By Meredeth Barzen

From "To the Rescue"—that's Sparky on the boat and Luna in the water.

Ever given your dogs voices or made up stories about the complex inner workings of their silent lives? It’s called anthropomorphizing, and don’t feel bad—we do it all the time too.

Max Haynes, a local photographer, author and web designer, has taken it one step further and created Tiny Dog Tales, a website featuring multiple “picture stories” about his pooches, Sparky and Luna, as well as the occasional guest dog protagonist.

Even a casual perusal of the website reveals Tiny Dog Tales isn’t a half-baked hobby or a quirky way to fill one man’s idle time. Breathtaking photos of Haynes’ striking dogs (and a few of their friends) take center stage, set to witty captions that evoke the playful, innocent spirit that we all project on our four-legged friends from time to time. “This is our big sister, Winkie,” Luna says of her cat sibling in “Stinkie Miss Winkie.” “Her breath smells like rotten fish. Yum!”

How would a person come up with such an inspired idea? We went to the source to find out:

Sidewalk Dog: Tell us about your dogs.
Max Haynes: Sparky is a double-crossed dachshund—half wire, half long, half black, half pie-bald—but all doxie! He’s six. Luna is a dorkie—half mini wired-haired doxie and half yorkie. She’s eight months old.

Max Haynes with his dog Luna.

SD: Where did you get the idea for Tiny Dog Tales?
MH: Sparky wrote a story about life after death called “A Dog’s Guide To The Hereafter” and when Luna came into our lives, he decided to document their adventures together. Since I am a web publisher and a children’s book author, I decided to combine the two into TinyDogTales.com.

SD: How do the stories come about? Do you get an idea for a story and stage the photos to depict it, or do you take the photos and then create a story around what you’ve captured?
MH: Following the dogs around with a camera is like panning for gold; you never know when you’ll hit treasure. I take my cues from new circumstances and nice light and usually just see what happens. I look for themes to build around after the pictures are taken.

SD: When did you officially launch the site? How has the reception been so far?
MH: It went live on July 1st and so far we’ve had 8,750 visitors, so it’s a pretty good start. That’s about 275 a day for the past 30 days, I expect it to be 10 times that in six months.

From "The Rules."

SD: Are you thinking of expanding Tiny Dog Tales in any way?
MH: There is much more planned. There will be e-cards that you can send as-is or put your own dogs into. There will probably be some things like T-shirts, and the ultimate goal is to develop books for young readers based on the lives of the dogs. I am currently working on a book for the Animal Wellness Center in Maple Grove about Sparky getting his teeth cleaned.

SD: If someone wanted to create their own dog’s Tale, what would that process be like?

MH: I have just finished a tale based on the three dogs of veterinarian Cassie Engmann and hope to do more of this type of thing. Sometimes I am hired to photograph a person’s dogs, like in this case, and sometimes I just happen to be in the right place at the right time, as in the case of Matilda [of "Flying Matilda"].

SD: What’s your favorite Tale so far?
MH: Wow, that’s tough, let’s see … perhaps “Stinky Miss Winkie,” since it portrays all three of my furry pals.

Why yes it is; thanks for asking!

Newswoman MA Rosko with her oft-featured dog, Munter.

You may have seen Sidewalk Dog’s founder, owner and fearless leader Ali Jarvis on FOX 9’s Morning News show today with fellow dog fanatic and reporter MA Rosko. Ali was showing off a small selection of the super-fun pet products that are made right here in the Land of 10,000 Dog Lovers. Wondering where you can pick them up? Again, glad you asked:

• Pumphouse Creamery’s doggie ice cream can be purchased at the shop in South Minneapolis.
• Stunt Puppy’s hands-free leashes can be purchased online, at Bone Adventure, at select Chuck & Don’s Pet Food Outlets and at Marathon Sports in South Minneapolis.
• Nelli Designs Maggie’s Light pet candles can be purchased online, at  Bone Adventure (Edina, Wayzata and Northeast Minneapolis) or at the other local retailers listed here.
• Sojos treats can be purchased online, at Bone Adventure, at Woody’s Pet Food Deli in Minneapolis, at Lulu & Luigi in St. Louis Park, at Chuck & Don’s Pet Food Outlet (multiple locations), and at many other retailers listed here.
• Mod-Dog lockets, breed-specific note cards and posters can be purchased online.
• The Thundershirt pressure vest (not locally made, we know, but we just had to talk about this with 4th of July fireworks coming up!) can be purchased online or at 4 Perfect Pets in North St. Paul.
• Bedtime treats from Bedtime Bones can be purchased online or at Bone Adventure. (Note: These chamomile bones are currently buy-one-get-one-free if ordered from a Minnesota ZIP code!)

