The Bark Side Dog Care in Cherrybrook, New South Wales, Australia | Pet sitter

The Bark Side Dog Care

Locality: Cherrybrook, New South Wales, Australia

Phone: +61 415 862 801

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• Dog trainer
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25.01.2022 Ive been told Darcys letter The Trouble With Walking Humans (link in comments) opened a few human eyes to how their dogs experience leash walks. I first wrote it when he was a puppy, figuring I could channel and alleviate some frustration at his constant pulling, scavenging and flurry of excitement at every person and dog, by reminding myself of his point of view. After I wrote it, I worked steadily to train a loose-lead walk with Darcy (link in comments) until I could walk... him alone on a flat collar or together with the other dog with the assistance of a training harness. But I had also started to wonder how much I was denying Darcys desire to walk the way he enjoys it! So heres the philosophical thinky-thoughts I did six months later: On Choice, Ethics and Darcy (click on lanky teenage Darcy below to read it!). Now, its 2.5 years later and I think weve come to a decent compromise in order to give us both (+ his humans) comfortable, safe and enjoyable outings, but its still something I like to think about from time to time. What do you think?

25.01.2022 Variety is important! Although nature & humans carry many new scents to the 'usual' dog walking routes every day, I try to vary the routes of our walks as much as possible. Some days we walk through the neighbourhood; other days through bush. Sometimes we go by the shops, other times through parks. We don't just pound the pavement. We climb onto rocks, weave through poles, and say hello to people. Having different things to see, hear, feel and smell makes things more interesting for the dogs - and for me, too!

24.01.2022 Training 'pawsed' or no, I'm proud to still be producing this newsletter of dog stories, training tips and stuff every month.

24.01.2022 Yesterday was Smudges 4th birthday. The rain bucketed down all day - but that didnt stop us from having a great time!

22.01.2022 Matchy-matchy: Sometimes you meet a friend the exact same colour as you - Bertie & Barney

22.01.2022 Teddy and Oska go home today, so heres some snaps of their adventures at the Bark Side. Im glad they could enjoy a holiday of their own while their humans did the same!

22.01.2022 Hows stay at home going for everyone? Anyone else made one of these for their door? (No, the dogs cant read yet...)

22.01.2022 Me: The covers in the wash so stay off the mattress! Teddy: Im not touching it...

21.01.2022 Got kids in the family? Neighbours with young children? Visiting friends who aren't used to dogs? I encourage you to share this absolutely brilliant video, Being Dog Wise, with all the kids in your life. Thanks to my fellow instructor Natalie at Hills Dog Club for this great lesson on safety around dogs!

21.01.2022 "Hey Teddy, take a look!" "These cardboard rolls have treats in them!" "Huh Oska, so they do." Do you play these games with your dogs?

21.01.2022 Alfie and Benji the maltese X brothers arrived this morning for their first holiday at The Bark Side. After they settled in they had a visitor over for a playdate - Bertie the cavoodle! What a perfect way to spend a sunny morning.

21.01.2022 Training pawsed or no, Im proud to still be producing this newsletter of dog stories, training tips and stuff every month.

20.01.2022 Who else is this person when you see a doggo?

19.01.2022 Hi, my name is Bertie and the world is my oyster! 17 week old Bertie is new to the Bark Side gang and we are going to have a great time making sure he takes the world - from cars to people to barking dogs - in his stride. He already walks wonderfully on lead and I just know hell be a wonderful member of his family

18.01.2022 Today I took Bertie the cavoodle to the dog beach for the first time alongside a few of his doggy friends. He had a blast! I happened to capture his 'whoa, this is weird' moment when he first really wades into the water, and you'll see at the end the short snippet where yes, he swims! P.S. Not all dogs are natural swimmers, so please use long lines/flotation vests and wade/swim right in with your dog into water if necessary. And watch for swallowing sand or sea water. Safety first!

