Toby's Birthday Bash, Bark ATL Style!!

 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!

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!

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!

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

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!!

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! 

Bark ATL's Big Student of the Week: Fergus

Every Monday Bark ATL will feature a Student of the Week! This week our star student is Fergus. Most of you already know him from our Facebook page.  Fergalicious (as we like to call him) is a 4 year old Blue Merle Basset Hound mix. Here he is as a puppy. He is sooooooooo freaking cute!!

Fergus loves to "sing" and often gets the whole class "singing" along with him. He spends most of his day lounging on top of the new ramp or on a Kuranda bed, but believe or not he does play! His favorite activity on a nice day is to sunbathe outside on one of the benches.

 Fergus also like to play dress up! Well, I don't really know that he likes it but he puts up with it. He is so adorable as a pumpkin: 

 

Shrek:

A jolly Christmas Elf:

 

And he can be my Valentine any day of the year!

Fergus is a man about town. He loves to spend the day at Piedmont Park enjoying the view of the Midtown skyline.

Be sure to invite him to your next gathering because Fergus is a party animal!!

 

We also call Fergus the "Mailman" because he is here every day during the week come rain, snow, sleet or hail. 

 Everybody at Bark ATL loves you Fergus!