Thanks for watching! And if you missed it, here’s one of the segments:

By Meredeth Barzen

When we tuned in to watch “Through A Dog’s Eyes,” a PBS documentary that follows service dogs in the Canine Assistants program of Milton, Georgia, we were moved at its nuanced depiction of the volunteers, parents, kids and animals involved in the process of training and placing a service dog. In addition to depicting how a service dog is placed with its person, the film explores the human/dog bond and explains how dogs evolved to serve and please their humans—it will make you see your own dog in a new light. In case you missed it, you can watch the entire film here.

A couple of days and at least one box of Kleenex later, we learned the documentary was produced by the folks at TPT, PBS’ Minnesota affiliate. According to Gerry Richman, executive in charge for the film and vice president for national production at TPT, the idea came about after Jennifer Arnold, Canine Assistants’ founder, wrote a book on her work with service dogs.

“I’m a ‘dog civilian’—I don’t own a dog, but I learned so much about dogs [while making the film],” Gerry says. “Naomi Boak, the film’s executive producer [and a fellow Minnesotan], is a real lover of dogs and she’s been involved with dogs her whole life. She’s been the guiding light of the show, and her knowledge both helped and informed the show.”

Canine Assistants Founder Jennifer Arnold

As a relative dog novice, Gerry was surprised to see the unique way these dogs bond with their people. He mentions a section in the show when a little boy’s service dog doesn’t bond properly to him, and he has to try another as a key moment. “The first few weeks a service dog spends with their recipient are really hard. And the film shows that it doesn’t always work; it’s a very unique relationship that needs time to work out.”

The film has gotten a passionate responses both nationally and locally, Gerry says.”People were thrilled to see the story. Most people have a great affection for dogs, and Jennifer Arnold specifically—she’s really the real deal and a terrific human being.”

“This film was an exhilarating experience for everybody involved, because to be around these dogs is a joy and a gift, and to appreciate what the dogs do and how they do it is truly uplifting,” Gerry says. “The deep relationships between the recipients and the dogs that evolved—it’s great human drama and great human emotion. I will never look at a dog in the same way.”

If you’d like to learn more about service dogs, you can contact one of many local service dog organizations, including Can Do Canines, Helping Paws and PawPADs.

By Meredeth Barzen

‘Tis the season for swimming, walking and general frolicking in and around our state’s festive lakes, and to celebrate, Lintu Art’s popular Dogs Around the Lakes series is back for the third year in a row. Artist Sarah Thornton gave Sidewalk Dog the inside scoop on this fun, whimsical project:

Last year's Dogs of Lake Harriet print

What is Dogs Around the Lakes? How did you get the idea?

Dogs Around the Lakes is a print series (not a calendar as a few people assume, but that is a good idea for a future development) created after a group of photo shoots and group walks at the lakes to celebrate the summer weather, our beautiful walking areas and our dog friends. Dogs Around the Lakes developed during the summer of 2008 when I would walk Lake Harriet’s loop with my dog Marilyn. We would see people and dogs at the lake socializing, smiling and soaking in the summer. I wanted to capture that experience with my artwork and also find an excuse to meet all these awesome dogs!

How did it go last year?

Last year’s experience was awesome and I’ve met so many new friends both human and dog. I was able to have events at Lakes Harriet, Calhoun, Isles and Nokomis in 2009 with more than 100 dogs participating as candidates for the prints. I was also fortunate to catch up with a few 2008 participants. I love hearing back from people about how they and their dogs are doing. They become my neighbors with this project no matter how far they live from me.

Henry, a 2009 Dog Around a Lake

Do you have a favorite piece from last year?