18.01.2022 Hope you are all keeping calm and carrying on... we are. Including Grace the 5-month old maltese X who is a very excitable puppy! She gets overly excited at some things and jumpy and nervous of others when out and about, so shes spending some time with me each week learning to be calm. Itll take a lot of practice, but heres a snippet from yesterday...

18.01.2022 Proud to say that even though were not holding classes, Im still producing a newsletter of training tips and activities for the community each month. This edition features a reprint of Darcys "The Trouble With Walking Humans" (pg 6) because its a classic.

18.01.2022 TOYS: Does your dog own more toys than you do clothes? Most dogs, like humans, enjoy variety. Its great to have a toy collection, but rather than having them all out at once, pick out a few and rotate them every few days. This keeps them new and interesting to your dog. This is also necessary if you have dogs who de-stuff their toys... like Teddy and Oska!

17.01.2022 Pretty sure this happens with all my doggy visitors and their humans!

17.01.2022 This month weve got grooming and handling tips, an intro to muzzle training and separation anxiety prevention, along with puppy pictures and our fave pup fiction titles! Enjoy!

17.01.2022 Ever wondered what obedience competition is like? The November Hills Howler contains the perspective of a human, and a dog, their first time trialling. We've also got advice on managing storm phobias from local vet Marjorie Au and some words on the training side by yours truly. Enjoy!

17.01.2022 Guess who turned up in my yard on the weekend? Yep, that’s an echidna! (I’ve never seen one before. Apparently three spaniels, as well as it being suburbia, are not enough deterrent.) Fortunately for all involved, the very excited dogs were corralled inside and the spiky native creature was able to leave, with all parties unharmed. And the sighting was logged with Echidna CSI to help researchers gather data on echidna populations in the wild.

16.01.2022 Shoutout to the handsome Alfie who spent today with me! His thoughtful humans booked him in for the day as part of a plan to get him used to spending the night away from home. Alfie did very well - after a bit of nervous but patient waiting for his humans to return, he realised that I'm not so bad and we had some cuddles, snoozes and then enjoyed a walk together! It's important to make sure your dog has lots of pleasant, varied experiences as a puppy so they are comfortable s...taying in different places as an adult dog - but if your pup didn't or you recently acquired an adult dog, it's OK! Speak to your trainer or dog-sitter about a gradual introduction to sleepovers. A short or 'trial' stay of a few hours or a day is also a great option if you are unsure about your dog's behaviour around strangers or other dogs. Not every dog is suited to a home boarding environment so it's important to work this out before a long stay so everyone is happy and you can holiday with peace of mind!

16.01.2022 Welcome back, Smudge! Cant believe its been three years since you came to visit!

16.01.2022 Did you know I walk lampshades too? (Sorry Bertie!)

15.01.2022 Look whos back for a visit - oodle siblings Spike and Tess!

15.01.2022 Being an only dog at home, little Grace was unsure of the malteseX brothers when she first arrived at The Bark Side. The boys were a bit pushy at first, so I spent some time holding the boys on-lead and Grace free to cautiously approach, then dart away to safety if they pushed her by getting too close for comfort. Curiosity soon got the better of little Gracie and she discovered that they love to chase. She then spent the weekend inducing them to chase her! As both boys outweigh her and tend to 'back each other up', I was always there to intervene to make sure nobody got hurt... especially little dogs who might bite off more than they can chew!

15.01.2022 Everyone meet Josie! He is an English springer spaniel, he is only 4 months old but he is a beautiful BIG boy! He is staying with me this week and despite his size he is very much a puppy. He loves to play tug, follow the humans around and watch me with those gorgeous olive eyes.

15.01.2022 I received this mug from Ava and Darcy's humans at Christmas in 2016, back when the two dogs really had that size difference. I usually display it in my cabinet to keep it safe but today I felt like using it for my tea.

14.01.2022 It was a pleasure to have Miss Layla visit for the weekend. She is a 2.5 year old cavoodle who joined her human family just recently and is a wonderful example of how a rescue dog in the right hands can be a delightful companion. She is so laid-back and easygoing, I could do all my favourite things: take her along on a picnic, have her be my caf buddy, work at my desk without interruption and of course go on sunny walks together!

