Friday 20 September 2013

True Love Ways

A was lucky enough to be interviewed by BBC Radio Northampton this lunchtime, as part of Helen Blaby’s show. They were discussing why we love dogs so much!

I asked my Facebook likers why, and as always was inundated with fantastic responses! You can listen to the full radio interview here for the next few days;



As always, feel free to join in our discussion on the Facebook page, or by emailing hello@barkitty.co.uk 

Instagram: @Barkitty12

Best Friends Forever

I absolutely LOVE the ThinkBox ad that’s on TV a lot at the moment, featuring Harvey (the Jack Russell) and has ‘best friend’, Rabbit (a slobbered-on, dirty, smelly old toy). If you haven’t seen it, view the ad here à http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-22bv8uFRLI







I asked my lovely Facebook ‘likers’ to send in pictures of their pets with their disgusting, most treasured, ‘best friend’ toys – and as usual, they did not disappoint! I’ve included a few of them below for your enjoyment, but to view them all visit the album here. https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.547115115344126.1073741840.274973055891668&type=3&uploaded=1

Instagram: @Barkitty12


Thursday 19 September 2013

A Harvest Hike

I took Bobby & Alfie on a lovely long walk yesterday, through the fields and tracks between Horton and Ravenstone in Northamptonshire. It was really relaxing actually, and the 3 of us thoroughly enjoyed it.

It’s funny because, at home, or in the shop, or any enclosed space, Alf & Bob constantly play fight like, well, dog and dog. As soon as they are in the great outdoors, they barely acknowledge each other and prefer to engross themselves in their own missions. Bobby just likes to find things for you to throw for him, and searches continuously for the next object. Alfie is intent on sniffing, then spraying any slightly upright object he sees. This normally means Bobby is way out in front, Alfie is hanging well back (sniffing something), and I am in the middle!

We got to see a few combine harvesters doing their thing, which was a very picturesque Autumnal sight.

The boys, of course, did manage to find the smelliest, dirtiest, blackest pond in the world, and gleefully swim in it before I could catch them up! All part of the fun I suppose, just hope they didn’t drink any!

I think Autumn is my favourite time of year to walk the dogs, and I’m not looking forward to the dark nights ahead. Oh well, at least I’ll get to wear my nice wellies again J


In the pictures Bobby is wearing his Puppia harness in the new colour, navy! You can buy yours here --> http://www.barkitty.co.uk/category_dog_harnesses_2.shtml

Instagram: @Barkitty12

Monday 16 September 2013

My Precious

We are very proud to be selling a very new, much talked about brand in Barkitty – which I’m sure will be a household name one day. We are going to launch it at the Conservative Party Conference at the end of this month, so we can’t wait for the feedback!




Precious Pets was established by Charlotte Nash in 2012 when she realised that there wasn’t a pet brand that truly appealed to her values of combining ‘Luxury, Quality, Exclusivity and Sustainability’.
She wanted a brand that offered quality and luxury, but was also wholesome, healthy and kind to the environment. In other words, a brand that had the beauty and glamour of top salons, but also contained the natural goodness of rustic green labels. As an avid animal lover and vegetarian, who cares deeply for the environment, but also enjoys the finer things in life, Charlotte strives to create a brand that delivers all these elements.
‘Just because you care for animal rights and the environment, doesn’t mean you shouldn’t expect luxury and quality.’ 

When shopping for dog shampoo, she could not find an attractive brand that contained both a gentle formula with natural ingredients, as well as offering high-end quality and a beautiful range of scents. This was important to her because, growing up, she and her brother Gregory had not been allowed a dog because their mother felt it would make the house smell. If she had a beautifully scented shampoo, this would not have been such a problem, which got Charlotte thinking.

