By Meredeth Barzen

It’s a good time to be a dog in the Twin Cities. With more and more dog-friendly restaurant patios, dog-friendly stores and lovely pet boutiques popping up every day, that much is obvious. But what you might not realize is that our area is on the verge of a dog park explosion, with multiple new parks either proposed, being built or newly completed. And when you take into account the many existing dog parks where our four-legged friends can romp, play and socialize, it’s a very good time to be a dog indeed. Here’s an update on some of the newest additions and potential players in the dog park scene:

Brookdale Dog Park, Brooklyn Park: COMPLETED!

This new off-leash park at 7650 June Avenue North was built just two weeks ago by the employees of the Brooklyn Park Home Depot, which also donated the fencing and supplies for the project. The City of Brooklyn Park installed lighting, signage, other amenities and a drinking fountain for the city’s estimated 6,000 to 10,000 canine residents. A $3.00 daily use fee is required or a current Brooklyn Park dog license, which non-residents can obtain. Don’t miss the grand opening celebration Monday, August 16 with a “Leash Cutting” ceremony at 6 p.m and live music at 8 p.m.

Andover Dog Park: PROPOSED

Advocates of a proposed off-leash park for Andover, MN met with the Andover Park & Rec Commission on July 15 to discuss the issue—and they came armed with almost 450 petition signatures and four potential sites for the park. According to the group’s website, “The Park & Rec Commission thanked us for the presentation and asked for time to review the local dog parks and the four parks suggested. There will be another meeting in September to further discuss the Andover Dog Park project.” If you’d like to join the efforts, you can add your name to the petition or e-mail AndoverDogPark@gmail.com for more information.

Kingfield Dog Park, Southwest Minneapolis: PROPOSED

The proposal for an off-leash area in Southwest Minneapolis’ Martin Luther King Memorial Park is not without controversy: According to a July 26, 2010 story by the Star Tribune’s Randy Furst, some residents “believe the 18 1/2-acre park is hallowed ground, named for the greatest civil rights leader in American history, and not a place where dogs should run loose.” The story also reports that an informal poll held last month found 47 in favor of an enclosed dog park on the site, 30 against, and three maybes.

Says Brook Lemm-Tabor, an advocate of the park who is closely involved with the process, “The park commissioners at one point promised an off-leash park in every district. Our district, the sixth district, is the only one without a park. Also, we have the largest number of annual dog licenses purchased annually yet the lowest number of additional off leash permits. The parts of the park that we propose to develop are very under utilized by the general public. We have been agreeable to changes requested by the park board staff to review other locations within the park to further develop other under used areas. We have done outreach to the surrounding communities and received great support.” She adds that there are rumors the park board has earmarked some funds to get the basics underway, but the group will need to raise more to make the project work.

The Kingfield Dog Park advocacy group, a task force of the Kingfield Neighborhood Association, has a very active Facebook page with updates and news. If you’d like to get involved, you can attend an open meeting on Thursday, September 2nd at 6:30 p.m. in the Martin Luther King Park gym. Or, buy a snappy Kingfield Dog Park T-shirt to get the word out. You can also visit the group’s website for a long list of ways to help out.

Stillwater Dog Park: PROPOSED

Friends of Stillwater Area Dog Park (FSADP), which proposed this off-leash area at a yet-to-be-determined site, raised more than $700 for the dog park at a June 9th Yappy Hour at Smalley’s Caribbean Barbeque. “We are still plugging away at raising funds, which is our main obstacle at this point. We are seeking grants and corporate sponsorships,” says Allison McGinnis, FSADP president. “There is definitely a growing interest and need for a dog park in the Stillwater area. Area residents (including those in Wisconsin) currently drive to St.Paul and White Bear Lake area to exercise their dogs. Having a dog park in the Stillwater area would benefit the whole community.” For more info or to help this cause, visit the group’s Facebook page, e-mail Stillwater city officials to tell them you’d like a dog park in Stillwater, or make a donation here.

Victory Prairie Dog Park, North Minneapolis: COMPLETED!