Favorites are always too difficult to choose. Everyone has a unique story and experience to share, but there are a few memories that stick out from 2009. At Lake Nokomis I was fortunate to have a family with two Borzois with really solid Russian names: Pushkin and Talisker. This was my first experience meeting this breed and they were so tall and graceful. What made it even better is that my next photo shoot was with a Shih Tzu. When they crossed paths, the Borzoi looked even taller!

Where will it be taking place?

This year, Lake Harriet will be May 22nd and open to dogs of all sizes, shapes and colors. The group walk will be at noon, with photo sessions available in the morning and afternoon. For Lake Calhoun on June 20th, I will be partnering with Heather Rosenwald of Start Seeing Black Dogs and we’re inviting black or mostly black dogs to come out to help spread the word about the low adoption rate among mixed breed black dogs in shelters. New additions to 2010 include Dogs Along the River for both downtown Minneapolis and my college town, Northfield (August 29th and August 14^th, respectively). For the downtown Minneapolis addition, Toast Wine Bar will be hosting the after party for humans and dogs. In Northfield, we will be supporting Prairie’s Edge Humane Society (formerly Rice County Humane Society). The city of North Oaks has also invited me to create a print for The Dogs of North Oaks similar to the Dogs Around the Lakes print.

Last year's print is unveiled at Lake Harriet.

Tell us about your work with A Rotta Love Plus.

A Rotta Love Plus is very close to my heart. My new addition, George, came through their program and my life wouldn’t be the same without him! I curate an art show each year called Deviant Art: Dispelling Myths. This show is to benefit and spread awareness about ARLP. In April, more than 25 talented artists participated and drew almost 500 guests. We’ve already had artists calling from across the country to participate in the 2011 show.

Don’t miss Lintu Art at this weekend’s Art-A-Whirl festival, when Sarah’s studio (390) in the Northrup King Building will be open and hosting a few guest artists including Jezroc Metal Works (as seen at Deviant Art).

By Meredeth Barzen

When we heard our good friend and pet paintress Jessie Marianiello of Stray Dog Arts was holding her very own exhibition in The Galleria, Edina’s ritziest shopping mall, we were thrilled. And we were even more thrilled when she invited us, along with six other local pet luminaries (Pampered Pooch Playground, Sarah Beth Photography, Bone Adventure, Fetch Delivers, Stunt Puppy and K9 Connection), to throw a party in her gorgeous gallery space.

We’re calling it “Mon Ami: Celebrating Our Community of Dog Lovers,” and it’s going to be a truly unique evening. Jessie’s lovely art will provide the backdrop for mingling, live music, wine, cheesecake from Muddy Paws and prize drawings—plus steals and deals for attendees from yours truly, Sidewalk Dog.

Jessie’s exhibition, “Dogs of Edina,” will be displayed from May 6^th (don’t miss her opening reception from 5-7 p.m.) through May 31^st at the Galleria. The third in a series of neighborhood dog projects, “Dogs of Edina” displays Jessie’s stylish and modern interpretation of more than 30 community pooches.

“Preparing for a solo exhibition is a long and intensive process. For me, it is also rewarding beyond words,” Jessie says. “As an artist, I am fascinated by the way dogs of particular neighborhoods reflect the people who live in them. I am also interested in the way dogs bring people together and create a common ground between those who might otherwise remain strangers. These layers of culture and community that are built around dogs and their people interest me greatly.”

“Dogs of Edina” will host a number of rock-your-socks-off events during the month of May, including:

