What folks have to say...
"Macey and Toby always come back from their holiday happy, which is a great comfort to us and the children always enjoying reading their postcard about Macey and Toby's adventures."
Posted by: Bernie, Mark< jessica, Hannha & Joel on 19th Jun, 2013
"Having had bad experiences of kennels, we decided that we would only send our Labradors to Barking Mad. They are now over 7 years old and love their holidays with their wonderful host. I cannot praise Barking Mad enough, from their willingness to help in anyway possible to their time keeping picking the girls up and bringing them home.
Thank you to Sue for having the girls and Kathryn (and previously Margaret) for providing such a brilliant service."
Posted by: Paul and Anne Strojny on 19th Jun, 2013
"We had to leave our 14 year old much loved dog for 3 weeks and he had a wonderful time and came home very well and happy. Barking Mad is the very best pet care company and one we will not hesitate to use again. The hosts who looked after him sent us a card telling us all about his stay too. Would recommend to anyone worried about leaving their dog......worth every penny for the peace of mind."
Posted by: Amanda on 19th Jun, 2013
"HARRY IS MY SECOND GOLDIE THAT HAS BEEN LOOKED AFTER BY BARKING MAD OVER THE PAST 8 YEARS. I HAVE ALWAYS HANDED OVER BOTH DOGS WITH THE CONFIDENCE THAT THEY ARE WITH PEOPLE WHO LOVE AND APPRECIATE THEM. THIS IS A BRILLIANT SERVICE, AND I WOULD RECOMMEND IT TO ANYONE WHO WANTS THE BEST FOR THEIR PET WHILST AWAY."
Posted by: CHRIS BUCKLAND on 19th Jun, 2013
"Steve, thanks for an efficient and friendly service. Using a traditional kennel was never an option for Poppy. She needs that extra touch...a real 'host from home'. It was obvious on her return that she had a very good weekend away. I will certainly use the service again. Regards, Jeff"
Posted by: Jeff on 17th Jun, 2013
Our Story
I was planning a family trip in 1999 and felt so dreadful about leaving my Dalmatian puppy Bronte behind, that I almost cancelled. I tried to find a suitable alternative to kennels or house sitting but there simply wasn’t one.
The best businesses are often borne out of a market need and Barking Mad is no exception. My research showed that there was a demand for an alternative to traditional pet care, and so with a background in sales and marketing I set about creating a whole new concept. Barking Mad was launched in Kirkby Lonsdale, Cumbria in May 2000, as a professional and personal service for dog lovers.
Initially I ran the business alongside my consultancy work, however Barking Mad quickly took over. The website I had designed a few months earlier was creating interest from customers, host families and partners across the UK, so we decided to expand nationally through the franchise route.
It took 18 months to get our business ready for the franchise market, but with the help of a well respected consultant and lawyer, both affiliates of the BFA, Barking Mad took centre stage at the franchise exhibition in October 2002. Today we have sold 65% of the UK and also operate overseas in Cyprus. We have a business partner in the USA who operates our system, and we have plans for further expansion both within the UK and overseas.
Barking Mad is a robust business which has continued to grow, even during recession. We’ve received some amazing PR including an interview on Chris Evans Drive Time Show, BBC TWO Working Lunch, The Daily Mail, The Express, The Guardian and several glossies. I put our success down to the strength of our brand, the simplicity of the business model and our determination to become a household name.
On a personal note, I am continually rewarded by seeing how many lives have changed positively as a result of Barking Mad, including those of our customers and their dogs, host families, franchisees and the support team at HQ. I met my husband through the business, so it really has been a life changing experience for me too!
Thank you for taking the time to visit our website.
Lee Dancy
Managing Director