March 20, 2020

To our Barksdale family and community—as concerns around Coronavirus (COVID-19) continue, we remain diligent in evaluating the latest information at local and national levels. Being prepared for our families and our dogs is an important priority.

You may already be aware of the basic steps you can take; listed here are some other guidelines for your convenience.

  1. Order extra dog food
  2. Stock cleaning supplies and disinfectants
  3. Talk to your vet about any concerns you may have; keep their contact numbers and clinic info on hand for urgent questions and/or emergencies
  4. Medications- get sufficient medications for both you and your dogs ( at least a two week supply)
  5. Practice good self-care—wash your hands with soap for 20 seconds, eat healthy foods, drink plenty of fluids and get rest
  6. Exercise with your dog—get outdoors and breathe in the fresh air (staying away from crowds)
  7. Update yourself with info from reputed sources like the CDC: https://www.cdc.gov/.

Is my pet at risk from the Covid-19 Coronavirus or will my pet infect me?

According to WHO (World Health Organization), there is no evidence to suggest that dogs and cats have become ill with the virus or become a source of infection in humans or other animals.

  •  If your dog is usually at home and doesn’t contact other dogs or people, the odds that your pet would become infected are highly unlikely.
  • If you have the symptoms of Covid-19 and are infected, restrict your contact with pets and animals just like you would with other people.
  • Avoid direct contact with pets including petting, snuggling, being kissed or licked and sharing food.
  • If you must care for your pet, wash your hands before and after pet interaction, wear a facemask as directed by your physician.
  • As a matter of routine health, wash your hands with soap and water after contact with pets to avoid transmission of more common illness causing agents like salmonella and E. coli.
  • To protect your pet from respiratory diseases, vaccinate your pet for Bordtella.

A Change to Our Puppy Procedures

Using Technology
We strive to maintain good communication with our new forever families and guardian homes in these stressful and uncertain times.

  • Barksdale Labradoodles will be using video conferencing options instead of having in-person, on site visits to Barksdale’s headquarters in Magee, Mississippi.
  • We will be giving you a PowerPoint or electronic document for puppy’s go home packet.
  • Barksdale’s Puppy Coordinator will walk you through Barksdale’s Puppy 101 Course. If you can’t do video conferencing, or have an aversion to it, she will walk you through it by phone contact.
  • You will still pickup your puppy at the designated Nursery or Rising Fawn home, but this will be a limited contact of picking up your puppy and/or your puppy kit and will not be an hour-long Puppy Course.
  • As always, your Barksdale Puppy Coordinator will be available to you by email, text or phone. We are just adding Video Conferencing to this continuing information.

Puppy Transport

» Air

  • If you are brave enough to fly domestically in the United States and wish to keep your dog with you, remember that transportation of a dog in the Standard Passenger Seating Area remains on the floor under the front of the seat.
  • It is also limited to 20 pounds of dog and travel bag. Larger dogs would be required to ride in a crate in the hold of the airplane, unless you have a service animal.
  • If you are able to fly with your pet, bring a cup to put water in (you can get a bottle of water in the secure area of the airport). A few treats would also be acceptable.

» Road Trip

  • Travel should be well planned, including stops for fuel and puppy breaks.
  • Bring supplies for travel including puppy food, bottles of water, bows, pee pads, disinfectants, washable towels, toys and treats
  • Crate your pups during travel. A tray and crate can be set up for potty area to avoid crowded rest areas.
  • Consider having a travel companion that can care for the pup if you are the designated driver.
  • Secure items in the car so the pups cannot access them if loads shift or if the vehicle stops suddenly.