Bark N Barrel LLC

08/18/2025

07/08/2025

To all my fellow dog professionals —

You are valued. You are worthy. You are not your clients’ personal assistants, and you are certainly not their servants.

I saw a post today about how burnt out so many pet pros are — and I felt it in my soul. The constant texts, calls, emails. The pressure to respond instantly. The expectation that we should be available at all times, as if we’re just sitting by the phone waiting to be summoned.

Let me be clear: that is not okay.

If a client doesn’t respect your time, your boundaries, or the fact that you’re a human with a life outside of work — it’s time to let them go.

I know it’s scary. I used to believe I had to keep those clients. I bent over backwards for people who didn’t value me, thinking I couldn’t afford to lose them. But here’s the truth: you absolutely can.

Because the right clients — the ones who see your worth, who respect your time, who understand that you deserve a vacation too — they’re out there. And when you make space for them by letting go of the ones who drain you, you’ll find a renewed joy in your work.

This job is hard enough. You deserve to do it surrounded by people who uplift and appreciate you.

So don’t settle. You’re not “just” a dog walker, trainer, groomer, sitter, or daycare owner — you are a professional. You are a leader in your field. You make a difference every single day.

Hold your standards high. The right people will rise to meet them.

07/06/2025

Still no sighting of this sweet senior girl, At this point her owners are hoping that someone may have just picked her up. The only sighting they had was July 4th, Bailey got out and normally stays near her property/yard . But this time was different, the owner’s neighbors decided to light off fireworks early which spooked her and she ran.

Her owners have covered the area on foot and posted flyers all around, they have even checked in ditches etc and still no Bailey.
Bailey does have a medical condition and she really needs to be home where she belongs ❤️

Hopefully someone turns her in on Monday

06/12/2025

The burning questions I get all the time
👇🏼
Yes — they all get along.
Yes — they go through a process before joining the program.
Yes — we pick up their p**p (you’re welcome).
Yes — they’re well-behaved.
Yes — we train along the way.
Yes — they get water breaks.
Yes — you can snap a picture.
Yes — sniffing is allowed and encouraged.
Yes — they can potty when they need to.
Yes — I protect them like they’re my own.
Yes — I love them like family.

And now for the no’s:
No — you can’t pet them.
No — they don’t chase squirrels.
No — they’re not all from a rescue.
No — they’re not from the shelter.
No — they don’t fight each other.
No — your dog can’t “just say hi.”
No — they’re not all mine (though I wouldn’t complain).

Structured. Safe. Loved.
That’s how we roll. 🐾✨

06/09/2025

The big field got mowed, the dandelions are in full bloom, the sun is shining it’s a beautiful 75 degrees and the pups are loving life!

04/24/2025

We are headed into fire season within the next few months and Santa Rosa wants to shut one down!

Please sign the petition to help save our fire station that we so desperately need.

The Santa Rosa City Council claims to support public safety but they just voted to support extreme cuts to the fire department!At the April 15th council meeting, Mayor Mark Stapp motioned to support millions in cuts to the city budget, including “blacking out” a full engine or truck company. T....

03/20/2025

Not every dog is a social butterfly, and that’s completely okay!

✨ It’s okay if your dog isn’t a big player.

✨ It’s okay if they don’t go wild with every dog they meet.

✨ It’s okay if they’re picky about their playmates.

✨ It’s okay if they’d rather bask in the sun than wrestle.

✨ It’s okay if they only get along with a few dogs.

✨ It’s okay if they’re shy at first.

✨ It’s okay if they take a few days to come out of their shell.

✨ It’s okay if they prefer sniffing to running around.

IT’S OKAY!

Dogs, just like people, have their own personalities. They don’t need to fit into the “perfect dog” stereotype you see on TV. That doesn’t mean something is wrong with them—it just means they’re themselves.

Some dogs thrive in certain situations or with certain friends, and that’s totally normal. Let’s celebrate them for who they are—because they’re already perfect! ❤️🐾

03/18/2025

Spring Break = Puppy Playcation! ☀️🐶

It’s that time of year—busier than Christmas and Thanksgiving combined! With so many pups here, our usual walks turn into extra-long playdays filled with new friendships, wrestling matches, and plenty of fun with old pals. 💛🐾

This is exactly why I require all boarding dogs to be either regular daycare attendees or established boarding clients during holiday weekends and peak seasons. It keeps things stress-free, safe, and FUN for everyone! Since they all know each other and have passed my strict onboarding process, it’s one big happy pack.

A full house = full hearts (and very tired pups at the end of the day)! 🐕💤

02/20/2025

“Omg, how do they all get along?!?!”

