Crossword Genius

Bark that surprises me on what sounds like a major branch (3-3)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

bow-wow

'bark' is the definition.
(I know that bow-wow is a type of bark)

'that surprises me on what sounds like a major branch' is the wordplay.
'that surprises me' becomes 'wow' (expression of surprise).
'on' means one lot of letters go next to another.
'what sounds like' indicates a 'sounds like' (homophone) clue.
'a major branch' becomes 'bough' (main branch of a tree).
'bough' sounds like 'bow'.
'wow' put after 'bow' is 'BOW-WOW'.

(Other definitions for bow-wow that I've seen before include "A childish dog?" , "Dog's bark" , "Cry of a dog" , "Child's name for dog" , "A dog for a child?" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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