Elizabeth Ries and her Westie, Henry. Photo by Sarah Beth Photography.

By Meredeth Barzen

Savvy Minnesotans will recognize Elizabeth Ries‘ smiling face from “Twin Cities Live,” the Minnesota-centric show she hosts weekdays at 3 p.m. on Channel 5 with John Hanson. They might even recognize her voice from myTalk 107.1, where she dishes the latest celebrity news and gossip on “The Dirt Alert,” weekdays at 8:20 a.m. and 5:20 p.m.; hosts “The Waiting Room,” a health show, from 10 to 11 a.m. on Sunday mornings; and fills in for the occasional missing host.

But dedicated viewers of Twin Cities Live will also recognize Elizabeth’s TV-ready Westie, Henry, who helps out from time to time with his own series, “The Adventures of Henry.” The little pup recently visited Minnesota Oncology’s Maplewood Cancer Clinic to get the skinny on pet therapy for cancer patients (click here to watch the story). When they’re not working on their tag-team reporting skills, Elizabeth and Henry can be found hanging out at their favorite local dog-friendly haunts. Here’s the full story:

Henry hangs out at Cupcake in St. Paul. Photo by Sarah Beth Photography.

Dog’s name: Henry
Dog’s nicknames: Bug, Buggy, Baby Bear
Breed: West Highland White Terrier (Westie)
Age: 6
Favorite toy: Anything with a squeaker
Favorite treats: Cheese and peanut butter
Favorite place to hang out: On the back of the sofa
Favorite dog park: Alimagnet Dog Park in Burnsville
Favorite dog-friendly restaurant: Birchwood Cafe
Favorite dog-friendly coffee shop: Cupcake in St. Paul
Favorite pet store: Stone Mountain Pet Lodge in Blaine
Favorite dog-friendly vacation: Any cabin up north
Best trick: He will kiss on demand.
Dog’s best friend: Gwendolyn, my 7-year-old neighbor
Dog’s nemesis: Squirrels and rabbits!
Favorite way to get attention/treats: He stares me down and makes a little “haarruummph” noise.
Favorite naughty behavior/bad habit: Rolling in dead things. Seriously. It’s so gross.
Sleeps: On my bed, of course. But if he’s rolled in something dead, he definitely gets a bath first.
Be honest: Do you ever use baby talk when speaking to your dog? Absolutely. It’s mortifying, but I can’t stop.
Is your dog friends with any other celebrity dogs? No dogs, but he’s pals with [KSTP reporter] Rusty Gatenby’s children. Does that count?
What are you working on over at Twin Cities Live? At TCL we highlight the people and places of the Twin Cities. It’s an awesome unique local show! Coming up in June we’re working on a “Mommy Moneymakers” series where we meet moms in the Twin Cities who are raking in the cash in unique ways. We also have a live studio audience every Friday and we’d love to see you there! Check out www.twincitieslive.com for details on free tickets!

By Meredeth Barzen

Caden the Chug—that's chihuahua plus pug—gives a solid "sit" at A Great Dog Now.

As summer makes its debut with a hot, humid bang (remember that frost on Mothers’ Day? We don’t either), we’re thinking your pooch is going to be making a lot of public appearances in the next few months. Last month, we covered ways to get your dog physically in shape for the summer, and this month, trainer Jane Fallander of St. Paul-based A Great Dog Now (which offers a “Summer Skills” class—the next session starts June 13) shares some training tips to keep Lassie in line while you’re having fun in the sun:

On Walking: To really enjoy summer walks with our dogs, we need to polish up their leash manners and ensure they aren’t pulling our shoulders out of their sockets or trying to assault oncoming walkers or their dogs. I always take along a large supply of treats and my clicker when I take my dogs out for a walk. If I’ve got a young or untrained dog, I click and treat when they are walking next to me with some nice slack in the leash. What if there’s no slack? Then I change directions and click when they come up next to me. If I come upon a distraction such as some kids playing or a game of Frisbee, I’ll do what’s called “upping my rate of reinforcement,” meaning I’ll click and treat like crazy.

On Pulling: I’m also a huge proponent of such management devices as no-pull, front-clip harnesses (Sensation and Easy Walk are two good ones) and head collars (Gentle Leaders, Haltis and so on). I tend to push the harnesses a lot as I think in general dogs tend to accept them better than the head collars.

On Agression: If people have reactive or leash aggressive dogs, I recommend owners address that with a qualified trainer or behaviorist. With persistence, patience and guidance, there’s a lot that can be done to help these dogs.

On Greeting Friends: I like my dogs to be polite when I visit with neighbors, and sometimes I ask a friend to help me practice. I ask her to walk slowly toward me. With each step my friend takes, I give a corresponding click and treat to my dog to reward him for sitting quietly at my side. I instruct my friend to turn and walk away if my dog gets up to greet them. That way my dog learns that the quickest way to greet people is sit quietly at my side. I do this exercise a lot with my clients’ dogs.