North Minneapolis dedicated a brand new dog park at 47th and Sheridan Ave. N. last month, christened the Victory Prairie Off-Leash Recreation Area. “The dog park will not only provide dogs with a safe place to play and exercise, but also a way for the Northside neighbors to come together,” said Jon Olson, MPRB District 2 Commissioner before the dedication. “We appreciate all the work the Webber, Camden and Victory neighborhood associations and many other residents did to help us pull this project together.” Both off-leash recreation area permits from the MPRB and pet licenses from the City of Minneapolis Animal Care & Control are required to use the park, the first of its kind in North Minneapolis.

St. Paul Dog Parks: PROPOSED

STPdog (St. Paul Dog Owner’s Group) is an informal advocacy organization working to bring more dog parks —or, as STPdog calls them, “parks for people with dogs”—to the city of St. Paul. Led by Jan Carr, who is tireless in his efforts, the group’s members include animal communicator Lena Swanson, The Canine Coach trainer Maureen Haggerty and Wendy Harter, owner of Dog Days doggie daycare. And they’ve done their homework: The group has put together a thorough breakdown of dog parks in St. Paul by the numbers. If you’d also like to see more dog parks in St. Paul, you can join the group’s e-mail list, Google discussion group and/or Facebook group.

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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:

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!

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By Meredeth Barzen

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.

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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.

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.

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Sidewalk Dog is pleased to have author Art Novak grace our blog to talk about the people, pooches and park that inspired his book Doglegs. An award-winning copywriter, creative director and Twin Cities resident of 27 years, Art now lives with his wife, Margie, and Lab/shepherd mix, Copper, in Savannah, Georgia, where he teaches copywriting at Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD).

“To … the regulars (human and canine) who met in the woods where Edina and St. Louis Park meet Minneapolis.”

That’s how the dedication reads for my novel, Doglegs. And if I had the chance to rededicate it, I wouldn’t change a word. The unofficial dog park (ensconced between 39th and 42nd Streets on the north and south, France Avenue and Grimes Avenue on the east and west) was the official inspiration for the story.

Just as the main characters in the book live up the street from Doglegs Park, I lived a stone’s throw from the real Doglegs, comprising three distinct segments: Weber Field Park in Edina, Minikahda Vista Park in St. Louis Park, and the woods connecting them, which neighborhood kids dubbed Honda Hills. Nobody seemed to know which municipality the woods belonged to, but they served as the nerve center for this dog-friendly domain.

When I frequented the place (1986-2004), the regulars included everyone from welfare recipients to news anchor Frank Vascellaro. But in the woods we were all just plain folk, all equally well off, because we were all accompanied by our dogs. They made it a level playing field. Maybe the humans there genuinely enjoyed each other’s companionship because we had the dogs to show us how. We watched how they kept things simple and natural and fun. So we just followed their lead.

Which brings me to the underlying theme of the novel: Dogs know stuff we forgot somewhere along the way. They’re more intuitive. And they know how to respect their lives, loves, and loyalties in ways that judgmental human beings find difficult.

Doglegs tells the story of Matt, Doug and Emily. Actually, these three characters tell the story themselves. As they take turns with the narrative, their characters take turns as well—oftentimes turns for the worse. They become embroiled in a complex romantic triangle that exposes the follies and foibles of humanity.

The novel mixes tragedy and comedy with a touch of whimsy, but nothing a true dog lover should find very hard to swallow. Suffice it to say that the howling, drooling, and clawing in the novel are not done by the dogs. The real heroes of Doglegs are the four-leggers (and even a three-legger) who play pivotal roles in the lives of the main human characters.

Neither these characters nor the main events in the story are based on anyone I knew in the woods at France Avenue. But some of the dialogue and descriptions are. In fact, the layout of Doglegs Park closely resembles the locale I patterned it after. Both of them are magical places, and I hope you’ll visit one, and then the other.