After researching into this idea she realised she was not alone in wanting these different qualities in her shampoo and set about in making this product a reality. Thus the idea for the Precious Pets Luxury Dog Shampoo range was born. 
.
Precious Pets launched at Crufts (March 2013) with their range of Luxury Dog Shampoos that contain beautiful blends of essential oils, to give your dog a subtle, yet elegant aroma, as you wash them.
Simply Scentless - a nourishing shampoo for extra sensitive skin. The non-scented version of our naturally derived, gentle, low-lather luxury dog shampoo. Designed to enhance the natural qualities of all coat types.
Country Garden - the beautiful fusion of floral essential oil aromas.A scented version of our naturally derived, gentle, low-lather luxury dog shampoo.  Designed to enhance the natural qualities of all coat types.

Vanilla Dreams - the elegant, light blend of essential oils.A scented version of our naturally derived, gentle, low-lather luxury dog shampoo.Designed to enhance the natural qualities of all coat types. 

Precious Pets plans to introduce new scents to its range, as well as creating accompanying Conditioners with particular functions and dog Eau de toilettes, for in between washes. We also intend to branch into other areas of canine products with our company ethos, and eventually feline and equestrian supplies. It is Precious Pets’ mission to revolutionise the pet world with our unique innovative outlook!

If this isn’t enough, they have many endorsements from celebrities, Barkitty VIP’s, kennels and even Queen Elizabeth II, who said: “The products smell absolutely wonderful and it was most kind of you to send them”.



Instagram: @Barkitty12

Tuesday 10 September 2013

An evening with Puppia

I jumped on the train yesterday afternoon to head down to the Pet London & Puppia UK headquarters in central London. I had been invited to view their new AW13 collection, and I was certainly NOT disappointed!

The new products are amazing, and I know Barkitty customers will love them! Personal faviourites so far are the ‘Snowball’ harnesses, and reflective collars.





The Snowball harnesses are Brand New for this winter, and come in grey or brown, and in the original harness shape, or the jacket style – which is perfect for dogs who don’t like harnesses pulled on over their heads. Buy yours here http://www.barkitty.co.uk/category_dog_harnesses_1.shtml


I was first attracted to the reflective collar because it’s just so attractive; and I was sold when I saw the safety and practicality aspect! http://www.barkitty.co.uk/category_dog_collars_leads_1.shtml


A big range of ‘New for AW13’ products have just been uploaded onto the site, and this is just the start of the season, there’s lots more to come as we approach the Christmas period!


I really hope you like the new products, and of course, come in to the shop to try them on your doggies any time!

Instagram: @Barkitty12

Monday 9 September 2013

A Kodak moment

What a weekend! 55 dogs, 3 cats and 2 rabbits took part in the calender competition!



We have uploaded the 47 entries onto the Facebook page (see them here https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.543791692343135.1073741839.274973055891668&type=1), and the 12 with the most 'likes' will feature! The one picture with most 'likes' overall will win a canvas from Amour Pix! Please vote for your favourite. You can vote for as many pets as you like, but only the amount of ‘likes’ on the ORIGINAL picture I posted will be counted.
The winners will be the top 12 at 7pm on September 16th, 2013.


Thanks so much to Sarah & Mike for their hard work this weekend, and thanks also to everyone who took part!

Instagram: @Barkitty12

Sunday 1 September 2013

Beautiful Bedtimes

It’s always very exciting when we welcome a new supplier to Barkitty, especially when the products are so awesome! We have a new range of faux leather beds, which suit every home and dog!


The Oxford I and Oxford II are classically elegant, and ooze class. The Richmond in Chocolate and black are suitable for the most discerning dogs, however the white, red and even pink will be adored by the most fabulous fidos!
There’s a small selection in store, so come in and try before you buy. They are truly amazing, and I’m sure you’ll love them as much as I do!


Instagram: @Barkitty12

Tuesday 27 August 2013

Three Little Piggies went to market...

Ahh yesterday was such a fantastic day, I’m still basking in it! Jason, Alfie and I drove down to Old Spitalfields Market laden with Barkitty goodies!


The capital’s coolest canines strutted their stuff in a sensational fashion show at Old Spitalfields Market on Bank Holiday Monday, 26th August.


We met so many interesting new people, like-minded pet boutique owners and of course, gorgeous pooches! Alfie even got his first taste of doggy icecream – I’ll definitely be stocking it next summer!

