We interviewed Molly George From Chicago, IL, USA with her pup George, A.K.A. @georgethesheepie on Instagram! Tell us about George! “George is hilarious, loving, sweet, goofy,...
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Blog — Sparkandbark
About SparkandBark
Welcome to our dedicated archive for SparkandBark. At Sparky Steps, we know that exceptional pet care is a continuous learning journey. Whether you are a dedicated Chicago pet parent, a fellow pet professional, or simply an animal lover, you have found the right place to dive into our curated collection of articles and insights.
Our Voices & Editorial Ethics
The stories and guides you will read regarding SparkandBark are the result of true community collaboration. Our content is crafted by the core Sparky Steps team—professional dog walkers and trained pet sitters who spend every day on the streets of Chicago—as well as trusted guest writers, local veterinarians, and passionate pet advocates. We proudly champion positive reinforcement (R+), force-free handling, and science-based animal welfare. The guidance you find here is grounded in real-world experience and a deep respect for animals.
Rooted in the Community
As a local Chicago small business, exploring topics like SparkandBark is our way of giving back and empowering pet owners to advocate for their furry best friends. Please browse the articles below to learn more! If you have a unique perspective or a heartwarming story to share, we are always looking for new voices to join our pack as guest contributors.
Interview With GeorgeTheSheepie
How We Met ❤ Feat. @lordeddardgad
I wasn’t a dog person so to speak before I met my dog Ned. This is how we met: when I...
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How We Met ♥ Feat. @chicagoromeo
I had been looking for the right dog for a long time. And then during the pandemic, I got a lot...
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Interview With Eileen and Watson Belvedere
We interviewed Eileen From Chicago, USA with his dog, Watson Belvedere! Tell us about Watson Belvedere! Watson is a sensitive, independent ‘little man’, clever...
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Interview With Alyssa and Herbie
We interviewed Alyssa Lynch From Texas, USA with her dog, Herbie! Tell us about Herbie! "Herbie is a 6 year old terrier mix who...
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Interview With Family Vermeulen-De Fauw and Their Pets Roro and Tseetsee
We interviewed Family Vermeulen-De Fauw From West Vlaanderen, Belgium with their pets, Roro and Tseetsee! Tell us about Roro and Tseetsee! “2 beaucerons, French sheperd...
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Interview With Barb and Rudy
We interviewed Barb Natividad From Chicago, IL, USA with her dog, Rudy! Tell us about Rudy! "Rudy is a beagle/American Staffordshire Terrier mix. He loves playing fetch and...
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Interview With Sandy And Enzo
We interviewed Sandy From Wolcott, CT USA with her dog, Enzo! Tell us about Enzo! “I lost Enzo 2 years ago. But I keep his...
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Interview With Samantha and Scout
We interviewed Samantha Lacy From Chicago, IL, USA with her dog, Scout! Tell us about Scout! “My dog Scout is a 3 year...
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Interview With Sam and Daxter
We interviewed Sam Schultz From Chicago, IL, USA with his pup, Daxter! Tell us about Daxter! “Daxter is a hilarious and adorable 65lb...
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Interview With Al and Charlie
We interviewed Al Marcano From Chicago, IL, USA with his pup, Charlie! Tell us about Charlie! “Charlie is a lovable 53lbs Old English...
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Interview With Josephine, Trixie, and Maximus
We interviewed Josephine Castle From Iola, Wisconsin USA with her pups Trixie and Maximus you can find them here! ...
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Interview with ItsFictionsWorld
We interviewed @ITSFICTIONSWORLD from Instagram! What’s Your Story? “I love him more than anything, and especially in the pandemic...he keeps me sane.” ...
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Interview With EddiesWorld01
We interviewed Anna Eddie From Chicago, IL, USA with her pup Eddie, A.K.A. @eddiesworld01 on Instagram! Tell us about Eddie! “Eddie is a 5 yo...
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Interview with Yogibearii
We interviewed Kyla From Magnolia, DE, USA with Yogi Beai II, Yogi A.K.A. @YogiBearii & @Mylucky07 on Instagram! TELL US ABOUT Yogi! " Yogi is a...
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Interview with Natalie Urso
We interviewed Natalie Urso and her pups Larry and Delilah from Wicker Park, Chicago, USA! So Natalie, tell us about yourself and your doggos!...
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Interview With CuteStrayDogs
Here's a story featuring Suhani from Delhi, India with Shiro, A.K.A. @CuteStrayDogs on Instagram! "She is just so cute. Actually she is...
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Interview With Teddy_Thomas_Livingston
We interviewed Brady from Knoxville TN, USA with Teddy, A.K.A. @Teddy_Thomas_Livingston on Instagram! Tell us about Teddy! "We got teddy about 9 years...
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Interview With Xena_Smiff
We interviewed Deon Smith from South Wales, UK with Xena Smith, A.K.A. @Xena_Smiff on Instagram! Tell us about Xena! " Xena is a...