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By Meredeth Barzen

You asked for it; you got it. Our inaugural roundup of Twin Cities celebs and their furry friends was so much fun, Sidewalk Dog couldn’t resist sniffing out another pack of famous Minnesotans and the four-leggeds that make them say “Who’s my fruffy wittle fuzzy bear?” This time, we’ve found writers, radio personalities, TV gurus, musicians and fashion designers who go nuts for their mutts. So without further ado …

Dan Murphy (musician, Soul Asylum and Golden Smog) and wife Sarah Murphy (owner, Grapefruit Moon Gallery**)
Name: Lily Belle Murphy
Nicknames: Fusspot, Lily Ocho Stinko, Puppy Bear, the Cananitor, The L’il Lebowski, Minnie Ripperton, Dog Stevens, The Aggressitor, Jack Rabbit Slim, Meerkat, The Hot Water Bottle, Buck Snort, and countless others …
Breed: We just found out that she is a Chiweenie (Chihuahua/Dachshund). When we adopted her, we just knew she was a beauty.
Age: Approximately 1 1/2?
Favorite toy: The happy hippo, a little squeak toy we bought the day we took her home from her shelter that has been torn apart and sewn back together more times than we can count. No matter how many other toys she plays with and destroys, she always comes back to the happy hippo.
Favorite treats: Carrots, rice, cheese, and freeze-dried sweet potatoes
Favorite places to hang out: A warm lap, under the covers, her favorite dog pillow, and the passenger side in our car
Favorite dog-friendly restaurant: Nick and Eddie, especially on a sunny day after she’s just played hard at Loring Park. Doug Anderson and the staff there were initially friendlier to her than she was to them, so it like many things, is still a work in progress!
Favorite dog-friendly coffee shop: Anodyne Coffeehouse

Favorite dog-friendly store: Guse Hardware at 46th & Bryant; she and Chloe, the new mascot, are becoming fast friends.
Favorite pet store: Urbanimal
Favorite dog-friendly vacation: She’s such a homebody, so I’d say sitting on our porch on a warm day. We adopted her in Fort Lauderdale, Florida in January of 2009, so in many ways I would bet she still considers Florida her actual home and Minneapolis her summer getaway. She was a runaway and we got her at a tiny little animal shelter that removed her from a high-kill shelter in Miami. She spent three months on the streets before the first shelter took her and another two months at the shelter where we met her. About 10 minutes into the initial visit, she picked us as her doggie parents. So vacations are not in her immediate plans as she seems so delighted to finally have landed a home. She is a nester at this point and loves to go on walks, particularly when the whole family is present and accounted for.
Best trick: No longer being scared of every stranger/noise/car that comes by. All thanks to Cele Danner (the miracle worker) at The Canine Coach. Also, she rip-snorts when she’s happy and runs “hot laps” around our dining room table when she feels like letting off a little steam. She can do a really cute prairie dog/meerkat hind leg dance that is adorable.
Best friend: Nigel, the Chihuahua; he still plays hard-to-get, but he’s coming around. Also my son Kelly’s mixed-breed female 2-year-old, Lucky
Nemesis: Bike riders, tall men, sunglasses and baby prams ….
Favorite naughty behavior/bad habit: Barking at the mail carrier, jumping on the dining room table looking for crumbs, attacking my face with kisses
Favorite way to get attention/treats: Jumping into my lap as I try to work, or even into my laptop, doing hind-leg stands at your knee and going onto her favorite leopard-print lucky treat pillow, looking at you with a cocked head and staring you down until the treats come out
Sleeps on: Bed
Be honest: Do you ever use baby talk when speaking to your dog? Often, but she’s too smart to fall for that most of the time. My doggy dialect revolves around her being a Southern Belle, so I use a butchered French Canadian meets Cajan New Orleans Style drek that usually starts with “L’il belle … ”
Anything else we should know about your dog? She’s a wonder. The most nervous, shy, and troubled puppy in the world when we adopted her, she has become the most friendly, loving friend anyone could ever hope to have. She’s sweet with a good heart and really wants to be happy and finally is learning how.
What are you up to these days? Dan: Busy with shows including our annual First Avenue holiday engagement Friday, December 4. Sarah and Lily and I are spending our second winter in the sunny, warm, small-dog-friendly confines of Southern Florida. Sarah: Working with the Animal Rights Coalition to raise awareness of the inhumane dog breeding that is continuing at puppy mills and all the wonderful animals (like Lily) who have been abandoned or lost and are waiting at local shelters for a loving home!

**Both Sarah and Dan run Grapefruit Moon Gallery, an online art gallery that specializes in American Illustration and Pin-up original paintings and artwork.