On Coffee Shop Manners: I love seeing well-behaved dogs at the coffee shops and cafes. To get dogs ready for their coffee shop debuts, teach them to lie on a small mat or bandanna. You can use that object to help keep him anchored in a relaxed “stay” while you read your newspaper or visit with friends. To teach him to stay put, drop treats between his front feet. Of course, before you take him to an outdoor restaurant, you’ll want to teach him the cue “leave it” so that he isn’t grabbing everything in reach! I teach “leave it” by offering the dog a closed fist full of treats. At first he’ll lick and chew at my hand to get to the treats. As soon as he stops trying to eat through my knuckles to get the treats, I click (or say “good”) and hand him a treat. He quickly learns that if he wants a treat he needs to leave them alone. We call this “doggie Zen”: To have it, you must let it go. Next I use treats either under my foot or on the ground past my dog’s reach. When he stops trying to chew my shoe to get the treat or he stops lunging for the treat and instead looks at me, he gets a treat!

There are plenty of great trainers and resources in the Twin Cities for dogs who need a refresher course on manners, especially for summer. Here are a few:

On Cue Training and Behavior: Principal trainer Nancy Driver points out that May is Bite Prevention Month—“kids are getting out of school and having greater access to dogs in public,” she says. Visit www.doggonesafe.com for more info on this topic.

Just Paws Puppy Training: Just Paws, which specializes in puppy and adolescent dog training, has created a YouTube channel featuring new training tips for the season. Videos to be uploaded in coming weeks include “Kool ways to keep your puppy cool this summer” and “How to build your own puppy digging box.”

Bark Busters: Check out Bark Busters’ articles on thunderstorms, dog park safety tips and bite prevention.

The Enlightened Canine: Trainer Colleen Falconer reminds everyone not to leave dogs in hot cars—even if it’s only for a few minutes, even with the windows cracked. “If you’d like your dog to learn to swim, spend time just playing around and wading in the shallow end of the lake until your dog figures out how to doggie paddle on his own. Avoid pushing a dog off of your dock—though he’ll probably learn to swim that way, he’ll probably be afraid of the water from then on,” she says about canine aquatics. She also advises slowly reintroducing your dog to the crowds of people, fireworks, loud music and groups of screaming, running children typical of summer gatherings. And you might want to pack a few snacks or a yummy Kong for your dog to enjoy on a picnic so he’s not tempted to steal people food, she says.

For a complete guide to dog trainers, check out Sidewalk Dog’s directory.

Another weekend, another walk-a-thon. This time, the nonprofit du semaine is the always wonderful Helping Paws, which provides service dogs to people with disabilities (gotta love those adorable blue vests the pups wear!) Early registration for the annual Wag, Walk & Run is closed, but you can still register on walk day and raise pledges for this noble cause. Remember, those blue vests don’t pay for themselves!

The Deets

Date: Sunday, May 23, 2010

Time: One-mile, 12-and-under Kids’ Run at 9 a.m.; 5K six-legged (that’s a team of one person plus one pooch) run/walk at 9:30 a.m.

Location: Beautiful Purgatory Creek Recreation Area, Eden Prairie

Cost: Registration $20 (12 and under), $35 (adults), waived if you collect donations of $75 or more.

Fun Stuff: Meet Helping Paws service dogs in training, enter the dog contests, watch dog demonstrations, visit the sponsor and vendor booths and say hi to Sidewalk Dog (an event sponsor) while you’re there!

More Info: Click here for all you need to know.

See you there!

By Meredeth Barzen

Summer is a great time to grab a drink, meet people, network and enjoy our cities’ awesome restaurant patios. But if you have to leave your dog behind, it can mean a heavy bummer hangs over your afternoons out. Luckily, Angie Gwiazdon has been hosting Beer With Your Buddy events for the past few years through her dog-friendly events company, K9-Connection.

“It’s like a dog park with a bar!” Angie says of her popular nights out. “People mingle, drink and socialize, and the dogs do the same. It has a laid-back feel; comfortable, casual and inviting. It’s a diverse crowd of people (and dogs) ranging in age from 21 to one of my regulars, who is 81! Couples, singles, friends, people in the dog biz trying to network: You name it, it’s there!”

Here’s how it works: Once a month, a local bar opens its doors to Twin Cities dog lovers and their four-legged friends for an afternoon of socializing, schmoozing and sipping (water for them; maybe a nice Flying Dog Classic Pale Ale for you?) The events are open to anyone who loves dogs—whether they have one or not—and this year, each BWYB event will be held one of a rotating schedule of bars, a change from the series’ previous permanent residence at the Nomad World Pub. “We are excited about traveling this year,” Angie says of the change. “A lot of people requested changing venues to mix it up a bit, so I am honoring that request.”

Another change this year: Since Angie’s pregnant with her second child, Beer With Your Buddy events will be held once a month (they used to be held twice a month). That’s not for lack of popularity, of course—the events are generally brimming with lots of lovely locals.

A BWYB participant enjoys, well, a beer with his buddy. Photo by Just Pawsitive Photography.

