Bark-Talk Dog Training

22/03/2026

When Should You Start Training Your Puppy?

Immediately!!! As soon as you bring your new puppy home, he's ready to learn. What does he learn at such a young age?
You're introducing him to and teaching how to live in your human world by :
-Setting clear goals and expectations.
-Catch him being good! That means, for instance, if he sits on his own, catch it and reward with lots of praise and petting, and maybe a little treat.
-Be consistent. If you don't want your full grown dog to jump on you, don't let the little puppy develop the habit and think it's OK. That's hard to undo!
-Pair praise, petting and treats with lots of fun. Develop a relationship so that your dog wants to spend time with you.
-Train for short periods every day. Training can also happen throughout the day as needed. For instance, asking for a sit (important default behavior) before eating, playing with a toy, at the door, etc...
-Keep your expectations real. If he doesn't "get it", try asking for a behavior in a different way. And be patient. And calm.

02/03/2026

Body Language is So Important: Yours and Your Dog's

Often we just think our dogs are being stubborn or lazy or are too distracted when they don't listen to us. While this might sometimes be the case, it's probably more likely that we're not reading and/or understand what they're trying to tell us through body language AND we're sending a confusing message to them with our body language.

For example, dogs don't particularly like being hugged. So if you're snuggling with your dog and they move back a little, lick their lips or yawn you need to respect what they're telling you which is that they're uncomfortable. You need to give them space. Don't force interactions (with your dog, other people or other dogs). Step back, take a breath and let your dog choose if he feels safe or anxious with what's going on.

Dogs are experts at "reading" our body language (and that of other dogs) while we're not! But, through training, patience, and calm interactions, we can learn to "read" them as well.

14/02/2026

YIP OF THE WEEK:
Sending peace and love to all. Enjoy some special snuggles and time with your dog today!🐾

30/01/2026

YIP OF THE WEEK:

Why let your dog sniff on walks?

We all used to take our dogs our for a nice stroll or a run and then come back home. But is this enough?

Dog's experience the world primarily through their sense of smell. They get all the news of the day about what's going on around them...they can tell who/what's been around, who might be approaching, and even smell things underground! A sniff walk provides physical AND mental exercise. Mental exercise (using their noses) actually tires your dog more than physical since we can't really go fast enough to really tire them out (unless you're a long distance runner!). Their sense of smell is somewhere between 10K-100K times better than ours. Humans have about 6 million scent receptors while dogs have 220 million! They also have the ability to move their nostrils separately to inhale and exhale at the same time! Crazy, right?

So, let your dog sniff! Enjoy the time! Use a long leash and let him really experience his surroundings. or even when letting him our to do his business, let him stay out another 10-15 minutes just to explore all the scents around. It changes every moment for him...

18/01/2026

YIP OF THE WEEK:
My dog is barking!!!

Dogs bark for so many reasons. It's the primary way they communicate. They bark when running around and having fun, they bark at ringing doorbells, they may bark at people or dogs walking by (or bikers, runners, cars). I'm dealing with this with my new dog...it's tough (and annoying!). What to do?

First, you have to try to figure out why he's barking. Getting to the cause of the behavior will help you figure out how to solve it. Is he bored, anxious, reacting to an outside stimulus, being demanding or pushy or is it a medical problem?
-If your dog is bored you need to try to make sure they're getting enough physical AND mental stimulation throughout their day.
-If your dog is demanding attention or his inner clock is demanding that you feed him NOW!, try not to reinforce the behavior by giving in to his demands. Try to teach an alternate behavior (place, quiet) where you treat and then he may settle with a bone or favorite chew toy to redirect the barking behavior.
-If your dog is reacting to things outside, the easy fix is to close the blinds! But you may not want to do that...Again, teach a strong place/quiet. You can go to your dog and ask, "what are you barking at? Thank you...let's go...place" It doesn't matter what you say, just acknowledge that he did his job (alerting you) but now redirect to a "place" or another activity.
-If your dog is older and barking a lot for no apparent reason, check with your vet about possible dementia.

Since barking is instinctual to your dog, be patient. You may not see results on your timeline, but if you're calm and consistent, things should get better.

11/01/2026

YIP OF THE WEEK:
Do you have a new dog? So happy for you if you do!!
How to use a crate as a helpful tool...

Some of you may have a new dog or puppy and are working on crate training. Using a crate is a great tool that helps both you and your dog. It's their safe space, home base...so once he's trained and comfortable with the crate you'll leave the door open for him to go in and out as he wants.

-Don't use the crate as punishment!! It's your dog's safe place to go to take a breath when needed.
-The right size crate gives your dog just enough room to stand up, turn around a lie down comfortably. Too large and there may be accidents in the crate!
-Introduce your dog to the crate slowly with the door open. Make it fun! Throw a treat in near the door at first and then toss it further back so the dog has to go into the crate to get to it. You can use a cue like "crate up" or "go into your bed"...obviously, whatever works for you!
-After a few days of repeating this exercise, close the door for a short time then repeat over the next few days leaving the door closed a little longer.
-If your dog seems to be comfortable in the crate without anxiety then close the door, latch it, and walk away for a short time. Increase the time over the next few days/week...
-If your dog seems to get anxious at any point, take a step back and slow down. You may have to take take more time with each progression.

26/11/2025

YIP OF THE WEEK: Wishing everyone a happy and healthy Thanksgiving. Important info reposted from RAL

Thanksgiving is almost here, and while we’re all gearing up for plates piled high and second helpings, our pets are hoping for a taste, too. 🦃🐾
Before those sneaky noses make their move, here’s your annual reminder of what not to share from the holiday table.

