What a wonderful summer 2019 we had
Tikka enjoying the Cricket
The summer started with Anna joining me as a chauffeur for our holidaying doggies. Anna already hosts for me, but as she always has family at home, she can enjoy her passion for dogs when she is collecting and returning home our doggie customers. Anna said ‘It’s the best job ever’
Dog lover Anna
We welcomed some new dogs to the Barking Mad Basingstoke family and loved learning about their needs. Daisy was our first Chihuahua and what a little character she was. She loved being right in the middle of family life and getting taken everywhere her host family went.
Brian was also a new addition. He is an Italian Spinone and loved his walks at Crabtree Plantation in Old Basing and Tadley Common. He enjoyed the Queens College Arms pub, that has a lovely dog friendly garden. We are looking forward to him returning in the New Year and next summer when he is booked in for our wedding service.
Daisy became part of the family
Brian enjoying the pub
Everyone loves a puppy and we were excited to have Cooper the Cocker Spaniel and Lottie the Beagle on holiday with us. When we register puppies, we find out all about the commands they are learning, their exercise routine and ensure we are consistent with what they are learning at home. We ensure they are well socialised on their walks and keep them entertained and given them as many cuddles as they need. Some of my hosts book time at local secure fields so that the dogs can run about freely and play. Great for reactive dogs, those with poor recall or those that just want some fun in a new place. Lottie had a go at some agility, her owners were very happy about as she is going to start classes soon. she’s a bright little thing!
Cooper enjoying a cuddle with Debbie
Lottie enjoying agility
We loved seeing our existing customers as well, I do my best to book them in with a host they have been to before and they quickly settle. Buster the Jack Russell, Paddy the Springer Spaniel Murphy and Tikka, both Labradors all had fun in the sun.
Enjoying fun in the sun
Enjoying fun in the sun
Enjoying fun in the sun
Lastly, some of our hosts can only look after dogs in the school holidays and it’s a great opportunity to get out and about and have fun with a doggie companion. Tiffany and her girls enjoyed the company of Finn and he was treated to walks in Old Basing and at The Vyne National Trust
That was a wonderful Summer!
Family fun with a dog
Sam
February 2019
As I was writing my last blog, we were waiting for the snow to come, well it came and brought Basingstoke to a standstill. I was very thankful to my Skoda Yeti as it got me and all the dogs I picked up safely to our destinations. Misha and Alfie were already on holiday when the snow came down in Bradfield Southend and Misha could not believe that the garden had turned white.
Winter Wonderland holiday destination
On the Saturday, I travelled to Lychpit in Basingstoke to pick up Scrappy and Scooby, two elderly but very adorable West Highland Terriers who were staying with us while their owners were getting married.
Getting Hands On
On the same snowy Saturday I attended a Dog First Aid Course in Heath End Village Hall run by Dog First Aid The course was well attended despite the awful weather and was really informative. I would recommend that anyone with a dog should attend.
Certificates Received
I spent my Valentines evening with the ladies from Bramley Women’s Institute
talking about the benefits of becoming a host and looking after dogs in your home while the owners are on holiday. I then had a raffle, home made dog biscuits and Barking Mad Calendars to purchase, with all money going to the charity that we support, Dogs For Good The ladies were so generous, I collected £53.00
I registered lots of dogs in February and I’m looking forward to picking them up for their trial holidays. Two wire haired Viszlers, two Red Setters, a Whippet Staffie Cross and a Staffie, Rhodesian Ridgeback, Labrador, Dogue de Bordeaux Cross to name just a few. I will post photos of them on their holidays on my facebook page so like my page to get the latest news.
January 2019
Happy New Year Stop At The Pub
We didn’t have many dogs out on long holidays in January but Bramble was one of the lucky ones. Bramble is a Labrador crossed with a Springer Spaniel so loves her walks and what’s better than finishing a walk off with a visit to the pub.
