Barks and Rec. Animal Training and Behavior

04/26/2025

Congratulations to the newest Junior Ranger (our intermediate obedience class) graduates: Frankie, Norm, and Rosie! 🎓 Kudos to these pups and their people on a job well done. 👏

04/25/2025

What a cool example of positive reinforcement training at the Bronx Zoo! All species of animals can be taught through positive reinforcement. If it works for hyenas, we promise it can work for your dog, too. 😉

Ready to get started? Visit barkranger.net to register for our upcoming classes!

04/22/2025

Calling all nosework students! There are still a few days left to register for the Grand Traverse Kennel Club’s May Scent Work trials.

Let us know if you plan to be there! 👍

**STILL TIME LEFT TO ENTER**
*Day of Show fees start after April 26th*

Download the Premium Here:
https://grandtraversekennelclub.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/2025-May-Premium-2.pdf
Register Online Here:
https://grandtraversekennelclub.com/scentwork-entry/
Join Remind App Class:
https://www.remind.com/join/tcscent525

04/22/2025

New Time slot for Agility Fundamentals and so much more!

Pup Explorers: (Socialization for everyone under 20 weeks) Tuesdays at 10:00am or Fridays at 6:00pm Pup Scouts: (Manners and life skills for 3-12 months) May 6th @ 6:00pm - FULL May 15th @ 6:00pm - 2 spaces left May 13th @ 11:15am June 7th @ 10:00am Junior Scouts: (Manners and life skills for 12 mon...

04/21/2025

Junior Scouts this Wednesday @ 6:00pm

We have a few spaces left in this Wednesdays Junior Scout class at 6:00pm. This class is great for older beginner's or puppies who have graduated pup scouts but need more practice before the intermediate classes.

04/18/2025

Oh no we forgot to post this wonderful group of pup scout graduates. Belated congratulations to Tundra, Pike, Muncie, Rosie, and Cosmo

04/17/2025

We’re celebrating our newest Agility Fundamentals graduates today! 🎓 Congrats to Chance, Rosie, and Zoe (who was unable to join us for graduation night). 🎉

04/14/2025

Upcoming Weekend Workshops

Our weekend workshops are a great way to learn something new without the weekly commitments.

04/11/2025

Four Weeks To Better Greetings 4/23

Open to all skill levels and in the Evenings!

04/09/2025

We loved working with Rubin and his family, and are thrilled to hear of all the progress he’s been making. 🐾 Thank you, Katelyn, for this awesome 5 ⭐️ review!

04/09/2025

It was an honor to host Mighty Mac and his Cherryland Humane Society family for a day of Bucket List fun at our facility today!

Our hearts are with the CHS team and volunteers as they prepare to say goodbye to Mac later this week. ❤️‍🩹 You can read more about Mighty Mac’s story on the Cherryland Humane Society page.

04/02/2025

🚨 NEW Intro to Nosework graduates alert!! Congratulations to Shalda, Stinky, and Rufus (not pictured) for putting their super sniffers to work in this class. We can’t wait to see where your noses take you in life! 😉

03/29/2025

We’re also celebrating six new Pup Scouts and their proud parents today! 🤩 Way to go Frankie, Joe, Milo, Rosie, Shadow, Zayla, and families. You’ve built a strong foundation for training and have set your puppies up for success into their “teenage” months and beyond. Keep up the great work! 🎉

03/29/2025

Happy graduation day to our newest group of Junior Scouts: Jazzy, Remi, Rosie, and Rufio (and not pictured: Pip)! These dogs have made incredible progress during this class and are well on their way to mastering their loose leash walking skills, focus, and distraction training. Bravo! 👏

03/25/2025

RSVP for In-Person Orientation

Sunday, March 30th @ 4:00pm

03/24/2025

Movement puzzle workship this Sunday

This Sunday at 2:00-3:30pm

03/18/2025

Last min openings in class means savings for you

Our Junior Ranger class is starting March 19th @ 6:00pm or April 3rd @12:30pm. This class is the intermediate level class that adds distraction, duration and distance to your leash skills, focus work, greetings and more! Now is the time to practice your focus and leash skills for a more enjoyable su...

03/18/2025

Bravo to Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy if we may add one more reason? Many dogs have had traumatic experiences with off leash dogs. Even the best dog will defend itself if it feels threatened or afraid. Just because your dog loves to socialize doesn’t mean all dogs like it or will even tolerate it.

As the snow retreats and our beloved trails become more accessible, it’s worth noting that this is a critical time for plants and animals. Our beloved and sensitive spring wildflowers begin peeking out, frogs and other amphibians seek elusive mating conditions, birds busily build nests and many other animals are rearing young.

For some nature lovers, there's nothing quite like a walk in the woods with their dog. We get that, and pets are welcome at most GTRLC preserves so long as they are leashed and under control. Leashing your dog is a simple yet important act that allows you and your dog to visit these sensitive places respectfully.

You never know what's happening under that leaf or whose home is under that log, so as a dog owner, you can help us steward these lands we've worked so hard to protect together by keeping your pets on a leash. Please take a few minutes to watch this video and learn why keeping pets on leashes at GTRLC properties is so important: https://www.gtrlc.org/field-notes/keeping-dogs-on-leash-at-gtrlc-properties/

There is a feeling of great joy and privilege while witnessing spring emerge, so we appreciate you and your dog treading lightly while enjoying these wonders.

https://www.gtrlc.org/field-notes/keeping-dogs-on-leash-at-gtrlc-properties/