BARK ATL

Adoptable Pet of the Week!!

2011-06-21T13:56:00.000-04:00

I was cruising the adoptable list at PAWS Atlanta and came across this sweet fur kid. When I read her story my heart just broke. I can't believe people would be so cruel to an animal who's only goal in life is to make you happy. Please help Nilah find a home!!

Here is her story:

Nilah is one of the most mellow and kind-hearted dogs you will ever come across, but she has been through a lot in her young life. She was adopted as a puppy, with her sister, from PAWS Atlanta. 6 years later she showed up, with her sister, at a local animal control. Her owners were nowhere to be found, but her microchip showed that she had come from PAWS. We drove out to get them both right away, and we were horrified by what we saw. They were both emaciated and had possible burns on their paws. Nilah would scream if anyone moved too quickly around her. She has really come a long way since then and meets all sorts of strangers every day. She loves people, being brushed, taking short walks, toys, and treats. She grows more trusting every day and, no matter how scared she is in any given situation, she has never shown aggression. She does not treat people the way she herself was treated. She has been at PAWS Atlanta for a year now, and she is more than ready to get into a good home with people who will be gentle with her and give her the love she deserves.

Birthday Parties at Bark ATL!!

2011-06-16T13:00:00.000-04:00

Have you considered celebrating your pups next birthday Bark ATL style?? Would you like to know more about our birthday party package?? Then keep reading because I am going to share with you why birthdays celebrated at Bark ATL are so special!

Not only is your fur kid the star that day, but we dress him/her in festive party attire and their guests get to wear fun hats!

On the menu you will find pupcakes (our own secret recipe filled with yummy goodness safe for our furry friends to eat) and Lick A Lots doggie ice cream.

The pup of honor also gets a cool cake like this one to take home!

I haven't met a pup yet that doesn't like our pupcakes!

And the lick a lots are always a big hit. No need for a party to have them though. They are the best way for your pup to cool down on a hot day!

The birthday pup has a photo shoot with world renowned photographer, Morgan B! Well, maybe he isn't world renowned, but he is the party and holiday photographer at Bark ATL and we think he does an awesome job!

But the best thing about birthday parties at Bark ATL is that your pup gets to party with five of their closest daycare friends till they are full and tired!

Now on to the fine print-

Birthday Party Package

$100.00

Five Doggy Friends (and your dog)

Additional Dogs $3.00/each

Doggy Cupcakes

Doggy Ice Cream

Doggy Cake to take home

Party Picture to Take Home

Featured on Home Page of Website

Party Photo Album Posted Online

If your pup has a friend(s) they would like to invite that do not come to Bark ATLwe can accommodate them. They just need to be current on vaccines and be spayed/neutered and be a well behaved dog! We will treat the birthday party like a temperament test and if all goes well (and why wouldn't it if they are friends with your pup!) they are welcome back to Bark ATL any time. Please contact us at 404-688-2275 or info@barkatl.com with any questions or to reserve a party spot for your birthday pup.

Bark ATL's Little Student of the Week: Watson!!!!

2011-06-15T13:00:00.001-04:00

Bark ATL's little pup student of the week is Watson!! This two year old wire-hared dachshund is one of the more popular kids in school. If you were to meet him, you would know why.

Watson has a very laid back and chill disposition. He's cool with running around the room with friends or chillin on top of the play cube.

Watson is a total party animal. Can't cha tell??

Watson is also a ladies man. Here he is with his oh so stylish friends Prada and Puppi.

Watson is a man of mystery and disguise. If he wants to be seen, you will see him. Otherwise he is incognito.

All of Watson's friends say the same thing about him. If you ever need someone to talk to or lean on in rough times Watson is the best guy for the job.

Watson says he loves all dogs, big and small. He hopes one day to break outta the little dog room and make his way over to the bigs. Hate to tell him that isn't going to happen!

So for now he hangs with his buds in the little pup room. Quincy said he's glad Watson has to stay. It just wouldn't be the same without him!

I've also been told that he is a good kisser!

Congratulatios on being Bark ATL's student of the week!! You deserve it!!

Adoptable Pet of the Week!!

2011-06-14T13:00:00.000-04:00

Today's adoptable pet comes from Atlanta Pet Rescue. His name is Ollie and he is too cute!!

Ollie is a male Terrier mix pup. He probably has a little bit of Basenji in him, judging from the wrinkles on his forehead and the smile on his face. Ollie is cute as a button and very intelligent, too. He has high energy and needs daily playtime and exercise as well as time in your lap. He also likes to play with other dogs. If you are looking for a great family dog in a small package, Ollie is the one for you!

What my foster parents say about me:

4/21/11: Ollie is always happy and ready to play! He enjoys wrestling and running around in our backyard with our dog. He LOVES to play fetch and he actually brings a toy/ball back as long as we throw. He also loves to chew on stuff, so please get him a lot of chew toys! Since he plays so hard during the day, he calms down in the evening and enjoys watching TV with us on a sofa. When he is not playing, he really enjoys being in his person's lap. He is crate trained now and sleeps through the night without any accident. He'll be great for anybody, especially for an active, fun loving household!

Help us find Ollie a forever home by posting this on your facebook wall, email it to friends and shout it from the rooftops!!

Bark ATL's Big Student of the Week: Vivi!!!!

2011-06-13T13:00:00.000-04:00

Bark ATL's big dog student of the week this week is Vivi!! This lovable Vizsla has been a Bark student for quite some time. Vivi is great at making newcomers feel welcome and helps by showing them the ropes.

But her favorite person in the world is her little sister, Ava! This is their first Halloween together.

And how adorable are they celebrating their second Christmas?? I love that they aren't afraid to get into the holiday spirit with festive head gear!

I think Ava and Vivi love the Holidays! Here they are getting ready to go trick or treat.

Too bad Vivi didn't bring her princess costume home from school to

wear out!

Vivi said this picture doesn't do her justice. She feels she makes a waaaaay better rein-dog than an elf. I promised her that this year we will try a different costume!

And who couldn't resist this adorable bunny face?? I know, Viv, enough with the costumes already!

Congratulations on being Bark ATL's student of the week, Vivi!

Bark ATL's Walk in the Park!!

2011-06-07T15:20:00.002-04:00

Many of you know that we are now offering special services, one of which are walks in Piedmont Park! We have had several pups take advantage of this and they all LOVE it. We take very small groups (1-3 dogs of the same size) to Piedmont Park for an hour of fun in the sun (and grass)! We don't visit the dog park, but we do give your dog a nice leisurely walk around the pond and through the walking paths. Cost for the one-hour outing is an additional $25.00 extra (added onto your regular day care / boarding invoice).

For an extra $15.00, we'll snap a photo of your dog with the Atlanta skyline as a backdrop. Fergus was happy to smile for his photo! Talk about a city dog! These pups loved their walk, too.

Hannah

Maxwell

Red

Sandy

Sebastian's Birthday Bash Bark ATL Style!!

2011-06-06T13:00:00.008-04:00

We celebrated Sebastian's birthday last week and wanted to share some of the pictures from his birthday bash, Bark ATL style!!

All of his best friends were in attendance, including Ginger Belle

Joey and Mikey

Bailey

And Sebastian's sister, Emma!

Once all the guests arrived it was time to bring out the Lick A Lot's doggie ice cream.

Ginger Belle loves the yummy peanut butter taste!

Joey is kindly letting Mia know that this is his ice cream and that she already ate hers!

Mikey said to hurry up and take the picture so he can eat his.

Mia says she smells the pupcakes!!

That got the crowd excited!!

Birthday boy first....

I think they are a hit!

I love that they are all sharing the pupcakes.

Mmmmmmmmmmmmmm

Now that we are full it's time to par-tay!!

Looks like someone spiked Mia's punch!

Mia is trying to give the birthday boy a smooch but he is too excited about his party to notice.

Ginger Belle just told the funniest joke to Mia: "A dog walks into a bar and says to the bartender, “It’s my birthday. How about a free drink?” “Sure,” says the barkeep, “the mens toilet is on the right."

I think the kids are tuckered out from partying all afternoon. Time to go in for some AC!

Happy Birthday Sebastian!!

Bark ATL's New Students!!

2011-06-05T14:51:00.000-04:00

We've had several new faces join the pack this week! Meet our new students.

Ajua

JP & Lucy

ChiChi

Sasha

Rocky

Cocoa

and Barkley!

Welcome to the pack! We are excited to have all of you join our family. :)

Adoption Stories with Bark ATL!!

2011-06-02T13:00:00.002-04:00

Snoopy’s Adoption Story

We had just gotten married and my husband told me I could get a kitten when we returned from our honeymoon. I felt like I wanted a new little pet to keep me excited after all the wedding festivities were over. So, we returned on Friday and that Saturday we made our way to the Atlanta Humane Society, in search of a kitten. I had already picked out a name and everything – he would be Sebastian Hsu. However, when we got to the Humane Society, they were out of kittens!!! What?! How could they be out of kittens?! I was so surprised because I had researched it and it was prime kitten season time. Apparently, the Humane Society was having its Founders Day special and all pets were $18.73 (the year the Humane Society was founded). So, they were low on adoptable pets that week. My husband said, let’s just take a peek at the puppies. We weren’t going to get one just yet until we moved into a house. But, once we walked in, we caught a glimpse of HIM!

He was being held by this other couple. So, we circled around a bit, tried to eavesdrop to see if they were going to adopt him. To our excitement, they said they would have to think about him and come back. So, this was our time to swoop in! I made my husband follow (stalk) the volunteer as he was putting Rusty (his shelter name) back in his cage, and immediately say…”we’d like to take a look at him.” Once we had him in our arms, we knew it was love at first sight and he was ours forever. We never let go of him and that day walked out with Snoopy Hsu!!!! It was the best decision we’ve made. So, now a year later, Snoopy Hsu is the biggest 55 lb. kitten ever! We went in looking for a kitten (Sebastian Hsu) and came out with the best puppy anyone could have asked for (Snoopy Hsu)!!!!

Bark ATL's Adoptable Pet of the Week!!

