DOG lover Amanda Prentice is barking mad about her new business.

Amanda is the franchisee for Barking Mad Knutsford, which offers people the chance to care for dogs in their homes while their owners are away.

Amanda, from Cranage, has two dogs, Hugo, a Golden Doodle, and Harvey, a Coton de Tulear.

She said: “The community of Barking Mad host families mainly consists of active retired people and those who either work from home or have extended periods away from work.

“It offers the opportunity to care for dogs in your own home, while their owners are away on holiday.

“Hosts experience all the benefits of dog companionship without any of the emotional or financial responsibilities of full-time pet ownership.

“Whilst remote working has obvious advantages, working alone under pressure and not having the physical presence of a team to support you can lead to loneliness that can’t be fixed by any kind of app.

“Caring for a friendly dog not only provides canine cuddles - far better than any virtual hug - but also the motivation to go and take a walk at lunchtime, increasing the likelihood of adhering to new year fitness resolutions.

“For those who are retired or work from home and are spending large chunks of time alone, caring for a waggy-tailed companion on a temporary basis and meeting other like-minded dog lovers could really help to overcome feelings of isolation.

“The perception of loneliness as mainly an issue for the older generation is now proving inaccurate, as a study from the Office for National Statistics suggests young adults are more likely to feel lonely than older age groups.

“Due to huge advances in technology, the number of freelancers and remote workers is rising, with an article in Business Leader claiming that a ‘third of business owners think that workforce will work remotely by 2020’.”

For more details about Barking Mad Knutsford, which covers Knutsford, Holmes Chapel, Goostrey and Altrincham, email

amanda.prentice@barkingmad.uk.com, call 01565 760165 or visit barkingmad.uk.com/local/Cheshire/Knutsford