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Join the Conversation for a Chance to Win 3 Great Books
Special feedback request: How can we make our website better?
Welcome back to Off Leash, Bark’s Wednesday open thread, your chance to catch up with other Bark readers and our editors and contributors during a real-time chat. We’ve had some wonderful expert guests during the past few weeks talking about veterinary care, service dogs, rescue and behavior but today Bark readers are center stage. You set the agenda—tell us what’s on your mind. Well, mostly. We do have our own little agenda; we’re brainstorming ways to improve TheBark.com, and we want your feedback. So while you’re here, tell us: What can we do to make our website better? Members of the Bark team will be stopping in all day with this and related questions. Plus, we have an extra special incentive today, one open thread participant will be selected at random to receive three excellent dog books handpicked by Bark editor Claudia Kawczynska. The worthy summer-read trifecta includes:
So let your voice be heard, and be sure to include your email when you register to comment, so we can contact you if you win. Please note: We let you speak your piece on the open thread without editing but obscene, abusive, offensive or commercial comments will be taken down. We close the thread at 4 p.m. PST. |
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I love the magazine and have been a follower for many years. I would love to see a calendar of upcoming educational events by state. Also more about nutrition since there are so many health issues that come back to diet with so little accurate information. You all do a great job!! Thank you.
I love your Smiling Dogs contest....the only thing I would like to see is that you go back to one picture per page. Its hard to tell which name goes to what picture when you have 4 or 5 dogs together.
We announced the winner for this (May 25) Off Leash open thread in our June 1 open thread. Visit us there if you want to know more.
http://thebark.com/content/we%E2%80%99re-talking-rescue-and-more
Thanks everyone for your great ideas and awesome support. Feel free to keep chiming in, even though we'll be closing the open thread for the day. We do check back. Also, in the next day or two, we'll select our books winner and be in touch.
Remember to return next week, when we will have special guest Christie Keith. She's managing the social media for the giant Maddie's Matchmaker Adoptathon. A long-time dog-centric journalist, she'll be chatting about this specific adoptathon and other strategies for rescues and shelters—among other topics. See you there.
Hi, how about advertising adoption days at local pet stores?
That's an interesting idea—although maybe beyond our manpower—but we'll look into it. Would you like to see more information about specific adoptable pets on our site?
Links to Petfinder and similar sites might be helpful. Having such links available in one location -- Bark.com -- would save time searching.
I have not yet read the books, but would like to!
Bark is a terrific magazine. The articles, the information, the photos -- the complete package. And the website is a valuable resource. No complaints or suggestions for improvement. Just a big thank you!
Would it be possible to have some links on the site that reference industry events and educational opportunities around positive based training talks, workshops and seminars across the US and in Canada?
Interesting suggestion. We definitely like to promote positive training. We'll look into this.
Hi, wondering if any of you read any of the books we are giving away today? I really loved all of them, learned a lot from them as well. So they come highly recommended by me.
Not yet! I always have a running list of dog books to read with BARk as my source. I'm looking forward to all 3 of these. A reading/discussion group on the Open Thread might be fun? Possibly with the author hosting?
What an interesting idea... Like a virtual book club. I like it!
Hi all! I'm Bark staffer, Marie. Daniela and I are here to chat through the end of the day.
I like the idea of having an area to post videos of our dogs! I think it would also be great to have a section for videos that are training specific.
Hi Lacey,
We've done a couple training videos in the past and we'd like to do more! Are you looking for videos on basic training or more advanced/trick training?
I'm more interested in advanced training and trick training. Stuff that is more complicated and harder to conceptualize from reading about it. Like BAT training, or complicated tricks. But, I think it'd be great to have more basic training covered, too, for people who are just getting into positive training :)
keeping a dog healthy seems to be more and more costly, I am looking for economical and simple diet plans to help maintain good health.
I hear that! It's great that you are thinking in terms of prevention. Here's a great article from the archives about cooking for your dog: http://www.thebark.com/content/save-money-homemade-dog-food .
If you get serious about cooking for your dog or feeding your dog a raw diet, a great way to save some money is to join a raw food co-ops. Searching on Yahoo Groups is a great way to find groups in your area.
Boy, I hear you! I think we can present the nutrition section in away way that makes it easier to find what you are looking for.
Love the magazine and the website. My only rec is a minor one about this thread. It would be nice if there were time stamps to better understand the flow.
hmm.. that does make sense. We'll see what we can do!
Is anyone starting any Training Classes soon or sometime this summer?
I'll be starting a training class tomorrow with my new pup! I'm pretty excited. Right now we'll be focusing on leash reactivity but I'm hoping soon we can move on to bigger and better things!
And I'm going to start Kit on a class in early June. At first I thought you might not be ready in terms of her shyness, especially to new indoor places, but I'm hoping she'll be alright. She really has progressed so much more than Holly. It has been really challenging with our undersocialized pups.
Yes!! We are doing agility in June!
Fun! Will this be your first foray into the agility ring?
