A LEADING dog-sitting service owes some of its success to a Kendal web firm.

Barking Mad, based at Kirkby Lonsdale, arranges holidays for dogs when their owners need to go away.

The company has expanded significantly since setting up in 2000 and have earned a reputation for efficiency, in part to the website development work carried out for them by SYPO of Kendal.

SYPO have created a web service to accommodate dog owners who want to register, potential franchises who are looking at the business opportunity and also host families looking to get involved.

The website handles bookings and registrations. As an added value, the SYPO team, led by Alan Jewitt, have monitored dog owner post-code searches which give the company a steer on where they need to promote franchise opportunities.

SYPO also sets up the individual profile pages when a new franchisee joins Barking Mad.

"We have created and developed a comprehensive range of web services for Barking Mad which has enabled them to grow into a very successful franchise business, as well as being very clearly the leaders in temporary dog-care arrangements," said Alan Jewitt. "Our team here has enjoyed the challenges set by the different needs of the business."

Barking Mad MD Lee Dancy said: "Alan, Graham and the SYPO team have always been very responsive with excellent ideas and solutions for the requirements we throw at them which has really helped our business move forward.

"Having good customer service and an understanding of your customer’s needs is the most important part of a long standing business relationship and SYPO have demonstrated this time and time again."