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THE BARK BLOG
Pour a cup, grab a pup, and settle in.
We’ve got plenty to bark about.
READ THE LATEST POSTS
The Boxer
My neighbor’s Boxer walked her. Then karma handed me a dog of my own with a working-dog brain. Meet the Boxer: a goofball with a job, a few serious health quirks, and strong opinions about your lifestyle.
12 min read
One Trail at a Time
We’d love to hike the Appalachian Trail someday. First, we had to find out whether Pike and Gus actually know how to hike. Squirrels, a pulling situation, and one bicycle that broke Pike’s brain all played a part.
7 min read
The Border Collie
Border Collies are smart, athletic, and endlessly trainable — but they're also working dogs with a job written into their DNA. Here's what you need to know before bringing one home.
11 min read
Stories, lessons, adventures, and everyday moments from life with Pike, Gus, and the dogs who inspire My Barking Life.
What's Happening Inside Your Dog's Brain
Your dog isn't giving you attitude. Their brain hijacked the wheel. Part 3 of Building Braver Dogs gets into what fear actually does inside a dog's head — and why "just get over it" was never going to work.
8 min read
Confidence Is a Skill, Not a Personality Trait
Sit, stay, come — sure. But if I could give every dog just one thing, it wouldn't be a perfect command. It's the belief that they can handle whatever comes next. Here's what that looked like for Gus this month.
4 min read
The Heat Dome Is Back
Your dog's cooling system tops out fast in a heat dome, and it tops out faster than yours does. Here's the difference between heat exhaustion and heat stroke, how to spot trouble before it's an emergency, what to do if it happens anyway, and how to keep him engaged, indoors and out, until the heat breaks.
7 min read
The real cost of responsible dog ownership
Adoption fees get all the attention, but they’re the smallest part of bringing home a dog. This post breaks down the real cost of responsible dog ownership — food, vet care, training, emergencies — and why “not yet” can be the most loving answer. Plus, how My Barking Life helps close financial gaps so more adoptions succeed.
7 min read
Why Confidence Building Matters More Than Obedience
A confident dog isn't fearless—they just believe they can handle whatever comes next. Here's what Gus's growth-spurt regression taught us about rebuilding trust, one rubber mat and one brave stranger at a time.
4 min read
Walking the Line
An off-leash dog, a scary few seconds, and a lot of feelings about who's actually responsible when a walk goes sideways. Spoiler: it's not the dog wearing the leash.
7 min read
Two Dogs, a Kia Soul, and a Week of Unexpected Adventures
We packed two adults, two dogs, and everything we needed into a Kia Soul for a week-long road trip to Kennerdell, Pennsylvania. Here's what we learned.
11 min read
Build a Better Dog First Aid Kit
Pre-made dog first aid kits are expensive and half-full of stuff you'll never use. Here's what's actually in mine — from dollar store basics to the two items I almost skipped and now never travel without.
5 min read
Exploring dog breeds with curiosity, history, and a reminder that every dog is an individual.
12 min read
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Exploring the world with our dogs. Come along!
One Trail at a Time
We’d love to hike the Appalachian Trail someday. First, we had to find out whether Pike and Gus actually know how to hike. Squirrels, a pulling situation, and one bicycle that broke Pike’s brain all played a part.
7 min read
Gus Goes to Hilltop
Gus explores the former Hilltop Golf Course in Coshocton, Ohio, with Pike, testing his recall while navigating trails, wildlife, hills, and a new disc golf course.
6 min read
Making Room for More Wild
What happens when we make room for a little more adventure? Pike and Gus find out on the first Day Trippin’ with Dogs adventure at beautiful Clary Gardens in Coshocton, Ohio.
5 min read
We take a look at the insanely weird topics dog owners can relate to.
The Day Pike and Gus Tried to End us
When Pike and Gus came home smelling like the Upside Down, our day turned into a full‑scale decontamination event. In this Wait … What?!? post, I share the whole chaotic saga — plus the science behind why dogs roll in foul odors and what to do when your dog proudly brings home a smell so bad it could peel paint.
6 min read
Did Your Dog Ever Grow a Toe Out of Its Chest?
