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Bark! Confessions of a Dog Trainer blog
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The Devil lives next door
Five year old Beagle Carlos hates the dog next door. He can’t see Cockapoo Sheldon. An 8 foot stockade fence separates the two dogs. It...
Rachel R. Baum
2 min read
Lucky dog
The big black Labrador meandered slowly up a Delmar street, much to the consternation of my client. She froze and clung to the leash,...
Rachel R. Baum
5 min read
Connoisseur of mulch
Labradors are mouths on legs. Not all Labs put everything in their mouths, and there are undeniably other dogs that will ingest anything...
Rachel R. Baum
2 min read
Let me tell you about my Granddog
“My parents absolutely spoil my dog. I love that I can bring Eddie to their house and leave him there when I have to go out of town, but...
Rachel R. Baum
2 min read
Good cop, bad cop
On any given day, Pretzel is both a sweetheart and the terror of the neighborhood. Pretzel is a Cockapoo with two owners. One of...
Rachel R. Baum
2 min read
Out of place
It’s the existential question for humans and dogs: where is my place? If dogs could meditate, PLACE could be their mantra....
Rachel R. Baum
1 min read
Skateboards taste like chicken
Some dogs seem to regard bicycles, motorcycles and yes, skateboards as entrees on the run. Three-year-old Shepherd mix Simon enjoys...
Rachel R. Baum
2 min read
The incredible, edible leash
The ultimate in scratch-off lottery games for some dogs would be Leashtastic!, Lucky Leashes!, or best of all, Win 1,000 Leashes a Week...
Rachel R. Baum
3 min read
The doctor will see you now
Does your dog love going to the veterinarian, or dread it? For some dogs, the obligatory annual appointment is the equivalent of a stint...
Rachel R. Baum
2 min read
Like a dog with a bone
Obsession – compulsive preoccupation with a fixed idea or an unwanted feeling or emotion, often accompanied by symptoms of anxiety. On...
Rachel R. Baum
2 min read
Nursing home for dogs
I confess my own dogs are getting older. They are 14 and 16 years old, and although they are both little guys, the aging process is...
Rachel R. Baum
2 min read
The thrill of the chase
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...
Rachel R. Baum
2 min read
Thumb-less
Imagine having no thumbs. The definition of a thumbless hand is a paw. When you are thumbless, you rely on your mouth to pick things up....
Rachel R. Baum
2 min read
Admit it, you do this too
I confess that I do things for my dogs that some people (NOT the people who own dogs themselves, of course) would regard with a critical...
Rachel R. Baum
2 min read
Liquid legacy
Dallas and Laredo are two male un-neutered Shih Tzus, nicely groomed, well fed, healthy, and old enough to know better. Though not...
Rachel R. Baum
2 min read
Consistency
Airedale Mia wakes up each day a bit muddled. Her owner, you see, had a bad hair day on Wednesday. And last week, the car needed a $600...
Rachel R. Baum
2 min read
Confidence
In this post, and the next two, I will address the three C’s of being a good dog owner: Calm, Confidence, and Consistency. What does it...
Rachel R. Baum
2 min read
This dog is driving me crazy
Dogs can test our patience. I’m thinking of the Lab mix that settles onto the floor, positions his paws as if preparing for a salon...
Rachel R. Baum
2 min read
What box?
As in, “think outside of.” Four year old Terrier mix Zac does not fit into the typical dog training box. Recently rehomed for the...
Rachel R. Baum
2 min read
The first 5 minutes
One of the charming attributes of dogs, besides soulful eyes and adorable bellies, is their effervescent, heartfelt greetings. You could...
Rachel R. Baum
2 min read
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