, including events for Paw it Forward Pet Pantry, Marty’s Senior Dog Sanctuary, the Liberty Humane Society, Greyhounds in Gettysburg, Yorkie911 and the DM Foundation, among others. I have acted as an advisor to Marty’s Senior Dog Sanctuary to help with their promotional efforts, using the skills and contacts I’ve built promoting camp to help them grow their own fundraising events.
As a single woman, I understand that many people don’t have someone to vacation with, so I was always drawn to the idea of creating a community as much as a business. I envisioned a vibe that replicated the simple joys of a kids’ summer camp, with dogs being the ice breakers that would connect everyone. Over the years, I have seen that vision of a community take on a life of its own. In a time where our country remains painfully divided, our dog vacation camp is a place where we come together, bound by our common love of dogs.
We recognize that we’re not curing cancer here, but we make people and dogs happy. We create a warm, inclusive community where anyone who loves dogs can come and fit in, make friends and be part of something wonderful. We use the educational aspect of our camp to teach things like canine nutrition and canine CPR, helping our guests to care for the dogs they so love so that they can lead longer, healthier and happier lives. We help animals in need through our charitable efforts. And we create memories that last forever.
We are proud of what we’ve built, and we are looking forward to the next chapter of Canine Camp Getaway’s story!