13.01.2022 I want to support local businesses during this challenging time while still staying home, so I ordered a new doggy bed from The Bone Co. Ava and Darcy love it! #notanad #justwanteveryonetolookaftereachother

13.01.2022 Spring has sprung! - Ava & Darcy

13.01.2022 You guys know that I instruct at my local obedience club. But did you know Im also the editor of its newsletter? This month weve put together a special edition focusing on training and living with your dog during stay-at-home orders. Check it out!

13.01.2022 Hi guys! I know Ive been a little quiet... its definitely been a weird week! Please do the last thing on this post!

12.01.2022 The exciting news at Hills Dog Club Community is that training is resuming for current members this month, and we expect classes for new members wont be far behind. Our monthly newsletter with loads of training tips and fun stuff, edited by yours truly, is for everyone! Heres our latest. Enjoy!

11.01.2022 Some dogs are difficult to walk on lead because they are over-stimulated by the world around them. They may be excited or fearful so they over-react to things they encounter. Yesterday, I helped Grace practise being calm around shopping trolleys (Grace: "hah! Too easy!"), people with dogs (we were lucky enough to run into a colleague, which was a GREAT chance for Grace to interact with a calm dog on-lead), buses, cars and train sounds. Good job Grace!

11.01.2022 Sometimes life hands you a cone of shame, and even your friends cant make it go away. But a true friend will stay by your side anyway, and sometimes that makes all the difference. (P.S. Darcy is fine - just had to stop him licking an abscess while it healed.)

10.01.2022 Hi guys! Sorry Ive been a bit quiet, I have been super busy with videos and newsletters for Hills Dog Club Community. How are you all? What do you think Darcy and Barney are talking about?

09.01.2022 Fresh off the press, the October Howler. My personal fave is "A Horse, Of Course!" (pg 4), about Noeline's trick trained animals - only one of which is a dog!

09.01.2022 Me: Uh, Bertie, are you... pink? Bertie: What? Me: Your leg. Its pink. Bertie: Oh. Weve got small humans. Theyve got chalk. Nuff said!

09.01.2022 Everyone wants their puppy to grow up to get along with other dogs. But even though it looks like fun, a dog park or big group gathering may not be ideal for a young puppy or dog. Shy or timid puppies can become overwhelmed, and silly, excitable puppies can quickly develop over-arousal when they see other dogs. This can lead to anxiety, frustration and behaviour problems down the line. Instead, introducing your puppy to calm adult dogs as well as puppies in a safe environment... will help your puppy develop appropriate social skills. Today 5 month old Bertie had a buddy for his regular walk - 4 year old Ava. She is an adult dog who walks nicely on lead. Bertie and Ava simply had a quick sniff hello and then went on to a lovely calm walk. This will help Bertie to be happy and calm with other dogs he meets on the street with his humans in future. Well done Bertie and Ava!

09.01.2022 Were all going to have to do some adjusting to the new normal. Im still adjusting to the fact that Darcy can drive...

08.01.2022 Barney figured he'd be all set when he brought his couch along with him to stay. Unfortunately I took him out for exercise...

08.01.2022 LENNY: a tribute. Lenny Imerson the schnoodle had 16 wonderful years with his humans and many friends before he passed on a couple of days ago. He had an incredibly playful spirit and saw a friend in everybody. He was cheeky and sweet and ridiculously lovable. I know he will be dearly missed. Here are some of my favourite captures of Lenny when he stayed with me.

08.01.2022 These two could start a support group: I Eat Things I Seriously Shouldnt Anonymous (IETISSA). But they wont. Cause do those faces look like they have any regrets? Perhaps I should start a I Need To Save My Dog From Himself (INTSMDFH) support group for their humans instead. Whos in? Pictured: Barney (ate >1kg of chocolate & nuts) & Darcy (ate a stone, twice), who with veterinary care have both recovered and would happily do it again

07.01.2022 Who else loooves this show? My fave ep is "Stumpfest", my fave character is Snickers the dachshund, but I think Im Honey the beagle.

