The Newest Activity Class at Silverado: Puppies!

The best place on earth just got BETTER! You might be asking yourself, “Self? How could camp get any better?” and to that we have one simple answer: puppies. 

Yes, that’s right! This summer at Pine Cove Silverado we have a brand new activity class with Golden Retriever puppies! It’s going to be an awesome opportunity for campers to learn the importance and responsibility it takes to care for a dog. This class will also equip campers with the skills and techniques to train a dog! And through all of it, campers will get to have some plain ol’ fun with the puppies.

At the end of the summer, Silverado will hold a silent auction for the puppies in hopes of placing each dog with a loving Pine Cove family. The money raised in this auction will go directly to Project 319 so we can provide scholarships and have even MORE campers experience Pine Cove next summer! Go to the auction page here.

Have questions? Check out some FAQs below!

How old will the puppies be?
By the end of week 10, one litter will be 22 weeks and the other will be 23 weeks!

What kind of puppies are they and how many will there be?
There will be six boys and one girl, all English Cream Golden Retrievers! All puppies have AKC registration.

How and where did you get these puppies?
We reached out to Victory Hill Ranch, a breeder based out of Dime Box, Texas! Our director, Austin “Homestar” Langemeier, bought his dog Nala from Victory Hill.

Do puppies get vaccinated?
Puppies have a few rounds of shots that they must have for their safety and the safety of the people around them. They will receive all required vaccinations prior to summer. 

What happens if a puppy bites my camper?
The medical team will be notified and the camper will be taken care of immediately. Depending on the severity and aggression of the puppy, steps will be taken to ensure campers are not harmed again. 

What if my camper has a dog allergy?
Much like our horse program, we pay attention to the needs of each camper and will find alternatives for them to continue having serious fun while at camp! 

Where do the puppies go at the end of the summer?
Our plan is to host a silent auction and find each puppy a loving family. All proceeds will go to our scholarship program, Project 319. 

What can you tell me about the parents?
The dad is 1/4 English Cream Golden and 3/4 American Golden. The mom is full English Cream Golden.  Both parent dogs were tested for: PRA for the eyes, ICT Skin disease, and OFA hip cert.

Can we adopt a puppy at the end of our week of camp?
We cannot allow the puppies to leave camp prior to the end of Week 10, but you can write down the puppy’s name so that at the time of the silent auction, you’ll have the information ready when the puppy is called.

What will the activity class look like?
During activity classes (each class is an hour, four classes a day), the puppies will be playing with our campers! This class will be facilitated by four summer staffers and overseen by our Extreme Activities Coordinator as well as our full-time team. Along with playing, our staff will teach campers important skills and techniques on how to care for a dog. 

Who is in charge of the puppies and how will they be cared for over the summer?
We have just the staffer for the job! Our puppies will be cared for by our Extreme Activities Coordinator. She is a Pre-Vet Major at Texas A&M University and served as the head wrangler of our horse program for the past two summers. She is very qualified and will ensure that campers and puppies are safe. She will be in charge of training the puppies and acclimating them to the everyday norms of camp. Care will include: feeding, grooming, cleaning, playing, and reporting any concerns to our full-time team. 

Is it an activity, or are they just roaming around camp?
Just like our campers have awesome cabins to hang out in, our puppies will too! During activity classes, we will have a “puppy palace” that has AC, a doggie door, and a fenced area where the campers can come pet and play with the puppies. If puppies are outside of their designated area, they will be on a leash.