BARK Confessions of a Dog Trainer blog

11/04/2024

The Thrill of the Chase, and why chasing your dog might not be the best idea...

One of the games that Penny, a one year old Yellow Lab, loves to play is “chase me.” Also known as “keepaway.” Outside in the yard, the kids run after Penny all around the fenced yard until everyone collapses into a tired but happy heap.This game is not intrinsically wrong. All the family me...

11/02/2024

Barking...but from your dog's point of view!

Sally Mae is a terrier mix with a tendency to vocalize. That is, she barks. A lot. She barks to be let outside. She barks to come back in. She barks at the kitchen cabinet that has a box of treats in it. She barks at the pantry where her bag of dog food resides. She barks at the doorbell. She barks....

10/07/2024

12/23/2021

Afraid of….everything

Just like the shy little kid who hides behind her mother’s legs rather than talk to anyone, Aristotle is wary and skittish around people. And other dogs. And cars. And bags. And, well, everything.

Continue reading here!

Just like the shy little kid who hides behind her mother’s legs rather than talk to anyone, Aristotle is wary and skittish around people. And other dogs. And cars. And bags. And, well, everything. Aristotle, or Ari for short, is a 10 month old spaniel mix recently rescued from a shelter in Tenness...

09/29/2021

If you haven't visited my new blog location yet, here is a post about enthusiastic greetings to get you started!

Chickie is a Spaniel mix, sweet-faced and sweet-natured. Her human companions had driven 3 hours in the pouring rain to pick her up. Yes, Chickie is one of those "pandemic pups" you've heard about. Some people staying home during the Covid-19 lockdowns decided there was no better time to adopt a dog...

07/03/2021

I’m reworking the blog posts (over 1,000 of them since 2009!) in their new home. Stop by my website for a visit and see what you think 🐾🐾

Rachel R. BaumFeb 223 minWe're Retired! Let's Get a Puppy!There are two kinds of retiring dog owner. The first kind has an older dog that they adore. But they know that, when he passes, they have...2 views0 commentsPost not marked as liked

02/20/2021

We're retired! Let's get a puppy!
https://rachelrbaum.wixsite.com/my-site/blog

02/08/2021

On the road again...

Back in 2009, the great Michael Huber, formerly of the Times Union, asked me to write a dog training blog for the TU, which I have been doing ever since for the past 12 years.

Last week, I learned that the community blog page of the online TU was going to be removed, so I wrote one more post to mark that milestone.

The Bark! blog will continue on my own website, noted below. The blog archives will eventually be there, too. Thank you thank you to Bark! readers ❤️🐾🐾❤️

https://rachelrbaum.wixsite.com/my-site/blog

https://blog.timesunion.com/bark/moving-on/3723/

Who was it that said “All good things must end?” Certainly not your dog on a walk. Or your dog getting attention. Or chowing down on kibble. Your dog would say “Hey! This is great…

08/30/2020

If your dog coughs, limps, or sneezes and you know nothing is wrong....

8 year old Murray is a well-behaved Bichon Frise. He lives with a retired couple who adore him and give him a very cushy life, with the best dog food, veterinary care, and stylish clothing money ca…

08/07/2020

In the summer, your dog likes to (fill in the blank) with you!

I saw a car go by today with a woman driving, a small dog on her lap, his head out the open window. Driving with a dog on your lap is wrong on so many levels (distraction, proximity to lethal steer…

06/25/2020

Your dog can't do it, but he really really wants to!

I’m at a lesson to help with a common dog problem. For demonstration purposes, one of the family members goes to the door and selects a leash from the hooks on the wall. A piercing dog howl r…