2011-06-01T13:14:00.000-04:00

It's national adopt a cat month so I wanted to highlight an adoptable cat today. I personally am a HUGE fan of orange tabby cats. Every one I have ever owned has been the sweetest, most laid back cat ever. I found this cutie on LifeLine Animal Project's Facebook page and fell in love. I hope he finds his forever home soon.

His name is Darren and he has two brothers, Earl and Fergus. They haven't had it easy so far. Their "owner" just dumped them outside while still sedated only a couple of hours after their neuter surgery. The nice people at LifeLine knew these little guys wouldn't make it through the night so they captured and brought them back to their clinic. They are sweet boys who deserve to have a chance at a forever home so let's do what we can.

Bark ATL's Big Student of the Week: Boo!!

2011-05-31T15:30:00.000-04:00

I know it's been a little while since we have had a student of the week but the wait is over. Bark ATL's big dog student of the week is (drum roll please................) Boo!! That's her name silly, I didn't mean to scare you. :p

I don't know too much about Boo (her mom and dad were on their honeymoon so they didn't get a chance to tell me) but I do know this sweet girl is super soft and loves to lean on you. I also know she likes to play "dead cockroach"!

She also enjoys a good game of hide and seek, although she isn't that great at it. She thinks as long as she can't see you then you can't see her! Silly Boo.

I do know that she was a racing dog and when her track closed she, along with about 200 other dogs, needed homes. Boo was originally named Becca but that name doesn't suit her at all, plus her mom is named Becca. I like Boo. She's the only one we have, the original gangsta.

I also know that Boo lives an active lifestyle. She enjoys running (and the nap that happens afterward).

Boo loves the beach!! Bikini not needed.

She is also an avid cyclist!

But when it comes to work, Boo is very professional. She is an advocate for stopping animal cruelty. You can find out more about greyhound racing from the ASPCA.

Boo is a lover and is loved by all who meet her.

Everyone at Bark ATL is super happy that you were chosen as student of the week! It is well deserved. :)

Bark ATL's Favorite Picture of the Week!!

2011-05-28T11:55:00.000-04:00

Well, it's not a picture but a video instead. Enjoy!!

Bark ATL's New Students!!

2011-05-27T13:00:00.003-04:00

We want to welcome the following pups to Bark ATL!! They were all new students this past week and we hope they love coming here as much as we love having them here. Remember that if you refer a new student your pup will receive a FREE day of daycare. :)

V.O.

Lola

McDuncan

Stella

Pippin

Red

Sir Gay

Welcome to the pack!!!!

New Services at Bark ATL!!

2011-05-26T13:00:00.002-04:00

We have added a few new services at Bark ATL that I think you are going to love so let's talk about them!!

NOW OPEN for Weekend Day Care

BARK ATL will be open for weekend day care from now on! Your dog can come in for a romp on Saturday or Sunday from 9:00 am - 6:00 pm. Day care charges will be $25.00 each day or you can use your day care package days. If you only need 1/2 day, come in for four hours or less for only $15.00. Now that's some quality weekend play time to BARK about! WOOF, WOOF!

SATURDAY & SUNDAY DAY CARE HOURS

9:00 am - 6:00 pm

$25.00 for full day, $15.00 for 1/2 day (4 hours or less)

A Walk in the Park

Does your dog LOVE walks in the park? Would you like your dog to have an extra 1-hour outing to Piedmont Park during day care or during long boarding stays?
Let us give your dog some extra TLC outdoor time with a walk in the park. BARK ATL staff will take very small groups (1-3 dogs of the same size) to Piedmont Park for an hour of fun in the sun (and grass)! We will not be visiting the dog park, but we will give your dog a nice leisurely walk around the pond and through the walking paths. Cost for the one-hour outing is an additional $25.00 extra (added onto your regular day care / boarding invoice).

For an extra $15.00, we'll snap a photo of your dog with the Atlanta skyline as a backdrop. Fergus was happy to smile for his photo! Talk about a city dog!

Appointments are limited to 1-3 dogs / day, so we appreciate your flexibility on outing dates. To schedule your dog's park outing, please contact our managers at info@barkatl.com, or give us a call at 404.688.BARK.

Frequent Bathers Program

Are you a frequent bather? I mean, is your dog? If you like your dog to come home smelling better than you, we have just the spa treatment for the job! We want to reward you for being a loyal BARK ATL "bather".
When you purchase your next bath, let us know if you want a frequent bath card. We'll create one for you and keep it on file. For every 10th bath you purchase, you'll receive one FREE bath! Now that's something to smile about (even if you don't like bath time)...

A clean dog makes a happy owner! Rub-a-dub-dub!

Adoption Stories with Bark ATL!!

2011-05-25T13:00:00.002-04:00

I usually do the little pup student of the week on Wednesdays but I forgot to let the parents know their pet was chosen at the end of last week. Don't fret, student of the week will return next week! I want to debut a new section of our blog called Adoption Stories. Here we will feature one of our Bark ATL dogs and their family and learn how they found each other. Some will come from a breeder, some from a shelter, and a few right off the street. We want to know how your fur kid came to be a part of your family, so send in a picture and your story to info@barkatl.com. You could be featured next week! This week I will start with the adoption story of my newest fur kid, Gidget!

I have wanted a "pocket puppy" for a very long time but didn't think I had the time for another pet in my life. Most of you know that Bre is very involved with area rescue organizations and one of them is the Barking Hound Village Foundation Rescue. Well, Bre called me one day and said she had a tiny baby for me. She sent me a few pictures and it was love at first sight. Gidget came home with me that night and has been with me ever since. We have only been in each others lives for a few weeks but this companionship is forever. As with most shelter pups I don't know her history but I think she endured some type of abuse. She is nervous around men and shakes in fear if you make a sudden movement, but we are working on that. All she needs is a lot of love and someone to throw the tennis ball. :)

It's Pool Time at Bark ATL!!!!

2011-05-24T16:05:00.000-04:00

It's over 80 degrees so that means it pool time at Bark ATL!! Does your pup love to play in the water?? Is his/her best move the dog paddle?? Then bring em on in to show off their skills. We pull out the pool daily and fill it with fresh water so your pup can splash the day away.

Adoptable Pet of the Week!!

2011-05-23T13:00:00.000-04:00

Our last pet of the week, Lambchop, was adopted (YAY!!) by the time the post made it's way to the inter webs so I decided to do another adoptable pet of the week today! This time we have Webster, an adorable Beagle mix who is with Atlanta Animal Rescue Friends. Let's help this baby find a forever home!!

Hi everyone! I'm Webster! I was a tiny puppy when I was rescued from Paulding County Animal Control. My mom was an Australian Shepherd mix, and maybe my dad was a Beagle mix of some kind (somemtimes I have that adorable hooowl!). My white fur is beautiful and softer than you could believe! Luckily, I got be to an AARF dog, which means I get lots of love and snuggles in my foster home. I LOVE the other dogs in my foster home, and I even get along great with my kitty foster siblings. In fact, I really need to go to a forever home that already has a dog (or dogs!). I am three years old and have grown up in the AARF program. While I love and enjoy my life, I'm a pretty nervous guy. I guess you could compare my condition to autism. I'm very sweet and loving but new situations make me so nervous! I love spending time in my crate - it is the safest place in the world. When I'm out of it, I need to be around my doggie foster siblings. They're very good at teaching me how to be a regular dog. My ideal situation would be to a forever home with someone who has a lot of patience. Someone who understands I need the safety of my crate sometimes an to take life slow with me until I hit my stride. I just need somebody to take a chance on me! Don't miss out - I'm so sweet and have a lot of love to give!

Bark ATL's Favorite Picture of the Week!!

2011-05-22T10:51:00.001-04:00

Here is Bark ATL's favorite picture of the week! Summer days are super fun pool days at Bark ATL.

Dewey sure thinks this is fun!

Adoptable Pet of the Week!!

2011-05-20T13:00:00.000-04:00

OMG!!! If I didn't already have a house full of fur kids I would go get Lambchop. Just look at those ears!! I'm in love. I hope one of our Bark ATL clients adopts this sweet girl. Click here to see what the shelter has to say about her. She's at Fulton County Animal Services. Please help us find her a forever home!!

Sandy's BIG Day Out!!

2011-05-19T13:00:00.000-04:00

We recently expanded our services to include daily walks in Piedmont Park. Sandy had her big adventure last week, twice!! If you ask her, she'll say the best part was rolling around in the grass.

Sandy does look like she is having fun! I wish I could have gone to the park, too....

Another fun thing to have done while your pet is at the park is to have his or her picture taken with the Midtown skyline in the back. Only $15!!

This was a great "final" adventure for Sandy in Atlanta. She is moving to Arizona with her mom soon but Sandy's looking forward to it! She says she can't wait to play with a burro. We will miss you both and wish you well on your new adventure in life.

Bark ATL's Little Student of the Week: Buddy!!

2011-05-18T13:00:00.002-04:00

This weeks little pup student of the week is Buddy!! Buddy is a super sweet Cocker Spaniel mix that is full of energy and loves to play. Buddy's mom started bringing him to Bark ATL full time when she started a new job. She thought it was funny that when he first starting going to daycare he was just as tired as she was. He didn't want to get out of bed on Thursday and Friday because he had had so much fun playing earlier in the week. Now that he is used to daycare, all she has to say in the morning is "Let's go have a great day at daycare," and he comes running to the door ready to play!

Buddy loves Bark ATL. He has lived in four states--Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, and Georgia--since he was adopted in 2008. He went to day care in all four states and his favorite, hands-down, is Bark ATL!

One cool thing about Buddy is that he is a certified emotional support animal. His mom gets really stressed out on planes so Buddy is allowed to fly with her, without a cage, where ever she goes. He's flown to NYC, Montreal, and from Wisconsin (when they lived there) to Atlanta. He is an awesome little flyer. He goes right to sleep as soon as he is on a plane. Parents of human children are often jealous because Buddy behaves so much better than their kids!

Something else Buddy loves to do is swim!