• May 6: ”Dogs of Edina” Opening Reception—featuring wine, snacks, art and more!
• May 9: ArtBARK!—contest for kids and raffle in support of The Pet Project and hosted by Bone Adventure. Kids can turn in their best dog art on the back of an ArtBARK postcard by May 6th and have a chance to win a chance to have their submissions  framed and hung in the “Dogs of Edina” gallery during the ArtBARK! event. Top winners in each age group will receive a $25 gift certificate to Bone Adventure as well as a pack of 10 greeting cards custom designed by Stray Dog Arts—featuring the winner’s artwork. Runners-up in each age group will receive a $10 gift certificate to Bone Adventure as well as art supplies from Stray Dog Arts.
• May 13: Paws4Pets—Fundraising event for Red Lake Rosie’s Rescue hosted by Talk2theAnimals, featuring a book signing by Angel Animal authors Linda and Allen Anderson and a raffle with exciting prizes from The Galleria, Stray Dog Arts, Chuck & Don’s Pet Food Outlet, The Westin Galleria Edina, and more! Remember to bring a donation for Red Lake Rosie’s Rescue, a very special cause indeed.
• May 20: Diamonds, Dazzle and Dogs: Girls’ Night Out!—An evening of art, shopping, style tips, music, pampering, wine and delicious treats to benefit Top Dog Foundation, hosted by Top Dog Country Club and DNA2Diamonds. You’ll find shopping from StyledLife, Origins, ATAZ and Top Dog Country Club, wine and hors d’ oeuvres from Good Earth, informal modeling and fashion and raffles from The Westin Hotel and Top Dog Country Club.
  StyledLife, Origins, Ataz, & Top Dog Country Club
  with wine and hors d’ oeuvres from
The Good Earth
  Informal modeling and fashion
  and an evening filled with pampering, from nose to paw!
  Incredible Dog-Loving Raffle, including:
  The Westin Hotel ~ Hotel Stay & Doggy Package
  Top Dog Country Club ~ Vacation & Spa Package

Oh, and did we mention Mon Ami is free? No special invite needed, just a love for dogs and great art. Hope to see you there!

Mon Ami: The Deets

Date: Friday, May 14th

Time: 5-8 p.m.

Cost: Free!

Location: The Galleria, Edina: 69^th St. and France Ave. Exhibition space between Louis Vuitton & Big Bowl in the center’s West end.

Fun: Lovely local dog art, groovy live music, wine, cheesecake, prizes, drawings, deals and the chance to hobnob with local pet luminaries.

Sponsored by: Sidewalk Dog, Pampered Pooch Playground, Sarah Beth Photography, Bone Adventure, Fetch Delivers, Stunt Puppy and K9 Connection

Daisy channels the ancient Egyptian queen.

By Meredeth Barzen

Remember that old children’s song, “Down by the Bay” with the absurdist lyrics? “Have you ever seen a llama / Wearing pajamas / Down by the bay?” Well we’ve got an extra verse: “Have you ever seen a pug / Dressed up as Cleopatra and posed in front of a miniature pyramid / Down by the bay?” OK, it doesn’t rhyme. But it’s in keeping with the theme.

Some dogs like to play fetch. Some like to chase their tails. And some, like Daisy the pug, like nothing more than to model—actually, Daisy might be the only one. She got into the fast-paced modeling biz during her puppydom, when her mom, Kim Vogel, decided to make Daisy the star of her photography and scrapbooking hobbies. “My goal is to make a book for each year of her life and do two layouts a month. This scrapbooking hobby is the reason that I have so many pictures of her with different themes,” Kim says. Those photos of Daisy number over 170,000.

And what kind of themes does Daisy portray? “For the theme photos it is important to dress her up, for example like Cleopatra, a ballerina, a cowboy,” Kim says. “She seems to get in character when I photograph her. She looks sweet in her Angel costume, sinister in her Dracula costume, and thoughtful and scientific in her Astronaut costume.”

Daisy clowns around.

Kim maintains that Daisy absolutely relishes her stardom: “Daisy gets many treats during her photo shoots and I suspect this is one of the reasons that she loves to model. She also gets a lot of attention and praise, which she loves as well.”

Most of the pictures are taken in a small photo studio in Kim’s basement. “When I get her treat bowl ready and ask if she wants to do a photo shoot, she perks up and happily follows me to the basement. Then she sits impatiently while I set up the camera, backdrop and props. She keeps reminding me to hurry up by barking every few minutes. She is the happiest when she is in front of the camera. Sometimes when I go to the basement for something other than a photo shoot she goes to her studio and starts posing, and I have to tell her that we are not taking pictures right now.”

Though Daisy doesn’t have a favorite outfit, “she has an extensive wardrobe,” Kim says, “but like most models, she prefers to wear things only one time. She is very good at standing up on her back legs because this is a position she uses to beg for treats. It is a cute pose to show off some of her lovely dresses.”