This month we have been busy visiting lots of new customers who are already planning their 2019 holidays. Would you believe, I’ve seen three Doberman’s! Very friendly family dogs who will be going on their trial holidays in February. Then there was Monty, a Jack Russell who has already had his trial holiday. Debbie, his host had so much fun with him and is very happy that he has three more holidays booked this year. I have also had Misha, a German Short Haired Pointer and Alfie Labrador on their trial. Misha oozes with energy but Dave and Maria managed to wear them both out and they went back home tired and happy and are booked in again for two more holidays.
Monty On Holiday
Alfie and Misha
I’ve seen so many other lovely dogs and their owners, a Yorkshire Terrier, two Hungarian Viszlas, a miniature Labradoodle, three West Highland Terriers and a labrador and I can’t wait to pick them up for their trial holidays.
I enrolled on a Diploma in Canine Behaviour which is really interesting. It’s an online course so I can fit it in around my work. I’m also enrolled on a Canine First Aid Course on 2nd February in Baughurst.
I will also be attending the Bramley Womens Institute meeting on 14th February to talk about our services but particularly what it means to be a Host for Barking Mad. I shall be baking some doggie Valentine treats to raise money for Dogs For Good
Keep safe in the snow that is forecast around Basingstoke and West Berkshire at the beginning of February. I feel very grateful that my car is a 4×4 as I have doggies to pick up from rural Bucklebury and others to take from Lychpit to Bradfield Southend, neither of which are main road routes!
January 2019
Happy Hosts
Happy New Year everyone, I hope you all had a great festive season. This month I organised a coffee morning for my hosts at the Little Roses Cafe just outside Tadley. This was a great opportunity to talk about our favourite subject ‘DOGs’ and all the wonderful characters that they have looked after. These people are truly passionate about boarding dogs in their homes and welcoming them into their families. I successfully made the Panforte, I told you about in my November news so this was packaged up along with a Christmas present for each host. I was quite pleased with myself.
Gift Wrapped Panforte
I had six host families in Hampshire and West Berkshire who welcomed between them nine lovely dogs into their homes to spend Christmas and in some cases New Year with them. Many of the dogs had Christmas presents bought especially for them by the host families. This is what hosting is all about, the families really treat the visiting dogs as if they were there own! Pictured is Rowan and Lorna welcoming Seven back for a special holiday.
Seven On Her Christmas Holiday
It was a particularly cold day in Tadley on 14th December, Christmas Jumper Day, so Archie was very happy to wear his all day. There were lots of Christmas Fairs in and around Basingstoke, Mortimer, Baughurst, Burghfield Common and Theale. We couldn’t get to all of them but managed a few, there are some very talented crafts people out there! I talked to many people about the benefits of dog sitting in their home and I’m hoping that some of them will contact me in the months to come.
Warm In His Christmas Jumper
November 2018
Darwin looking very comfortable.
This month I had the pleasure of meeting Darwin who is a lurcher Saluki cross. He had a hard start to his life but was lucky enough to be taken in by a vet who absolutely adores him. When I knocked on the door he barked and came to the door with his waggy tail. His owner was so surprised, ‘he never wags his tail at anbody he doesn’t know’ she said. I was as pleased as punch. He went for a two night trial with dog sitting hosts that met his needs perfectly and he settled beautifully. Now he is ready for his holiday next year.
I dropped in at a coffee morning in Heath End Village hall, I couldn’t have had a nicer welcome! Over a delicious piece of cake and a cup of tea we talked about our dogs and those that are no longer with us, Dog home boarding and the benefits of looking after dogs for a short heriod of time. Knitting poppies for the memorial, the artisan sale that was going to be on the next weekend, and lots of other things. They have coffee mornings the 2nd and 4th Thursday of the month at 10:30am. If you haven’t been I would recommend it.
Learning to make Italian treats at the Honesty Cookery School
I registered for a cookery class at the Honesty Cookery School using a voucher I was given when I left work. Eight of us made edible Italian Christmas gifts and now I am hoping to make some for my hosts for their Christmas presents.