When we throw the red ball into the pool Buddy is one of the first to jump in after it!

Congrats on being the little pup student of the week Buddy! We are so happy you love it here as much as we love having you here. :)

Why do you love Bark ATL??

2011-05-17T13:00:00.001-04:00

You heard me! We want to hear how much you love Bark ATL and why!! Is it our small play groups?? Our super friendly staff?? The web cams?? We recently sent out a questionnaire asking this and we got some great feedback. Here are some of the things our Bark family had to say about us:

1) During a recent extended trip abroad, the staff actually scheduled the big dog outdoor time around my internet availability so that I could check on my dog over BarkCams. They also specifically focused on keeping him in sight during that hour. I was SO thankful for the extra effort put in by this wonderful staff!

2) Our dog Abbey loves staying at BARK ATL. Before we knew about BARK ATL, we went to our vet to see the pens that they kept the dogs in. Abbey kept her tail firmly between her legs and shook with terror. She really likes the staff at BARK ATL.

3) I am very happy I found you guys because I always feel safe leaving Biscuit there when I'm out of town and for daycare. He is a very active dog and when he comes home exhausted, I know he's had the time of his life!

4) Thank you for allowing the so-called "aggressive" breeds. My pitbull is very timid and scared of just about everything, but when she gets in the pack, she has so much fun playing that she forgets all her worries & acts like a normal dog. So thank you thank you thank you!!!

5) I am extremely happy with Bark Atlanta. Every member of staff I've met has been friendly, kind and clearly interested in my dog. I love being able to contact via email, and my emails have always been answered promptly and thoroughly. I love the cage-free play and sleep rooms,which seems to most mimic a dog's natural pack tendencies. Thanks!

6) I love all of the great pictures on Facebook, Twitter and now the blog! Sometimes I am not able to watch the web cams but I know I can check Facebook and see my dog having fun.

So what's your favorite thing about Bark ATL?? We want to hear from you. Please feel free to tell us if there is anything we can improve on or new things you would like to see us do. If you get a chance click here to watch our Yelp video and make sure to leave us a review, too!

Bark ATL's Big Student of the Week: Bella!!

2011-05-16T13:00:00.003-04:00

Today's blog post is about our big dog student of the week, Bella! Her mom sent in great pics and a super funny story so I thought I would let her tell you about her fur kid, Bella:

We moved to Georgia about 2.5 yrs ago. I found this great place to take Bella during the day called Bark ATL. They would keep my crazy dog occupied during the day so that I could come home and rest at night. This arrangement has worked out so well for us for the last 2 yrs.

We got Bella about 3 years ago from the Birmingham Humane Society. Bella fell asleep in my lap on the drive home from the Humane Society, she knew she'd found her forever home. :)

Bella has two kitties, Mimur and Fudd. She really loves Mimur and just kinda tolerates Fudd. You can often find Mimur cleaning Bella's face or sleeping in Bella's bed. Bella will selflessly give up her bed if Mimur wants it. One year Bella dressed up as a lion for Halloween (I guess she wanted to be a cat like Mimur too).

Here is Fudd and Mimur checking out Bella dressed as a lion for Halloween.

Which is funny because Bark ATL dressed her like a lion, too!

Bella can be a little camera shy and sometimes with her black color it's hard to get a really great picture of her....

But sometimes you can find her checking herself out in the mirror before her photo shoots...

Bella loves the outdoors, she loves the sun

and the snow...

But Bella loves Bark ATL the most. I know because when she gets home she looks like this:

One of my funniest memories of Bella was one very rainy weekday morning. It was still dark and the rain was pouring down. Bella doesn't really like to get wet (hmmm are you sure you're a lab?) However I need Bella to "do her business" so that I can get ready for work. Bella at the time did not have a raincoat, so I made an attempt to fashion one out of a Hefty Cinch Sack bag and a pair of scissors. (You may already see where this is going...) I proceed to cut a hole for her head, then a hole for her two front legs to fit through. Lastly I "cinched" the drawstring around her waist to customize the fit. I'm thinking, "what an ingenious idea!" It's dark and she's a black lab, so this white "raincoat/trash bag" will make it easy for me to see her. I'm so proud of myself, I'm going to stay dry and my dog is too. Feeling smug, we proceed outside....Bella looks back at me like as if to say, "Do I have to?" I shoo her off into the yard. I'm standing on the porch in my jammies, I'm dry and I can see Bella's white trash bag walking across the yard back and forth. She'd gotten maybe about 40 feet away...when the wind came. A huge gust of wind blows the bag right over the dog's head. Bella freaks out and begins to sling head from side to side. I'm calling her and she won't come, she's in panic mode. I run across the yard in my jammies to rescue my poor, panic-stricken dog who now has at least gotten her eyes out of the hole but nose and mouth are still covered. She's looking at me like, "What the...?". I get the bag off her and we make it back to the porch. I'm soaked, she's soaked, no "business" done. Sorry Bella, you'll have to hold it til you get to Bark ATL. Bella's one lucky dog but she also gives so much love and affection in return. And Bella now has her own actual raincoat. :)

We are so happy to have you in our pack Bella! We all <3 you!!

Bark ATL's Picture of the Week!!

2011-05-15T11:19:00.000-04:00

Um, Raisin. We don't drown our friends.... Good thing Lucky is an expert at doing the dog paddle!

Adoptable Pet of the Week!!

2011-05-13T13:00:00.000-04:00

This week our highlighted adoptable pet of the week is Lola! She is available through Atlanta Pet Rescue.

Lola is a 3 year old female Pekingese mix who weighs 14 pounds. This sweet girl came to us from an animal control facility that picked her up as a stray. Lola has the cutest underbite. She also has an amazing personality to go with her looks. Lola has been relaxing while all the other dogs at our facility run around and play. She loves attention from people, she will get up from her blanket and greet you with her tail wagging from side to side. Lola will be a great companion for her loving human!

Click here to read more about Lola. Let's help her find her forever home!!

Kit's Birthday Bash at Barl ATL!!

2011-05-12T13:00:00.003-04:00

Kit turned two years old this past Tuesday and we were more than happy to help her celebrate!!

Some of Kit's best friends were in attendance. The guests of honor were Finley,

Finn,

Harley,

Raisin,

and Kit's next door neighbor, Teddy!

First up was some ice cream.

Everyone loved their Lick-A-Lots!

It sure was a welcome treat on such a hot day!

And after the ice cream comes the pupcakes!!

They were a huge hit as always.

Finn is such a lady! She eats her pupcakes so daintily!

Don't let this silly face fool you! Harley LOVED his pupcake and wanted more. He gave this face after he was told they were all gone!

Now it's party time!! Finley is ready to take Kit for a whirl on the dance floor.

After he properly asked her to dance it was on and a fun time was had by all!

Teddy is the best at Hokie Pokie!

Oh Finley! The hat goes on your head, not your ear!!

Happy 2nd birthday Kit! What a fantastic party. We hope you had as much fun as we did. :)

Bark ATL's Little Student of the Week: Kit!!

2011-05-11T13:16:00.000-04:00

Hi everybody!! My name is Kit and I am Bark ATL's little pup student of the week and I am so excited!! This has been the best week EVER. My birthday was yesterday and I had the coolest party with all of my friends at Bark. Kristina said she will put pictures on tomorrows blog post.

So, more about me. I am a Carin Terrier and I just turned two yesterday. I was your typical puppy. I liked to chew on things and play. My mom says some days I am more like the Wicked Witch, not Toto....

Guess that explains my howl-o-ween costume!

But come on, how could you not love this adorable face?? Trust me, it's gotten me out of a lot of trouble!

I was very fortunate to learn from my big brother, Wolfie, before he went to heaven. He tried to teach me to share but I have a mind all of my own!

I loved to share naps with him though. Toys not so much.

One of our favorite things to do was sit in the yard and watch the cars and people go by. I miss him but I know we will see each other again one day. Till then I am trying to be good and follow the advice he gave me. I hope I'm making you proud!

I'm so happy that my mom brought me to Bark ATL! I was lonely in the house all day while she was at work. Now I have lots of friends to keep me company. You know what else I like about Bark ATL?? The cool costumes and photo shoots!!

I love to take pictures!! I am always smiling so it fitting for me to be a super model. I really think I should be the next face of Bark ATL. What do you think??

Here are a few images from my rockin party yesterday. Look at how happy I am!! Birthdays are the best days.

Here I am with my besties Raisin and Finley. Uncle Morgan was teasing us with the pupcakes in order to get a good picture!

Finally! The yummy goodness was all mine. You wouldn't think it by looking at him but Uncle Morgan can bake!!

Well, that's enough about me for now. It's time to go outside and play in the pool!! Kristina said she needs the computer back so she can do some work anyway.

AWESOME job Kit!! Thanks for writing this so I could take the rest of the crew outside. You're the best and we all love you!! :)

Kuranda Beds at Bark ATL!!

2011-05-10T13:00:00.000-04:00

We have had several people ask us what kind of beds we provide for their dogs while they stay at Bark ATL. We use Kuranda beds! Never heard of them before? Well let me tell you why we prefer them to the standard pillow bed.

Unlike filled beds that can clump and become uneven, Kuranda dog beds are vet recommend to help prevent joint-related difficulties and eliminate ugly elbow calluses too.

Veterinarians recommend this bed as especially beneficial for pets who suffer from hip problems, arthritis or aging. Because the bed supports the dog up off the floor it is easier for elderly dogs to get up from the bed than from the floor or very low beds. It provides firm support and an elevated barrier from cold, drafty or hard floors. The hammock design provides orthopedic comfort good for healthy hips and joints for dogs of all ages and prevents ugly elbow calluses caused from laying on a hard floor. Your dog may even choose his own Kuranda bed over yours!

Traditional foam beds are a harbor for tons of dirt, pollen and other floor allergens! Unlike cushioned beds, Kuranda beds are easily wiped clean with a sponge. The entire bed can be hosed off outside or washed in the shower using soap and water. Vacuuming and mopping under the bed is a breeze.