I swear, this is the #1 question I get when walking my pack. And honestly, it always makes me wonder… Is there some underground dog fight club I don’t know about? Do most people just assume dogs are naturally aggressive?

Here’s the thing—dogs don’t wake up thinking, “Today, I’m going to go out and pick a fight.” They don’t instinctively want to be aggressive (unless trained to be). Most dogs who do get into fights—whether at the dog park, in a play yard, or after slipping off-leash—are acting out of fear. Only 1% of dogs are genetically aggressive.

They fight because they feel like they have no other option, or because they don’t trust that their owner can handle the situation.

So yes, my pack dogs do get along—really well, actually! They function as a cohesive pack because they’ve been given the right structure, guidance, and leadership.

What people really mean to say is, “Wow, they all behave so well together!” And that’s exactly it.

These dogs aren’t just randomly grouped together for the day. They see each other weekly and work as a team.

Their good behavior comes from proper introductions, patience, routine, and trust—not luck.

If we just threw a bunch of unfamiliar dogs together without a plan, then I’d understand the shock!

So no, there’s no secret magic here—just experience, leadership, and a pack that knows how to work together.

02/11/2025

What if walking a dog was a million-dollar job?

Imagine someone handed you a million dollars to walk a dog. How would you show up? Would you bring more energy, focus, and care? Would you tap into a version of yourself that’s driven, unstoppable, and fully present?

Now, what if you approached everything that way? Not just walking dogs, but checking emails, answering calls, talking to clients, snapping photos, or handling paperwork.

The truth is, the potential has been there all along. You don’t need a million-dollar paycheck to operate at your highest level—you just need the mindset. Because how you do anything is how you do everything.

So today, show up like the best version of yourself. The results might just be life-changing.

01/27/2025

Be Different. Be Weird. Be “Out of the Norm.”

Do the thing that people think is crazy. Be unrealistic.

We’re constantly told to get a 9-to-5, find a stable job, grind it out, climb the corporate ladder, start a family, and live the classic suburban dream.

There’s nothing wrong with that—it’s just not for everyone.

It wasn’t for me. I had visions that were “unrealistic.” Dreams that seemed crazy to most people. I had hopes, drive, and an unwavering determination to chase those dreams. No matter what people said. No matter what people thought. No matter what challenges I faced.

Come hell or high water, I was going to follow that “unrealistic” dream until I either conquered it—or crashed and burned.

And if I crashed and burned? Oh well. At least I tried. Maybe that failure was just the universe’s way of redirecting me, nudging me toward another path or a new approach.

Truth is, I did crash and burn. More times than I’d like to admit. But each time, I stepped back, reevaluated, and kept going.

So, if you have an out-of-the-norm idea, if there’s something “unrealistic” you want to do—DO IT.

If you crash and burn, don’t let that stop you. Step back, rethink, and attack it from a new angle. Or pivot. Find a new path.

Don’t be afraid to try something new. Don’t fear stepping out of the norm. Follow where your soul takes you.

I promise—it will be everything you hoped for and more.

01/13/2025

🌟 Happy New Year! 🎉 I know, I know – I’m a little late to the party, and I’ve been MIA for a bit. But let’s be real, the holidays around here are always wild, and I’ve been taking some much-needed time for myself before jumping into the new year. 😌

While everyone else is setting goals, I’ve decided to focus on mindset shifts for 2025.

🙌✨ Instead of chasing outcomes or pressure, I’m shifting how I approach both my business and my life. Here are 6 key mindset shifts I’m embracing this year for my dog business:

1️⃣ My prices reflect my experience, energy, and the outcome I deliver, not just my worth. This year, I’m setting clear boundaries around value. 💡

2️⃣ Social media is a tool for my business, not my whole business. I’m letting go of the pressure to be “everywhere” and focusing on quality over quantity. 📲

3️⃣ My style of working with dogs will evolve as I do. I’m open to change and growth, always learning, adapting, and improving my methods. 🐾

4️⃣ I’m here to build connections and a supportive community, not just to grow followers or collect likes. Authentic relationships over numbers every time. 🤝💖

5️⃣ Making time for myself is just as important as my work. I’ll prioritize self-care and recharge so I can show up fully for my clients and dogs. 🧘‍♀️

6️⃣ Sharing my journey and authentic energy is just as important as sharing my life with dogs. I’m more than my work – and I want to share all parts of who I am with you. 🌱

Here’s to a year of growth, evolution, and staying true to who we are. 💫 Cheers to 2025! 🥂