Barney trying the lock at Aldermaston Wharf
Barking Barney has travelled around a bit this month. We went to Aldermaston Wharf and visited the canal tea room and museum where we had a nice chat with a young boy and his family. You can do a very nice walk all along the canal to the Rowbarge pub which I mentioned in my October blog. We ventured to St Johns Castle at Odiham which was a lovely walk along the canal and learnt a bit about some important English history as well. Lastly he came with me to the William Penney Theatre as I was the assistant director for the Boundary Players production of Men of the World by John Godber. It was a 3 actor production and the audiences loved it. Phew!
I’m now looking forward to December, I have a host coffee morning at Little Roses Café in Elm Park Garden Centre in Tadley. As we get closer to Christmas, I will be collecting lots of dogs who have a holiday booked with host families located around the Basingstoke region. The host families are pretty excited about their four legged guests.
You will be thinking about next years holiday soon, don’t forget to contact me early to book book your dog in for their holiday too. Have a very happy Christmas.
October 2018
Barking Barney at Crabtree Plantation, Old Basing
Didn’t October come around quickly, they say time flies when you are having fun! This month I found a gorgeous fluffy toy dog that I just had to give a home to. I asked my Facebook followers what they thought he should be called and he was christened ‘Barking Barney’ My new assistant has been travelling around with me and having his photo taken at some of our local landmarks or points of interest so I’ve been posting ‘Where’s Barking Barney?’ so far he has visited Silchester Roman Wall and Crab Tree Plantation at Old Basing.
I bought two new postcodes in the Basingstoke, RG21 and RG24 so the Barking Mad dog home boarding service has come to these additional areas; Basingstoke Town Centre, Eastrop, Black Dam, Popley, Chineham, Sherborne St John and Old Basing.
We attended the Rowbarge dog show on 6th October. The day was wet, windy and cold but there were some brave dogs and their owners who came out to have some fun. The event was judged by Kate Bowsher who has a dog training business in West Berkshire. Every entrant got a goody bag that included some of my home made dog biscuits. Click on the link to see the winning fancy dress, The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe and lots of very sweet soggy pups and their owners. There are some cute ones of Archie too! Rowbarge Dog Show
All set up at Waitrose & Partners Basingstoke
On 18th October we had a ‘Dogtober’ stand at Waitrose and Partners in Basingstoke. I was helped by one of my lovely hosts, Debbie and Barking Barney made his debut, he was very popular with the children. Dogtober is all about collecting money for the charity Dogs for Good and by asking for donations for the cupcakes made by CupCakeCentral and home made doggy biscuits we managed to raise £30. This brings our total to £92.50 this year. Fundraising page We talked to lots of people about the home from home pet sitting service and how we match dogs to our volunteer hosts who are all dog lovers so it was a busy day.
I’m now looking forward to November.
Cute and delicious cupcakes
For more information about Barking Mad Basingstoke click HERE
Barking Mad Basingstoke June 2018 Local News
A Busy Month for Barking Mad Dog Care Basingstoke.
This was my first month running Barking Mad Dog Care Basingstoke and what a fabulous month it was. It started with getting my car liveried and now you can’t miss me! Then I had my Barjo dog guards fitted so that when I pick up your dog for his holiday he is safe and secure in my car.
We had a stand at Silchester Fete and Dog show at the beginning of the month and Archie my Lakeland Terrier came along too. believe it or not it was cold and windy but loads of doggies came to see us at our stand as it was right next to the registration for the dog show.
Lots of you wanted to know more about dog home boarding and becoming one of our pet sitters. We had home made dog treats that many of your doggies tried, all donations were collected for Dogs For Good, the charity that Barking Mad is supporting this year.
I visited lots of new and existing doggy customers to either register them for our home boarding service or take them for their holiday. I also found Cafe in the Park in Hatch Warren Basingstoke, which is a very nice place to walk your dog and then have a cup of tea and the pop -up cafe at Silchester cricket pavilion, you can walk to the Silchester Roman Wall from here.
It was a perfect month and kept me believing that I had made the right decision leaving the corporate world of IT and the daily long commute into London.
For more information about Barking Mad Basingstoke click HERE