Your dog can have his luxury and keep healthy and clean too! It's very difficult to wash any stuffed or foam filled bed but all the Kuranda Fleeces & Slipcovers are designed to be easily machine washable.

All information and images were found on Kuranda's website.

Bark ATL's Big Student of the Week: Dewey!!

2011-05-09T13:00:00.011-04:00

Hi everybody! My name is Dewey and I am Bark ATL's big dog student of the week!! Pretty cool, huh? Kristina is busy right now so she told me to get started on the blog post. She doesn't normally let the students do this but I'm special. At least that's what my mama says. Oh, Happy Birthday Mom!! I promise to be on my best behavior and give you lots of love.

Okay, back to me! I am about a year and a half old and am a shepherd mix. Pretty cute if I do say so myself!

When I was a pup I liked to chew on EVERYTHING!! Toys were fine but I would rather have chewed on furniture or shoes.

My mom and dad told me that was bad (I don't know why) and that I should chew on the toys they bought me. I love them so I did what they asked.

The red ball was fine but I really liked my purple rope thing.

One of my favorite things to do is play in the mud! It feels so good. My mom and dad don't like me doing it because they say it makes me dirty and stinky. That's okay. The nice people at Bark ATL will give me a bath!

When I'm not rolling in the mud or playing with toys I like to chill with my dad. He's so cool. I hope I can be as cool as he is when I grow up.

Sometimes the meaning of life gets me thinking. I know I was put here to do something great but I can't figure it out! My mom says I was put here to bring joy and happiness to their lives. I guess, but they make me happy too.

When it all gets to be a bit much I like to curl up on my favorite bed and dream.

My favorite dream is the time I went to Bark ATL for my best friends Madison and Presley's birthday! We had so much fun playing. The pupcakes were de-lish!! I can't wait till my next birthday. I hope my mom lets me have a party at Bark ATL!!

Man, do you remember all that crazy snow we had this past winter?? It was so pretty. I wanted to go outside and see what it was all about. It tasted funny and was cold. Mom said not to eat the yellow snow. Not sure why, but that's okay. I don't like lemonade anyway.

Now this is more like it!! I'm a pool kinda guy. The ladies like an athletic guy anyway.

I really love hanging out with my friends at Bark ATL. School is super cool! Uh oh. Here comes Kristina!!

You did a fantastic job Dewey!! Congratulations on being Bark ATL's student of the week. We all love you!!

Bark ATL's Picture of the Week!!

2011-05-08T11:57:00.001-04:00

This week Bark ATL's picture of the week is of Quincy celebrating Cinco de Mayo!! Un tratamiento de más de perro por favor!!

Adoptable Pet of the Week!

2011-05-06T13:00:00.002-04:00

Our adoptable pet of the week comes from Atlanta Animal Rescue Friends and is a sweet kitty named Fergus. We at Bark ATL love all animals so I wanted to feature a cat this week because they need love and homes, too!

When he showed up at his foster family's house, he was all beaten up because the other cats in the neighborhood liked picking on him. Fergus was scared and seemed feral, but after a few weeks of regular feedings and sweet talk, he was ready to come inside and join the family. He calmed down once he was neutered, and is now a love bug! Fergus adores neck scratches, playing with cat toys, and just being around people. He's a BIG talker and will talk to you all the time in his gravelly old-man voice. He also likes to wave and whack his tail when he's excited, and he loves cheese! Fergus is good with small children, but he doesn't like other cats much so would need to be in a one-cat household. Let's help find this sweet boy his forever home!

Meet Bark ATL's Staff: Ramon!

2011-05-05T13:00:00.002-04:00

Well this is sad. Today is our last edition of meet the staff, unless we add to our family! But don't fret, we have another section of the blog we are working on called Adoption Stories. We will feature one of our Bark ATL students and their family along with a short story telling how their four legged fur kid joined the family. If you would like to have your family featured please send a picture and a short story to info@barkatl.com!

Okay, now on to our last Meet the Staff post. Ramon has been with Bark ATL for almost a year and we are very happy to have him! Ramon helps care for both the little and big dogs and is one of our overnight staff members.

Ramon has one dog, a Chow named T-Bone who loves his daddy. This is Ramon’s first job dealing with dogs and he loves it! All of the pups seem to love him, too. When he is not at Bark ATL Ramon likes to fish, play soccer and listen to music.

Bark ATL's Little Student of the Week: Finn!!

2011-05-04T13:00:00.009-04:00

Hip hip hooray, it's Wednesday!! That means it's time for Bark ATL's little pup student of the week. This week our star student is Finn!

Her mom said the moment they saw Finn it was love at 1^st sight. She weighed just 3lbs, was so friendly and funny, and ridiculously cute! They picked her up and drove 8 hours home; she snuggled up and slept in their arms the whole way.

They used to carry Finn around in a little bag, as her tiny little legs would quickly tire on hikes. Sometimes she still likes to be carried in it, though now she is bursting out of every end of it!!

Finn lives a very active life and loves all sports, like kayaking-

And tennis!

She also likes to play soccer, and is a Huge Fan! She caught every world cup match on the big screen at her favorite pub, the Midway.

One of Finn's favorite things to do is run on the beach. She doesn’t like to be cold after a swim though, so her moms always have to have a big warm towel ready for her to roll in.

When Finn was just 6 months old, she went to Germany & the Netherlands. Her moms were very nervous about the flight and had a huge diaper bag filled with anything a puppy might possibly want, but Finn just curled up in her travel bag and snoozed the whole flight. Dogs are welcome in most restaurants & shops and on the buses & ferries. They also have dog beaches and parks to play. It was great fun for Finn and she made lots of friends.

While in Germany Finn fell in love with Elina, a giant white golden retriever from Hamburg. Her mom says it was a bit scary to watch them play at first, Elina so big and Finny so small, but Elina was very gentle, and they just loved playing together. At the beach, Finn kept following Elina into the sea, which quickly became over her head; she couldn’t understand how Elina could walk out further than her? When they parted ways they were both upset, Finn misses her giant friend, but will visit her again one day soon!

Finn also likes to take a nice relaxing ride in the convertible,

And work on her black belt karate skills! She loves practicing her mixed martial arts skills on her toy friends. At the dojo, she is the most popular Sensei.

Finn also loves to play dress up. She said the Valentines shoot was fun but Howl-O-Ween is her favorite holiday.

This past Howl-O-Ween she got to dress up as a knight!

Christmas was fun too but she said this year she wants to be an elf, not a rein-dog.

Although she's a girl, Finn said this was a bit too pink for her. She would like a little purple next year. She said that's her favorite color. Mine, too!

But Finn's favorite thing to celebrate are birthdays. She's attended several of her friends birthday parties but hers was the most fun. She got to celebrate it at Bark ATL!!

Congratulations on being this weeks student of the week! Everyone at Bark ATL loves you Finn!! :)

Bark ATL's Spay/Neuter Requirements

2011-05-03T13:00:00.000-04:00

At Bark ATL we require your pet be spayed or neutered in order to join in on the fun. Why?? Well, there a several reasons. The most obvious reason is to prevent adding to the pet overpopulation problem. However, there are other real benefits relating to a pet's health (dog or cat).

Spaying, or ovariohysterectomy, is the surgical removal of the animal's ovaries and uterus. What's more, spaying female pets eliminates:

Attendant males in abundance while the female is in heat

Spotting during the heat period

False pregnancies (increasingly common with age)

Mammary tumors (less than 1% incidence in animals spayed before their first heat, versus higher than 50% incidence in intact female dogs over 5 years of age)

Uterine infections (increasingly common with age; often life-threatening)

Tumors of the ovaries or uterus

Stress, leading to increased susceptibility to disease

Need for extra food during pregnancy and nursing

In terms of behavior, male dogs will benefit even more than females from being neutered. Neutering, or castration, is the surgical removal of the animal's testicles. An unneutered male can detect a female in heat even miles away. Neutering decreases roaming by 90%. Responding to the overwhelming urge to reproduce, he will often become nervous and irritable, perhaps picking fights with other dogs, or become lethargic, less responsive to his owner, stop eating, or act ill or depressed. Among the problems reduced or eliminated by neutering male pets are:

Territoriality and aggression, including urinating to mark territory, and fighting to defend it

Wandering, escaping, and automobile injuries

"Riding" inappropriate objects

Prostate enlargement (occurs in at least 60% of unneutered male dogs 5 years or older)

Prostate tumors and infections

Tumors of the testicles, penis, anal area

Perineal hernia (rupture of the posterior abdominal wall)

Stress, leading to increased susceptibility to disease

Need for extra food

Healthy animals are put down every day because there are simply not enough homes for them - and more and more come in everyday. It is heartbreaking to know that a loving, happy, and healthy animal is to be euthanized. We must all work together to stop uncontrolled and irresponsible breeding of our pets. We can help to stop the suffering of these innocent creatures by reducing the number of unwanted pets being brought into this world. Do your part by having your pet spayed or neutered. You'll be saving more than just one life!

Source sites: here and here.

Bark ATL's Big Student of the Week: Yoyo!!

2011-05-02T13:00:00.000-04:00

Oh Monday, I love you. Why do I love Mondays?? Because it's Bark ATL's big dog student of the week day!! I know you look forward to it as much as I do so let's not waste any more time and get to it. This week our star student is Yoyo!!

This picture is from her first day At Bark ATL. Look how cute and little she is! Yoyo was about 4 months here.

And here is our girl today! It's so much fun to watch the kids grow up.

Yoyo is a 2 year old German Shepherd mix. She is full of energy and loves to play with her friends at Bark!

One of her favorite summer time activities is to chill in the pool with her buddies.

Yoyo did ask that we get a bigger pool this year. She said she needs more room to practice her dogie paddle.

This was Yoyo's first time doing a holiday photo shoot. She said she loved it and can't wait for the next one. When we talked about the Howl-O-Ween shoot she got so excited! She is trying to decide what to dress up as. Whatever it is I'm sure she'll be adorable!

Yoyo has lots of friends at Bark ATL! Big or small, Yoyo loves em all!

