Barks and Rec. Animal Training and Behavior

01/09/2025

Congratulations to our new Pup Scout graduate, Casper!

01/05/2025

A true teacher and friend.

Today, we honor the incredible life and legacy of Karen Pryor, a pioneer who transformed the world of animal training and left an indelible mark on our industry.

It’s not an exaggeration to say that Karen Pryor’s groundbreaking work paved the way for trainers like myself, and countless others, to advocate for humane, effective training methods. While the fight for positive change would still continue, her visionary efforts undoubtedly accelerated the progress, bringing us to this better place much sooner than we might have otherwise achieved.

Karen Pryor was one of the first to show the world that animals don’t need to be trained with violence or fear. Her work with marine mammals in the 1960s, grounded in science and compassion, paved the way for positive reinforcement techniques that continue to shape the industry.

She didn’t just teach us how to train better; she taught us to see animals as sentient beings, deserving of respect, patience, and understanding.

Her book Don’t Shoot the Dog! remains a cornerstone in the field of behavioral psychology and animal training, introducing the world to the principles of operant conditioning and the power of positive reinforcement. The Karen Pryor Academy, founded in 2007, has trained thousands of professionals, ensuring her legacy endures in the hands of those committed to ethical training practices.

She laid the foundation for a movement that prioritizes trust, connection, and kindness. The positive changes we see in the industry today, our collective rejection of outdated, punitive methods, are a direct result of her fearless advocacy and unwavering belief in a better way.

Her work changed our field, but more importantly, it changed the way we connect with the animals who share our lives.

Thank you, Karen, for showing us what’s possible when science and compassion come together.

Your legacy will continue to inspire us, and we’ll strive to honor your memory by carrying your vision of compassion for animals forward. Rest in peace, and thank you for everything.

Zak George

12/20/2024

Congratulations to our newest group of Agility Fundamentals and Agility 1 students: Archie, Jade, Milton, and Queso (not pictured: Pickles, Ryker, and Sadie). 🐾 These teams have worked hard to master their agility foundational skills and have had a blast while doing so. Great work, agility superstars! 💫

P.S. We still have space in our next session of Agility Fundamentals, starting Tuesday, January 7, at 10am! Head to barkranger.net (link in bio) to book today.

Please note: our evening Agility Fundamentals class is now FULL. Contact us to be added to a wait list!

12/05/2024

Another snow day! Classes today are cancelled thanks and see you next week

12/04/2024

Classes are cancelled due to weather today stay home and warm we will see you all next week ❤️

11/29/2024

Happy Thanksgiving! 🦃 We are so grateful for all of the families who share their pups with us; trust us with their dog training and behavior needs; choose to train with compassionate methods; and support our small business. Thank you, from the bottom of our hearts, for being a part of the Barks and Rec. community! ❤️

11/27/2024

🔔 Reminder: there will be no group classes at Barks and Rec. from Wednesday, November 27, to Saturday, November 30. 🍁 We’ll see you next week!

11/24/2024

🔔 HOLIDAY WORKSHOP ALERT! 🎄 Whether you have a new puppy, are hosting loved ones during the holidays, or simply need some tips to manage the excitement and busyness of the holiday season, Barks and Rec. is here to help.

There are three ways to participate in our holiday workshop:
🎁 Attend our 3-week course
🎁 Attend our 1.5-hour session (with your dog)
🎁 Attend our 1.5-hour session (without your dog - perfect for people with reactive dogs, very young puppies, or those who just want to watch)!

Register online at: https://www.barkranger.net/book-online?category=78c9fff1-e60b-46d5-847a-9286008b3156.

11/22/2024

Every day we celebrate the dogs and people who entrust Barks and Rec. with their training needs – but today, we’re celebrating the person who makes it all possible. 🐾 Please help us congratulate Alicea Howell, owner and lead trainer at Barks and Rec., on being named a 2024 Influential Woman of Northern Michigan by the Traverse City Record-Eagle!

Alicea founded Barks and Rec. in May 2019 after relocating to Traverse City from Indianapolis. Since then, she has helped hundreds of Northern Michigan families use positive reinforcement training to improve life with their dogs at home, at the veterinary office, and in the competition ring. Alicea sees clients for everything from puppy socialization to behavior modification for anxiety, aggression, and compulsive disorders.

While Alicea’s clinical and academic successes are nothing short of impressive, her proudest achievements are the moments spent with her training clients. ❤️

Read more about Alicea’s training journey and her passion for helping pets (and their people) here: https://record-eagle-cnhi.newsmemory.com/?special=Influential%20Women

11/11/2024

Congratulations to our newest Pup Scouts graduates: Kona, Dexter, Archie, Rudy, and Willow! 🎓 These adorable pups have built a great foundation for lifelong manners. 🎉

11/07/2024

Wahoo to Yuki and Francis Sue!! 🎉 These two Bark Ranger graduates have both passed their Community Canine and Urban Canine Good Citizen tests. We are so proud of their dedication to training and all the hard work that went into preparing for these tests. Congratulations! 🎓

10/31/2024

Here are our top 4 tips for a stress-free Halloween!

Tip #1: Leave your dog home when you go out. Scary yard decorations, costumes, and crowds of people at night can be too much for many dogs.

Tip #2: Pass out candy on your porch, in your yard, or in your driveway to limit the number of times your dog has to hear the doorbell or knocking on your door. You can also leave a bowl of candy outside with a sign requesting visitors not ring the doorbell or knock.

Tip #3: Set up a baby gate in your entryway to make sure your dog can’t sneak out the door! If your dog is an escape artist or unsure of guests, you may wish to put them in their crate or another room during trick-or-treating.

Tip #4: Many Halloween goodies - are toxic to dogs. Keep candy away from your dog and give them their own special treat to help keep them occupied during Halloween festivities!

Need help navigating the upcoming holidays with a dog? Sign up for a class or private training session today!

10/30/2024

On Sunday, two of our Bark Ranger students took their Community Canine and Urban CGC tests. Congratulations to Dublin and Sadie on passing both! 🎉🏆🎓 These test require plenty of practice and consistency with advanced obedience skills. They worked hard for this achievement, and we are so proud!

Not pictured from class: Francis Sue and Yuki.

10/29/2024

We are so thrilled to introduce our newest Canine Good Citizens, Bianca and Sage! 🌟 These star students and their humans have mastered the 10 training concepts established by the that demonstrate they are polite members of society. Congratulations on this amazing accomplishment! 🎉

Are you ready to take the next step in training your dog? Head to our website to sign up for classes today!

10/29/2024

One of our most requested training services at Barks and Rec. is help with polite greetings. We know how frustrating it can be to have a dog that jumps on guests or pulls toward people during walks! 😩

These graduates of our Four Weeks to Better Greetings classes now have the skills to be Very Polite Dogs out in the real world. 🎓 Congratulations to Ralphie, Ella, Yuki, Bennie, Scout, Addie, Coco, Bruce Almighty, Maple, Rocky, and Chip! Keep up the great work. 🎉

10/28/2024

Three cheers for these three Junior Scouts graduates! Georgy Girl, Luna, and Obi have built awesome foundations in obedience. Great work! 🎉 🎉 🎉

10/28/2024

This weekend was a big weekend of class graduations at Barks and Rec! Pictured here are our five newest Pup Scout graduates from Saturday morning: Nova, Ellie Mae, Zoe, Darcy Rose, and Stella. Congratulations, pups and parents! 🎓