Welcome Bark Commanders
GETTING STARTED
Facebook?
You get the most out of the academies if you choose to opt in to using the private FB groups to post homework and observe others work and see the commentary. It’s not required and all content is housed here on the site but it does make for a more complete experience.
First join the main Bark Commanders Group. When it asks you for a password: BCA2021
https://www.facebook.com/groups/barkcommanders2021
Once you are a member of the Bark Commanders it will automatically approve you for all the other academy and class groups. You can find those Links on the Facebook link page:
The program doesn’t start until Feb 1st but feel free to head to the FB Group and start introducing yourselves so we can get to know each other before we start.
The FB groups are set up with learning units so you will see the exercises from the class content in the unit where you can then upload your homework video to.
Navigating the Bark Commanders Academy
Once class is live the home page when you log in will have a link to this classroom, as well as to a master directory. The directory page has links to all of the other academies, classes, video playlists, and all you need to make your way around the site.
Classes
Bark Commanders includes access to all of the classes I currently offer. You will find in the directory links (I will add a link here once class is live) to each of the class modules and Classroom blogs and the Facebook link above will take you to their FB discussion groups. As a Bark Commander member you have the choice whether you want to work that class content on your own pace or wait until a class is running. I will offer three to four series of the classes during the year (meaning the classes will open to the public for ala cart purchase and they will have access to that class Facebook group.) The other option is to bounce between classes and work on things that compliment each other while progress through the year. I will be offering those layout suggestions here in this classroom. Also as a Bark Commander we can cater this program to what you most want to work on. So I will be talking to you all about what things you want to focus on and we will build the courses around what you want!
Zoom Room
Throughout the year we will have regular Zoom sessions on all of the Academies. You can find Invitations and Recordings in the zoom room, I will add the link here once the class is live, and you can also use the directory on the welcome page. Zoom sessions will be a mix of following the content we are working on together in the respective Academy and live Q & A’s, some topic related and some open topic.
The Bark Commanders will also have it’s own smaller zoom groups which will allow for more personal attention. I will also have regular “office hours” where I will open up a zoom room for people to drop in and ask questions, this will either run on a first come first serve or by reservation depending on how much demand there is.
Bark Commanders have access to a 30 minute private zoom session every month, they do not roll over so be sure to use yours up! I will be adding a scheduling link for you to schedule your sessions. Times on the scheduler are for Pacific time so you will need to adjust for your time zone. If you cannot find a time that works for you on the schedule please email me dawn@thehikerpup.com so we can find you a spot!
If you paid for an annual program you get a one hour private zoom session that you can use anytime during the year. Email me when you are ready to schedule your session and we can get it scheduled!
You have the option of purchasing private zoom sessions at a discounted price, I will share that discount code once we get going.
POSTING HOMEWORK
Homework videos are limited to 5 minutes per submission. You can post follow up videos to the same exercises as we work together to adjust what you and your dog need. Capturing decent footage and editing is crucial to being able to best help you. Above is a video with some basic editing tips using iMovie which is on all iPhones and is pretty easy to figure out. You can also use editing apps like InShot and others, just be sure that you select a view that allows me to see both you and your dog.
I’ll be honest, a lot of people find this aspect of the class difficult because it is not easy to show yourself making mistakes and many of us don’t like seeing ourselves on the screen and prefer being behind it. I totally get it. I will say that those that take the leap and do it, get used to that and find that the benefit is so worth being brave. But you are not required to submit homework videos. I just can’t give you personal feedback if you don’t.
Shooting footage
This is tricky! Especially for the reactive dog class since triggers can pop up unexpectedly. But first let’s work on easier set ups and how to film for best use in class.
find a location with something you can put your phone on, a park bench, a fence, a wall, a curb, anything flat above ground level.
Tap your screen so your camera flips and you can see yourself so you know if you are in view or not.
Try to have the camera set so I can see you and your dog! Videos that just show me your dog’s adorable face are cute and lovely, but they don’t show me what it is that you are doing and what your dog is or isn’t responding to.
Keep in mind when you set up things like, is the lens above the grass. Am I standing in front of it the whole time so all I see is you legs and not the dog 😂
helpers are amazing! Pay your friends and family to follow you and film for a few minutes, just show them how to be sure to get all of you and the dog in the shot.
Equipment
I film most all of my videos with an iPhone. Smartphones make it easy to film, edit and upload.
I strongly suggest you invest in a small tripod. They make little portable ones that fit in a pocket that you can set up anywhere, and they are not very expensive.
Many of the tripods also come with remotes so you can start and stop the camera so you have less editing to do later.
If you have a smartphone you should be able to do all your editing and uploading on it.
Editing videos
watch the video for tips.
Please cut down the unnecessary bits and the start and end of you turning the camera on and off. Most all cell phones have the option of you editing your clips from your library to cut that part out even without iMovie.
If you have long periods of dead space where nothing happens, speed the video up, or simply cut that piece out.
If you have to film from farther away and we can barely see you, you can zoom the footage in.
Posting videos
again, 5 minutes or less. Most of the exercises I can see what I need to see in as little as 30-45 seconds and 2-3 minute videos are usually more than enough.
Post the video in the comment section of the exercise you are working on in that classes FB page.
I strongly recommend you consider using Youtube or Vimeo for uploading your videos, then you can just post the share link in the comments. This way you have these videos in your own library forever to come back and reference later. Both platforms offer the option of making your videos unlisted so no one can see them without the link.
You can post directly to FB comments using their uploading features, but I find they fail to load sometimes and that can be very frustrating. This is especially the case with longer videos. Under a minute is usually great on FB.
If you can’t figure it out ask for help!!! Either message me or leave a comment and someone can probably help you sort it out.