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We are now open for business and have been certified by The Pet Industry Federation in COVID-19 Disease Control for Pet Professionals to provide a safe and confident service to our customers. We also confirm that we are complying with the government’s guidance on managing the risk of COVID-19.

Ajax – the hero

 

Ajax The Hero Barking Mad Reading Caroline Temple home boarding Dog care

Never underestimate a dog’s loyalty

 

One of our client’s has an adorable and handsome Westie named Ajax, but behind the good looks and charm, there is also a great deal of intelligence and devotion.

The story begins four years ago when Philip and Ajax were out for a walk in the leafy lanes of Newbury. They had passed the usual houses, a few parked cars and unusually, a Paramedic van. They carried on further up the road where Ajax had a sniff around his favourite trees and bushes.  Then something Ajax wasn’t expecting to happen, his owner Philip collapsed. There was no one around, but brave little Ajax, using his incredible canine instincts, ran for help!

In the past we as humans owned dogs for their natural instincts to hunt, guard and give alarm when danger threatened.  There are of course species and breed specifics where certain instincts are far stronger – take for example the guarding instincts of the German Shepherd Dogs, the herding instinct of Collies, the hunting instincts of gundogs such as Labradors, Spaniels and Hounds not forgetting the digging and hunting instincts of Terriers.  Instinct is something you can’t teach.

Ajax used his natural instincts and intelligence and ran back to the Paramedic van and barked until someone took notice of him. The paramedics followed Ajax back to where Philip was laying. Philip had suffered a stroke and Ajax saved Philip’s life.

There are so many reasons why we should have a dog in our lives, not necessarily to have a hero and life saver like Ajax, but for wellbeing and companionship.

Alternatively if you are looking for the original alternative to kennels when you are on holiday or away on business, our professional dog sitting service works on many levels – giving our carefully chosen hosts the chance to have a dog in their life, but ultimately giving our client’s dogs a home away from home.  A win-win for everyone!

Thanks to our hosts and clients the Barking Mad Dog Care Reading business has grown considerably over the past two years and the Barking Mad Wokingham franchise is now up for sale!!  If you live in Wokingham, Bracknell or Crowthorne and are thinking of starting a new career – you may be interested to discover more about this business opportunity.  If this isn’t for you, then maybe you know someone who would be interested.  Please contact me on 0118 3246724 or email Caroline.Temple@barkingmad.uk.com

Join us for the ‘Diana Brimblecombe Funday’ on Sunday the 1st of July

Welcome back to the Barking Mad Reading blog, for all your home from home dog care needs.  If you’re not familiar with the superb charity The Diana Brimblecombe Animal Rescue Centre then let us bring you up to speed.

For over 50 years, Diana Brimblecombe (previously known as the animal rescue group, Wokingham) has helped thousands of animals who have been neglected or simply dumped on the roadside. From dogs, cats and rabbits to guinea pigs, birds and maybe the occasional ferret, Diana Brimblecombe homes a number of animals and is in constant use. Visitors are always welcome to come and see the animals. Diana Brimblecombe cares about their pets conducting thorough checks so both pet and owner enjoy the most out of each other. We are huge fans of this incredible charity. Go follow them on Facebook and check out their website.

On the 1st of July we will be heading to Diana Brimblecombe for their summer fun day, a perfect day out for the family – you can even bring your four-legged friends. On the day there will be plenty to keep you and all the family entertained, you could enter your dog into one of the dog show, take part in the raffle or just spend the day on the bouncy castle! There will

also be plenty of food and drink to go round.  Full details of the fun day can be found here.

Funday with Barking Mad reading

People and dogs alike enjoying the fun day.

We’re very excited to be supporting the fun day and our staff will be there manning our own Barking Mad stall on the day, so be sure to come and say hello! We’re going to be running a competition on the day with plenty of exciting prizes that include:

 

Barking Mad Reading’s 10 tips to protect your dog this summer

Sunny days!

Here at Barking Mad Dog Care Reading, we love the sun! Having a BBQ, spending time in the garden, and of course heading down to the nearest river, lake or beach for the day. It really is a beautiful time of year for us two legged animals, but do our furry friends enjoy the heat as much as we do? With summer well underway we wanted to provide you with some of our top tips to ensure your dog is well looked after on those hot days.

  1. Keep your dog hydrated
    This seems like an obvious one but always make sure that their water bowl is regularly topped up with clean drinking water.

Buster the Boxer sure knows how to stay hydrated when on holiday!

2. DO NOT LEAVE YOUR DOG IN THE CAR!
Sadly we need to raise the point as it still happens today. According to the RSPCA, a car can become as hot as an oven very quickly, even when it doesn’t feel that warm. When it is 22 degrees, in a car it can actually reach an unbearable 47 degrees within the hour. SO PLEASE DON’T DO IT!

3. Keep their paws cool!
With the sun pumping out heat all day, many surfaces follow suit and drastically heat up. With this in mind, consider the surfaces your dog is walking on when you take them out as you don’t want to risk burning their paws (walking on hot surfaces also raises the body temperature) – we suggest avoiding asphalt. If you are unsure then we recommend you adopt ‘the 5 second rule’ you can find out more on that right here.

4. Give your dog a swimming pool
Our kids love a swimming pool in the sun and our canine friends are no different! You can buy a very affordable child’s paddling pool online and it’ll go along way with your dog – whilst keeping them cool. Alternatively you could use a cooling jacket, a cooling mat or even just a cool, damp towel would be just as effective!

This Barking Mad holiday home even has its own pool!

5. Groom that coat
By keeping your dog’s coat regularly groomed it’ll avoid any knots and remove any excess fur meaning your dog will find it a lot easier to regulate their body temperature.

6. Make some cool treats
It’s not just us that loves an ice lolly! Try making a few ice cubes out of their favourite treats, they’ll love it. We did also come across this superb article by Buzzfeed – have a read of their summer treat ideas!

 7. Get out the doggie sunscreen
It may sound silly, but you can buy dog sunscreen and it really can make a difference to your dog’s skin. It’s not just us that can burn in the sun, our furry friends do as well. Dogs of a lighter colour and thin / short coat are at a greater risk of burning.

8. Walk in the morning or evening
When the sun is low the temperature is a lot cooler, so you’re walks will be a lot more pleasant for the both of you.

Charlie & Daisy enjoying an early morning stroll in the countryside

9. Protection against parasites
Parasites such as fleas, mosquitoes and ticks come out to play in the summer which can cause your dog unwanted issues. Make sure you protect your dogs from these unwelcome visitors.

10. Know if your dog has overheated
Knowing the symptoms of heat stroke can make a massive difference to your dog’s health. If your dog struggles to breathe, excessively pants, increased heart rate, drooling or even glazed over eyes, you need to take action as these symptoms can bring on vomiting, diarrhea and seizures.

To cool them down safely first move them into a cooler area and apply cool water to their bodies (specifically around the head) whilst letting them drink cool water. Next we recommend you contact your vet and seek further assistance.

Now you’re equipped with our 10 hottest tips, put them into action and to ensure your dog can make the most of the summer. For all the latest pictures and videos of our Barking Mad dogs enjoying their summer holidays, follow us on Facebook!

 

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