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Hollie P.

Durham, NC

5.0 out of 5 stars
•369 reviews
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The Barkmore House

Pet care experience

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.

Reviews

Sofia S.
Dog Boarding • Feb 22, 2024
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Poppy loved her time at the Barkmore House!! She received amazing care & got plenty of play time.

Sheri D.
Dog Boarding • Dec 24, 2023
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This is our second time that Hollie has watched our fur babies while we have been away. We love having someone we trust to take good care of them while we are away. Thank you Hollie!

Srikant B.
Dog Boarding • Oct 13, 2023
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The Barkmore is great! Hollie and her family made us feel so welcome in our initial visit. Jax had a lovely stay for a few nights. I think he misses playing with the other dogs because he keeps going to the car to go on a ride. We will definitely us their day care service sometime to give Jax some much needed play time.

David T.
Dog Boarding • Sep 16, 2023
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Hollie took great care of Jax while we were away for a few days, and sent plenty of photo updates to keep our minds at ease. Her double-fenced backyard provided plenty of sunshine but also shade for him to run around, sunbathe, and sleep just like he was at home. We’d definitely recommend and will be coming back in the future!

About Hollie P.

Communication

212 repeat pet parents
88% response rate
Usually responds in around an hour
10% bookings with photo updates

Skills

43 years of experience
Oral medication administration
Injected medication administration
First aid/CPR
Senior dog experience
Special needs dog experience
Can provide daily exercise

Safety, trust & environment

Dog care in our home is going to be pretty similar to how it is in your home with the added bonus of friends to play and hang around with and a personal attendant. During the day, our dog care is similar to what you’d find at an exclusive, private dog park with lots of toys, a recreation director, and air conditioned/heated rest areas. In the evenings, the dogs enjoy a typical dog-loving family environment with the pampering you would expect at a high-end dog resort. After a full day of playing, they join us while we prepare dinner, tidy up, spend time as a family and then they snuggle with us on the bed while we watch TV before going to sleep.

Home

Lives in a house
Has a fenced yard
Non-smoking household
Has 1 dog
No children present
Dogs allowed on bed
Dogs allowed on furniture
Potty breaks every 0-2 hours

Information Hollie P. would like to know about your pet

We love all breeds of dogs! I like to know the breed, or if it's a mix, what it might be mixed with! I want to know as much as I can about the dog normal routine and behavior so I can watch for changes, especially with regard to health and allergies. Regardless of breed, I need to know if a dog has any aggressive triggers (we cannot accommodate aggressive dogs). Guests must be on a flea preventative and up-to-date on their shots.

A typical day

WHERE THE DOGS WALK When the weather is beautiful, we spend 4-5 hours playing outside with continual access inside for those that prefer indoor rest. Outside, we have a screened porch, a deck, and a very large temperature-controlled gazebo. YOUR DOG'S SLEEPING ARRANGEMENTS Your dogs may sleep in bed with any of the occupied beds in our home, in our rooms on dog beds, downstairs, or on the couches (upstairs or downstairs). Your dogs may sleep anywhere they are most comfortable. TIME I'LL SPEND WITH YOUR DOG I dogsit full-time so I am with our guests every day. I do have to attend occasional appointments but the dogs are never left alone. If I am gone, my husband, sons, or one of our trusted doggysitters provide supervision. Guests at the Barkmore House are pampered by the entire family (we have 6 children from 19-28 and the 25 yr-old still lives with us). There is always someone at home, completely attentive to our furry guests.

Services

Boarding
in the sitter's home
$50per night
Doggy Day Care
in the sitter's home
$35per day care

Hollie can host

0 to 15 lbs
16 to 40 lbs
41 to 100 lbs
over 101 lbs
No females in heat

Availability

I watch dogs full-time so dog care is my daily and weekly routine! I have nothing else to distract me except adult children who love dogs as much as I do.

Available
Not available
SMTWTFS
Boarding Cancellation Policy:

About Hollie P.

Communication

212 repeat pet parents
88% response rate
Usually responds in around an hour
10% bookings with photo updates

Skills

43 years of experience
Oral medication administration
Injected medication administration
First aid/CPR
Senior dog experience
Special needs dog experience
Can provide daily exercise

Safety, trust & environment

Dog care in our home is going to be pretty similar to how it is in your home with the added bonus of friends to play and hang around with and a personal attendant. During the day, our dog care is similar to what you’d find at an exclusive, private dog park with lots of toys, a recreation director, and air conditioned/heated rest areas. In the evenings, the dogs enjoy a typical dog-loving family environment with the pampering you would expect at a high-end dog resort. After a full day of playing, they join us while we prepare dinner, tidy up, spend time as a family and then they snuggle with us on the bed while we watch TV before going to sleep.

Home

Lives in a house
Has a fenced yard
Non-smoking household
Has 1 dog
No children present
Dogs allowed on bed
Dogs allowed on furniture
Potty breaks every 0-2 hours

Information Hollie P. would like to know about your pet

We love all breeds of dogs! I like to know the breed, or if it's a mix, what it might be mixed with! I want to know as much as I can about the dog normal routine and behavior so I can watch for changes, especially with regard to health and allergies. Regardless of breed, I need to know if a dog has any aggressive triggers (we cannot accommodate aggressive dogs). Guests must be on a flea preventative and up-to-date on their shots.

A typical day

WHERE THE DOGS WALK When the weather is beautiful, we spend 4-5 hours playing outside with continual access inside for those that prefer indoor rest. Outside, we have a screened porch, a deck, and a very large temperature-controlled gazebo. YOUR DOG'S SLEEPING ARRANGEMENTS Your dogs may sleep in bed with any of the occupied beds in our home, in our rooms on dog beds, downstairs, or on the couches (upstairs or downstairs). Your dogs may sleep anywhere they are most comfortable. TIME I'LL SPEND WITH YOUR DOG I dogsit full-time so I am with our guests every day. I do have to attend occasional appointments but the dogs are never left alone. If I am gone, my husband, sons, or one of our trusted doggysitters provide supervision. Guests at the Barkmore House are pampered by the entire family (we have 6 children from 19-28 and the 25 yr-old still lives with us). There is always someone at home, completely attentive to our furry guests.

Location

Durham, NC

Hollie P.'s Neighborhood

Pets

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Hollie P.

Durham, NC

5.0 out of 5 stars
•369 reviews