A Family Owned Camp Built on Love for Dogs

Rooted in community, guided by care, and focused on helping every dog feel at home.

How Camp Ruff It Began

A legacy of care we’re proud to carry forward.

Camp Ruff It opened in 2010 with Ted and Sue Schwartz, built from a deep love for dogs and a belief that every pup deserves comfort, respect, and thoughtful care. In the summer of 2022, our family had the chance to take the leash and continue what the Schwartz family started. We’re honored to carry on that mission and grow it with the same heart and purpose that inspired its beginning. Camp Ruff It has always been about more than daycare or boarding. It’s about creating a place where dogs feel safe, understood, and truly cared for.

Meet the Williams Family

Local, hands on, and deeply invested in every dog we serve.

We’re the Williams family, Ryan, Lori, our daughters Harlow and Penny, and our rescue pup Grey, and we live right here in Glen Ellyn. Before Camp Ruff It, Lori worked as a professional radio broadcaster for over a decade, and Ryan is a licensed home inspector who continues to run his own business today. We’re a local family who loves dogs, and we’ve poured our hearts into making Camp a warm, fun, and safe place where pups can play all day and sleep in bed with our staff at night.

Life Beyond Camp

Connection, creativity, and community matter to us.

When we’re not at Camp, we love family days at Lake Ellyn, working on creative projects at home, and going on little adventures together. Our family is all about connection, laughter, and making memories, and we bring that same energy into everything we do at Camp Ruff It.

What Makes Our Team Different

Local, hands on, and deeply invested in every dog we serve.

At Camp Ruff It, our team isn’t just here to watch dogs. They are trained professionals who treat every pup like family. What truly sets our staff apart is their commitment to continued education and hands on care. Every team member completes new training every 90 days through respected industry leaders like The Dog Gurus, FetchFind, and the Professional Animal Care Certification Council, PACCC.

Our staff are trained in dog behavior and body language, first aid, illness and injury prevention, bite prevention, and more. They don’t just supervise play. They actively lead enrichment activities, promote safe socialization, and even sleep in bed with the dogs at night to ensure comfort and care around the clock.

We’d Love to Welcome You to Camp

Come see why dogs and their people love Camp Ruff It.