Louise Erdrich (novelist, owner—Birchbark Books)
Name: Makate Ma’ingan (Ojibwe for “Black Wolf”)
Nickname: Maki
Breed: Belgium Shepherd
Age: 4
Favorite toy: Punctured soccer balls
Favorite treats: Peanut butter toast and cat food
Favorite place to hang out: On the couch, watching his bird feeder and the birds he protects
Favorite dog park: Poorly socialized; Maki doesn’t do dog parks very well. Owner also poorly socialized.
Favorite dog-friendly restaurant: Kenwood Cafe [next door to Birchbark Books]. Poorly socialized owner sits outdoors with Maki.
Favorite dog-friendly coffee shop: Again, Kenwood Cafe. Maki enjoys a latte now and then to calm down.
Favorite dog-friendly store: Birchbark Books
Favorite book: Anything by Temple Grandin or Mary Ludington
Favorite pet store: Chuck and Don’s Pet Food Outlet

Favorite dog-friendly vacation: Lake of the Woods, where Maki roams free and fierce.
Best trick: Looking fearsome
Best friend: Rowdy, the protector—the real ferocious canine in the house
Nemesis: The neighbor’s taunting cat who sits under Maki’s birdfeeder
Most naughty behavior/worst bad habit: Lunging in sick lust at female dogs
Favorite way to get attention/treats: Sitting and staring fixedly at the treats and projecting an air of injured nobility
Sleeps on: Again, the couch as long as nobody is looking
Be honest: Do you ever use baby talk when speaking to your dog? Are you tiddin’?
Anything else we should know about your dog? He reads in secret and recommends books for his owner’s bookstore
What are you up to these days? Birchbark Books, a nice stop for people and dogs who walk the lake.

Lizz Winstead (comedian, co-creator—The Daily Show)
Names: Edie and Buddy
Nicknames: I call Edie ‘Sweedy’  ‘Piaf’ or sometimes ‘Diarrhedie.’ Bud can be ‘Budward, handsome man.’
Breed: Both mutts. Edie is a Collie/Shepherd mix and Buddy is Corgi/Spaniel.
Ages: Edie, 9; Buddy, 6
Favorite toy: Anything that’s not a toy! Like a throw pillow. Edie carries around a stuffed daisy in her mouth and it’s so cute. Buddy’s favorite toy is actually my underwear.
Favorite treats: See: Underwear
Favorite place to hang out: Next to me on the couch—next to me wherever I am
Favorite dog-friendly vacation: The Hamptons
Best trick: Edie can high-five
Best friends: Each other
Nemesis: The vacuum cleaner
Favorite naughty behavior/bad habit: Edie is a poop-eater. Buddy, the boy, doesn’t lift his leg when he pees and Edie, the girl, does. I think that’s funny.
Favorite way to get attention/treats: Buddy will just jump in your lap; Edie will hump your leg.
Sleeps: In bed with me
Be honest: Do you ever use baby talk when speaking to your dogs? Yes
Anything else we should know about your dog? They are both rescued. I adopted Buddy in Minnesota!
What are you up to these days? I’m going to be at the Parkway theater for an exciting New Year’s Eve spectacular called “What the F#ck Just Happened?” Tickets and info here.

Joy Teiken (designer and owner, Joynoelle)
Name: Pellet
Nickname: Pelly
Breed: Little mutt
Age: 16 to 18; we don’t know since I found her
Favorite toy: Her cat, Sadi
Favorite treats: Pup-Peroni
Favorite place to hang out: In her dog bed or at Grandma Harriet’s house
Favorite dog park: Too old to go to the dog park
Favorite dog-friendly restaurant: Too old to go anywhere
Favorite dog-friendly store: My boutique

Favorite pet store: Southside Farm Store
Favorite dog-friendly vacation: Cabin time at Eagle Lake
Best trick: Sleeping
Best friend: My husband, Craig
Nemesis: Khea the cat
Favorite naughty behavior/bad habit: Ignoring us on her walks; she walks without a leash and sometimes she takes herself for a walk.
Favorite way to get attention/treats: Barks
Sleeps on: Bed, couch, floor, dog bed—really anywhere she wants to
Be honest: Do you ever use baby talk when speaking to your dog? We used to, but now she’s deaf and we just give her lots of kisses.
Anything else we should know about your dog? She has a sad turned happy story. I found her by the side of the road in southern Minnesota and she had pellets from a bb gun in her head and back. (That’s why her name is Pellet.) That was 11 years ago … she’s had a great life ever since.  She’s almost deaf and blind, but she’s still happy.
What are you up to these days? I’m working on a bridal line that will be available online this winter.

