Bark ATL's Walk in the Park!!

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

Bark ATL's New Students!!

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. :)

Bark ATL's New Students!!

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!!

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!

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

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.

Sandy's BIG Day Out!!

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.

Why do you love Bark ATL??

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!

Kuranda Beds at Bark ATL!!

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 Spay/Neuter Requirements

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 Vaccine Requirements

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 Flea and Heartworm Preventative Requirements (Pt. 2)

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 Flea and Heartworm Preventative Requirements (Pt. 1)

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 Vaccine Requirements

Here at Bark ATL we care about the health of your dog. In order for your fur kid to participate in Daycare or Boarding we require they be current on Rabies, Distemper, and Bordatella. These are usually done yearly but some veterinarians may offer 3 year Rabies and Distemper vaccines. The Bordatella vaccine is done every six months or yearly. Ask your vet which option is best for your pet.

Rabies is probably the most well known of all of the viruses. Transmission of the disease almost always occurs as a result of an infected animal biting a non-infected animal. Vaccination is the best way to prevent infection and properly vaccinated animals stand very little chance of contracting the disease. While relatively rare in humans, the risk of contracting it and the outcome of the disease make taking precautions with wild animals and vaccination of domestic ones essential. 

Canine Distemper virus in the dog can affect a wide range of organs including the skin, brain, eyes, intestinal and respiratory tracts. The virus is transmitted through the air through coughing by infected animals and also through body secretions such as urine. Dogs of any age can be affected, however, most are puppies less than 6 months of age. Excellent vaccines with minimal side effects are available to give to puppies and dogs of every age. The vaccinations should be boostered for the life of the animal.

Bordetella, also known as Kennel Cough, is a widespread disease caused by several different viruses and bacteria and is highly contagious in dogs. The most common symptom is a dry hacking cough sometimes followed by retching. Many owners describe the cough as having a 'honking sound.' This disease is commonly treated with antibiotics. Chances are that if your dog is regularly vaccinated with a standard vaccine, he is already being protected. However, these vaccines alone rarely provide protection against contracting the disease, although they will help reduce the severity of the disease if the animal becomes infected.  

The above information was found here and should only be used as an informational tool. If you have any questions about these or other vaccines please contact your veterinarian. No advice is better than the the kind given to you by your vet!