It’s a BarkLife

12/08/2026

🐾 Why we love our group play sessions! 🐾
Our group play sessions are all about giving dogs the chance to socialise, learn and simply enjoy being dogs. ❤️
We keep our groups small and consistent, with the same dogs attending each session. This helps them get to know each other, build trust and become comfortable in their group. 🐶🐶
Over time, they get the chance to:
🐾 Build confidence around familiar dogs
🐾 Learn from each other and develop good social skills
🐾 Understand and communicate through body language
🐾 Learn how to relax and settle around other dogs
🐾 Build strong, positive relationships
🐾 And, of course, just hang out and have fun together! 🥰

We believe socialisation isn’t always about meeting lots of different dogs. Sometimes, having the same familiar dogs around regularly gives them the confidence and security to really enjoy themselves and learn at their own pace.
Small groups, familiar faces, lots of trust — and happy dogs! ❤️🐾

We have a few spaces available from September,
Send us a message if you are interested

12/08/2026

Early mornings before we are in heatwave lockdown again! # itsabarklife

11/08/2026

🐾 What a fabulous day we’ve had with all our paw-some friends! 🐶💕
We’ve enjoyed some fabulous walks, lovely home visits and plenty of fun with our group play sessions! 🐾🌳🐕 There was even time for a very special treat… doggie peanut butter ice cream to celebrate our birthday boy, Rolo! 🎂🍦🐶💙
Safe to say, it’s been a paw-some day full of waggy tails, happy faces and lots of fun! 🥰🐾
Happy Birthday, Rolo! 🎉🎂🐾

11/08/2026

🐾☀️ So here we go again… the 5th heatwave of the summer! 🥵
So, how do we keep our dogs entertained and cool during this hot weather?
One really easy idea is lick mats! 🐶💕
We like to use dog-friendly peanut butter mixed with Greek yoghurt, or banana and peanut butter, then pop the lick mats in the freezer for a few hours. ❄️
Not only is it a tasty treat that helps keep them cool, but it also keeps them busy and entertained for a good while! 🐾
Just remember to use xylitol-free peanut butter and keep treats as part of their normal daily food allowance.
Stay cool, everyone! ☀️🐕💦

10/08/2026

🎉🐾 Happy Spoil Your Dog Day! 🐾🎉
Let's be honest... our dogs probably think every day is Spoil Your Dog Day! ❤️
Whether it's an extra-long walk, a new toy, their favourite treats, a pup cup, a sniffari adventure, or simply an extra cuddle on the sofa, today is the perfect excuse to show our four-legged best friends just how much they mean to us.
At It's a BarkLife, we're lucky enough to spend our days with some amazing dogs, and we know that the things they love most aren't always expensive—they're quality time, enrichment, adventures, and being with the people who love them.

09/08/2026

09/08/2026

Getting your dog to confidently jump into the car or van isn't always as easy as it looks—especially with larger breeds. 🚐🐾

Many big dogs can find the height intimidating, or they may have had a previous bad experience. The key is not to rush the process.

✨ Train in small steps

Instead of asking for the whole behaviour at once, reward each stage of the journey:

🐶 Looking at the van.🐶 Walking towards it.🐶 Putting front paws on the ramp or bumper.🐶 Entering halfway.🐶 Going fully into the crate.🐶 Remaining relaxed with the door open.🐶 Closing the door briefly.🐶 Starting the engine without moving.🐶 Taking very short drives.

💡 If your dog is feeling unsure, don't be afraid to make it even easier. As Laura demonstrated, you can even climb into the crate with your dog if that's what they need to build confidence. Sometimes our presence is all it takes to show them it's a safe place to be.

Celebrate every success, no matter how small. Building confidence gradually creates a dog who is happy and relaxed travelling, rather than one who feels pressured or anxious.

Remember, progress isn't measured by how quickly your dog gets in—it's measured by how confident they feel along the way. 💚

08/08/2026

🐾💗 A little afternoon pick-me-up for Betsy 💗🐾
We got a lovely message asking if we could have Betsy for the afternoon. Her family thought she was feeling a little sad and needed some cheering up — all of her puppies have now gone off to their forever homes, and she was missing them terribly. 🥹🐶
Of course, we always have room for Betsy! ❤️
So she came along for an afternoon of cuddles, attention, fun and plenty of love… and I think it’s safe to say we succeeded in putting a smile back on her face! 🥰🐾
Sometimes all you need is a change of scenery, some four-legged friends and a whole lot of fuss. 💕
We’re so glad we could make Betsy happy for the afternoon. 🥰🐶💗