Welcome to the home of happy dog holidays in Washington and North & South Tyneside! Happy dog. Happy holiday Happy you!
We provide professional, local dog sitting in Tyne and Wear, in loving host family homes. We know everyone needs to get away every now and then, so we thought it was about time dogs had a holiday too…
If there’s anybody who knows about dogs, then it’s us. Since 2000 we’ve been arranging ‘homey’ holidays just as good as the one we had with Grandma when we went to the beach, ate ice cream and everyt
hing. Every day, everybody says thank you, and we don’t think life can get any better than that! (Read about our story)
When you book a Barking Mad holiday, you can be confident your dogs’ are going to have as good a time as you - although secretly we hope it’s even better! Who’s who - It’s really important to get to know you and your dog, especially in the beginning. We’ll come to you and over a cup of tea you can tell us all about your day-to-day routines for feeding and exercising so we can replicate this for your dog. We’ll chat about likes (usually a lot), dislikes (usually the postman) and any healthcare requirements. By the second chocolate digestive we’ve started to understand your dogs’ individual needs and lifestyle. By the end of our meeting, which usually takes around an hour, we’ll all be getting along famously. Oh and don’t worry, we love dogs of all shapes and sizes, pedigree, Heinz 57 or rescue. They can sleep in the bedroom, pull on the lead, or even hide your favourite socks. As long as they are friendly we’ll get along just fine. Holiday home - Selecting the right host family is very important and your input into this process is invaluable. You will want to know where your dog is going, so during our time together you are going to see all of our dog-loving families. They are just like you and me, and guaranteed to meet our extremely high pet sitting standards. Together we’ll make the right choice, and you can decide whether your best friend stays in a home with or without a resident dog, depending on his needs.
5 Star - Our service includes door-to-door, chauffeur driven transport for your dog. Being collected from home is far less stressful, and completely overcomes the anxiety caused to dogs when left behind by their owners. Our experience has shown visiting dogs settle more quickly with their home comforts around them including bed, food, toys and treats, arranged as they would be at home. In no time at all, they’ve become part of the family, with their paws placed firmly under the table. Our hosts are at home during the day to ensure round the clock care is always provided, especially where puppies, dogs on regular medication and senior citizens are concerned. We’re in touch with our hosts regularly, so we will keep you posted during your time away about anything you need to know. The best bit for us is seeing dogs happily settled-in and comfortable with their host. We will, wherever possible, be sure to use the same family each time you book a holiday. There are no minimum or maximum time limits, we’re here whenever you need us. Trial Stay - We’ll arrange a short stay in advance of your main booking so that when you’re away you can relax knowing your dog is having as good a time as you are! Leave it to the experts - There’s no point having a dog and barking yourself, we do all the hard work so you don’t have to. No tedious form filling, laborious visits back and forth to meet various people; a simple phone call is all that is required.
26/09/2025
We’re so grateful for such lovely feedback from our wonderful customers 💛🐾
Knowing that your dogs feel safe, loved and cared for while you’re away means the world to us.
Thank you for trusting Barking Mad to be part of your pup’s adventures 🐶✨
24/09/2025
Fancy some cosy snuggles this autumn? 🥺🍂🐾
Hosting with Barking Mad means welcoming a furry friend into your home for cuddles, walks and company - all without the full-time commitment.
If your idea of autumn evenings includes a warm blanket, a hot drink and a happy pup by your side, this might just be perfect for you. 🐶✨
Love dogs but can’t commit full-time? Becoming a Barking Mad host is the perfect way to enjoy all the fun, companionship, and cuddles - without the long-term responsibility.
Hosting with Barking Mad means you get to enjoy the love and companionship of dogs while their owners are away. It’s the perfect way to brighten up your day! 🥰
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A big hello and welcome from all the dog sitting team at Barking Mad Washington, North and South Tyneside! I’m Sue, a life long dog lover and proud owner of a cocker spaniel called Daisy and a Chihuahua called Timmy. I truly believe that dogs are family and I’m delighted to be able to offer a real home-from-home alternative to kennels in Tyne and Wear.
From Chester-le-Street to Whitley Bay and everywhere in between, we are here to provide the ultimate peace of mind so that you can go away on your holiday, knowing that your dog is receiving experienced, loving care and enjoying a holiday of their own, with one of our carefully chosen and vetted host families.
We have dog sitters in Gateshead, Newcastle upon Tyne, Washington, Wallsend, South Shields, North Shields, Tynemouth and surrounding areas and are always looking for more dog lovers with spare time to help care for dogs who are on holiday. Being a Barking Mad host really is the part time alternative to dog ownership, without the financial and emotional commitment that comes with owning a dog. Our host families care for carefully matched, friendly dogs in their own homes for short stays. Everything is provided and we take care of insurance, administration and transport, as well as providing 24/7 support.
If you’d like to join our lovely team of host families, or enquire about holiday care for your canine best friend, please do call me on 0191 419 4242 or visit our website: