A new concept in the works west of Athens will aim to put a new spin on dog boarding.
Camp Wagtail will be an overnight and day camp for dogs modeled after a favorite pastime for many kids: summer camp.
Reynolds McLean, who owns Camp Wagtail with John Roberts, said the idea stemmed from wanting to create a convenient pet care experience for owners that was also healthy and fun for the canines.
Taking care of a pet involves a lot of responsibilities and time: washing them, brushing their teeth, keeping their nails trimmed. What if there was a place where pet owners could have this taken care of while the pets are being looked after, and it could be fun and enriching for the animals as well?
“Camp is a great healthy thing for the kids, and it’s a win-win for the family when it’s done right,” McLean told What Now Atlanta. “We want to have a camp experience for dogs that focuses on the dogs’ health and convenience for the families.”
Across 5 acres in Oconee County, dogs will rotate through different activities, including a “Sniffari” to allow dogs to put their perceptive noses to use and explore different smells, a playground with hidden treats, and a trail walk to explore and take in the sights.
They expect to be able to house about 50 dogs at a time maximum, with priority boarding available to members for added convenience and ease of booking.
“You might say, ‘Let’s go out of town,’ but [another] dog boarding place is full,” McLean said. “We’ll have an option for priority boarding. As part of our club of followers, you can book with us anytime. You don’t have to plan six months ahead of time.”
The endeavor isn’t McLean’s first foray into the business world; he formerly owned several Anytime Fitness gyms and now operates two Scooter’s Coffee locations, experience that informs his approach to Camp Wagtail. Despite a dog camp being very different from a drive-thru coffee chain, the values of efficiency remain.
Camp Wagtail aims to reduce the pain points of dog boarding. Dogs will be able to be dropped off, replicating the convenience of dropping off children at school (or swinging through a drive-thru to grab a coffee). The hassle of getting your pet to the facility can be reduced even further with another method reminiscent of taking a child to school: a Camp Wagtail bus that will pick up pups from their homes.
“We’re designing it how the dogs will be in there so they’re safe and can be transported easily,” McLean said.
They have been actively working on the project since last January, the summer camp idea itself being born the previous summer. McLean, a dog owner to a Maltipoo mix and a Pyrenees, spent a month working at a dog-boarding facility to learn the ropes.
There are pros and cons to starting a new concept from scratch versus opening a franchise. The challenging part: You have to figure everything out yourself. The fun part: You get to figure everything out yourself.
“It’s so freeing,” McLean said. “We had so much fun creating our logo.”
They hope to open in the first half of 2025, with an aim to start site work in January.
“I’m so fired up about doing something totally different,” he said. “The benefits of not being trapped in a building all day are not just for big dogs. The benefits are for even a little dog. They’re out walking the woods, seeing the birds, they’re out in the shade.”
Follow on Instagram @campwagtail for updates.