Fascinated by Daisy’s rising fame yet? Would you like to own an original Daisy theme portrait? Pet Crossing Animal Hospital & Dental Clinic, Daisy’s official dentist (Daisy loves Dr. Knutson!” Kim says), will be displaying 150 of Daisy’s photos through the month of April, and is kicking off the month with an art gala/wine and cheese party starring the legendary pug herself. And on May 1 from 4-7 p.m., there will be another special event just for pugs and their owners to check out the photos and “support one of their own,” as Kim says. All of the photos will be for sale, and 100 percent of the proceeds will benefit the homeless animals that Pet Crossing supports through their partnerships with Cornerstone domestic abuse shelter, Animal Ark and Minnesota Valley Humane Society.

The Details:

Event: Pet Crossing’s 2010 Art Gala/Wine and Cheese Party, starring Daisy Vogel

Date/Time: Friday, April 2, 6-9 p.m.

Location: Pet Crossing Animal Hospital & Dental Clinic, 10861 Bloomington Ferry Road, Bloomington

Snacks: Wine and cheese

Special guests: Kim and Daisy Vogel

Entertainment: Kim will be giving a short talk about Daisy’s life and modeling skills.

Daisy’s wardrobe: The dog will be wearing a purple dress with ruffles and silver sparkles, which she got at the Pug Nationals.

"Lily," by WACSO

By Meredeth Barzen

While the Twin Cities certainly isn’t lacking in talented pet artists (see: pooch painters Stray Dog Arts and Lintu Art)—or talented artists in general, for that matter—one has emerged who stands out from the crowd for his stylized, hyper-local treatment of the people, places and pups that populate our fair cities. WACSO (stands for Walkin’ Around Checkin’ Stuff Out)—a.k.a. Robb Burnham—takes inspiration from everything around him, as his name would suggest. Often, it’ll be the fuzzy face of a four-legged pal, but you’ll see local landmarks like restaurants, architecture and adorable old men on benches represented in his work as well. WACSO will draw your dog if you’d like him too—but he won’t take any money for it, just a suggested $100 donation to a pet rescue (check out this recent portrait of his neighbor, M.A. Rosko’s dog Munter.)

"Munter," by WACSO

“I get a lot of requests from strangers all around the country, which was a bit odd at first because I would really rather meet the dog in person, but I’ve got it down to where I ask them to send me as many photos of the dog as they can. That gives me a pretty good idea of what the dog is like,” Burnham says of his commissioned dog drawings. “I don’t want payment for these drawings so I ask for a donation to be made in my name to a shelter/rescue. I’ll send them a hi-resolution file that they can print however they would like. People have made T-shirts, calendars, mugs … I just had a woman use my drawing to get a tattoo of her dog that passed away. It looked awesome, and I think it was great therapy for her.”

Here’s a look into the philosophy and process that is WACSO:

"Sharing the Bed" by WACSO features the artist's own dogs, Frankie and Grady.

Do you have any dogs?

I have two dogs: a female English bulldog named Frankie and a little block-of-cement French bulldog named Grady. Frankie likes to watch TV—in fact, if the TV is off, she’ll yip until the TV is turned on, and she’ll actually growl at the mugshots they show on news programs. She knows who the bad guys are; it’s pretty funny.

What’s your favorite dog-friendly spot in town?

Sitting outside at Java Jack’s Coffee Cafe is awesome.

Do your dogs make it into your drawings?

Yes, I constantly draw my dogs.

How long have you been drawing?

I’ve been drawing all my life, but didn’t really get serious about it until about five years ago.

Your work really celebrates the everyday and the local—what is it about those subjects that compels you to portray them?

I like everyday things. Life isn’t all about taking big vacations and going to exotic locations. We’re surrounded by all kinds of cool everyday stuff; we just have to stop and look for it. I had done a drawing of the Blackbird Cafe a while back because it’s a cool place. Well, sadly, it burned down recently—such a drag, but I started getting messages from people requesting prints of the drawing. It was really cool to see what that drawing suddenly meant to people and the importance of appreciating and celebrating the things we have.