Some classic Thanksgiving staples can be risky for dogs and cats, so a little extra awareness goes a long way in keeping them safe and comfy at home.

🧈 Skip the buttery bites – Rich, buttery dishes can upset tummies in a big way.
🍫 No sweets or xylitol – Chocolate, candy, and sugar-free treats are dangerous for pets.
🧅 No onions or garlic – Even small amounts of these can be toxic.
🦴 No turkey bones or fatty skin – Bones can splinter, and fatty skin is tough on sensitive stomachs.
🍞 No raw dough – Yeast dough keeps rising… even after it’s eaten.
🍇 No grapes or raisins – A tiny amount can cause big problems.
🍷 No alcohol – Not even a sip.
☕ No caffeine – Keep the coffee and tea out of reach.
🥜 Check the label – Anything with xylitol (including some peanut butters) is a definite no.

Our pets count on us to help them navigate the holiday chaos, and keeping unsafe foods off their menu is a simple way to make the day cozy, safe, and full of love.

Wishing you and your furry family a happy, safe Thanksgiving from all of us at RAL. 🧡🦃🍁

16/11/2025

YIP OF THE WEEK:

What Did You Do!!???

I came home a few days ago to my dog happily eating a bag of English Muffins. Next to him was an empty plastic bag that had been full of hamburger buns. Oh no! What to do? I could have screamed and scolded him but he wouldn't really understand what I was ranting and raving about. So I calmly (as best I could!) took the English muffins away and thought about how this might have happened. Well, the bread drawer was the lowest/bottom one under the counter. I opened and closed it and noticed it didn't glide as smoothly as the others and doesn't always close as tightly as the others. All I had to do is switch things around so that the bread is in a higher drawer. Easy. Manage the situation! That's my responsibility.

Dogs aren't revengeful, vindictive or spiteful. They're just impulse driven. They live pretty much in the moment so this was just a perfect opportunity and he went for it! If your dog has an accident when you're gone or gets into something, he's not "getting back at you" for leaving him. He's just anxious and fearful or maybe bored. Give him lots of love, playtime, sniff time, walks cuddles and consistent training and he should be calmer and more well adjusted with less anxiety and fear. (Doesn't mean he won't grab any chance he can to get food, a toy, or something that may usually be off limits if the opportunity presents itself!)

05/11/2025

YIP OF THE WEEK:
Is Your Dog a Counter Surfer??!!
My new dog definitely is! In fact, most dogs (taller ones on counters, shorter on tables) will give it a try if something yummy is left out with no supervision. So obviously we need to be aware and monitor our dogs. Redirect if they're sniffing or jumping up on the counter or tabletop since each time they successfully snag something yummy it reinforces that behavior.
What else to do?
-Manage the situation. If you can't watch your dog then either keep things really neat and clean or don't let your unsupervised dog in the the kitchen or wherever you've left things out.
-Ask for a down/stay either close to you or teach a place/stay and give him something to chew or keep him busy at that place.
-Catch him before he acts! If you notice him eyeing the counter, nose up, about to jump - redirect! "Off" and "Leave It" are additional important and helpful cues to train.

None of this happens overnight... it obviously takes time but you can have success!

25/10/2025

YIP OF THE WEEK:
Wow! It's been a while...hope everyone and their pups are doing OK!

Building a Bond With Your Dog:

Do you have a new dog? When a dog first comes into our family, our "human world", they're often anxious and/or fearful. This stems from them not knowing or understanding what's expected of them as well as you not knowing or understanding their needs. Lots of anxiety all around! How do we build the bond and trust to make your dog feel safe and both of you more comfortable and happy together?

1) Train: Training builds a bond between you and your dog...provides direction, consistency, and helps define your expectations for what's expected in your home.

2)Fear and Anxiety: If your dog is timid or fearful of something (a certain noise, person, other dogs, etc) move away. Don't force your dog to engage or get close. Create distance to a place he's comfortable so he knows you'll keep him safe. Then gradually decrease the distance or re-introduce the scary thing and reward when he looks to you for direction and is calmer.

3)Enjoy Each Other: Have undistracted, focused time with your dog. For a few minutes (at least) a few times every day. Play together or pet without the distraction of watching TV or scrolling on your phone.

4)Be Consistent in your Expectations and Training: It's yes or no. Not sometimes. Some things are OK others not. Stick to it. "Sometimes" leads to confusion and inconsistent behavior in a dog.

5)Stay Calm: Don't yell! Raised voices and anger cause anxiety in your dog. Be firm but communicate calmly with love.

01/09/2025

YIP OF THE WEEK:
Tips for when you encounter a Reactive Dog...

Taking your dog for a nice walk to a park, store or restaurant is good for both of you. BUT, it can become really stressful when encountering another dog that exhibits aggressive or reactive behavior. It causes both you and your dog to become anxious and stressed which may lead to your dog developing behavior/reactivity issues.

Things to do:
-Catch your dog being good!!! Reward the check-ins with you.. when he looks at you. Reinforce in all sorts of situations and environments.
-If need be, do a U-turn or move to the side. Create distance. Calmly. "Let's go this way!" in a happy voice. Try to keep the leash loose and yourself calm or your dog will feel your anxiety. Find whatever distance you need for you and your dog to remain calm while watching what's going on around you.
-It's not always a good thing to let your dog meet every person or dog you encounter. Training them to disinterested and keeping focus on you (not everything going by) is key.

26/08/2025

Happy National Dog Day! ❤️🐶