Barktastic Behavior

10/23/2026

Fall trails & spirited check-ins 🍂🐾

Instead of worrying about distance or speed, autumn outings are all about celebrating choice, connection, and fun! When voluntary check-ins and energetic recalls lead to wonderful rewards, staying attuned on the trail becomes second nature—even with all those tempting forest scents and crunchy leaves.

Safe to say, we all found this walk to be VERY reinforcing! 🍁💛

10/21/2026

As a dog trainer, I’ll admit that most "dog and kid cuddling" photos can make me hold my breath. We always talk about safety, active supervision, and respecting canine boundaries.

Recently, I watched a moment unfold with my sweet girl, Ella Bean, and my nephew Archie. Since losing their family dog this summer, the kids have really missed having a furry companion in the house. When Archie wanted to cuddle up on the bed with Ella Bean, I stayed close—closely monitoring her body language for any subtle signs of discomfort like lip-licking, whale eye, or attempts to move away.

She gave none. In fact, she was completely relaxed.

But the absolute best part? A little later, when Archie and his mom went to snuggle in another room, Ella Bean got up, followed them, and hopped right into bed to join them.

That’s the beauty of giving a dog agency and respecting their boundaries. When a dog feels safe, listened to, and free to choose, connection happens naturally. Watching Ella Bean bring this kind of comfort to Archie and Roux is truly the best part of what I do. ❤️🐾

10/19/2026

Autumn leaves, sunny skies, and local heroes! ☀️🍂

We loved having K9 Grizz strike a pose in front of our Barktastic Harvestfest display! There’s nothing better than celebrating the season with our wonderful community partners and fluffy friends. 🎃🌾

A big “Thank You!” to Chief Mott for taking the adorable picture 🐾

10/18/2026

Barktastic is excited to participate in this fun event 10/30! We hope to see a lot of costumes and smiling faces :) 🎃👻

🎃🎃🎃 The WASPs and a variety of community members and businesses are excited to share that we are hosting a Halloween Party on October 30th from 5-7pm at Wautoma Elementary School!

There will be over 20 trick or treat tables with lots of treats for kids, a caramel apple bar, games, crafts, face painting, and so much more!

Admission is FREE! Donations are welcome at entry. Costumes are encouraged! We are so excited to see everyone there for a fun filled evening!

10/15/2026

Learning to give space when you're super excited about a new friend? That’s big-dog brain power🐾🧠

Kosmo had an awesome playdate today with Jett, a almost 3-year-old German Shorthaired Pointer! While Kosmo was definitely a little more enamored with Jett than he was with her, she handled it like an absolute pro.

In the past, Kosmo could be a little intense with other dogs, today she showed tremendous restraint, reading Jett’s cues, matching his pace, and mostly giving him space whenever he needed to sniff or reset.

We also made sure to build in structured training breaks to keep arousal levels nice and low. Giving both dogs a chance to reset together keeps play fair, safe, and fun for everyone!

All that brainwork and self-control paid off, we love a tired pup 🐶

10/14/2026

Good read to prepare our 4 legged friends for Halloween 🎃

Want your dog to wear a costume on Halloween? Start preparing NOW!

Halloween is a holiday that many HUMANS enjoy, but most dogs are very stressed by. Think about it from their perspective: one day out of the year, stranger after stranger after stranger, dressed in weird outfits and masks, walk up, ring the doorbell, and yell "trick or treat" at the front door. SO WEIRD. So, when you take this scenario, and say "ALSO I want my dog to wear a costume!" It's important to do some training to actually prepare them for this!

First things first: if your dog is GENUINELY freaked out by wearing things, ask yourself if expecting your dog to wear a costume is really appropriate. Sacrificing your dog's emotional and mental welfare for a cute photo op simply isn't doing right by your dog. If your dog won't tolerate a costume, maybe they'll tolerate a cute bandana? Or a holiday themed collar? Make sure that this is an appropriate thing to ask of your dog!

Next, start to pair the costume with high value treats! If the costume has velcro or zippers practice opening and closing the fasteners so that your dog can hear the noises the costume makes with it off of their body. If they seem comfortable investigating the costume, and hearing the fasteners open and close, see if they will tolerate having the costume touch their body, and then try to slowly put the costume on.

Give food throughout this entire process. If your dog moves away repeatedly, or stops taking food, it means you're asking for too much and need to slow waaaaaaay down.

If your dog is sensitive to wearing things, be prepared to practice this for a few minutes every day over the next month. And if October 31st rolls around and your dog is still not tolerating the costume, DON'T force it! Instead make it a goal to work on for next year, and listen to your dog's communication!

10/14/2026

Hotdogs, fall breezes, and a whole lot of brainpower! 🌭🍂🧠

Uther (a 15-month-old alumni from Waupaca Humane- Humane Society of Waupaca County) had his first training session with me today! This smart cattle dog mix traded in his porch patrol duty (protecting us from rogue bees and blowing leaves 🐝🍃) for a cozy spot on his blanket.

He’s working through some big-world nerves, but watching him realize that settling gets him rewards (and demand barking doesn't 🤐) was the highlight of my day! Look at those radar ears taking it all in! 🥰✨

Way to go Team Uther!!

10/11/2026

From training assistant to cuddle bug! 🌾🐶❤️

Twelve years young and still bringing endless joy to our family and clients, here is a little tribute to the legendary Ella Bean:

🐾The Distraction Dog: Working seamlessly on leash with my dad as the distraction for reactive dog clients.

🐾 The Nanny Dog: Hanging out with the kiddos, soaking up all the love from my niece and nephew.

🐾 The Legacy: Inherited from a dear friend who passed away, she brings so much love and fun energy to everyone she meets.

We love you so much, sweet EllaBean Burrito🐾✨

10/10/2026

This little cutie is an absolute sweetheart!! I met her today and she is full of snuggles! 🥰

10/08/2026

That face! 🥹🥹