"Dog in a Coffee Shop," by WACSO

What sorts of characteristics make you want to draw a certain dog? Physical traits? Personality? Setting? Owner?

I’ll draw any dog; they are all awesome. Think about it: You can be having the crappiest day of all time and see a dog and smile—what else can do that?

Why do you like drawing dogs in general?

The dog drawings just seem to make people happy. They make me happy drawing them … I laugh most of the time I’m drawing.

How long does it take you to do a drawing?

It’s hard to say how long a drawing takes; I lose track of time, but I’ll usually do dozens of drawings of a dog before I get the one I like best. Sometimes the best version is the first one I draw and sometimes it’s the last.

How do you decide what form it’s going to take (i.e. single-line drawing, detailed, with or without color, etc?)

I will usually do a few different styles; one-line drawings, a more refined style, add color, etc …, and see which I like best when I’m done.

"Shaggy Dog #3," by WACSO

Do you approach strangers and ask if you can draw their dogs? Are they usually game, or do you ever get resistance?

I’m a pretty shy person. I don’t mind talking to the dogs; it’s owners I have trouble with.

Where can people find your work?

Become a fan of my Facebook page! It’s now dedicated to just my dog drawings. I try to put up a new one every couple of days. You can also check out my Web site, which has all of my drawings.

What do you like about the Twin Cities?

The Twin Cities are fantastic—love it here. Tons of dogs, tons of places to walk dogs and the people are cool. I even dig the winters—all those dogs in boots and outfits crack me up.

Truffle (left) and Mae amp it up at American Guitar & Band

By Meredeth Barzen

Rock ‘n’ roll is alive and well in the suburbs (we don’t mean the band), and it just so happens to be dog-friendly. For almost 10 years, American Guitar & Band in Maple Grove has been a second home to owners Cory and Stephanie Lake’s dogs, which share the space with customers, music students and other visiting pups. Sidewalk Dog chatted with Cory, a guitar enthusiast and recording engineer, and his wife Stephanie, a design historian and museum curator, about keeping their store friendly to both dogs and rock stars.

Tell us about your dogs.

Cory: Two of our three dogs are at the shop every weekday. Suki, a black pug and the first store dog is now 11, retired from her post, and cruising around in a wheelchair at home. Truffle, our 4-year-old black pug, and Mae, our 4-year-old Bug (Boston terrier/pug) “work” at AG&B.

For years, we talked about getting Suki a friend. During brunch one morning we decided to get a dog—that day. Stephanie and I drove hundreds of miles all over the state, playing with puppies until something clicked. We knew the moment we saw Truffle that she was the one.

Mae arrived from Los Angeles late last year. Stephanie was visiting her sister who had just taken on a huge new job and felt enormously guilty about not spending enough time with her dog. Mae had had a string of bad luck, too, losing a toe to a coyote, an eye to a car accident, and a broken tail somewhere along the way, all of which only made her that much more endearing.  Stephanie adored her and so she asked her sister if she could take her back to the Twin Cities. When she called on her way to the airport, she told me she would be flying home with “one-eyed Mae.” The next day she was snapped into her seatbelt and on her way to work with Truffle.

Owner Cory Lake with Mae and Truffle

How do Truffle and Mae react to other dogs in the store?

Stephanie: We love to see other dogs in the shop and our dogs love it, too—lots of running and chasing, and the occasional crush develops with the regulars. There are a few dogs that they are absolutely crazy about.

How do they feel about customers? How do the customers feel about them?

Stephanie: They are both incredibly sweet and happy to meet everyone. Sometimes they have a lot to say, sometimes just tails wagging. Mae is a superb greeter and we have to admit that Truffle is a bit more jaded. Everyone knows to look for her on Cory’s desk chair. For our music students, getting Truffle’s attention becomes a goal—they bring in treats and toys to win her over. There is a great sense of accomplishment when she gives her approval. The customers love seeing the dogs, and most accept that if they sit down in our coffee lounge they will have one in their lap. We rarely see anyone with a fear of dogs, but if someone is uncomfortable we just pick them up and keep them at bay.

What do you like about having a shop dog? Are there any frustrating moments?

