There are over 1,300 searches monthly for dog-friendly campgrounds and over 2,600 searches for dog-friendly RV Parks per month in the US. With most RV Parks and Campgrounds being dog friendly, how can your campground stand out to all the dog lovers out there? It’s simple. Build a dog park within your campground and highlight it on your website. What should a dog park have? In this blog, we walk you through building a “pawfect” dog park at your RV Park or Campground plus how to market it and attract more visitors to your campground or RV Park.
Space and Place
Placement of your dog park is key. Most dog parks are between a half-acre and one-acre area to make sure the dogs have plenty of space to socialize while also chasing balls. Keep in mind things like shade and proximity to your other lots. Dog parks can result in barking so make sure it will not be bothersome to guests.
Fences and Gates
After you have figured out the perfect space for a dog park in your campground, you will need fencing and gates. Fences should be at least 5-6 feet to keep dogs from jumping over them. Entrances should serve as a buffer to your park. Most have a double gate system at the entrance to give people time to secure the leash before they fully exit the park. Also, it serves well to assimilate the dogs to others before entering the full park. Finally, a double gate system ensures that sneaky dogs will not escape.
Small Dogs v Large Dogs
Many dog parks have separate areas for small dogs and larger dogs. While not completely necessary, some large dogs tend to be more aggressive towards smaller dogs to show their dominance. Many small dog owners will appreciate the separation.
Check out an example of a dog park with double gates and separate facilities for small dogs and big dogs below.
Rules and Regulations
Next, you need to figure out your rules and regulations and make sure the signage can be clearly found and read. Here are the common rules we have seen:
This park is for the use of campers and their pets only.
Owners are responsible for their dogs and any injuries caused by them. The park is not liable for anything that happens while in the dog park.
All dogs must be properly inoculated and healthy when using the park.
Animals must wear collars at all times.
Owners are responsible for cleaning up after their dogs, including their waste.
Any dogs showing signs of aggression must be removed.
Owners must not leave their dogs unattended.
Children under 18 are not allowed in the park unsupervised.
No dogs in heat are allowed to use the dog park.
No glass, food, or sharp objects are allowed inside the dog park.
Dogs must be leashed when entering and leaving the park.
Any visitors violating these rules will not be allowed to use the park in the future and may be subject to removal from the campgrounds.
Water
First, you will want to think about water stations or fountains for both people and dogs. Click here to view an example. This will help to ensure both the dogs and their owners enjoy their time. Try to stay away from standing water as this is a way to spread bacteria amongst all animals drinking from the water. Bonus points if you have a water feature where dogs can play. If you have a pond, backing up your dog park to a section of it so dogs can play in the water will definitely delight.
Seating and Shade
Make sure to have plenty of benches, preferably in shaded areas. Keep in mind material if your park is in full sun. Metal benches might not be the best if your park is in full Texas heat, for instance.
Other Features
Dogs have a ton of energy and when traveling with their owners, they need a good way to get it out. Building a few ramps or even adding in features they can run through goes a long way. These ramps are inexpensive to build and even if the majority of dogs don’t use them, they will go a long way to impress their owners. Check out a few below.
And Finally…Poop
Make sure you have plenty of poop bags and even scoopers to make sure your park stays clean and people are not avoiding landmines as they walk around. You should require that the guests clean up after their own dogs and provide trash receptacles that are emptied daily for disposal.
Marketing Your Park to Attract Visitors
Just like with any amenity, you should be sure to highlight this on your website. Make sure to include key phrases people are searching for plus your city/area and state, for instance, “dog-friendly RV park in Austin, Texas”, so Google knows to show your park to those who are searching for it. On your home page, be sure to include images of the dog park and callouts showing dogs are welcome along with listing all other amenities. If you do choose to run ads, Facebook/Instagram ads might be a perfect fit. Simply choose people who are interested in dogs with an overlap of also owning an RV or liking camping and choose images or videos of your dog park along with other amenities.
For more on marketing your campground on Facebook, Instagram, Google, and email, read more here.
In Conclusion
Having a dog-friendly campground and RV Park is quickly becoming the norm, and sticking out can take a little work. Take advantage of the 3,900+ searches for dog-friendly campgrounds or RV Parks each month by adding a dog park to your campground and highlighting it on your website and ads. Dog owners are always looking for the perfect trip but adding in perks for their fur babies will put your campground over the top!
Do you have an awesome dog park at your campground? We would love to feature it! Shoot us an email at howdy@letsbonfire.com!
If you want to know more about Bonfire's simple to use campground management software and dedicated online booking pages, please reach out to us at howdy@letsbonfire.com. When comparing management software, what should you look for when finding the perfect software for your company? In this blog, we dive into choosing the perfect software for your campground based on size, cost, and more.
Need help marketing your campground without the use of marketplaces? We got your back there too. Check out our blog on marketing RV Parks and campgrounds where we explore everything from paid ads to the use of email marketing.
