Happy Dance, Happy Dance! Our new and improved website is up and running. We’re celebrating by offering FREE SHIPPING until the end of the week for books and DVDs. We’ve worked hard to make the product pages clear and complete, so that you’ll have a good sense of what will best fit your needs. We’ve added a “Reading Room” with all my Bark articles and many of my blog posts categorized by subject.
Some of you may remember that I asked a few months back about a possible title for this resource. We had initially called it “The Learning Center,” but we began to have doubts that was the best title. We got lots of responses (thanks!) and readers agreed, and out of the titles we suggested, you all liked “The Library” or “Resource Center” best. However, several of you had concerns about using “Resources” because it suggested to you that it referred to resources not on the website. Just when we were beginning to wonder if we’d ever find the right name, a reader (thank you Marcia!) suggested “The Reading Room.” Perfect! We love the welcoming idea of entering a cozy place to settle back and read. I should note that there are videos to watch inside as well as lots of reading, but we figured you’d get the idea soon enough that it’s a place where you can look for articles, blog posts, videos, books and DVDs by topic.
We (which includes me and the website dream team of Denise, Katie, Lisa, Julie & David) would love to hear your comments and suggestions. We’ve done a lot of testing, but any site this extensive is a work in progress. Let us know what you think, we’d love to get feedback.
And more good news: International shipping is coming soon. We’re in the testing phase now, so if you’re outside of the US, check again in a week or two and we’ll have international shipping up and running.
But for now, dig into the new website, we hope you like it! Here are some of our favorite photos:
MEANWHILE, back on the farm: Willie and I are a tad bored to tell you the truth. It’s too hot to do much of anything for either one of us outside, so we’re back to doing some tricks in the house and doing his shoulder exercises again. His shoulder has done well working sheep lately, but I can tell that if I don’t keep up his exercises his shoulder will degrade. I can see the signs already (putting most of his weight on his right leg when he gets up, hiking his shoulder vertically when he runs.) and I’m grateful I had all that time to learn to read the signs while he was doing PT with Courtney Arnoldy twice a week. Now I just have to do my own exercises too. I wish Willie could make me, isn’t turn about fair play?
Tootsie is just fine, although she hates the heat, and wouldn’t even go outside to urinate first thing this morning. What female doesn’t want to pee right after she gets up? But she stood at the doorway like a stone statue and refused to go outside. I considered making it a training opportunity, but decided that if she really didn’t have to pee then why make a issue out of it? We went out about an hour later and although she hesitated, she finally walked out of the house as if in slow motion, peed and pooped and returned to sprawl on the rug beside the couch.
Calico kitty is doing okay I think, although she seems terribly hot herself. It was, after all, over 102 yesterday and it appears to be just as bad today. If I didn’t know better I’d swear kitty is a tad pissed off about the temperature. When I come out with food during the day she meows in that “We-are-NOT-pleased” kind of voice that only cats can pull off. Later in the evening, when it is finally a tad cooler (10 pm), she becomes playful and soft-faced again. And the sheep? Poor sheep, what can I say. Barbie stands in front of the fan, hogging as much of the cool air as she can. And who can blame her?
I’ll write more in my usual Friday blog post. Meanwhile, enjoy the new website, don’t miss the free shipping offer and if you’re not in the Northwest (you lucky people!), stay cool!
Wendy W says
Love the same two photos noted above. Enjoyed (very much) the intro videos in the Reading Room and the More About Patricia tab. Everything is easy to follow and navigate. Only drawback was seeing the mention of Luke and Lassie pulled from the intro piece. I feel like I came to know these dogs (along with Pip) through your books. Must have been sad to do the re-write, despite the wonderful dogs/cats/creatures who have come to you since.
chloe says
I visited your new website and found very easy to navigate. I’m treating myself to a video–free shipping! Treating Dog-Dog reactivity. This will be the most helpful. It would be so nice to walk a few of my ‘clients’ at the park or on the river when it is so hot out! It would be great to learn (well!) how to diffuse that reactive energy once it has built up. (my own BC builds up after seeing a skateboarder)…
Portland Oregon had a week of upper 90’s but at present it has being mid-80’s with 60-80% humidity. Of course nothing like what you are dealing with but by 6pm I’m wiped out.
Just wrote a new blog about heat and dogs.
Could we have a picture of Barbie at the fan?
And yes I understand have to be very vigilant with injuries. My girl has a non diagnosed mystery shoulder and rear leg limp, which we manage great as long as she doesn’t play with other fast dogs. i think it’s the stop and go and mostly the cutting at high speed.
Wendy W says
Just bought two books – thanks for the free shipping! Checkout was easy, but y’all may want to add a “go to cart” button to the product page.
Laura says
Love the new web site. Yes… I too know the pain of living in the Northwest. I’m just next door, in Minnesota and uh… yeah it’s supposed to be hot again by this Friday. On Monday it was 100 degrees. All I can say is thank God I work in an air conditioned office and Seamus gets plenty of water everyday. I’m going to hop on the web site again and buy something. Oh yeah, I loved the introduction with you lying on the floor with the doggies. Mine cuddle like that too. There’s nothing so comforting as the feel of a warm, fuzzy dog stretched out beside you is there.
Trisha says
Wendy W: Thanks for the purchase and for the comment. “Go to cart” is on the upper right, sorry you missed it….
And to Laura: Thanks for the comments about the video intro to the Reading Room, it was fun to make. Try to stay cool; let’s just hope our wells don’t run dry, that’s what they’re talking about now in So. Wisc.
Good luck Chloe with your girl, those shoulder injuries are exhausting sometimes, so complicated. And I think you’re right: it’s the ‘short stopping’ and ‘quarter horsing’ that is the worst. (Gosh, can you tell I have an animal perspective or what?”