Just to say how grateful we are to you and Christine for looking after our wee darling Seumas so well when we were on our holidays.He is his usual wee happy self, which is amazing considering he is such a baby.We have put up the picture of Seumas and his new best friends in pride of place, on our fridge.I am certain Seumas will be going back to the farm for a wee bit more R and R in the future.
Fergus and Anne, Glasgow September 2011
As we can't commit to having our own dog full-time, becoming a host family for Barking mad came along at the right time. Our lives have been enriched by all the dogs we've looked after, big or small, laid-back or mischievous! We cant imagine what life would be like without Barking Mad, quieter maybe, but not half as much fun!Denise and Clive, Paston, Norwich September 2011
"Thank you very much indeed for arranging a perfect host for Gladstone. He has returned in fine shape and just a little calmer. Lyn has obviously done a brilliant job with him and we thoroughly enjoyed reading the feedback! Although our dog can be hard work he is utterly adorable and it was wonderful to read how fond of him Lyn had become.Your service has been thoroughly professional; we are most impressed and will certainly use you (Lyn, hopefully) again.”
Tim Woffenden – Four Elms, Kent October 2011
Our Service
We know everyone needs to get away every now and then, so we thought it was about time dogs had a holiday too…
If there’s anybody who knows about dogs, then it’s us. For 11 years we’ve been arranging ‘homey’ holidays just as good as the one we had with Grandma when we went to the beach, ate ice cream and everything. Every day, everybody says thank you, and we don’t think life can get any better than that!
When you book a Barking Mad holiday, you can be confident your dogs’ are going to have as good a time as you - although secretly we hope it’s even better!
Who’s who - It’s really important to get to know you and your dog, especially in the beginning. We’ll come to you and over a cup of tea you can tell us all about your day-to-day routines for feeding and exercising so we can replicate this for your dog. We’ll chat about likes (usually a lot), dislikes (usually the postman) and any healthcare requirements. By the second chocolate digestive we’ve started to understand your dogs’ individual needs and lifestyle. By the end of our meeting, which usually takes around an hour, we’ll all be getting along famously.
Oh and don’t worry, we love dogs of all shapes and sizes, pedigree, Heinz 57 or rescue. They can sleep in the bedroom, pull on the lead, or even hide your favourite socks. As long as they are friendly we’ll get along just fine.
Holiday home - Selecting the right host family is very important and your input into this process is invaluable. You will want to know exactly where your dog is going, so during our time together you are going to see all of our dog-loving families. They are just like you and me, and guaranteed to meet our extremely high pet sitting standards. Together we’ll make the right choice, and you can decide whether your best friend stays in a home with or without a resident dog, depending on his needs.
5 Star - Our service includes door-to-door, chauffeur driven transport for your dog. Being collected from home is far less stressful, and completely overcomes the anxiety caused to dogs when left behind by their owners. Our experience has shown visiting dogs settle more quickly with their home comforts around them including bed, food, toys and treats, arranged as they would be at home. In no time at all, they’ve become part of the family, with their paws placed firmly under the table.
Our hosts are at home during the day to ensure round the clock care is always provided, especially where puppies, dogs on regular medication and senior citizens are concerned. We’re in touch with our hosts regularly, so we will keep you posted during your time away about anything you need to know.
The best bit for us is seeing dogs happily settled-in and comfortable with their host. We will, wherever possible, be sure to use the same family each time you book a holiday. There are no minimum or maximum time limits, we’re here whenever you need us.
Sleepovers - We’ll arrange a short stay in advance of your main booking so that when you’re away you can relax knowing your dog is having as good a time as you are!
Leave it to the experts - There’s no point having a dog and barking yourself, we do all the hard work so you don’t have to. No tedious form filling, laborious visits back and forth to meet various people; a simple phone call is all that is required. Contact us
Peace of mind is priceless - And so we think you’ll agree £20 per day, with discounts of £5 for additional dogs is great value. Cost for the initial meeting from £30 and holiday transportation starts at £30. Contact your local branch