At each K9-Connection event except for Doga (yes: dog yoga—see list below for details), there is a charity present (usually dog-related but not always) who be raising funds and awareness with a raffle, silent auction, game or activity.

So when the first official Beer With Your Buddy kicks off the season at the Nomad this Saturday, take your pooch out for a drink.

Beer With Your Buddy Schedule (stay tuned for more info on later dates):

Sat., May 15, 4-6:30 p.m. Nomad World Pub, Minneapolis—this location is definitely off-leash! Tickets are sold out at indoor capacity; if the weather is dry, additional tickets will be available at the door. This month’s charity is Underdog Rescue.

Wed., June 23 at Club Jäger, Minneapolis—another off-leash location! “A fabulous bar with a great patio, dog-friendly, and they are just fine with the dogs being off-leash,” Angie says of Club Jäger.

Thu., July 22 at Darby O’Ragen’s (formerly JJ’s Dry Dock), Minneapolis. “They have expanded their deck and it is fabulous,” Angie says of the new and improved bar.

August date and location to be announced.

Thu., Sept. 23 at Darby O’Ragen’s, Minneapolis.

October at the Nomad World Pub, Minneapolis (off-leash!), date to be announced.

Other K9-Connection Events:

Fri., May 14, 5-8 p.m.: Mon Ami: Celebrating Our Community of Dog Lovers. Live music, art, wine, delectables and exclusive deals at Stray Dog Arts’ gallery space at Galleria, Edina.

Thu., June 3, 6-9 p.m.: Wine and Wag, a benefit for Homeward Bound Rescue at Darby O’Ragen’s, Minneapolis.

Sun., May 23, 10-11 a.m.: Zen Pooch Doga—yoga with your dog—is a monthly event at Pampered Pooch Playground in St. Louis Park.

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).

Eloise, aka Weezie, soaks up some sun at Gigi's Cafe.

Sighting: Eloise the Miniature Australian Shepherd

Location: Gigi’s Cafe in South Minneapolis

Human buddy: Christy Lund of Minneapolis

Fun fact: Eloise was named after the 6-year-old protagonist in a series of children’s books written by Kay Thompson.

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

George helps himself to a biscuit at Clancey's Meats.

Sighting: George the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel

Location: Clancey’s Meats in Linden Hills

Human buddy: Diane

Fun fact: George winters in Beaver Creek, Colorado.

Get ready for a new feature we’re calling “Sidewalk Dog Sighting.” If the Sidewalk Dog team catches you and your pooch hanging out at a local restaurant patio, dog park or dog-friendly store, we’ll snap your pic and post it for all dog lovers to see. So get ready for your close-up!

Tree takes a breather at the Linden Hills Dunn Bros.

Sighting: Tree the Alaskan Husky

Location: Dunn Bros Coffee shop in Linden Hills

Human buddies: BFFs Rose and Anna

Fun fact: Tree’s unusual name came to her mom in a dream.

By Meredeth Barzen

Officer Kevin Rofidal and Kodiak talking about the K-9 Unit's work.

What does one do in the week leading up to retirement? Plan that trip to Italy? Build up a cache of Post-it Notes from the office supply cabinet?

If you’re Kodiak, Edina’s favorite police dog, you go out with a bang and catch one last bad guy for good measure.

Just two days before his retirement from the Edina Police Department’s K-9 Unit last month, Kodiak, a German shepherd handled by Officer Kevin Rofidal, helped his human team members track down and nab a bank robber in St. Louis Park. “After a bank robber fled from a crashed vehicle, Kodiak located the human scent track (left by anyone running or walking) and located the suspect just after he changed clothes,” Rofidal said.

“The funny part about it was just this morning at breakfast I told some of the other officers we had a day and half left and let’s go catch a bank robber,” Rofidal told the Edina Sun Current.

Kodiak is now more than a month into his retirement, and at 10 years old, he’s certainly earned a little R & R. As a 2-year-old puppy, he was the first dog to be part of Edina’s new K-9 Unit, which Rofidal was instrumental in starting. Before a dog can protect and serve, he has to complete 12 weeks of patrol duties and 3 weeks of narcotics-detecting training, Rofidal said. “I learned alongside him,” the police officer says of working with his four-legged partner.

During dangerous calls, Kodiak wore his own tactical ballistic vest.

During Kodiak’s career, he tracked bad guys fleeing from crimes, sniffed out drugs and searched for evidence. But at the end of the day, Rofidal said he’s just a regular,  “playful” dog, with one possible exception: He never disobeys a command. “These dogs work for the praise and affection of their handlers—they want to please,” Rofidal said.

After all those years of service, however, Kodiak was ready to retire. “He was getting old and nearing the time to move from chasing bad guys to chasing squirrels.” Rofidal said. “We only hope that [Kodiak’s replacement, another German shepherd named] Blade and [Blade’s handler, Officer Jason] Behr have as much fun as we did.”

And though Kodiak used to make plenty of public appearances, Rofidal said he’ll be avoiding the hero’s limelight from this point on: “Now, you’ll have to find him on the golf course or beach.”