A typical day in the life @BeaconBarkersPetCentre
Firstly we live on-site at the Kennels, our whole family is hands-on with the dogs, and we have a team of 10 staff who are ready to start early in the morning, opening up the hatches each day at 8 am.
Dogs have free access all day to either rest in the kennel or go out in the run. We end the day by going to bed with a biscuit and a cuddle in the evening.
Breakfast at 9 am
During the morning – A play and romp in one of the three large grass paddocks.
Tea between 3 and 4 pm
Chill in the evening before bed, there are three heaters in each block used at no extra cost, all dogs are therefore kept nice and warm.
All the staff regularly pass through the kennels to speak to each dog, check their water and clean up in the runs… (Caz even takes the personal challenge of learning each dog’s names).
EXERCISE
Happy, Healthy Dogs Through Tailored Exercise
At Beacon Barkers, we believe exercise is essential for your dog’s happiness and well-being. Unlike some kennels, all our exercise sessions are carried out individually—never in groups.
If two or more dogs are sharing a kennel, or a family has multiple kennels, we can exercise them together with the owner’s permission.
Our secure paddocks feature 6-foot fencing, and dogs are never left alone. A member of staff always supervises playtime and cleans up immediately to keep the area spotless. There are plenty of toys for entertainment, and our team actively plays with the dogs to ensure they get the most out of their exercise. In summer, we even provide paddling pools for extra fun!
Included in the boarding fee, dogs receive 20 minutes of exercise per day as standard. We understand that some dogs need more enrichment—whether that’s extra cuddle time or a 30-minute walk around our grounds.
To cater for these needs, we offer a range of exercise packages, including our U
All the dogs get plenty of attention during the day.
We provide a variety of foods or can feed your own if you choose.
If you bring your own please label it and portion it so that we know that we are feeding what you normally do.
If you are a new customer or your dog hasn’t been for a while, we will ask you to book your dog in for a Kennel trial assessment.
We use this time to get to know your dog and assess them in the kennel environment and when out exercising in the paddock.
During the stay, we will monitor for signs of stress, anxiety, and excessive barking. We will also monitor food and drink intake.
The team will also assess the friendliness of your dog and ensure we can safely remove them from the kennel without fear of being bitten or scaring your dog.
It is important to us to be honest with you at the end of the trial sharing what we have observed, this is to help you make the correct choice for your dog and the kennels.
Obviously leaving your dog behind is a big ask and responsibility… Here are some Q&A’s to give you some comfort about your dog stay:
If you visit other kennels when making your boarding decision, please ensure you consider the below questions
- Do you have CCTV?
- Yes, we have CCTV covering all areas onsite.
- How secure are the paddocks?
- Each paddock is secure with six-foot fencing, when a dog is exercising, our team plays with your dog whilst they are outside.
- Do the hatches come down at night- are they on a pulley?
- Yes, hatches come down at night, keeping the kennel nice and warm
- Are all the hatches large enough for your dog to fit through?
- Yes, during the day the hatch will be lifted allowing your dog to move between the kennel and the run
- What type of heating is there- if under the floor, how much of the floor is heated (it may be only an A4 square in the corner!)
- Our entire blocks are heated and bedding is checked twice daily and changed as often as required.
- How many kennels are there?
- Each block has 8 kennels with the Pink block having 12
- How many staff are there?
- Our team is made up of 14 staff working shifts to ensure enough care is onsite at all times.
- How many times will my dog go out?
- Included in the price is one session of exercise, which is normally between 9 & 11.30, we offer extra exercise in the morning and afternoon if you wish.
- How long is a walk?
- Dogs are initially let out to go to the toilet in one of the paddocks, they then have around 15-20 minutes of playtime.
- Do you have vacancies? If so why?
- We have no vacancies at Beacon Barkers.
- Are the kennels opposite each other? This can intimidate a nervous dog.
- In our three main blocks, the kennels are side by side, in the Pink block the kennels are opposite, we are very careful who we put where ensuring the dog is safe and well.
- Do you have an isolation unit for a sick dog to go to? Is it a distance from the kennel block?
- Our isolation unit is separate from the main kennels and close to our house where we can keep a close eye on the well-being of the dog.
- Is there plenty of natural light in the kennels?
- Yes, we open all blinds in the morning and let natural light in, leaving the stable doors open when the weather permits allowing a natural breeze through the kennels.
- Are the runs covered?
- Yes, all runs here at Beacon Barkers Pet Centre are covered
