Bark & Beyond North East

13/08/2026

OK… WE GET IT, SUMMER. YOU CAN CALM DOWN NOW! 🥵

Heatwaves have been a bit of a nightmare for us dog walkers this year… (not as bad in the North East as other places though) - cancelled walks, early starts, shorter walks, garden visits, enrichment activities and constantly refreshing the weather app hoping for temperatures that don't make us all melt!

BUT… I am absolutely NOT READY FOR AUTUMN AND WINTER YET!
I don't want the rain. I don't want the cold.
I definitely don't want it getting dark at 4pm. I aren’t prepared for soggy coats, freezing fingers and wellies again! I’ve worn short to work for the last 2 months… I’m not even ready for long trousers! 😂

So, could we perhaps compromise, British weather? Just give me some nice, normal temperatures please. Cool enough for the pups to enjoy proper walks… Warm enough that I don't need thermals… A little sunshine…
Maybe the occasional cloud… And just enough rain to keep everything green.

Is that really too much to ask?!

Because as much as I’ve been moaning about the heat today, I know that the minute we're back to wet, windy and freezing conditions, I'll be dreaming about these sunny days again!

But… whatever the weather, there’s always an adventure to be found… even if it involves tree climbing…

08/08/2026

🐾🌊 Cooper’s Coastal Adventure! 🌊🐾

Today was a BIG adventure for Cooper! While his family enjoyed a day out we headed to Skinningrove and walked along the coast towards Saltburn. We didn’t quite make it all the way — turning around about a mile short of Saltburn — but that didn’t stop us clocking up plenty of miles, taking in the views and enjoying lots of exploring along the way!

Cooper had plenty of time to enjoy all the sights, sounds and, of course, sniffs of a proper B&B adventure. Then a little dip in the sea to cool off.

And because every good adventure needs a refreshment stop… we popped to Blooms Coffee Box, where Cooper enjoyed a well-deserved Woofachino! ☕🐶

Safe to say, Cooper is one very happy (and probably very tired!) pup tonight. Another adventure ticked off the list! 🐶🧡

16/07/2026

🐾✨ Meet Stanley! ✨🐾

A big Bark & Beyond welcome to Stanley, the lovable Cockapoo, who joined the B&B crew a couple of weeks ago!

After settling in brilliantly on his first walk from home, today was another big milestone… his very first trip in the B&B van!

Stanley hopped straight in without a second thought and travelled like an absolute superstar. We then headed to Stainton Low Wood, where he enjoyed exploring on a long line, taking in all the sights, sounds and, of course, the all-important sniffs!

Welcome to the B&B family, Stanley! 🧡🐶

15/07/2026

🏆 We Did It! 🏆

I still can't quite believe I'm writing this...
Bark & Beyond North East has been named Best Dog Walking & Pet Care Service 2026 – North East England in the SME News UK Enterprise Awards! 🧡🐾

When I started Bark & Beyond, I simply wanted to create a business that put dogs first. A business built on trust, kindness, adventure and treating every pet as if they were my own.
Inspired by my wonderful Beagle, Carter, Bark & Beyond has grown from a dream into something I'm incredibly proud of. Every wagging tail, muddy paw, beach adventure, woodland walk, pet sit, wedding chaperone booking and happy pup-date has brought me to this moment.

This award isn't just for me – it belongs to every one of my amazing clients who has trusted me with their beloved pets. Thank you for your continued support, recommendations and kindness. It truly means the world.

To all of the incredible B&B pups... thank you for making every single day the best job in the world.

Here's to many more adventures together 🧡🐶

🏆 The winners of the UK Enterprise Awards 2026 have been announced! 🎉

A huge congratulations to every business, entrepreneur, and organisation recognised in this year's programme. Your innovation, resilience, and commitment to excellence continue to strengthen the UK's thriving business community, and this achievement is thoroughly deserved. 🇬🇧

Thank you to everyone who took part, and congratulations once again to all of our 2026 winners! 👏

Discover the full list of winners here: 👉 https://zurl.co/oUvrx

Read our statement: 👉 https://zurl.co/XFCRh

View the magazine supplement: 👉 https://zurl.co/GU7wr

10/07/2026

🎉🐾 We're proud to be a member of the Dog Walkers & Sitters Association! 🐾🎉

At Bark & Beyond, we're committed to providing the very highest standards of care for your pets, so we're delighted to announce that we're now members of the Dog Walkers & Sitters Association (DWSA).

The DWSA exists to inspire excellence among canine professionals, promoting high standards of safety, professionalism and ongoing learning, while giving pet owners confidence when choosing someone to care for their beloved dogs.

One thing many people don't realise is that dog walking is still a largely unregulated industry. That means it's so important to do your research before choosing a dog walker, pet sitter or home boarder.

Here are a few things every pet owner should look for:
🐾 Appropriate business insurance (not just public liability insurance)
🐾 Pet First Aid training
🐾 DBS check
🐾 Professional contracts and paperwork, including vet consent and key holding forms
🐾 A willingness to answer your questions and provide proof of qualifications and insurance

If you're choosing a home boarder, you should also check:
🐾 They hold a valid local authority boarding licence
🐾 Their licence number is displayed
🐾 Ask where your dog will sleep, how many dogs they'll care for at one time and whether your dog will ever be left alone.

