Harkin's Hounds Gloucester

01/06/2026

Back to school today so back into a bit more of a routine. I have been working throughout the bank holiday and half term which has been tough. However, it has been good for business and I feel privileged to be taking care of people's fur babies whilst they get a break away. The dogs just come along with us whatever we are up to but the heat last week was awful and stressful making sure the dogs were safe and comfortable.

In two weeks time I have a few weekends off to do some fun stuff with my family.

When you consider a dog boarder and you start questioning prices, just remember daycare rates hardly cover what should be a minimum wage and your boarder is looking out for your dog 24/7.

Always look for licensed boarders and ask questions. If your gut tells you something is off, trust it.


There are lots of posts popping up for dog walking and pet sitting this time of year and I am not knocking people for being enterprising but just be mindful of who is looking after your pet, what qualifications they have, experience they have gained and if they are suitably insured and have first aid. Would they know what to do in an emergency? Stay safe.

24/05/2026

Customer dogs and mine were walked 6.30am today. Heatstroke kills. Learn the signs and prevent by keeping pups cool and safe.

Heatstroke cases in pets are all too common; share the below far and wide!
Many dogs get heatstroke when their owners take them out during high temperatures. Let's prevent heatstroke by knowing when it's safe to take your dog outside, and please contact us if you think your dog might have heatstroke!
And remember to keep your pets hydrated and are given plenty of shade.
Enjoy the sunshine, but please keep tabs on your pets

22/05/2026

Hot weather is here folks. The weather is set to become exceptionally hot over the next few days. So here's the plan.

If your dog is already boarding with us, walks will take place early morning to avoid the heat.

Midday heat and sun is going to be scorching and later morning is due to be 21 degrees and climbing so we will not risk walking any dogs in heat that is felt to be risky particularly but not exclusively brachycephalic (flat faced breeds). This will be entirely at my discretion for the benefit and safety of the dogs. Risky temperature is not a one size fits all.

If your dog is coming for boarding or daycare please arrive as early as possible in order that we are able to walk the dogs we already have in our care or walk your dog prior to arrival when it is cooler if you are coming later on in the day.

If it is possible, please inform me what time you will be arriving so I can plan ahead.

Many thanks
Liz
• BOAS (Brachycephalic Obstructive Airway Syndrome): Compressed airways cause narrow nostrils, elongated soft palates, and breathing difficulties. Symptoms include snoring, loud breathing, and severe heat intolerance.

22/05/2026

BE HEAT SAVVY!

Follow up-to-date info as our approach to heat related illness in dogs has changed…

We DO NOT COVER IN WET TOWELS

We DO USE COLD WATER

We DO USE ICY WATER FOR THE SEVERELY AFFECTED (collapsed, fitting, +/- bloody vomit/diarrhoea)

Cold water for the mild to moderately affected will not send them into shock. And for those severely affected, icy water will not shock them either as heatstroke is heat shock!

The old information is still doing the rounds, I have been updating any of my learning materials to ensure you are kept up dated ❤️

www.animallovepetfirstaid.co.uk
All courses written and taught by a practising vet

02/05/2026

Our two dogs get a lot of attention wherever they go. Today they brought joy to a couple and their young daughter who asked all about the breed as well as an old man who had kept shelties as pets all his life. It was so lovely to see him smile ear to ear as he fussed them.

29/04/2026

Chilling ❤️ together

28/04/2026

We took a much needed break in the Mumbles. Back to it today but its always important to have a rest. Running a business isn't 9 to 5. Responding to enquiries, clients dogs arriving early so they can get to work, paperwork, keeping the garden clean, cleaning the dog room. It's all takes it out of you so having some time to just stop and rest means you can go again with a little more energy.

16/04/2026

At a dog field today. Ball play and mooching.

16/04/2026

Just living their best life

14/04/2026

Do we need a licence? Those of us who are licensed consistently get frustrated by businesses purporting to be above board yet not following the proper process. Giving excuses such as I don't earn over £1000 boarding so therefore I don't need a license.

So for those of you wondering why its important to have a license to board, here goes.

A licensed outfit will have proper policies and procedures. We will be insured. We are inspected and adhere to DEFRA guidelines and rules.

If something goes wrong we will have an action plan. We do things properly.

This is from another post:

You might think a £1,000 fine won’t stop you running an unlicensed dog business.

A £100,000 bill will.

There’s a shift happening in dog care licensing that most people haven’t clocked yet.

A dog breeding business has just been hit with a £129,000 bill.

Not a fine.

Their income, taken back.

And here’s the part most people miss.

They weren’t caught in the act.

They were built into a case.

Adverts. Listings. Prices. Dates.

Years of it.

Pets4Homes. Gumtree. Repeated posts.

Councils don’t need to knock on your door anymore.

They can watch your business run online.

Every:

• “Spaces available”

• “Limited availability”

• “Puppies ready now”

That’s evidence.

Now here’s why this matters beyond breeding.

Dog breeding, dog boarding, dog day care, and pet selling are all regulated under the same framework:

The Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018, and equivalent regulations in Wales.

Different activities, same legal foundation.

At the moment, most unlicensed boarding and day care cases still end in relatively small fines.

But the method now being used in breeding cases changes the game.

Because once a council can evidence:

• Ongoing adverts

• Regular availability

• A clear pattern of trade

The question shifts from:

“Do they need a licence?”

To:

“How much have they made without one?”

And there are laws that allow that money to be taken back under the Proceeds of Crime Act.

Not just a penalty. The income.

That approach is already established in breeding.

The same principles apply across all licensable activities.

That’s the direction of travel.

If you are:

• Boarding dogs

• Running day care

• Selling puppies

• Operating as a pet care business

Without a licence, you are not under the radar.

You are building a trail.

If you’re licensed, this strengthens your position.

If you’re not, or you’re pushing the line, this is your warning.

Because when enforcement catches up, it won’t be a warning.

It will be a bill.