But sometimes being dogged is as productive as barking up the wrong tree. So when, at the age of 15, he no longer cleaned his bowl, I knew something was wrong. In the end, instead of barking up the wrong tree, I gave Sam all the gentle nose rubs he wanted, holding him in my arms as he drifted into sleep. Source: Tracy StraussTo be dogged about the wrong thing won’t help you attain your goal—it will only make matters worse. So if you find yourself barking up the wrong tree, ask yourself this: What is the fact or feeling I’m not wanting to accept?