Cory: One of the best things is that they instantly put people at ease and in a better mood.  How can you not laugh when these two little dogs come bounding over? They look ridiculous and it just cracks people up. It also makes it much easier to avoid stilted retail introductions and forced conversations. There is a lot of attitude in music retail, but ours is a fun, friendly shop, and the dogs instantly set the tone.

The most frustrating thing is that they will eat anything—Mae developed a rock-salt-eating habit, and Truffle likes packing peanuts. It is a bit harder to keep them safe in a public space, but they also have a lot of people that watch out for them.

You'll have to visit AG&B to find out if Truffle can hold a beat ...

Do you think having a shop dog draws people to patronize your store?

Cory: Without question. If they are at home, I get asked about them all day. It definitely gives people another reason to look forward to stopping in. They also are a huge draw for our music lesson program. We teach hundreds of elementary and junior-high school students, and seeing the dogs each week provides extra incentive to get to their lessons. It is a perk for parents, too, who can bring in their younger kids to play with the dogs and stay entertained.

We love our dogs; they are our family, and we want to have them around us as much as possible. We are incredibly lucky to own a business where they have roles and where they have fun.

By Meredeth Barzen

We hate to say ‘I told you so,’ Wisconsin, but we’ve got even more proof that Minnesota is home to the most talented, creative, marvelous people on the planet. Exhibit A: Consie Powell, author of “Old Dog Cora and the Christmas Tree.”

Powell hails from the Great White North of Ely, Minnesota (look for this lovely town to make an appearance in our upcoming Northwoods Doggie Wintertime Roundup, where we’ll comb the rich resources of the top half of the state for cold-weather things to do with your pooch.) And “Old Dog Cora” is a children’s book, and a Christmas book, but transcends those labels with a warm heart, musical language, and woodcut illustrations that are works of art. It’s the story of Cora, a beloved old Newfoundland who has grown too old to pull the sled in her family’s Christmas-tree-harvesting tradition. Not to spoil the ending, but she follows them into the woods anyway and finds a way to prove that she’s still a useful member of the family.

We’ll get the fawning praise out of the way early on: The book is breathtaking to look at, with a simple, very Scandinavian color palette of reds, greens, blacks, blues and whites; as well as wonderful, quintessentially Minnesotan images like a little wool hat decorated with loons and a matching red leash and harness. We love the way it captures such a sense of place—you’re instantly transported to the comforting, festive landscape of a northwoods home in full holiday cheer. We love sentences with obvious aural appeal, like this: “Cora sniffed the oily scent of leather boots and the sweet smell of well-worn wool.”

And mostly, we love the dogs—shiny, black Newfies named Cora, Minx and Ebony, who delicately paw at their fluffy blue dog beds or proudly prance with a captured mitten in their mouths.

The Powells with two of their Newfies: Mikinaak and her mother Nokomis (who passed away about five years ago.)

Powell dedicated the book to five very special dogs: Kaloosit, Kati, Canoni, Milakokia, and Ishkoodah, who she refers to as “the old girls.” Since 1974, Powell and her husband, Roger, have lived with 13 different “Newfs,” as they call them. The couple has a long history of Newfie fandom—one that can be hard to follow, at times: “We presently have three generations of Newfoundlands,” Powell says. “Grandma is Mikinaak, age 9, and her daughter is Nisse, who is 6. Cladina, 2, is Mikinaak’s granddaughter and Nisse’s niece (her mom is Nisse’s sister Kiera, who lives with her family in Vermont).”

Got that? We haven’t even gotten back to the old girls yet. “Before this present trio of related girls, we earlier had three generations of close-knit doggirls: Grandma Canoni, daughter Milikokia, and granddaughter Ishkoodah. They all lived very long and productive lives (well past 12), and were 7, 9, and 11 when I wrote my Cora story. They provided the constant dynamic of a loving pack of Newfs that knew that they wanted to work and play together. This dynamic made its way into my story.” If you’re keeping track, that leaves Kaloosit and Kati unaccounted for. Don’t worry; we’ll get to them.