Whenever you mention Yoyo's name the following image pops into my head. She loves to smile! Congratulations on being Bark ATL's student of the week. We love you!!

Bark ATL's Favorite Picture of the Week!!

2011-05-01T08:52:00.000-04:00

It was Roxi's birthday earlier this week and we decided to help her celebrate with a few treats and a photo shoot! Her brother Polo was clowning around and we caught this funny photo.

Adoptable Pet of the Week!!

2011-04-29T13:00:00.006-04:00

Bark ATL's adoptable pet of the week is Chickie. This sweet pup is about 4 months old and is a fluffy bundle of love. She appears to be a Chow / Collie mix and her fur is as soft as a baby bunny's. Chickie was found at a Chick-Fil-A - hence her name. She lives in a foster home with other dogs and cats and seems to adore both.

She has excellent house manners and does very well in her crate. If the size of her paws are any indication, she's going to be a big girl as an adult. She's very smart and already learned how to sit after just a day. Chickie is very much a puppy and is learning when it's appropriate to use her puppy teeth and when it isn't. Because of this, we recommend that she goes to a home with no children under the age of 12. She is fully vetted, spayed and microchipped.

More information about this sweet girl can be found on Atlanta Animal Rescue Friends Facebook page. Please repost this on your page, send out a tweet, email your friends and shout it from the rooftops. Let's help find this baby her forever home!!

Meet Bark ATL's Staff: Aidan!

2011-04-28T13:00:00.003-04:00

So this will be a short post because Aidan won't show his face for any pictures!! I'm sure most of you know Aidan by now anyway since he has been here for over a year. Here he is as a baby!

Aidan's the guy with the long blond hair! I did manage to sneak a shot in the other day. Shhhhhhhh, don't tell him!

Aidan is our morning shift big dog handler although you might see him in the afternoon from time to time. He is the proud owner of a shepherd mix named Echo.

Aidan loves working with dogs because they all have their own unique personality. When he is not at Bark ATL he likes to spend his time pet sitting, camping, hiking, reading, watching movies, and working on his own independent films/videos.

Bark ATL's Little Student of the Week: Bella G!!

2011-04-27T13:00:00.000-04:00

Are you ready to see something adorable that will make you smile? Then read on cuz it's time for Bark ATL's little pup student of the week. This week our star student is Bella G!! Her mom said that after MANY trips to the Atlanta Humane Society, a little terrier mix caught their eye. Who could resist that face...and those eyes?!?!

Her people said they should have known she was going to have problems 'sharing' her toys. At only a few months old, she loved to have all of her toys...all at one time. She's still trying to figure out a way to pick them all up at one time. She loves playing ball, but isn't the best at giving it back to you!!!

Though the blue blanket officially belongs to Daddy, Bella adopted it quickly as her own!

Bella has earned many nicknames, but 'Sun Goddess' ranks up there. She's a huge fan of enjoying some relaxation on the deck. If she can manage to get on the chaise before you claim it...you're out of luck!

What would a picture of the Christmas decorations be without Bell making an appearance! I think she is waiting for Santa Paws to come down the chimney.

Like most people, Bella's family got cabin fever during the ice storm in January, so they ventured out to the dog park to let her release some energy. Well, though she was dressed for the occasion, she decided her 'southern paws' just weren't meant for the snow.

On the other hand, Bella LOVES the beach/ocean. She really feels we should move closer, but would never want to give up seeing her friends at BARK ATL!!!

Though her Mommy & Daddy love the long walks, we enjoy the days were Bella comes home nice and sleepy after a day of fun with her friends at BARK ATL!!!

Bella is quite the snuggler...especially after a day of daycare!

This is one of the reasons she is so worn out! Bella loves to play and one of her favorite friends is Mr. Wendall. They love to wrestle!

Poor Biscuit has no idea that Bella isn't giving up that red ball for anything!

Bella got to play dress up this past Howl-O-Ween. She liked being a sheep.

But being a princess was way more fun!

Bella had her first birthday with us this past November. It was a grand affair and all of the cool kids were there! We can't wait to celebrate her next one.

Congratulations on being this weeks little pup student of the week Bella! Everyone at Bark ATL loves you!

Bark ATL's Vaccine Requirements

2011-04-26T13:00:00.000-04:00

At Bark ATL we require your dog to have updated vaccines. The three we require are Rabies, Distemper, and Bordetella. Here is a little bit more info about the three diseases.

Rabies:

Rabies is a highly fatal viral infection of the nervous system that affects all warm-blooded animal species, including humans. The virus is most often transmitted from one animal to another through bite wounds. It then travels up through nerves, the spinal cord and eventually the brain. Once in the brain, the signs of rabies occur. Once the virus reaches the brain, death usually occurs within 10 days; it can take weeks to months for the virus to reach the brain, however.

Once signs of rabies develop, there is no cure and the disease is fatal. For this reason, reducing the potential risk of rabies in our companion pets is very important. It is so important that vaccinating your pet for rabies is required by law.

Distemper:

Canine distemper is a highly contagious disease caused by canine distemper virus (CDV). It may affect the respiratory, gastrointestinal and neurologic systems in the body. It is generally transmitted through contact with mucous and watery secretions discharged from the eyes and noses of infected dogs. However, it can also be transmitted by contact with urine and other bodily fluids of infected dogs, so your dog may become infected without coming into contact with an infected dog. Air currents and inanimate objects can also carry the virus.

Distemper was a common infection in dogs many years ago, but the incidence has been significantly decreased through widespread vaccination of dogs. Canine distemper is now most commonly seen in young, unvaccinated or immune-compromised dogs. More than 50 percent of dogs that contract the disease die from it.

Bordetella:

You might think your dog has something stuck in his throat. The cough associated with kennel cough is a high-pitched, honk-like cough, sometimes followed by retching.

Kennel cough is a highly contagious inflammation of the trachea (windpipe) and bronchial tree caused by a contagious virus or bacterium. The disease is associated most often with dogs housed in a high-density population or boarding kennel. The infectious agents can be transmitted through the air or by contact with contaminated surfaces. Puppies and younger dogs are at greatest risk, but even old dogs can acquire kennel cough.

Make sure to talk to your veterinarian about these and other vaccines. A yearly heartworm test must be done for your pet to continue taking preventative and a fecal test (to test for intestinal parasites like tapeworms, roundworms, etc.) is also done yearly.

Bark ATL's Big Student of the Week: Raisin!

2011-04-25T13:00:00.002-04:00

It's hard choosing who Bark ATL's student of the week is going to be. I've been asked how I choose and honestly I have no idea. A name or face just pops into my head and I go with it. We have so many awesome students so stay tuned!! This week our star student is Raisin.

Raisin is a lab mix who is full of energy. Doggy daycare was designed for pets just like her! Raisin loves to run, jump and play. Here she is playing with Fergus.

Raisin is one of those pups who is either all over the place or crashed out. The only time I can get a picture of her is when she is tired from playing!

Raisin loves to play and be played with. She can be seen chasing other pups around the room or letting them chase her. She will then fall to the floor and roll over. Too funny!

Raisin's "boyfriend" is Ripley. She loves to give him kisses!!

Raisin said she loves all animals, even her mom's cat Ringer!

Raisin said she wasn't very excited about the Easter picture but said she's rockin the outfit. She hopes her mom has us do a picture at Halloween. She said she wants to be a pretty princess, not a bunny or a flower!

Raisin also told me that she is excited for the warmer weather. She said she can't wait to go back to the beach and get a tan.

Congratulations on being Bark ATL's student of the week Raisin! We all love you. :)

Bark ATL's Favorite Picture of the Week!

2011-04-24T09:39:00.001-04:00

Bark ATL's favorite of the week was hard to choose this week but I knew it would be an outtake from the Easter photos we did. As I was searching through the hundreds of pictures that were taken I stumbled upon this jewel. It's our resident jokester Jessica posing with sweet little Ella.

Happy Easter!

Adoptable Pet of the Week!

2011-04-22T13:00:00.004-04:00

I'm switching up the blog a little. Bark ATL's favorite pic of the week post has been moved to Sunday and in it's place we will feature an adoptable animal (we love cats, too!) from an area rescue or shelter. Please post it on your Facebook page, email it to friends, send out a carrier pigeon if you want but let's do all we can to help these sweet babies find good homes! Today our featured pet is James Joyce!

James Joyce is a 2 year old pit bull who was rescued from the shoulder of a major interstate in Atlanta one cold afternoon. He was underweight and heartworm positive. Thanks to wonderful people at Atlanta Animal Rescue Friends he is now healthy and heartworm free! Click here to read more about this adorable guy and help find him a forever home.

Meet Bark ATL's Staff: aimee!

2011-04-21T13:00:00.025-04:00

It's time for another exciting round of meet Bark ATL's staff!! Today we bring you aimee. She spells her name with a lowercase a and it is pronounced Em-Aye. aimee has been with Bark ATL for almost a year and helps care for both the little and big dogs.

aimee is owned by two dogs, Keyser Soze:

And Lev Trotsky (below). aimee also has two cats, Benny and Emma.

aimee loves her job because she likes meeting dogs with BIG personalities and bonding with them. aimee is currently in grooming school and we hope she will soon be showcasing her skills here at Bark ATL!

When she is not at Bark ATL aimee loves to eat, write, and talk politics. She speaks three languages; English, French, and Kinyarwanda. aimee is from Rwanda and moved to the USA from Zambia in 99. We are happy to have you with us at Bark ATL!

Bark ATL's Little Student of the Week: Bailey!

2011-04-20T13:00:00.005-04:00

Woooooo hoooooo, we made it to Wednesday!! Hold on kids, the weekend is almost here. To help your day a little more enjoyable let me introduce you to Bark ATL's little pup student of the week, Bailey! I hope you had the chance to check out her birthday party I blogged about yesterday. Little Bailey B. is one of our favorite students and I'm sure she will be one of yours, too!

Our little Bailey is a jumper! I can stand on the other side of the door and hold my arms out and she will jump into them. I'm 5' 10"!!