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Interview With RubyBTheCavoodle
We interviewed Tonia Bonello from Sydney Australia with Ruby, A.K.A. @RubyBTheCavoodle on Instagram! Tell us about Ruby! "She is full of energy and...
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Interview With My.Friend.Freya
We interviewed Leanne & Tim from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada with their pet Freya, A.K.A. @MY.FRIEND.FREYA on Instagram! Tell us about Freya! " Freya...
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Interview With Copper_The_Pomchi
We interviewed Justice from Muncie, Indiana, USA, with her dog Copper, A.K.A. @Copper_The_Pomchi on Instagram! Tell us about Copper! “Copper is a hyperactive,...
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Interview With Toby.Atlanta
We interviewed Toby.Atlanta from Instagram! Tell us where how your pet found their forever home! “Toby is actually pretty special; I know most...
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Interview With Tales.Of.Tuck
We interviewed Kasey from Eastern Kentucky, USA, with her dog Tucker Merle, A.K.A. Tales.Of.Tuck on Instagram! Tell us about Tucker and where did...
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Interview With LifeWithJoy2019
We interviewed Ankita from Bangalore, India, with her pet Joy, A.K.A. LifeWithJoy2019 on Instagram! Tell us about Joy! “Joy is a cute little...
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Interview With Dramieandfergie_
We interviewed Anna Foster from Fayetteville, Arkansas, USA, with her pets Drama and Fergie, A.K.A. Dramieandfergie_ on Instagram! Tell us about Drama and...
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Interview With Tucker_The_Doberman_
We interviewed Alexis from Montreal, Quebec-Canada with her dog Tucker, A.K.A. Tucker_The_Doberman_ on Instagram! Tell us about Tucker! “He is a one-year-old European...
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Interview with OneEyedLilyCorg!
We interviewed Morgan Cooper from Cleveland, Ohio, USA with her pet Lily, A.K.A. ONEEYEDLILYCORG on Instagram! Tell us about Lily! "Lily is such a...
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Interview With Daily_Dose_Of_Koa
We asked Brianna and Johnathon from Alaska USA with their pet KOA, A.K.A. Daily_Dose_Of_Koa on Instagram about their story! So Whats Your Story? "I...
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Interview With LazyDogAwardGoesTo
We interviewed Khaleesi, A.K.A. LAZYDOGAWARDGOESTO on Instagram! So What's Your Story? "Khaleesi was an abused dog that was rescued and spent...
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Interview with Moxie The Love Bug
We interviewed Moxiethelovebug from Instagram! Tell us where how your pet found its forever home and how your pet sparks joy in your...
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Interview with Little_Miss_Tilly
We interviewed Courtney Gabrus from Bennington, Vermont USA with her pet Tilly, A.K.A. LITTLE_MISS_TILLY on Instagram! Tell us about Tilly! "Tilly...
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Older Dogs Need Love, Too: Consider Adopting a Senior Dog!
In American society, we oftentimes relate “old” to “useless”, but this should certainly not be the case when it comes to living...
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Preparing to Adopt a Second Dog
Adding a second dog to your home is a major life event for your current pet’s nervous system. To avoid "pack tension,"...
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Changing Your New Dog’s Name
Yay! Today is the day you bring home your newly adopted dog. So exciting. You simply can’t wait to get Puck home!...
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5 Tips For Fostering Shelter Dogs
Every year, 1.6 million shelter dogs are adopted, according to the ASPCA. Some of those dogs go straight from the shelter to...
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5 Reasons to Adopt an Older Dog
Puppies get adopted in the blink of an eye, but older shelter dogs are often left waiting. From skipping the exhausting potty-training...
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How to Introduce a Second Dog into Your Home
How to Introduce a Second Dog into Your Home Sometimes it is just impossible to say no to a second pair of...
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How to Introduce a Cat to a New Home
How to Introduce a Cat to a New Home We here at Sparky Steps understand that bringing home a new cat is...
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5 Things to Know About Rescue Dogs
With millions of dogs waiting in shelters across the country, skipping the breeder and adopting a rescue is one of the most...
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Shelter Dogs: How Can We Help?
Here at SparkySteps, it’s no surprise that we absolutely love dogs! When we heard that some of Chicago’s animal shelters were overcrowded to the...
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The Sparky Steps Interview
Sparky Steps Interviews At Sparky Steps, we believe in a simple, beautiful truth: our pets are the ultimate spark of joy in...
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Three Reasons You Should Consider A Shelter Animal
Updated 12/24/2025 The Gift of a Second Chance: 3 Reasons to Adopt a Shelter Pet Choosing to bring a new pet into...
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Sparky Steps - Chicago Dog Walkers and Cat Sitters on a Social Mission
"I personally don’t believe that a business should exist solely to make money..." Dive into the founding story of Sparky Steps with...
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