It was hard work, but so worthwhile. BIG HELLO to everyone we met, keep in touch, and I can’t wait to see you next year!

Instagram: @Barkitty12

Monday 26 August 2013

Canagan Update

I thought I’d give you a bit of an update on Alfie and Jasmine’s new food regime. They are both doing really well with the Canagan kibble, and we’re definitely going to stick with it.

Alfie the Chocolate Labrador is being exceptionally fussy at the moment. He is suffering with hayfever, and the heatwave of recent weeks seems to have taken his appetite for dog food (not human food I may add). So we are giving him about ¾ of the recommended amount of Canagan kibble along with a couple of big spoonfuls of Lily’s Kitchen wet food. The meat entices him to dive in quicker, and it’s a good way of hiding a Piriton tablet! His favourite combination is the Salmon kibble, and Lily’s Kitchen Fishy Fish Pie with Peas.



Jasmine the cat is now 7 and a half, and we noticed that quite often she wasn’t digesting her meat as well as usual. It often made her sick after eating it, and after discussing this with her vet we decided to remove the wet food from her diet and see if things improved. I’m pleased to say it did. She is getting all of her nutritional requirements from the kibble, and she’s gained some weight back. Her coat’s looking good (with the help of a FURminator of course), and she seems to have plenty of energy. We noticed she has been drinking much more water since we switched her to dry. She hardly used to drink from her bowl at all, but now she does. On really hot days I did sometimes add a couple of spoonfuls of Lily’s Kitchen Chicken or Fish wet food, just to make sure she was getting enough hydration.

So, I’d say it’s going really well with two very healthy happy pets under my roof!


Monday 12 August 2013

Dedicated Followers of Barkitty

Wow this is my 100th blog! It seems to be a landmark week as we’re fast approaching 5,000 Facebook ‘likers’ and 1,000 Twitter followers! That’s incredible!

I can’t believe how much support the Barkitty Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest pages receive.


Thank you to each and every man, woman, dog and cat (!) who have joined me, I really appreciate it and hope you enjoy what we do. If you haven’t clicked on us, why not? Don’t delay, do it today! J


Instagram: @Barkitty12

Jolly Holidays

Jason, Alfie and I have just returned from a few days on the Yorkshire coast, which have been great. My number one objective for the year was to get Alfie on the beach for the first time, and we definitely did that.

It was so nice to be out and about in the sunshine and enjoy the British summertime! I’ve never seen a dog so happy as Alfie, as he ran around after his ball in the sand! We managed to encourage his swimming in the sea too, but it did mean getting in up to our waists, which was a bit nippy at times!

We found 3 really great dog friendly beaches in Scarborough, Filey and Whitby, and 2 great places to eat with him alongside us too.

If you visit Whitby Abbey (http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/daysout/properties/whitby-abbey/) you are made to feel very welcome with your dog. We parked at the Abbey and paid £6.40 each to get in, then we were able to wander through the grounds, and into the museums with Alfie on a lead. We sat outside for a spot of lunch, then took the 199 steps past the church into the seaside town. After an amble through the busy streets, we stopped off at the dog beach for a run around. Alfie got absolutely covered in sand here, as he was just skidding and rolling around with joy!

We went to Ox Pasture Hall (http://www.oxpasturehallhotel.com/) for dinner and ate in the beautiful Bistro there. Alfie was very welcome to sit alongside us as we dined. The food was great, and beautifully presented. I fell in love with this place a little bit! Tasty and stylish grub, a big cool glass of chilled Pinot Grigio and my Chocolate Lab at my feet! Perfect!

The best beach we found was Hunmanby Bay, which is situated near Filey, between Scarborough and Bridlington. You can park for £2.50 for a whole day, and there’s plenty to do for a few hours. You can walk the long length of the beach to find a variety of cafes and beach huts for refreshments. There are plenty of dogs wandering around, but the beach is so huge you’re not bumping in to each other. If you have a dog who is less confident around other dogs, you can easily find your own private space to enjoy. Alfie was in and out of the sea for hours, and had a really, really great time there. So many things to sniff around, and plenty of waves to jump in. I liked Hunmanby Beach so much I would definitely consider visiting there even for the day, just to see Alfie so happy!