We have a new Barker joining us for the next hour or so — Daniela Lopez. Daniela handles all of our web production and manages our site ... and lives with 2 dogs. So send any questions about the our site or dogs her way ...
Thanks Cameron!
What about a special area for people to post profiles of their dogs and favorite activities, aka "Barksters." Forum areas where Barksters might meet up and discuss local dog parks, dog resources, even play dates?
That's a great idea! Is there a site or service that you use currently to share such activities? How do you hook up with other dog people for get-togethers and play dates — do you do that online currently?
Well, I don't, but it seems like an idea with possibilities. I am in Belize 11 mos. out of the year. For that one month when I am in Michigan, I would love to have a trusted source for where/when the dog events are, what dog parks are great, where the best shops are for dog supplies, etc. Having followed a few threads here on Bark on-line, it seems that Bark readers are very considerate about poo pick up, leashing, and manners. Those are the kind of people and dogs I'd like to meet for a play date.
That makes sense and I agree that adding a central resource and meeting area would be very helpful.
I count on Bark for all things dog, especially dog health and behavior. I would like to learn more about veterinary care. I could be better informed about the range of choices for prevention and for treatment of common maladies. I would feel like a better dog mom!
Maintaining a dog's health is something that all of us are concerned about, and it can be quite a challenge keeping up with new developments, as well as being well-versed in the common maladies. I think we could do a better job of organizing this information, and presenting in our magazine and online. We got a good response from our issue that highlighted senior dog health issues, I think we could do the same sort of theme editorial on young dogs, active dogs and other life stage.
I agree! I stay online educating myself:)
People love sharing photos of their dogs — sending in smiling dogs, me & dog submissions, posting photos on Bark's Facebook page. I was wondering if people are interested in posting video of their dogs. We're thinking about holding a DIY video film festival ... would people participate or enjoy seeing other people's video shorts?
What a great idea! I would enjoy watching others' videos and making my own. There could be all sort of "themes": humor, tricks, life in my neighborhood, play, etc. etc. Endless ideas.
Good to hear your response, Carolyn. I think with the ease of cell phone video, and the easy access simple editing tools — everybody has the potential to be a filmmaker! We'd love to see how people capture their dogs in moving pictures.
I think everyone loves sharing pics and video of their pets. So if you have the room to host it, it would be cool to see on your site. Also- photo contests that you can share on Facebook/ Twitter are always popular.
~ CJ and My Favorite Pup Jasmine =)
Blog: http://www.myfavoritepup.blogspot.com/
Tricks: http://www.youtube.com/user/MyFavoritePupJasmine
Thanks for sharing CJ. We are planning for new ways for our readers to share pictures and other information about their dogs. Adding Video would be great too!
Hello Everybody, thanks for all of the thoughtful comments. Hearing from our readers and the many dog devotees ... is encouraging and a big help as we fine tune our magazine and website. As the art director at Bark, I'll be helping spruce up our site, refresh the look and feel, and make it more user-friendly. -Cameron
Hi everyone,
I am turning this over to Cameron Woo, Bark's cofounder and our art director. I have to home to play with the pups, and then bring them back to the office. We do "swing" shifts with the dogs, Lenny, our 18 year-old, and Lola come in the mornings, then Holly and Kit join them for a "4" dog afternoon visit. Do anyone of you bring your dogs to work? I'll be checking in again during the afternoon, but for now, here's.... Cameron!
I actually work at United Kennel Club and I bring a dog to work often. My australian cattle dog Carly (who was one of the smiling dogs in the April issue!),goes in the most. Everyone in the company loves her-in fact she has many people trained to give her treats! She often jumps up in chairs across from people's desks and appears to have meetings with them : ) I love having a job that is all about dogs where I can bring my dogs to work!
My husband will occasionally bring in the dog to my workplace. It's a nice break and seems to be a calming effect. My dog is mostly Belgian Malanois (if not all- we're not sure if he's a pure breed or not)and is quite a tactile dog.
Bringing your dog to the workplace is such a great benefit, what kind of job do you have? Do other people bring their dogs to your workplace?
I work in the sales department for a distributor. The visits are acceptable but bringing in the dog for longer than an hour is not. Here in Madison WI, they are extremely pet friendly. If I could bring my dog to work everyday, I would.
My yellow lab went to work with my ex husband almost everyday! He loved it and would wait by the door. Kids would take pics with him:)
Is there any way I can ensure that the smiling dog pictures I send in are received? I've submitted a bunch, but don't get a response.
Thanks,
Tamara
Hi Tamara, we (me actually) receive thousands of smiling dog photos, I look at each and every one, but cannot reply to them all because it would simply take too much time. We have a rather big back log of photos for posting online and in the magazine. It is best to only send one photo though.
I really enjoy the magazine and the website. I would like to see some videos posted online to go along with the content in the hard copy of the magazine -- particularly training videos, because that's where my interest is centered, but it would also be helpful to have videos on how to do some of the activities highlighted in the magazine.