A genuine pet professional will always be happy to discuss their experience, qualifications and procedures. After all, you're trusting them with two of your most precious things — your pet and often your home.

We're incredibly proud to be part of an organisation that champions professionalism, safety and best practice within our industry, and we'll continue to invest in training and development to ensure we provide the very best care possible for every member of the B&B family. Because your dogs deserve nothing less. 🐶🧡

09/07/2026

One of the best perks of the job…

How many jobs let you squeeze in a dip in the North Sea between appointments?

This heatwave has certainly made planning a little more challenging, but when you find yourself with an hour to spare before your next visit… there's only one thing for it!

I genuinely don't think I'll ever tire of this view. Whether it's a grey, wet and windy winter's day, or the middle of a summer heatwave, the coast never disappoints. 💙

Who's joining me for a sea dip next time?

27/06/2026

People often think running a dog walking business is simple… just play with dogs, go for walks, and make money.

The reality? It’s so much more than that.

Behind every happy walk is:
🐾 Route planning, timings and logistics to make sure every pup gets their best day.
🐾 Insurance, DBS checks, policies and paperwork.
🐾 Training, understanding behaviours and making safety decisions in a split second.
🐾 Constant risk assessing to keep every dog safe, happy and comfortable.
🐾 Client messages, updates, diary changes and last-minute requests.
🐾 Checking the weather forecast and preparing for 4 seasons in 1 day.
🐾 Winter - rain and mud… so much mud.
🐾 Summer - heatwave - swapping walks for garden visits and enrichment games - paddling pools and frozen treats.
🐾 A van that permanently smells of wet dog and treats.

Yes, we spend our days with amazing dogs — definitely the best part of our job — but we also run a professional, fully committed business built on trust, reliability and care.

It’s early mornings, late finishes, tired legs and wet feet. But honestly? We wouldn’t change it for the world.

Bark & Beyond isn’t just dog walking. It’s adventure, care, trust, and treating every pup like one of our own 🧡🐶

📸 This gorgeous photo of Rosie was taken before the recent heatwave. We love being out exploring with our four-legged friends, but on weeks like this week, keeping pups safe will always come first.

24/06/2026

☀️🐾 Keeping cool the B&B way! 🐾☀️

With temperatures soaring this week, it simply hasn’t been safe to head out on our usual adventures. So, for pups whose paw-rents have been out all day, we’ve swapped walks for fun-filled garden visits instead.

These drop-in visits are the perfect way to break up the day, giving dogs some company, a toilet break and plenty of enrichment while staying cool and safe.

This week’s activities have included:
🥬 Lettuce shredding
🍓 Fruit bobbing
🎾 Flirt pole fun
💦 Paddling pools
🧊 Pup-sicles
🐶 Treat balls and games

As for the reviews from our taste testers…
Nova and Ozzy weren’t quite convinced by fruit bobbing and gave it a firm “no thanks!” 😂

Cooper, on the other hand, embraced both lettuce shredding and fruit bobbing like a true professional – making sure he got his five a day in the process! ⭐️

The safety and wellbeing of our B&B pups will always come first, and while we’ve missed our usual adventures, it’s been lovely seeing everyone enjoy some different forms of enrichment.

With temperatures set to cool down next week, we’re hoping normal service – and plenty of waggy-tailed adventures – can resume very soon! 🧡🐶

23/06/2026

📅🐾 Our 2026 Pet Sitting Diary is now CLOSED! 🐾📅

Wow… what a milestone! We have a crazy summer of pet sitting ahead of us and we are incredibly grateful to each and every one of you for trusting Bark & Beyond with your beloved four-legged family members – it truly means the world to us. 🧡🐶

✨ Looking ahead to 2027… ✨

We will be opening our 2027 pet sitting diary very soon, but availability will be limited. As always, priority will be given to our existing clients on a first come, first served basis.

We know many of you won’t have your holidays booked just yet, so don’t worry! If you have an idea of when you’re hoping to travel, we’re happy to check our diary and pencil in provisional dates, with exact details to be confirmed once your plans are finalised.

🐾 Still hoping for a little getaway in 2026? 🐾

We do have a handful of 1–2 night stays still available for existing clients, so if you’re planning a short break, please get in touch or check our pet sit calendar to see what’s available.

Thank you again for your continued support, recommendations and for allowing us to be part of your pups’ lives. It’s a privilege we never take for granted, and we can’t wait for more adventures together. Here a few of our adorable recent pet sit clients.🧡🐶

21/06/2026

☀️🌿 Happy Summer Solstice! 🌿☀️

To celebrate the longest day of the year, Pippa and I were up bright and early for a morning adventure to Captain Cook’s Monument.

With temperatures soaring over the last few days, we've been making the most of the cooler mornings, and today certainly didn’t disappoint.

Pippa loved exploring the woodland paths on the way up, stopping for plenty of sniffs and taking it all in along the route.

At the top, we paused to catch our breath and admire the incredible views before making our way back down. It was the perfect way to welcome summer – peaceful, beautiful and shared with a four-legged companion.

Here’s to lighter evenings, early morning adventures and making the most of every moment with our pups. 🌅🐾