One of Bailey's favorite things to do is claim the cube. If someone else is in her cube she kicks them out!

She likes to share the cube with her best friend Puppi.

Bailey's mom said that she knows when she is about to go to "school" aka Bark ATL. Mom tells her that she's going to see her friends and she immediately runs to the door and gets very excited!

Bailey loooooooves the water. It doesn't matter if it is in a bowl

Or in the pool with friends.

When there isn't any water in the pool this is what she does when we go outside! Silly girl.

Bailey is such a sweetheart. This picture pretty much sums it up!

Bailey loves to ride! Every time she gets in the car mom will lower the window and Bailey tries to bite the glass. She's so excited she gets to put her little head out of the window! We love you Bailey and hope every time you ride in the car you are coming to see your friends at Bark ATL. :)

It's Bailey's Birthday at Bark ATL!!

2011-04-19T13:00:00.001-04:00

Yesterday was Bailey's 4th birthday and we were super excited to host her birthday bask at Bark ATL! Once our girl was dressed in her birthday outfit it was time to get this party started.

Bailey wanted to make sure all of her closest friends were in attendance. Our party goers were Sebastian:

His sister Emma:

Max B:

Bella G:

And Raisin!

Once all of the guests were in attendance it was time to par-tay!

We had a wild bunch! Little Raisin thought her hat would be more fun if she carried it around.

And our birthday girl wanted to turn her party into a pool party! Unfortunately nobody brought their bathing suits.

The party simmered down when we brought out the Lick-A-Lots!

They all go crazy for ice cream.

Sebastian wasn't sure about it at first but after he saw his sister devour hers he cleaned his dish!

But most importantly, our birthday girl loved it!

Bella was the first one to smell the pupcakes!

After we all sang Happy Birthday to Bailey it was time to enjoy the yummy baked goodness that are pupcakes!

I think she likes them!

Sebastian sure does!

And so does Emma!

I think it's pretty safe to say that they all likes the pupcakes. Thanks Aunt Bre for making them!

Bailey wants to thank everyone for making her birthday party a hit! It's so nice to have such great friends. Kisses!!

Bark ATL's Big Student of the Week: Jake!

2011-04-18T13:00:00.002-04:00

It's Monday, which means time for Bark ATL's big dog student of the week. This week our star student is my favorite yellow lab, Jake! You can check out a blog post by Jake by clicking here.

This handsome guy loves coming to Bark ATL. Secretly I hope it's because of me. I mean, I do give the best lovin and head rubs ever. Jake says he likes coming here because all of his friends are here and he likes all of the humans. I know he's just being nice and that he loves me the most. ;)

One of my favorite things about Jake is that he loves to be loved. He likes to follow me around the room and if I stop he goes through my legs, sits down and looks up at me. I then bend down and wrap my arms around him and give him the biggest hug ever! He is seriously the sweetest guy.

Jake is around 7 years old but some days he acts like a puppy. When one of his best friends are here he plays and plays. His best friend is Kobee and I think they have a bro-mance going on.

If it's a chill day for Jake you can find him sitting in a corner observing the rest of the pack. I think of it as a big brother carefully watching over his siblings. For some reason his favorite place to sit is by the water bowls!

Ah! I just love that face!! Jake is always smiling and he will surely put a smile on your face as soon as you see him. If you are having a bad day Jake will help take it away. He always makes me feel better.

Congrats on being our big dog student of the week Jake! You deserve it. Everyone at Bark ATL loves you!!

Bark ATL's Picture of the Week!

2011-04-17T16:02:00.000-04:00

WARNING!!!! The following image and video are HIGHLY addictive. It will cause smiling, laughing, and the occasional "Awwwwwww". You have been warned!!

Click here to see the video. It was taking forever to upload on blogger so I put it up on You Tube. Thanks for making our week Frank! We hope you had fun with us at Bark ATL. :)

Meet Bark ATL's Staff: Jessica!

2011-04-14T13:00:00.001-04:00

It's time for another exciting round of Bark ATL's meet the staff!!!! Today we will learn all about Jessica. Jess has worked at Bark ATL for almost a year and is the comic relief around here.

Jessica takes care of both the little and big pups but one of her favorite things to do is give baths!

Jessica has the sweetest daughter, Ari. We got to hang out one day and watch Sponge Bob! I haven't met her husband but I hear he's a sweetheart, too.

Jessica has two dogs of her own. Joker (the flower) and her newest addition, Mary Jane. MJ was found by one of our clients and found her way into Jessica's heart last week. She is super cute!!

Jessica loves working with dogs because, as she puts it, “It’s freaking AWESOME!” I have to agree, it is pretty awesome.

When she is not at Bark ATL Jessica likes to spend time with her daughter, going out to eat, sleeping (and who would blame her with a small child at home!), and going on long walks.

Thanks for making us all laugh!!

Bark ATL's Litle Student of the Week: Remy!

2011-04-13T13:00:00.002-04:00

Hooray, it's Wednesday!! You know what the best thing about Wednesday is?? It's Bark ATL's little student of the week day!! This week our star student is Remy.

Remy was born on Oct, 31 2008 in Oklahoma City. He arrived via airplane traveling in a gigantic crate. His new family fell in love with him and his devilish ways immediately. And how could you not?? Just look at that face!!

Remy is a really active dog . He loves to play fetch, chase geese or squirrels, take long walks, and of course go to Bark Atl. He’s pretty adventurous and loved the snow storm this past winter. I think he is thinking of taking up snowboarding. Although Remy is an active pup, he likes to be pampered too. He likes to spend at least half the day lying around on fluffy blankets just out of the dryer (only when mom isn't not looking) or lying in the warm sun. I guess he saves up his energy for when his girls come home so he can play fetch for hours.

Remy is affectionately referred to as Devil Dog because, well, he's a devil. He is super smart and always finds ways to be sneaky. A family favorite Remy story happened during a holiday dinner. Remy's dad made potato pancakes that were really big and super crispy. When dinner was finished Remy was sitting on his mom's lap. He literally looked both ways to make certain the coast was clear, jumped on the table, and made off with a potato pancake that was as big as his head!!

The devilish part of Remy also makes him lovable. He is fiercely protective of those he loves and once he loves someone he never forgets them. For a little dog he sure has a really big heart.

Remy puts up with a lot from us. He was such a good sport for this photo session. Every time I see it I laugh my butt off!!

Remy is liked by all at Bark ATL! He loves to play with the other pups and shows the new kids the ropes. Remy said this is favorite place next to home.

Remy also said that one of his favorite things to do at Bark ATL is play with the ball. The only thing that's better than that is to play with the ball in the pool! He is so glad the weather is heating up.

Remy starts pawing at the door the minute he sees his food for the week being scooped into a ziplock bag. It is reassuring to his family to know he has someplace wonderful to play and be loved when they aren't home. Remy's parents say they are so grateful that he has Bark Atl but it is us that feel grateful to them for allowing us to care for such an awesome fur kid!!

Bark ATL's Flea and Heartworm Preventative Requirements (Pt. 2)

2011-04-12T13:00:00.001-04:00

A couple of weeks ago I spoke about Bark ATL's flea preventative requirements. Now it's time to talk about our heartworm preventative requirements. I want to start off by explaining how pets get heartworms:

Heartworms are spread by infected mosquitoes. A mosquito becomes infected when it feeds off of an animal that is already infected. It ingests immature heartworms that are circulating in the animal's blood. When the infected mosquito feeds off it's next host it deposits the heartworm larvae into the bloodstream. In dogs without heartworm protection, the heartworm larvae continue to mature and develop, migrating through the tissues and reaching the heart and pulmonary arteries. Larvae become adult heartworms within 6 months of infection. Adult heartworms grow up to 12 inches long and reproduce. Heartworms are treatable if contracted but it is a very costly procedure.

The chart below explains some of the more popular preventatives that are offered today. A yearly negative heartworm test is required to purchase the medication. I've added my thoughts about the products below the chart. Notice that they all are effective against other types of parasites. You can also click on the link to be taken directly to the manufacturers website for more information.

Heartgard Plus: Fantastic product. It is a once a month chewable beef flavored cube that most dogs take like a treat. If you go to the website they offer email reminders and they even have an iPhone app!

Tri-Heart Plus: Pretty much the same thing as Heartgard plus but it a pill instead of a chewable treat.

Iverhart Max: Once a month oral pill. Also effective against tapeworms. Pets get tapeworms from ingesting an infected flea.

Interceptor: Small once a month oral pill. Also effective against whipworms. I like it that it can be given to puppies as young as 4 weeks and 2 pounds. Living in the south you know how bad mosquitoes can get during the summer!

Sentinel: We briefly spoke about this product when we talked about flea preventative. This is Interceptor plus Program in one pill. It is effective against flea eggs, but not adult fleas. You might find that you still need a topical flea preventative.

Revolution: My personal choice. It is a once a month TOPICAL that is applied between the shoulder blades. Is effective against fleas, flea eggs, ear mites, sarcoptic mange and the American dog tick.

Advantage Multi: Pretty much the same thing as Revolution. I don't like it because it is greasy.

Okay, so here is my disclaimer: I am NOT a veterinarian and you should always consult with him/her if you have questions regarding your pet and the medications they are on. It is very important to have your pet on a monthly preventative year round.

Bark ATL's Big Student of the Week: Snoopy!

2011-04-11T13:00:00.000-04:00

I know you have been patiently waiting all weekend to see who the Bark ATL big dog student of the week is. Well your wait is finally over! This week our star student is Snoopy!!

Snoopy is a one year old shepherd mix who loves to play. He has the cutest ears EVER!!

This is Snoopy on his way to Bark ATL for the first time! As soon as he walked through our doors it was love at first sight.

Snoopy was a very active puppy. He loved to play with his toys.

He also loves to relax in his favorite chair and watch TV.

He said his favorite show as a pup was Clifford the Big Red Dog!

But Snoopy said his favorite activity was waiting for dad to come home! He gives the best belly rubs.

As a young pup Snoopy knew he would accomplish great things. His mom knew it, too.

