After early retirement from being a UNC professor, Hollie is now at home dogsitting 24/7. Joe isn't as lucky, and he has to go to work each day...without playtime!! Poor Joe. Hollie has a lot more fun! Together, we use our 43 years of experience caring for dogs to provide top quality care for boarding and daycare in our home. Nothing in our home is off limits unless you say it is. The dogs have the run of the house and access to the backyard all day; in addition to playing frequently (and napping), we spend a lot of our day outside, leaving the most energetic doggy tired. You'll get to see your pup in action and gain peace of mind from the photo and video updates we send every day. You might also see your pup in your feed if you follow the Barkmore House on Facebook, Tumblr, Pinterest, Twitter, Instagram, and Youtube -- google us! Who knows, your pup may go viral! When the playing is done, and cuddling or napping is in order, Hollie's lap or those of her helpers, is always available, or your pup can find his/her own private space in the 3,000 sq feet in the Barkmore House or enjoy laying in front of the fireplace or getting some sunshine on giant, custom lounging pillows in the screened-in patio, the temperature-controlled gazebo, or our deck. All are favorite pastimes of Barkmore House guests! With Hollie home all day most days, our guests have their own full-time recreation director to play ball with them, play tug-of-war, and hide their stuffies. We even celebrate birthday parties (pointy hats and all) when doggies turn another year old during their stay (or is that 7 years older)? If your pup sleeps with you at home, they'll be sleeping with us here! If they sleep in a dog bed in your bedroom, we have plenty of extremely comfy, extra fluffy, dog beds in our bedroom, making each night a fun sleepover with friends! If your pup likes to sleep alone, there are several guest rooms and two couches they can choose from as well. If they are used to sleeping in a crate at home, they can sleep in one of ours on premium comfy bedding in our room. Please note the only times dogs are crated at the Barkmore House is to accommodate parental requests. All natural, top-quality treats are plentiful and toys lay all over the house and yard. At the Barkmore House, having fun is a priority but safety comes first (our safety policies are listed below). We are committed to providing a safe, memorable vacation where your dog's every need and want is catered to. Here, dogs are showered with love and attention, pampered, and catered to as VIP guests. If you're looking for a pack leader, you may want to keep looking because the dogs figure out real quickly we're the hired help and the only rules they have here are those of mom and dad. For our elderly guests or those that require a little more specialized care, we can administer oral medications and injections and are happy to cook special foods (e.g., rice, chicken, beef). We can usually get our picky eaters to eat by hand-feeding them, but if not, we have numerous tricks that will disrupt even the most dedicated hunger strike! It's your baby's vacation, and a stay at the Barkmore House is your gift to them. It's our job to make it the best experience it can be and we take that responsibility very seriously. This is a happy, loving home full of cynophiles (which is just a pretentious way to say dog-lovers)! Your dog's stay at the Barkmore House will be memorable for both your pup and you because you'll have plenty of pics and videos of your baby having a pawsome time to add to your vacation scrapbook. They may even forget to miss you! We'll leave the light on, the toys out, and the down blankets fluffed and clean! All you need to do is book your reservation, travel safely, and enjoy the peace of mind knowing your best friend is in the hands of a full-time, professional dog-sitter in a lovely home environment. Please note we require a Meet-n-Greet for all guests prior to their stay and we cannot accommodate any dogs with a history of aggression or fence jumping! SAFETY POLICIES None of the Barkmore House guests are ever outside of the fenced yard without a leash. They are never outside unsupervised or left alone with other dogs; they eat only their regular diet and no people food (unless requested); all-natural, high-quality treats and premium quality, non-splintering chews are provided under supervision if the parents permit it. Our guests are not allowed to meet strangers, nothing small or dangerous is left on floors or counters, and our 4.5' double-fenced yard has a puppy barrier to keep small dogs in the yard. We do not open our front door until the dogs are behind closed doors and gates and we have an additional gate on our front porch (not in pic), providing an extra barrier. All guests must be up-to-date on their vaccinations and wear a collar. We do not accept dogs that have any history or concerns related to fence-jumping. When playing outside on hot or cold days, we go into the house for frequent breaks. If there is anything we have not thought of, please message us and we will address your concerns. WHY I LOVE DOG SITTING Dogs are the only beings on Earth that can know you completely and love you anyway. They are content just being in your presence. I find it impossible to be in a bad mood with a dog in the room, which is why dogsitting has made me happier than I've ever been in my life. ABOUT MY YARD We have a large backyard that is fully fenced, with a puppy barrier to keep the little ones in. They have full access to the yard and can come in and out as they please so they get plenty of exercise and sunshine! The dogs enjoy lounging in the temperature-controlled gazebo in addition to taking plenty of AC or fireplace breaks! MY EXPERIENCE ADMINISTERING MEDICATION All of our own dogs have lived full, happy lives well into their senior years. Having been parents to older dogs, we've become proficient at administering oral and injected medications and cooking special meals to accommodate special dietary needs.