Andra Suchy (singer, guest—A Prairie Home Companion) and husband, Andrew Pierzina
Name: Lucy
Nicknames: Mit Mit, Rucine, Rucy
Breed: Boxer mix
Age: 7
Favorite toy: Bumblebee, a catnip cat toy, and tennis balls
Favorite treats: Real bones with peanut butter inside and carrots
Favorite place to hang out: On the couch or in our bed; outside if it’s nice weather
Favorite dog park: The Suchy farm, owned by Andra’s parents, near Mandan, North Dakota
Favorite pet store: Urbanimal
Favorite dog-friendly vacation: Going to the Suchy Farm

Best trick: Running on the treadmill. She runs several times a week for 30 minutes at a time.  She will also sit, lay down, and stay for a treat with hand signals until I say ‘OK.’
Best friend: Our late Weimeraner, Sophia. Our cat, Lester. They play together and he will grab her face and lick her eyes. They love each other. Also, her cousins Willie the cow dog and Bjork the pug at the farm.
Nemesis: The lake. She can’t stay out of it. She is VERY obsessed with biting the water. She also hates the rain.
Favorite naughty behavior/bad habit: She sometimes doesn’t play well with others …
Favorite way to get attention/treats: She will sit very, very close to you and make a very loud sighing, breathing sound. We say she swallowed a bullsnake. Or, she will jump her front feet down onto the ground and bark until you play with her.
Sleeps on: Bed
Be honest: Do you ever use baby talk when speaking to your dog? Almost always
Anything else we should know about your dog? She loves kids, and gets really excited when we have company. She loves people in general.
What are you up to these days? Andrew and I are both going to be performing guests on the A Prairie Home Companion 2010 Western Caribbean Cruise in March.

Brian Lambert (writer, blogger, talk radio host—myTalk 107.1)
Name: Ernie. She’s a girl. But every animal we ever bring home—lizards, birds—we call Ernie, (for Cubs great Ernie Banks) so we don’t get confused.
Nicknames: The Living Rug, Rugball
Breed: Cocker Spaniel/Bichon Frisee … we think. White, anyway.
Age: 14
Favorite toy: Has always been annoyed by or afraid of toys, especially after that mechanical rubber mouse episode
Favorite treats: Anything that says “bacon” on the package
Favorite place to hang out: An ottoman, on a gold quilted blanket, looking out the front window like a damned queen
Favorite dog park: The neighbor’s back yard
Favorite dog-friendly restaurant: I’d say Manny’s Steakhouse, but I’d be lying. The closest she gets to a restaurant is the bag of bones I tote home from Famous Dave’s.
Favorite dog-friendly coffee shop: The Starbucks at 50th & France in Edina … tied to a sign post
Favorite dog-friendly store: PetSmart, St. Louis Park
Favorite pet store: Ditto, especially the packaged bacon treats aisle
Favorite dog-friendly vacation: The cabin, in northern Wisconsin. 11 acres of woods, deer and ticks
Best trick: Trick? She whines for bacon. Is that a trick?
Best friend: Whoever is slipping her people food under the table
Nemesis: Other than the mechanical mouse, any dog that gets to the bacon before her. Oh, and any squirrel.
Favorite naughty behavior/bad habit: Licking plates in the dishwasher
Favorite way to get attention/treats: Whining, scratching at doors, “herding” humans toward the bacon treats in the pantry
Sleeps on: My side of the bed … and on my legs
Be honest: Do you ever use baby talk when speaking to your dog? No. I save that for my 28-year-old.
Anything else we should know about your dog? If you put a chipmunk in a rain pipe, Ernie will bark at it for four hours.

