




Desert Doggie
Behavior Guidelines
If your dog loves new trails, fresh air, and spending time with friendly pups, they might be the perfect fit for Desert Doggie Adventure Camp. Our adventures give dogs the chance to explore, play and socialize while maintaining a safe, structured & positive group environment. To keep every outing safe and stress-free, we look for dogs who share a few key qualities.
✅ Consistent Campers
Adventure Camp works best for dogs who join us on a regular, recurring schedule. This helps us build a strong relationship with each dog, and your dog gets the benefit of building lasting bonds with consistent walking buddies every week.
✅ Good Social Skills
A dog ready for camp demonstrates good social skills and a stable temperament. They read body language well, respond appropriately to social cues, and can share the trail, toys, treats, or attention without conflict.
✅ Polite Play Style
Play is welcome when it’s mutual and respectful. A good play partner takes turns, reads cues, and avoids pushy or overbearing behavior. These dogs make social time safe, positive, and fun for everyone involved.
✅ Trail-Ready Manners
Our adventure dogs are ambassadors of good behavior, but we celebrate progress over perfection. We welcome pups eager to learn and grow, with a solid foundation in leash manners, recall, and listening around distractions.
✅ Calm Traveller
Dogs should be able to ride comfortably and calmly in the car to and from our adventure locations, including during pick-up and drop-off with other dogs.
✅ Healthy & Adventure-Ready
All campers must be spayed or neutered, at least 10 months old, and up to date on vaccinations. Dogs must be in good physical health and able to comfortably participate in moderate activity.
Complete our Behavior Pre-Screening Questionnaire
If you’re still unsure whether your dog is a good fit for Adventure Camp, you’re welcome to complete our quick Behavior Pre-Screening Questionnaire. It’s a helpful way for us to learn more about your dog’s personality, social skills and if they're ready to hit the trails!
Dogs Who Aren't a Match for Adventure Camp
If your dog isn’t quite a fit for Adventure Camp, that’s perfectly okay. Some dogs are still building confidence or developing their social skills, and they may benefit from more one-on-one experiences or continued training before joining a group setting. Our goal is always to set dogs up for success so that every Adventure Camper feels comfortable, safe, and happy on the trail.
For safety reasons, we aren't able to accept dogs who display guarding, aggressive or reactive behaviors toward other animals or people, such as barking, lunging, growling, snarling, or snapping. These behaviors can create stress within the group and put other dogs at risk.
Ongoing Behavior Evaluations
We continually monitor behavior to ensure every dog is comfortable and happy. If concerns arise, we’ll always be upfront about what we’re seeing. In some cases, working with a professional trainer may help a dog build the skills needed to rejoin Adventure Camp in the future. Other times, a different type of service or individual walks may simply be a better long-term fit. Our goal is always to do what’s best for each dog’s safety, comfort, and overall well-being.
Could Your Dog Be a Desert Doggie Adventure Dog?
If your pup loves new experiences, making new friends, and spending time in nature, they will likely thrive with us. Reach out and we will help you determine if Adventure Camp is the right fit for you & your dog.