The other dog friendly beach we visited was North Bay in Scarborough, which is smaller, but still well worth a visit. There is a restaurant on the edge of the beach called Blue Crush Bar & Restaurant (http://bluecrushbar.com/), which allows dogs inside with you before 6pm. If you’re eating later than that (as we did), they can sit outside with you on the seafront with stunning views. We weren’t sure what the food would be like, but I have to say it was very good indeed, and really well presented again.

If you’re looking for a day out with your pooch (if you’re located near enough) or a few days break, I truly recommend the Yorkshire Coast.




Instagram: @Barkitty12

Thursday 1 August 2013

On the Market


Yay! We will be at The Paw Pageant at Old Spitalfields Market on Bank Holiday Monday, the 26th August!




Come and see us there from 10am, we can’t wait!

Instagram: @Barkitty12

Monday 22 July 2013

Barkitty on the Move!

Jason, Alfie and I took Barkitty to the road this weekend and went to The Pet Show in Stoneleigh Park in Warwickshire. It was so much fun, and we met so many great people, and doggies of course!

It was a great chance to promote the shop, and see how our products are received by new customers. We also saw lots of familiar faces too! It was also a fantastic way to view new products, and get ideas for Autumn/Winter.

We were positioned opposite Hawksmoor Hydrotherapy, and I had to mention what a lovely team of people they are. Jason and I even learnt a bit of animal CPR from them which was very interesting. I didn’t know too much about animal hydrotherapy before, so I didn’t realise the huge benefits from it. I highly recommend the wonderful team of dog lovers there if it’s something you’ve been considering. http://www.hawksmoorhydrotherapy.com/


Thanks to everyone who came to say hello, and if you haven’t already don’t forget to join our Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest pages!




Instagram: @Barkitty12

Tuesday 16 July 2013

This takes the Biscuit!

I’m really excited to unveil a new product category on the website (and in the shop, of course), which is pet charms and I.D. tags!







At Barkitty, we don’t do ‘run of the mill’ and have sourced these quirky handmade charms! They are hand modelled and finished with sterling silver to make them really durable. The quality is excellent, and they are a real head turner!

Buy yours here http://www.barkitty.co.uk/category_id_tags_charms_1.shtml


Instagram: @Barkitty12

Sunday 14 July 2013

The Big Three-Ohhhhh


Thank you so much to my lovely customers who took the time to wish me a happy 30th birthday yesterday, and brought some lovely cards and gifts to me!



I had a fantastic weekend celebrating and am very grateful as always…

Tuesday 2 July 2013

Once Bitten...

I was really worried last night when Alfie came running in from the garden with one very swollen eye. We weren’t sure what was happening, so Jason bathed it gently with water, and I called the vet.

From our detailed explanation of his symptoms they thought it sounded like a bite or a sting, and recommended we give him Piriton tablets, which we did. Always seek medical advice before giving your pet any tablets, of course, but it really helped to reduce the swelling and it’s pretty much back to normal this morningl.

I just wanted to write this to make you aware of the increased risks of bites and stings in the summer, and not to panic if the same thing happens to your dog. Stay calm and give your vet a call. Unfortunately there’s nothing you can do to stop it happening, but just be vigilant and look out for insect nests in your garden before your pet finds them!

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Quick, Look at the Birdy!

I have shared the pictures from Alfie’s party on my Facebook page, but for those of you who haven’t seen them, they are available to download below;






Any problems give me a call on 01327 349328


Lisa x

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Delapre Abbey

It was really nice this morning to take Alfie, Bobby and my new nephew, George, for a walk and lunch at Delapre Abbey. It’s a really lovely walk around there, with a wooded section, to lakes, to lots of open ground too. It’s very dog friendly too, with plenty of dogs around.


We sat outside for lunch, and it was really reasonable with lovely service. They even brought out some doggy biscuits with our lunch! I highly recommend it as a place to walk the dog, and/or meet up with other dog owner buddies.



See their website here for more information; http://delapreabbey.org/

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