07.01.2022 YOU CALLED? - Bertie If you want your dog to respond to you when life is happening, practice it! Out on a walk today, I called 5-month-old Bertie, he came, I gave him a couple of treats and off we went again. I dont do this constantly - just once or twice on a walk. Just to remind him its worth his time to listen to me - or his humans - when out and about!

07.01.2022 In case you were wondering: this weekend is spaniel weekend at The Bark Side. (If you're after Maltese weekend, you missed it. That was last week.)

06.01.2022 This pandemic has affected so much normal activity, including the classes I teach at my obedience club. Our weekly in-person training sessions are suspended for now, so I helped film some demos as part of an online broadcast for our members. I cant share the whole thing but I do have a few snippets featuring some familiar faces. Heres my favourite one...

05.01.2022 LETS LOOK AFTER EACH OTHER: The Bark Side COVID-19 Policy Dearest clients, In light of the current coronavirus (COVID-19) situation, I just wanted to let you know:... YES I am still doing dog walking and will continue to do so unless advised otherwise by public health guidelines. However, during this time: 1. I will wash/sanitise hands before entering your house/yard and after each visit. 2. If you are feeling sick with a cold- or flu- like illness please ring/message me to cancel/reschedule your dogs walk. I have family members in the at-risk group so I am doing everything I can to minimise the risk of my bringing any germs home. 3. Similarly, if I become unwell for any reason I will extend the same courtesy to you and your family by contacting you to cancel/reschedule your dogs walk. Please note that the COVID-19 situation is changing rapidly so there is a chance this may change. I encourage you to keep up with public health advice and Ill do my best to keep you notified of any changes to my services ASAP. Thanks so much for your co-operation to keep everyone in our community as safe as possible. Take care, Ellen For NSW Health updates: https://www.health.nsw.gov.au//dise/Pages/coronavirus.aspx

05.01.2022 While Benji & Alfie enjoyed their playdate, the third member of this long weekend's boarding trio was actually Grace (also a maltese X). While she was a little uncertain of the brothers at first, little Gracie quickly warmed up to the two brothers and spent most of her time inducing them into chasing her!

04.01.2022 Just a quick reminder from Bertie for those of us coming into the heat of summer to walk early or late in the day, keep hydrated and don’t be afraid to have a splash under the tap!

03.01.2022 It is NORMAL for dogs to want to be with their humans. It is normal for baby puppies to whine, bark and howl when left - that's so their mums don't leave them behind! Wild dogs spend all day with their pack. When an adult dog is separated, it's not for a good reason. BUT in our world, it's NORMAL for us to leave the dog at home when we go out to work (well, except in 2020!). It's normal for us to shut the dog out of the kitchen when we're cooking, or put the dog outside when grandma visits, or any of the other many occasions we need to be separated. But puppies don't know this is OUR normal - so it's important to do 'alone training'. We need to teach our dogs that being separated from us is part of our normal!

03.01.2022 Some days seem to be going your way when... something happens (Sorry Bertie, it wasnt me, honest! )

02.01.2022 Sometimes three's a crowd, particularly with siblings and adolescents (all three boys here are 8-11 months old) - but they had a blast playing chase and then taking a nap in the shade. Of course, you can hear me being the fun police, making sure things don't get too out of hand ;)

01.01.2022 Im still waiting for you guys to share your pet pics on my previous post! Meanwhile, heres Darcy and Ava from this week...

01.01.2022 Got kids in the family? Neighbours with young children? Visiting friends who arent used to dogs? I encourage you to share this absolutely brilliant video, Being Dog Wise, with all the kids in your life. Thanks to my fellow instructor Natalie at Hills Dog Club for this great lesson on safety around dogs!

01.01.2022 Happy Easter from me, Ava and Darcy! Stay safe and stay home (except for walks outside without other humans).