Thank you for showing an interest in Burnside Home Boarding Ltd and considering our services for your cherished dogs.

Our story:

Burnside Home Boarding Ltd started operating in late June 2024.

Our little Jack Russell x Corgi Penny, at age 16, was PTS in February 2024 after a very brief decline, and knowing then I would never be a dog Mum again, I really was determined to put my knowledge, experience and love for dogs to some use elsewhere.

Penny had been my everything, my life for those 16 years, and like many dog owners, I’m sure you understand the heartache that you suffer after losing a dog. So I knew many years ago that I’d never own another dog, Penny imprinted my heart from day one, there would never be another Penny.

However, Home boarding was always just ‘an idea’, but following my loss of Penny & the more I read about this type of service, the more I realised there was a real shortage of excellent boarders in our locality, I felt a need to offer this service, having so much love to offer to dogs.

I knew I didn't wish to become part of a franchise, I wanted this venture to be managed solely by myself & my husband, who helps me enormously by the way. I had a small knowledge of business but a great knowledge of dogs, I  knew I had so much to offer to dogs, treating them like my own, caring and loving them like my own, giving families the peace of mind they’d be looked after to the highest of standards, I understood owners anxieties when leaving their dogs, I was the same, I’d been there.

In late June 2024 after months of preparing T&C documents, booking forms and undergoing training in order to meet compliance guidelines and standards, we were inspected by Northumberland County Council and licenced with 4 stars for 3 years.

Our licence number is NAB/299. We are insured, DBS clear, First Aid trained, hold a Pet Sitting and Dog Walking Diploma and currently studying Canine Communications.

All Certificates, DBS, Licence and Insurance can be viewed during meet and greet appointments. We are also a verified member of Professional Dog Businesses UK, which ensures we have been vetted and verified as a registered business in this field.

Where are we located and what do we offer:

We are situated between Haltwhistle and Greenhead CA8 7 directly from the A69. We have no near or adjoining neighbours, nor do we have unannounced visitors.

Our gardens have been adapted to be secure for small to medium breed dogs, we have gated access which is lockable when a dog is with us and have plenty garden space for dogs to enjoy outdoors between walks. 

We accept same households with a maximum of two dogs, on occasions we will accept 2 dogs from 2 related families where dogs have spent lots of time together and are already integrated, although a trial stay would be required.

The dogs who board with us live in our own home with us, we have gates between each room so same household dogs can still have their own space should they wish during rest times, during the day we close the gate along to the bedrooms, but during evenings these are also accessible, we appreciate some dogs prefer to sleep in the bedroom with their owners and bed space is often shared with humans.

We have beautiful countryside on our doorstep so the majority of our walks are from home, although we do often travel/transport short distances to walk in other locations. A short 1.5mile walk and we are on Hadrians wall and there is a lovely country park near us too.

Number of walks is dependant upon the boarding plan you stipulate for your dog, some dogs like 2-3 short walks, others 2 longer walks, elderly dogs may just require a short walk and garden time. We will work and adhere to whatever schedule you wish. All dogs will receive enrichment, canine enrichment includes any safe, dog-appropriate activity that gives your pet a richer, fuller life, we are happy to contribute to this during their stay.

Younger dogs (or older if the case may be), we are also happy to continue any training you may have started, just advise us of your dogs needs during a meet and greet.

We carry out daily welfare checks to boarding dogs, including checking paws, coat, ear, eyes, teeth, along with ensuring your dog is eating, drinking and doing business as he/she should be.

We understand how important your dog’s health and wellbeing is to you, so we have covered every policy and procedure relating to our service, these are required by licensing and we encourage all new clients to read these thoroughly (will be emailed to all new clients & existing should they wish to re-familiarise).

We have the following in situ at Burnside Home Boarding Ltd:

• CCTV on our premises
• Smoke Alarms
• Carbon Monoxide Alarms
• Temperature gauges
• Lockable gated entrance, anti-dig fence line, secured hedgeline and some stone wall boundaries
• First Aid equipment, Fire extinguishers and fire blankets
• Fans/Heaters for hot or cold weather (Heaters used in supervised areas only)
• Spare blankets, towels, harnesses, collars, leads, bowls,  Isolation hold area incase of infectious disease
• Paddling pool for hot weather
• Enrichment toys - Kongs, Treat Balls, Lick Mats, Tug Toys, Squeaky Toys, Ball, Ball Thrower, Chew Toys
• Licence ID tag for boarding dog collars