Anyone used/heard of/can recommend them?

Where?

I personally would never use them.

Oh pur-leese!!!   Sounds like a good idea for "retired folks" to (ahem) make some money for sharp shooters!!!!   So, to become a "BARKING MAD" person - you pay mega-dosh to a company that will "advertise" for you for doggies to come to sleep with with your doggies and you can become bestest friends with their owners:rolleyes:

So the people who might "look after" your doggies may have no other experience of dogs than giving icke Bonzo a quick constitootional walkie morning and evening........... - and they will have paid mega- bucks to be put on a website

No - I'd steer well clear of this sort of franchise ....and as for £4.50 for a "personalised" bone cookie.....well - words fail me !

Margot

OMG - just had a vision of a couple of OAP's getting to grips with my lot ???? ...... think I'll give this service a miss ;)

Yvonne

Realised last night (pute was off alread) that I know of a couple of Barking Mad's so perhaps you should clarify which company you are asking about fluff. I might have commented on the wrong one.

Barking Mad is a franchise operation - aimed at selling its services primarily to franchisees (who pay upwards of £9,000) to be awarded a franchise.   It sounds good - lookimg after other people's dogs whilst they go on holiday - but they (the franchisors) are more intent in signing up franchisees than checking their suitability.   So whilst you might get some excellent dog-owner lovers who have a wealth of experience and can care properly for the dogs, you could well get people who are not capable of looking after your dog properly.

Margot

Well we're going to Thailand shortly, and have spent the last month or so trying to arrange her accomodation. I've looked at two kennels, and I have to say, I just can't reconcile myself with the thought of her being in a kennel - no matter if it's heated, great location etc. She's a real soppy soul and loves human interaction. I just can't see her being in a kennel for just over two weeks. Perhaps if we were only to go for a long weekend, max a week, I could feel OK about it - but that length of time....I just can't.

We looked in to Barking Mad (Nottingham) and a lady came to see us to have a talk about it. She genuinely seemed to love dogs - she's got a golden herself, and we seemed to be on the same page regarding training methods, and goldens in general (i.e. Nuts!).

Just thinking about the comment about trying to recruit us, she didn't really seem to be sales-oriented, or even mention anything about that. My husband (currently a salesman) really didn't get that from her either .She was able to talk to us about all our concerns and answer all our questions and the family she'd possibly be staying with already has a 2 year old Golden. Also the place where this family lives looks fabulous (and not far from us) and they'd also be happy to send us pictures and updates via e-mail for us to pick up on our travels.

It actually works out the same per day as a kennel but the cost, to be fair, i couldn't really care less about. I just want her to be happy, well looked after, excercised and know that I'll get my Roxy back when I come home. I really want to like and feel good about this option, because for me, it ticks all the boxes. There was a folder full of recommendations - the only score they didn't get great scores on was value for money.

I'm a bit concerned though about come of the comments here, :(

Mmm.  I would prefer my dogs to be safe and secure in kennels than in someone's home where the door might be left open. :(

Having worked in kennels (not always good ones :( ) I will say that within 24 hours most dogs have completely settled into their new routine and enjoy the constant activity in kennels. :)

For me, loving dogs isn't the first requisite that I would look for in someone who was going to take care of my dogs in my absence.  Knowledge and experience of an enormous number of dogs, rembering that they are all different, is what I would be looking for.

I agree completely with Val, I couldn't relax on holiday unless I was sure my dogs were secure - in a boarding kennels with at least two sets of doors between them and the outside world. I would never consider leaving them in someones home, even if it was someone they knew and liked. Even the best behaved dog can panic and take off looking for it's owners. I've also worked in a couple of different boarding kennels and have to say that the vast majority of dogs settle in just fine. :)

I used to leave my dogs with my mum at her house when we went on holiday - she's one of the few people I'd trust. Now that she's too old and frail to manage them I get sitters in. No way would I leave them anywhere with other dogs to wind them up.

Now I get a friend to dog sit in my own home but I used to use kennels. The dogs never had any problem settling in the kennels and gave every indication that they enjoyed their little 'holiday' there.

Im confused now.... when do you get to meet the person who will actually be looking after your dog, as your post reads to me as if the woman you met ISNT the person who will have your dog(s).

Im afraid i would also FAR rather my dogs were in kennels, at a place where they were only exercised in a secure paddock, rather than taken out on leads, and not given ANY opportunity to escape anywhere.

Em

not given ANY opportunity to escape anywhere

It's happened MANY times Em! :(

From quite a few kennels too. :(

There was a case locally a few years ago where a 6-month sheltie dog pup escaped from the boarding kennels, which was also a rescue kennel. A couple of days later a stray sheltie was handed in, judged to be a bitch about 5 years old, and rehomed. Guess what - it turned out to be the same sheltie. :rolleyes: Luckily the original owners got him back. It made the local TV.

Details here.

Yes I agree.  I had many grooming clients lose their dogs when 'friends' left door open while looking after their dogs, but also know of a number of dogs lost from kennels when they are taken into the grounds for exercise.

I prefer my dogs to have an attached covered run and stay there safely without mixing with unknown dogs until I come home. :)  The kennels who offer to exercise the dogs rarely do so.  Most kennels clean in the morning and feed in the afternoon (and then clean again!)  Let's say a medium kennel has 60 dogs in high season and 2 staff free for 3 hours (and that's not realistic at all they always run on a shoestring!)  How are they going to exercise 10 dogs an hour - 5 minutes each dog???????   Not worth winding a dog up when it see the lead if it is only going to get walked around the kennel block IMO. :(

I don't know of any kennels that have staff near enough to let a dog out to its run to relieve itself during the night, nor visit to see why a dog is barking and quieten it.

A two-minute walk on the lead around the kennel block will be enough to let a dog know that it's had its walk and it can then settle, and not wait in eager anticipation for the rest of the day, only to be disappointed.

You need (IMO) to be SURE about what they're going to do regarding other dogs, keeping Roxy on lead etc - but at the end of the day you need to go with what YOU feel comfortable with, as long as she seems happy too. I have a friend who REFUSES to put his dog in kennels for your sort of reason. And I have to say when I had only one dog and put him in kennels - he lost 3kg in 4 days - but when I had another dog and put them both in (admittedly a different kennels) they were fine. I would say take on board what everyone ahs said, what you feel about the people you have talked to (have you visited their home?) and make your decision based on that. Sorry, don't feel very helpful somehow.

As our dog was a rescue I really didn't want to put him in kennels but recently had to. He is a "people" dog and I too thought he would miss being part of a family and was worried that he would change.

When we went to bring him home he seemed to have really enjoyed his stay - lots going on around him, loads of attention, three walks a day in their own enclosed grounds plus two daily half hour sessions in individual exercise paddocks and he was still the same happy friendly dog he has always been.

You have to do what you feel comfortable with but I think we humans worry far more than our dogs do. :)