After much deliberation Snoopy decided to major in education. He said it was very important to him to pass down all of the knowledge he acquired while attending school. Snoopy currently teaches Obedience 101 at Bark ATL.

Snoopy said one of his top favorite holidays is Howl-O-Ween. He said it is awesome getting to dress up. Snoopy also loves that people give him treats!

Snoopy loves Christmas. He said he wasn't sure who the fat man with the beard was but Santa Paws was very good to him.

Snoopy has a lot of friends. He says it's because he is so cool and I have to agree!

How cool does he look in these doggles?? I want a pair!

When Snoopy is at Bark ATL he loves to splash around in the pool. He said he is so happy it is getting warm again.

We were so happy that Snoopy wanted to spend his first birthday with us! We can't wait to celebrate more with you.

Congratulations on being the big dog student of the week! Everyone at Bark ATL loves you Snoopy.

Bark ATL's Picture of the Week!

2011-04-09T09:10:00.001-04:00

It's time for Bark ATL's favorite picture of the week! We had two birthday's this week so instead of one picture I have two to post. Puppi celebrated her third birthday!

Lucky also celebrated his third birthday yesterday!

Bark ATL's Little Student of the Week: Ella!

2011-04-08T14:55:00.001-04:00

Hip hip hooray, it's Friday!!!! Usually I do a picture of the week on Friday but since I am still trying to play catch up we are going to highlight our little pup student of the week. This week Bark ATL's star student is Ella! We all love our little Ella. She is the sweetest little lover pup there is.

Ella was a rescue so we don't know her back story. I know that her life now is as good as it gets! Her parents love her so much and she truly is a little angel.

It's kinda hard to take a good picture of Ella. Her coat is so dark you really can't see her eyes!

Ella loves coming to school! She has the best time playing with the other pups.

I think her favorite thing to do is be held. Whenever you walk into the room she starts barking at you to pick her up. She loves to be held like a baby!

Our little Ella bug!

One of the best things about Ella is that she is very chill. On really hectic days it is nice to sit with her in your lap and love on her. You instantly feel relaxed and calm. She's my little zen pup!

Ella says she wasn't too sure about the snow storm we had earlier this year. She said she didn't like that it was so cold and wet. She did think it was really pretty though. She said if it happens again next winter she will watch it from the warm comfort of her dad's lap.

Don't let that sweet face fool you though. If you ignore her you will get "Mad Ella" and nobody wants that, trust me!

Ella knows no stranger and is loved instantly by everyone who meets her. When Ella comes to school the whole building lights up.

Congratulations on being our little pup student of the week Ella! We are so happy to have you at Bark ATL!

Bark ATL's Big Student of the Week: Dakota!

2011-04-07T16:30:00.001-04:00

Happy Thursday! I am sure you have been wondering why there hasn't been any blog posts yet this week and I have an excellent excuse. I was sunning myself on the beaches of Puerto Rico. It's okay, you can be envious. Just don't freak out when you see my lobster red face. I had a great time but I missed my pack and am glad to be back! I'm going to treat today like it was Monday so it's time for Bark ATL's big dog student of the week. This week our star student is Dakota!

First off I have to say that Dakota is AWESOME!! I wish I had known her as a pup. She is so stinkin cute and the sweetest Rottweiler you will ever meet.

As a young pup Dakota knew she was special and destined to do something great. You can see the determination in her eyes!

She thought about being a famous writer but it was hard holding a pen and her paws were too big for the keyboard.

This saddened Dakota but she decided to sleep on it. After some rest and much thought she decided to be a model! Can't let all that beauty go to waste.

When Dakota was only 10 months old she started to limp on her left leg and the doctor's diagnosis was that she had cartilage which wouldn't harden and had to be removed. Thanks to the wonderful surgeon in Tucker and staff at BarkAtl she made a full recovery and was back on the catwalk as the lead model for Victoria Secrets- "The Pink Collection."

Later that fall she was coronated homecoming queen in Decatur. She gnawed and ate part of her tiara before the photo shoot could be completed.

Dakota loves to come to school at Bark ATL! She says her favorite activity is playing with her friends.

Dakota is such a ham! She loves to get belly rubs and isn't shy when it comes to asking for them.

Dakota takes her role as student of the week very seriously. She is currently giving pointers to the other pups on how to become the next Bark ATL star.

When she isn't ruling the school Dakota likes to lounge by the pool and work on her tan.

She also enjoys relaxing on the deck, taking in all of the beauty mother nature has to offer.

Dakota said her best friend and mentor was Lucy Gum. Lucy passed away last summer but Dakota said she will live on in her heart.

Dakota said she really enjoyed the snow we had not too long ago.

She really enjoyed sledding downhill with her dad, Keith.

Congratulations on being Bark ATL's student of the week Dakota! We all super puffy heart you.

Bark ATL's Favorite Picture of the Week!

2011-04-01T14:50:00.002-04:00

It's Friday, Friday gotta get down on Friday (that's for you Bre). If you have no idea what I'm talking about and you have a few minutes of your life to waste click here. Totally safe for work and kids. Okay, back to our picture post! Bark ATL's favorite picture of the week is of sweet little Sydney and Jessica, well Jessica's hand. I also love the haunting "green eye" Dusty Rose has going on. Enjoy your weekend!

Meet Bark ATL's Staff: Alann!

2011-03-31T09:28:00.000-04:00

It's time to find out a little bit more about one of our staff members! Today we will get to know Alann. Alann has been with Bark ATL for about a year. You know him as the guy with the big colorful hat. Alann takes care of all of the pups and is one of our overnight staffers. He HATES the camera and hides every time I pull it out. I was able to sneak a few pictures of him when he wasn't looking!

Alann is great with both the big and little dog group. He likes playing with the big dogs because you can be more rough with them.

But Alann also likes to chill with the little pups. He says it is nice to have some down time and cuddle with a little one from time to time.

Alann has two dogs, Baby Gurrl and Haitian (seen below).

I LOVE THIS DOG!! Seriously, how could you not?? He is the sweetest, cutest pitt ever.

Alann loves working at Bark ATL because he can bring his fur kids with him to work, he likes all of his co-workers and the pups in his pack, and he can just be himself. Alann loves to sing (even though sometimes we wish he wouldn't) and he keeps us laughing all day. One day we will see what's under that hat though!

Bark ATL's Little Student of the Week: Harley!

2011-03-30T15:58:00.000-04:00

We made it to Wednesday everybody!! Hump day is a great day at Bark ATL because it is time for our little pup student of the week! This week it is Harley. Harley is a one year old West Highland Terrier Mix and full of energy!

As a puppy, Harley loved to play with toys. He still loves to chase after a tennis ball!

Harley said he's glad he is bigger now. Riding in mom's purse was okay at first but as he grew it got a bit cramped in there!

Harley also loved to nap when he was a baby but not anymore! We rarely catch him napping at school.

Harley said he likes going to see his doctor. He said she is so nice and always gives him lots of love, and a treat for being good.

Harley was a very mischievous puppy. He said he would get stuck in the fence from time to time and mom had to rescue him.

Harley (on the left) loves other dogs. He makes friends everywhere he goes-

Like Piedmont dog park!

He likes dogs of all sizes!

Here is a video of him playing with a friend!

Harley said one of his favorite activities is to lay in the sun. He says it feels good and now he knows why cats do it!

Harley said he likes to go on trips. He also said that he and his mom don't take enough vacations together and that he would like to go to the beach this summer (hint hint)!

Harley loves to run and play with his friends. He said he loves coming to Bark ATL because it's like a home away from home. He gets lots of love!!

Congratulations on being Student of the Week, Harley! Everyone at Bark ATL loves you!!

Bark ATL's Flea and Heartworm Preventative Requirements (Pt. 1)

2011-03-29T17:09:00.004-04:00

Bark ATL requires that your pet be on a flea and heartworm preventative to play or stay. We want your pet to stay healthy, plus an outbreak of fleas is not fun!! Since there are several great products I thought I would take a minute to explain the difference in some of the more popular products out there. We will start with flea products and continue with heartworm products next week. When in doubt, talk to your veterinarian to see which product is best for you and your pet.

In all of my years of being in veterinary medicine flea preventative has always been a hot topic. There are so many products, how do you choose?? The chart below will help you see what each product does and does not do. I have added my two cents about the products below the chart. For more information click on the product name below the chart. It will take you to the manufacturers website.

Advantage: Applied topically between the shoulder blades once a month. DOES NOT kill ticks. If you are using Frontline and it stops working I suggest switching to this product.

Frontline/Plus: I would NEVER use the regular Frontline as it DOES NOT control flea development. Neither Frontline products repel mosquitoes. This product is also applied topically between the shoulder blades once a month.

Advantix: Kills fleas, ticks, mosquitoes, lice and repels biting flies. It is also applied topically between the shoulder blades once a month.

Program: I personally would not use this product. It is a pill that is given orally once a month. This is the flea additive in the heartworm preventative Sentinel. I know several dog owners that still have to use a topical flea preventative when using this product, but then again there are folks who swear by it!

BioSpot: I am not familiar with this product but it claims to do the same thing as Frontline Plus. It IS NOT waterproof. Also a once a month topical.

Capstar: This is a one time use oral pill. It is said to kill 90% of the fleas on your pet within 4 hours. This is a fantastic product to use if you see fleas on your pet. A topical or oral monthly preventative is still needed.

Two products that are not listed are Advantage Multi and Revolution. They are both a monthly topical for fleas and ticks but are also a heartworm preventative! We will go over these products in more detail next week. I hope this information helped since flea and tick season is right around the corner!!

Bark ATL's Big Student of the Week: Ripley!

2011-03-28T17:15:00.000-04:00

It's Monday-yaaaaaaaaaaaaay!!-which means it's time for Bark ATL's student of the week. I know this is the only reason you look forward to Monday, right?? This week our big dog star student is Ripley! This handsome Springer Spaniel is two years old and spunky. The only thing he loves more than Bark ATL is his mama!!

