Beorn's Bark Bus News (August 10th)

Ride Highlights: A Day at Winterpast Farm

As often as possible, the Bark Bus rolled out to our favorite spot — Winterpast Farm’s Forest Dog Playground in Wake Forest. Just minutes from Falls Lake, this four-acre, fully fenced private dog park is a paradise for off-leash adventures. Picture shady pine forest trails, open grassy areas for sprints, and plenty of space for sniffing and exploring.

The farm is stocked with dog-friendly amenities like agility equipment, splash pads, tennis balls, and even hammocks for the humans. We had the whole place to ourselves — just our group of dogs, running free in nature while we relaxed under the trees. It’s an experience we have in our regular rotation, and a perfect example of how every Bark Bus trip is a little different, but always packed with tail wags.

The Easiest Way to Book? Just Text Us.

We’ve noticed that almost all our bookings are coming in by text — and we love it. It’s quick and simple for you and for us. You don’t need to log in or fill out forms; just send us a message at our business line 919-438-3405 or respond to one our our personal numbers and we will get the booking set up in our calendar!

So skip the extra steps — just text us, and your dog’s next adventure is booked.

Summer Safety: Keeping Dogs Cool in August

Even short walks in August heat can be tough on our four-legged friends. When temperatures rise, dogs can overheat quickly — especially breeds with thick coats or short snouts. That’s why our outings are always planned with shady stops, fresh water breaks, and plenty of time to rest between play sessions.

At home, keep an eye out for signs of heat stress like excessive panting, drooling, or slowing down on walks. Early morning or evening exercise, paw checks for hot pavement, and access to cool water can make a big difference. And if you’re not around during the day, you know who’s happy to give your dog a safe, fun, and well-supervised adventure — us!

Adventure Buddy Matchmaking

One of the things that makes Bark Bus trips so special is the friendships that form between our riders. Dogs often find a buddy with a similar play style — whether it’s high-energy chase games, wrestling matches, or side-by-side sniffing patrols.

We do our best to pair dogs with the friends they’ve made on previous outings, so their playtime is always a great fit for their personality. If your dog has a best buddy from the neighborhood, let us know — we’ll try to coordinate so they can ride together and make their next adventure even better.

Updated Schedule: Morning & All-Day Adventures

We’ve made a small change to our schedule — we’re no longer offering a regular afternoon half-day session. Most of our riders prefer morning pickups, so going forward you can book either a morning session or an all-day adventure.

If you ever need an afternoon half-day, just reach out. We may be able to accommodate on a case-by-case basis, depending on the day’s route.

Foster Dogs Ride for Free

We’re excited to share that we’re working on adding foster dogs to our Bark Bus adventures — and they’ll ride for free! We’re already in touch with a few local foster programs to arrange trips, and we hope to welcome our first foster riders soon.

If you know a foster dog in the Raleigh area, put them in touch with us. Just like with all our riders, foster dogs will go through our usual screening for temperament and vaccinations before joining the fun. Keep an eye on our Instagram for updates as we get this rolling.

Let’s Get Your Dog on the Bus

We have space on the Bark Bus every day, and we’re happy to adjust our route to make pickups work for you. Just let us know what you need, and we can coordinate the best days for your schedule.

Whenever possible, we pair dogs with the friends they’ve made on past trips — matching play styles and temperaments so everyone has the best time. If your dog hasn’t been out with us in a while, now’s the perfect time to get them back on board.