ABOUT

Julie Davidson & Colin Page

Julie and Colin met in 1994 and have been married since 2001.

In 2000, with Colin's support, Julie opened A Walk in the Park Pet Care in North Vancouver, British Columbia. Over the next 18 years A Walk in the Park became a trusted name in pet care on the North Shore and throughout the Lower Mainland. Recommended by clients, vets, trainers, and other pet care professionals, A Walk in the Park won numerous awards for it's personal, dependable, and caring service.

Looking to be closer to family, and for a quieter life away from the hustle and bustle of the city, Julie, Colin and their "kids", relocated to Vancouver Island in April 2018. We are delighted to be part of such a wonderful and welcoming community.

Camp Yellow Dog is the result of many years of dreaming and thoughtful planning. We strive to provide the very best in holistic care for our Campers. We're passionate about our work and know that your pets are your family.

Tulip - The Yellow Dog

We adopted Tulip, a corgi/husky mix, in 2008 when she was about a year old. She came from a reserve on the Nisga'a lands in Northern British Columbia. Tulip left us on June 12th, 2021.

About a year after we adopted Tulip, Cricket, a staffordshire terrier/corgi mix, joined our family. Among their many nicknames were "the yellow dog" and "the black dog". When it came time to name our new business we chose to honour Tulip since she was the older of the two dogs.

We decided on "Camp" Yellow Dog because, from the age of 7 to 15 years, Julie went to camp in Northern Ontario for two weeks every summer. During those summers Julie learned archery, riflery, horseback riding, water skiing, sailing, kayaking, canoeing and other skills. It's where her of love of nature grew, and it's where she made friends from all over North America. Most importantly, summer camp was a time for building confidence, learning life lessons and making memories.

At Camp Yellow Dog we endeavour to teach your dog important life skills while creating happy memories, making lasting friendships and having fun.

CAMP LIFE

Our secure, temperature controlled, boutique-style, 5 suite, dog hotel is located right next to the main house. The suites are equipped with fire and carbon monoxide detectors and motion detector cameras with 1080p night vision and 2-way voice communication. During rest periods we play special calming music and diffuse "dog appeasing pheromones".

We also host a limited number of cat-friendly dogs in our home. Dogs who stay in our home sleep in our room on their own comfy bed, or in a crate if they prefer.

Your dog's day will include a hike and/or trip to the river on hot days, interactive play, and all the love and attention they're used to at home. If your dog is older or prefers a slower pace, we're more than happy to accommodate that too.

Every Camper is treated like a member of our family. After a full day of activities, along with some quiet time, they'll spend the evening lounging with us before heading off to their own comfy beds.

PHILOSOPHY

We believe every dog is an individual with their own unique personality and needs. Our foundation is built on positive pet care married with an understanding that pets are a member of the family.

Our unique Camp program gives your dog a fun-filled day without over-exertion. We alternate playtime and rest time; reducing stress while providing the appropriate amount of mental and physical exercise.

Our unwavering goal is always to provide support for pet guardians based on quality, not quantity. We never care for more than 10 campers at one time.

We are committed to providing quality, low stress care for dogs.

We believe in transparency. Helping your family raise a confident and content dog is our focus and we will do everything we can to assist all of you on your journey.

EXPERIENCE

With a combined 45+ years of experience as professional pet care providers and "parents" to numerous dogs and cats, we are well versed in animal health and behaviour.

We're proficient in the administration of all types of medication, including injections and subcutaneous fluids.

As proud members of the Pet Professional Guild we are advocates for positive pet care and training.

The science of pet care and training is constantly evolving. Ongoing education helps us learn the most current ways to help you and your family pet navigate an ever-changing world.

Scroll down to see our credentials and professional affiliations.

CREDENTIALS

Fear Free Boarding and Daycare Certification Program - Fear Free Certified® Professional - Fear Free Pets - 2023
Helping Your Dog In The Post-Covid World - The International School for Canine Psychology & Behaviour - 2021
Certified Dog Trainer (student) - International School for Canine Psychology and Behaviour - 2022 (ongoing)
Puppy Start Right for Instructors - Karen Pryor Academy - 2020
Creating a Pet-Friendly Hospital, Animal Shelter or Petcare Business - Low Stress Handling University - 2020
Nail Trimming without Fear - Dr. Buzby's Master Course - 2020
Survive Outside - AdventureSmart - 2020
Dog Knowledge Level 1 - 2017
Emergency Preparedness for Pets - North Shore Emergency Management - 2016 & 2017
Certified Small Animal Massage Practitioner - Northwest School of Animal Massage - 2014