A dog that appears to grow a tiny toe out of its chest sounds like something straight out of a fever dream. But strange, horn-like skin growths really can happen. Here's what they might be — and what to do if your dog develops one.
4 min read
pet parent toolkit
Downloadable guides, checklists, and resources to help you care for the dogs you love.
Tick Talk
Ticks are small, patient, and efficient. They’re also one of the most effective disease-delivery systems in the animal kingdom — capable of transmitting bacteria, parasites, and viruses that can cause kidney failure, paralysis, and death in dogs. Most tick-borne diseases are treatable. The catch? You have to catch them early. Here’s a full breakdown of the tick species found across the U.S., what they carry, and what you need to know to protect your dog.
11 min read
Who Let the Suits In?
There's a scene in almost every horror movie where the protagonist walks into a familiar place and something feels off. Everything looks the same on the surface, but something essential has been hollowed out. That's increasingly what's happening at your local vet clinic. Same sign on the door. Maybe even the same doctor behind the exam table. But somewhere upstairs, the decisions are being made by people who have never once looked a dog in the eye.
5 min read
Is your dog ready if disaster strikes?
Bad weather season is here. Is your dog ready? Here's how to build a pet emergency plan — and a free printable checklist to make it easy.
3 min read
How Jack Accidentally Sponsored Two Shelter Dogs
Jack’s custom doodle t‑shirt was supposed to be cute. Instead, it turned him into an accidental philanthropist. One burst of creative energy later, two shelter dogs had their adoption fees sponsored — all thanks to one very caffeinated muse.
Most Ohio Dog Owners Have Never Heard of It. That's the Problem.
Most Ohio dog owners have never heard of Blastomycosis. Neither had I — until a post about a young German Shorthaired Pointer stopped me cold.
It's a fungal infection that lives in the soil along Ohio's rivers, lakes, and wetlands. Dogs can inhale the spores just by doing what dogs do — nose down, investigating the ground. And by the time symptoms are obvious, the disease has often already progressed.
The Portuguese Water Dog
The Portuguese Water Dog earned its keep on fishing boats centuries before it became a presidential pet. It herded fish, retrieved gear, and carried messages between ships — and it was paid a wage for the work. That history matters, because this breed still shows up ready to do a job. Smart, loyal, and deeply attached to its people, the PWD is a remarkable companion. But there's more to this curly coat than meets the eye. Read on before you fall in love.
Bug Season Isn't Cute Anymore
Something is back that we thought we'd seen the last of sixty years ago. The New World screwworm has returned to U.S. soil — and it's a timely reminder that the full roster of bugs coming for your dog is longer, and more serious, than most people think. Heartworm, fleas, ticks, intestinal parasites: the threat is year-round. So is the protection your dog needs.
The German Shepherd
The German Shepherd didn't just happen. In the late 1800s, Captain Max von Stephanitz set out to engineer the ideal herding and working dog — one with intelligence, stamina, courage, and a relentless work ethic. He succeeded spectacularly. What followed was a breed that thinks, decides, and acts — often independently. Here's what that actually means to live with, including the health realities, lifetime costs, and why GSDs are one of the most commonly surrendered breeds in th
Fear Periods in Dogs: What Gus's Growl Taught Me About Canine Development
Gus growled at our neighbor last week. Same sweet dog. Same man he's met before. I knew immediately what I was looking at — and I knew I wasn't going to make the same mistake I made with my last dog. Here's what fear periods actually are, why they happen, and what you can do when your dog suddenly seems like a stranger to you.
The Hungarian Vizsla
The Hungarian Vizsla is loyal, athletic, and breathtakingly beautiful. They're also velcro dogs in the truest sense — not just a dog that tolerates your presence, but a dog physiologically oriented toward it. They will follow you everywhere. They will poke you with their nose when they want attention. They will be fully, earnestly committed to you at every moment of the day. Whether that sounds like heaven or exhausting depends entirely on who you are.
They Were Built That Way
Before dogs were pets, they were coworkers. Humans bred them — deliberately and over centuries — to perform specific tasks: hunt, herd, guard, retrieve, track, haul, and sit in the laps of very important people. Every physical trait, every behavioral tendency, every inexplicable habit was, at some point, a design feature.
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