These were the dogs that inspired “Old Dog Cora.” “Our first Newf, Kaloosit, helped my husband with his winter ecological field research for his Ph.D., and set the standard for what a good working dog can do,” Powell says. “Our dogs help us haul firewood. And for every Christmas that we’ve spent up north, they have hauled our Christmas tree out of the woods after we, as a family, hike in to find and cut it. And there was Kati, who came to us as a 19-month-old un-housebroken girl who wanted nothing so much as to just be part of a family. We gave her what she wanted, and she gave us love, devotion, and hard work in return. And it was Kati, who, as an old girl, did what Cora does in the story (you’ve got to read the book to find out!), and my husband and I who were, truly, the dense humans who needed the dog to tell us what she wanted. Kati gave me the story.”

Is “Old Dog Cora and the Christmas Tree” a true story? “It is full of truth, though these truths are combined in the manner that the story itself dictated to me,” Powell says. “When I am asked, ‘Is this dog Cora?’ I answer, ‘yes, and no.’ No individual dog of ours is Cora, yet every dog of ours is Cora.”

The character of Cora doesn’t appear in any of Powell’s other books, the author says. “But Cora, as a personification of Newfies, and of ‘gooddogness,’ appears as often as it’s appropriate in my other picturebooks. If you look in “Amazing Apples,” she’s a Landseer Newf (white and black), pulling a wagon, and foraging for windfalls. In “The First Day of Winter,” she’s just a fuzzy puppy, learning about snow for the first time. And in my upcoming “Old Woman Winter” (written by Mary Bevis) she’s a big brown boy dog, bounding joyfully to greet his favorite kids after school.”

Powell and the doggirls usually spend their winters in North Carolina (though they’re currently getting ready to move back to Ely full-time), but that doesn’t mean they can’t handle the cold. Powell says of her favorite dog-friendly wintertime activities: “If I’m inside, it might be sitting on the floor in front of the woodstove, with a big furry black dog on her back in my lap (though mostly on the floor between my legs). Or it might be tossing popcorn to the doggirls from my big bowl of fluffy crunchiness. Or sharing a piece of cinnamon toast. If I’m outside? A good walk down the road in the snow is always wonderful for everyone. Hauling in firewood (doggirls in harness and pulling the toboggan, me loading and hitching, my husband doing the cutting) is fun, tiring, and awe-inspiring when I see how instinctively my dogs work with me. It’s fun to skijour—but I’ve not done it nearly enough to become very good at it. Mostly just playing in the snow … ”

So take a cue from Powell this holiday season and find a comfy space on the floor with a warm fire, a warmer furry friend, a bowl of popcorn and a copy of “Old Dog Cora and the Christmas Tree.”

Late last month, the Mall of America was taken over by pooches and their people at the first annual Doggone Early Dog Walk, benefiting Home for Life Animal Sanctuary. The walk kicked off The Art of the Dog, Home for Life’s annual holiday display of dog statues and doghouses designed and adorned by local artists.

Marianiello's doghouse was inspired by The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York City.

Jessie Marianiello of Stray Dog Arts is among this year’s participating artists. She created an MoMDA—Museum of Modern Dog Art—doghouse, which features painted portraits of Marni Hughes’s and Keith Marler’s dogs from FOX 9 News. “This is a space for dogs to relax and contemplate the finer things in life. Because I truly believe that animals recognize beauty, the inside of the house is decorated as a miniature art gallery complete with framed artwork. The exterior is embellished with artwork that I’ve completed within the past year and incorporated into a museum-esque architectural design,” Marianiello says.

The Art of the Dog will remain on display in Nordstrom Court until January 4. The entire exhibit is for sale, so be sure to check it out when shopping for that extra special but hard-to-buy-for dog lover on your list. Proceeds from the sale will benefit Home for Life.

*Editor’s Note: Marianiello’s doghouse is sponsored by MadDog Delivers, a Victoria-based pet food delivery company that specializes in customer service. When asked why she chose this particular piece, MadDog owner Julie Klouda had this to say: “When I found out Jessie was seeking a sponsor for her doghouse, I responded immediately [as we both share] a love for the animals at Home for Life and a desire to raise money to pay for their medical expenses, food and other needs. Given these hard economic times, it’s [an especially] beautiful thing when pet lovers unite to help animals.”