Well, Ripley does love the camera and apparently it loves him too because I've never seen a bad picture of him. Even as a puppy Ripley had an itch to model. He's got the head tilt pose down.

And just look at that smile!

This shot of Ripley is good enough to be the cover of Dog Fancy magazine. I know I would buy it!

As a young pup Ripley knew he was destined to be more than just a pretty face. He thought space would be a good place for him but he said it's cold up there.

Ripley also wanted to be a world famous traveler but he missed his mom and friends at Bark ATL.

Ripley likes to vacation on the beach with his family but says he also likes to stay at Bark ATL for a few days. He says it's a stay-cation at his favorite spot.

Ripley is liked by all at school. He likes to lay on his back so the people can give him belly rubs.

Luke is one of Ripley's best friends. They love to run around the room and chase the laser pointer!

Ripley looooooooooves to swim in the pool alone

Or with friends!

Ripley loves to dress up for pictures! He made the cutest bee this past Halloween. He told me that this year he wants to be a cop. He says the ladies love a pup in uniform.

We were fortunate enough to host Ripley's second birthday at Bark ATL this past December!

We partied like rock stars! It's hard being the birthday boy.

A few days after his birthday party it was time for holiday pictures. I think Ripley was still hung over!

Thanks for being so awesome Ripley! Everyone at Bark ATL loves you!!

Bark ATL's Favorite Picture of the Week!

2011-03-25T15:44:00.001-04:00

It's Friday so that means it is time for Bark ATL's favorite picture of the week! How about we turn it into a contest?? Caption this photo below in the comments section. Best caption wins a super cool Bark ATL coozie (come on, you know you want one!) and a Lick A Lot for your furry pal.

Meet Bark ATL's Staff: Nanci!

2011-03-24T08:58:00.001-04:00

It's Thursday which means it's time for another exciting edition of Meet Bark ATL's Staff! Today's lucky staff member is Nanci. Nanci has been with Bark for a little over a year. Nanci has a lot of experience with taking care of fur babies and says she can't imagine doing anything else. Nanci loves all dogs but has a special connection with the little ones, probably because she owns four!

This little princess is Laney (aka Laney Bug). Don't let that sweet little face fool you! She'll attack your fingers when you aren't looking. Little piranha!

This handsome guy is Chewie. Nanci rescued him for Fulton County and is looking for a forever home for him. He is so sweet and loves all people and animals. Look at that face! How could you not love him??

This adorable dude is Lucky, and trust me, his name fits him. Some of you might remember that Nanci's home was broken into last year and this sweet guy was dog napped. Thanks to Nanci's never ending search he was found at a shelter far from home and about to be euthanized.

When Nanci went to pick up Lucky from the shelter they said that he was brought in with another pup. Being the animal lover that she is, Nanci took him home too. Logan fits in perfectly with the rest of the group and is truly BFF's with Lucky. Can't you just imagine them finding each other and making a pact to be road dogs together? So sweet!

Nanci loves working with dogs because when she is having a bad day they always turn it around and make her happy! When she is not at Bark ATL you can find her at the dog park with her four kids, playing tennis, or traveling our great nation.

Bark ATL's Little Student of the Week: Max B!

2011-03-23T15:58:00.001-04:00

Our little pup Student of the Week is Max B! Max is a 2 year old Silky Terrier and is loved by all at Bark ATL. He is always happy and full of energy. Max said he loves coming to Bark because all of his friends are here, and the people are really nice.

Max was the cutest puppy ever! The picture below is of his first night in his forever home.

Max said he liked to sleep a lot when he was a puppy, although mom might not agree.

His favorite toy to snuggle with is his moose. Max says that's his little buddy.

I know that I would give in and feed him whatever he wanted if I saw that cute face looking up at me while in the kitchen.

Max loves to ride in the car. His favorite destination is Bark ATL, of course!

And who hasn't checked themselves out in the rear view mirror! Max said if you looked as good as he does you would stop and look in every mirror, too.

Max is definitely a party animal! He loved celebrating his big day with all of his friends at Bark ATL. He wants me to tell you that the pupcakes are the best and you should have your best friends next birthday with us. Oh, and he also said to make sure he is invited!

Max loves to get dressed up for pictures. He said he isn't very fond of the pink and red in this first picture but he does pull it off well.

Max makes an awesome giraffe! I think this year he should be a cowboy or a pumpkin.

He looks so sweet as a Rein-dog. Max loves to bring the holiday spirit!

Max loves playtime at Bark. He said there is nothing better than chillin on the bench outside on a nice sunny afternoon.

Sharing the bench with a friend is much more fun.

Max makes friends with everybody. He knows no stranger!

Thanks for being such an awesome student Max! Everyone at Bark ATL loves you!!

Toby's Birthday Bash, Bark ATL Style!!

2011-03-22T16:52:00.001-04:00

We celebrated Toby's birthday yesterday here at Bark ATL. What a great day for a party! Toby decided he wanted to get dressed up for his big shindig. He decided to go with the Hawaiian look. I think it was a great choice. Too bad we didn't have a coconut bra!

Toby invited a few of his close Bark ATL buddies to join his celebration. The guests included:

Madison & Presley

Dewey:

Bella:

And Fergus!

Once all of the guests arrived it was party time!

We had plenty of Lick A Lots ice cream and they all enjoyed it.

What's that yummy smell???

It's pupcakes!! We all sang "Happy Birthday" to Toby and then it was time to grub.

Toby first!

Fergus says they are so good he thinks he's died and gone to heaven!

Now that our bellies are full it's time to par-tay!!

Toby is definitely the party animal. Only he would use a hat as a horn!

We sure did have a wild bunch! These kids wanted to party all day long.

Unfortunately the party had to come to an end but by then they were all tuckered out.

Everyone at Bark ATL wishes you a very Happy Birthday Toby!

Click here to see more pictures from Toby's Birthday Bash!!

Bark ATL's Big Student of the Week: Luke!

2011-03-21T17:30:00.002-04:00

Today is Monday which means it's time for Bark ATL's big dog student of the week! This week our star student is Luke. You might recognize this handsome 2 year old golden retriever from our Facebook page. Luke is a regular for daycare and boarding. He sure does brighten up the room with his beautiful coat and contagious smile.

He is a typical Golden Retriever and loves the water. He loves to bite the water and is completely at home in the pool or bath tub!

Luke loves coming to Bark ATL! His dad says that this is the only place where he is allowed to jump up and give hugs and kisses. He is so excited to come, even after we dressed him up like a lion for Halloween!

Luke is a great student. He listens well and is very popular with the rest of the class.

Luke loves to play "dot". We take a laser pointer and shine it on the wall. He loves to chase after it! I wish I had a picture to show you but he moves so fast it just looks like a blond blur.

Luke loves making new friends! His best friend is Ripley the Springer Spaniel.

Everybody at Bark ATL loves you Luke!!

Luke's dad just sent me a few more pictures of him and you know I had to add them!

Luke is all excited to come see his best friends at Bark ATL!

I LOVE THAT FACE!! He was the cutest puppy ever!!

Another adorable puppy shot!

You're soooooooo handsome!!! We love you Luke-y. Smoochies!!

Bark ATL's Favorite Picture of the Week!

2011-03-20T10:46:00.001-04:00

Evey Friday the staff at Bark ATL will select a picture of the week to feature on our blog. I had the day off this past Friday so I am posting it today. Hope you enjoy it!

First off, it's just plain funny! You know you've peed in the pool at least once in your life. Maybe not as an adult but you know it happens. Dogs are like kids, totally unpredictable. Good thing this pool isn't too heavy because we had to dump it, spray it out and refill it! Echo knows we love him and he is welcome to swim anytime, just use the bathroom before you get in next time dude. :p

Meet Bark ATL's Staff: Bre!

2011-03-17T09:25:00.000-04:00

Meet Bark ATL's manager, Bre! Bre has been with Bark ATL for 4 years and is the best boss ever. She has a passion for fur kids which is evident by the countless number of rescues she has cared for. Several of her rescues were adopted by Bark ATL clients!

She is the proud owner of three dogs, a Rottweiler/Basset mix named Vern, and a Min Pin mix named Tom Thumb.

Maisy is a Corgi/Shepherd mix and is the sweetest girl ever! I keep trying to steal her but she loves her mama.

Bre is also owned by three cats, Miss Peet, Eli (pictured below), and Slim Jim!

When she is not at Bark ATL, Bre likes to spend time with her family (her husband Larry and adorable son Boone) enjoying the outdoors. She is also very involved with animal rescue and rehabilitation.

Bre says she loves working at Bark ATL because she gets to hang out with dogs all day, and what could be better than that??

Bark ATL's Little Student of the Week: Reuben

2011-03-16T15:52:00.000-04:00

Bark ATL's little pup student of the week is Reuben! Ruby-dooby (as I like to call him) is a 3 year old Australian Terrier. Reuben is one of the coolest little dogs ever. He certainly has a personality all of his own and keeps all of us laughing with his funny antics. He was such a cute baby!!

Reuben is a star student! He listens well and likes to play ball and other fun games with his school mates.

Reuben even puts up with us dressing him up for holiday pictures! He said he wasn't excited about all of the red and pink for this photo shoot but would do it anyway. You're such a good sport Reuben!

Reuben says his favorite holiday is Christmas. He loves getting presents from Santa Paws. He hopes this year he can dress up like Santa Paws and not a reindog or elf.

But his favorite time of year is the fall. He says the color of the leaves look nice with his coloring. He also likes the cool, crisp air. Summers in Atlanta can be dog-gone HOT!!

If you need fashion advice, Reuben is the pup to ask! He says there is never a reason to NOT look nice. He says that it is always important to make a good first impression and you never know who you might meet!

Reuben likes to keep in shape. He says the ladies like it. One of his favorite activities on a nice day is to take a hike with his mom and dad.

Reuben likes to unwind at the end of a busy day with a Gin and Tonic at his favorite local bar. Don't worry, he might be 3 in dog years but he is 21 in people years!

Thanks for making us smile Reuben. Everyone at Bark ATL loves you!!