DogTrekker: Redefining Dog-Friendly Travel in California
AvyaTech helped transform DogTrekker.com into a modern, scalable travel platform focused on destinations, stories, and listings for dog lovers. Built to serve both explorers and pet owners, the platform improves discoverability, user engagement, and content quality.
Overview
DogTrekker is a dog-centric platform offering travel information, guides, and listings for dog-friendly destinations in California. With thousands of listings and stories, it connects dog owners with places, experiences, and helpful content. Their goal was to create a more engaging, informative, and user-friendly site.
Technology Stack
WordPress
Sage Theme
Elastic Search
AWS Server
MySQL
ChatGPT integration
Google Map API
Quick Info
Travel & Directory / Tourism
California, USA
Web Platform (Directory + Editorial Content)
6 months
Core Features
Advanced Listings Management
Backend system to add, manage, and categorize thousands of dog-friendly properties, parks, and businesses.
Elastic Search & Filtering
Fast, powerful search with filtering by location, amenities, and categories.
Dynamic Directory
Structured directories allow browsing by category, town, or type of place.
Custom Theme (Sage)
A tailored WordPress theme built for performance and clean design.
Interactive Content & Editorials
Guides, stories, and experiences integrated into listings for user engagement.
Geolocation & Maps Integration
Maps that display listings by proximity and location-based search.
Challenges & Solutions
Challenges
- Organizing and managing thousands of listings with varying content and data quality.
- Slow and less relevant search/filtering hurting user experience.
- Scalability issues with existing infrastructure and theme.
Solutions
- Built a structured admin system for uniform data entry and listing categorization.
- Integrated Elasticsearch for fast, accurate searching and filtering.
- Developed a custom Sage theme and AWS hosting for scalability and performance.
Driving Engagement & Growth
Technical Enhancements
Optimized Search & Filtering
Implemented Elasticsearch to deliver lightning-fast, relevant results with advanced filters.
Map & Location Tools
Integrated map APIs and geolocation for location-based discovery.
Custom Theme Architecture
Used the Sage framework for a maintainable, fast theme with clean code.
Directory & Listing System
Backend system for managing listings consistently and at scale.
Editorial Storytelling
Structured CMS for stories and guides with SEO-friendly layouts.
Scalable Hosting & Performance
AWS infrastructure with caching and optimizations for uptime and speed.
Screenshots
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