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THE BARK BLOG
Pour a cup, grab a pup, and settle in.
We’ve got plenty to bark about.
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Mind Your Own Kibble
There's a particular kind of person who shows up in the comments section of every shelter post. You know the one. They've never fostered an animal. They've never worked a single shift at a rescue. They may or may not have even adopted. But the moment a dog appears on their feed looking sad — which, for the record, is most dogs in shelter photos, because shelters are disorienting and cameras are alarming — this person is ready to dispense justice.
Kim Brown
May 185 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.
Kim Brown
May 165 min read
LIFE WITH DOGS
Stories, lessons, adventures, and everyday moments from life with Pike, Gus, and the dogs who inspire My Barking Life.
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.
3 days ago11 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.
Jul 185 min read
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.
Jul 1411 min read
The Fungal Disease That Doesn't Care Where You Live
Aspergillosis is a fungal disease that can strike any dog, anywhere — and it comes in two forms with very different outcomes. Learn the symptoms, which dogs are most at risk, and when to push for answers.
Jul 1010 min read
Histoplasmosis in Dogs: The Fungal Disease Ohio Dog Owners Need to Know About
Histoplasmosis is the most common fungal infection in Ohio dogs — more prevalent than Blastomycosis, and frequently misdiagnosed. Learn the symptoms, risk environments, and when to call your vet.
Jul 36 min read
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.
Jun 255 min read
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.
Jun 169 min read
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.
Jun 127 min read
What's Breed Got to Do With It
Exploring dog breeds with curiosity, history, and a reminder that every dog is an individual.
23 hours ago9 min read
Jul 1713 min read
Jul 136 min read
Jul 97 min read
Jul 19 min read
Jun 2310 min read
Jun 135 min read
Jun 1011 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.
Jul 1411 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.
May 165 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.
May 23 min read
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