Brekkie the BARK Ranger

Both Brekkie and his human have their own backpacks with water and food.

NPS/C. Sill

What is a BARK Ranger?

Brekkie is an adorable (and very hyper!) Australian cobberdog. He’s a little bolt of lightning who loves dancing on his hind legs, bouncing on and off of the sofa, and playing with his toys. He’s a highly intelligent dog who knows every one of his toys by name. He has an enthusiastic attitude towards everything, from food (his name comes from his favorite time of day, breakfast) to new friends. His energy, smarts, and brashness are all traits that come in handy when he works as a BARK Ranger.

A what? A BARK Ranger, that’s what! BARK Rangers are dogs that help to promote good stewardship on the trail. Their humans must promise to follow the four fundamentals of BARK. Once this vow is made, the dog gets their certificate and bandana. Many parks offer the program, but Brekkie does his trail walks at Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller NHP. Any dog can be a BARK Ranger, regardless of breed, age, or personality. (We once gave the bandana to a weeks-old beagle who couldn’t fit in it!) Brekkie may be an enthusiastic dog, but much more mellow dogs have worn the bandana as well. Take Rikki, a mellow Shetland sheepdog. She’s just as sweet as Brekkie, but less outgoing, only really becoming her true self after spending several minutes with someone. She hides, she shies, but she’s still earned her BARK certification because she and her humans follow the rules.

If you’d like to make your dog a BARK Ranger, all you have to do is learn the four BARK fundamentals. Brekkie will lead you through it!

Brekkie is leashed and ready to explore Mountain Road!

NPS/C. Sill

B: Bag Up Poop

Proper waste disposal is the first and perhaps easiest fundamental, yet it’s also the one people ignore the most. A lot of people will bag it up, but then hang it from trees and shrubs. Imagine walking the trail, getting whacked in the face by what seems like a foul-smelling apple, then realizing that it was no Granny Smith dangling from that branch! Bring your own bags (Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller has bag dispensers), and carry them with you for further disposal.

A: Always Be Leashed

All dogs visiting the park should be on a leash that is 6 feet or less in length. There’s so much to see and sniff that some dogs may give into the urge to run wild all around, even off trail! Keeping your dog on a leash will prevent them from getting lost or disturbing off-limit areas (more on that later). There is also the matter of respecting other dogs and humans. Some people are afraid of dogs, and not all dogs are friendly. They would not appreciate an unleashed dog rushing up to them and getting in their space. You may be thinking, “my dog is well behaved and would never hurt anyone. I don’t need a leash.” Unfortunately, this way of thinking has consequences.

Brekkie’s mom, Judith, used to volunteer at the park as a Trail Ambassador. These are the (human) volunteers who patrol the trails, alerting rangers if someone has an emergency.

Unfortunately, Judith’s time as a volunteer was cut short in an accident along Mountain Road. An unleashed dog ran into her, knocked her over, and she sustained an injury that left her unable to hike. Presumably, this other dog’s owner had thought that their dog was “well behaved”. Leashing your dog, regardless of how well-trained they are, will help us keep the number of medical emergencies in the park at a low number.

R: Respect Wildlife

A whole variety of critters live at Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller. They range from tiny red efts the size of your pinky, to slinky squirrels racing up and down trees, to big black bears bumbling down the ravines in search of berries. As we’ve established, you are more than welcome to bring your own critter with you, but they must show respect to the critters living here. You and your dog are guests in this sprawling neighborhood of wildlife.

Respecting wildlife means not allowing your dog to chase or scare any animals you encounter on the trail. If an animal is harassed too badly, it may flee the area. Small mammals such as voles can even die from stress. Many people come to the park for birdwatching and other outdoor activities that would be much less fun if our animals were gone.

This is also another instance of a principle that protects your pooch. Let’s use porcupines as an example. Should you encounter a porcupine on the trail, you’d best give it space and let it go on its way unbothered. Sure, you may want to get a cute pic of your dog cuddling up to Mr. Spiky. But Mr. Spiky doesn’t know what a photoshoot is; he’ll panic, thinking your dog wants to eat him, and jab the poor pupper in the muzzle with a bunch of spines.

K: Know Where To Go

Not every part of the park is for dogs. Brekkie loves to eat his lunch at the Pogue (he loves his hot dogs!). He knows, however, not to actually go swimming in the Pogue during his lunch break. A sign clearly says “No Swimming”, but unfortunately, many humans choose to ignore that sign and let their dogs loose anyhow. It’s not uncommon to see dripping-wet dogs marching down Mountain Road, huge smiles on their faces. Of course the dogs would be happy; they’re oblivious to the fact that they broke a rule. It’s the humans whose job it is to read the signs and act accordingly.

Dogs may be puzzled to hear that some trails are seasonal. The Pogue Brook Trail, for example, is open to everyone (two- and four-legged alike) for three seasons of the year, but in winter, only skiers and snowshoers may explore it. A dog and his non-skiing owner could stomp all over the ski tracks or spoil the trail with some yellow snow. (Pity the poor skier who trips, falls, and lands in that.) Once again, it is on the human to do research beforehand, double-check once at the park, and then make the right decision.

Camera-shy Rikki flaunts her bandana whilst hiding her face.

NPS/C. Sill

BARK BARK Hooray!

If you can follow all four fundamentals, then congrats: your dog is BARK Ranger material! You can go to the Visitor’s Center to get your friend their bandana and certificate, and make the promise in person. (Dogs are not allowed in the Carriage Barn Visitor Center itself, but a ranger will come outside to help you.)

While the BARK pledge consists of just four principles, there is always more you can do to stay safe on the trail. For one, bringing water for you and your friend should be a given, and you may want to bring snacks (again, for the both of you!) as well. Brekkie likes to carry things in his special doggie backpack. We recommend talking with veterinarians, animal advocacy groups, and other experts for additional safety tips.

Brekkie thanks you for taking the pledge. We hope to see new BARK Rangers romping along the trails soon!