Sims (hip-hop artist, Doomtree)
Names: Lola, Superbowl Champion
Nicknames: Lola, Champ
Breeds: Pit Bull
Ages: 11, 3
Favorite toys: Tennis ball, rubber football tied to a rope for tug-of-war
Favorite treat: Meat. Anything but vegetables, although the look of betrayal on their faces when given a vegetable is pretty amazing, so that’s my favorite treat to give them.
Favorite place to hang out: Outside, anywhere we can play ball. And in the car.
Favorite dog-friendly restaurant: Muddy Waters
Favorite dog-friendly coffee shop: Muddy Waters
Favorite dog-friendly store: The Alt bike and board shop
Favorite pet store: Petco
Best trick: Sit
Best friend: Me
Nemesis: Brooms and thunder
Sleeps on bed, couch, dog bed, floor, or outside: Yes
Be honest: Do you ever use baby talk when speaking to your dog? No. But they get treated as if they were my kids … maybe that’s worse.

Kathie Jenkins (restaurant critic/food editor, St. Paul Pioneer Press)
Name: Helen
Nickname: Helly Belly
Breed: Bouvier
Age: 5
Favorite toy: A wool lamb
Favorite treats: Bananas and dried sweet potatoes
Favorite place to hang out: On the living room sofa
Favorite dog-friendly restaurant: Dairy Queen; she loves the cones but she doesn’t go overboard because she knows she has to watch her figure.
Favorite dog-friendly coffee shop: She doesn’t like coffee shops; she’d rather be at home lounging on the sofa and watching “The Dog Whisperer.”
Favorite dog-friendly store: She doesn’t like stores, either. She has fear of floors and most places are just too slippery for her.
Favorite pet store: Pet Junction
Favorite dog-friendly vacation: She’s a homebody
Best trick: Laying down on command
Best friend: Josie, a three-legged golden retriever that gives her a good run.
Nemesis: Fivel, an autistic German shepherd. She just won’t have anything to do with him.
Favorite naughty behavior/worst bad habit: Dripping water all over the entire kitchen floor every time she takes a drink
Favorite way to get attention/treats: Just looking like she’s about to chase a squirrel
Sleeps on: Couch
Be honest: Do you ever use baby talk when speaking to your dog? I call it ‘dog talk.’
Anything else we should know about your dog? She loves to have her teeth brushed. Every morning she comes out in the kitchen and doesn’t leave until I brush her teeth.

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Did you know that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) puts dog waste in the same category as oil and toxic chemicals? That’s why this past June the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) launched the “Canines for Clean Water” summer movie series—the most enjoyable way to crack down on improperly managed dog poop ever conceived.

Next up? MPRB and Sidewalk Dog are teaming up to host a super fun contest!

We’re looking for ten valid yet funny reasons to pick up after your dog. If you’re among the ten winners, your reason will appear on a poster along with a photo of your dog. (Not just any photo—a Sarah Beth Photography photo!) Posters will be displayed throughout the Minneapolis park system and featured right here on our blog. Plus, all winners will receive cool gear from Stunt Puppy, and the grand prize winner will also receive a $50 gift card to Pampered Pooch Playground.

Enter to win: Email us by 9/30/09 (fall/winter themes welcome). Ten winners will be chosen and notified shortly thereafter.

May the poo be with you (i.e. good luck)!

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By Meredeth Barzen

If dogs are man’s best friends, then by the transitive property of celebrity canines, dogs of famous people are famous best friends … or famous best friends are dogs? Hmm, we’ll have to make a flow chart to figure that one out, but in the meantime, we at Sidewalk Dog love to hear your dog stories … favorite parks, best squirrel-chasing grounds, yummiest treats, etc … So thought we’d ask some of the Twin Cities’ best-known dog moms and dads about their best friends. Below are their deepest, darkest dog secrets.

Mary Lucia (Host, 89.3 The Current, Minnesota Public Radio)

Dog’s name: Smudge

Dog’s nicknames: Ladies and gentleman for one night only the incredible Smudgestone!

Breed: Pug/88 year old man

Age: 5

Favorite toy: Anything meant for my cats

Favorite treats: Anything that falls on the floor

Groomer: Keira at Petco in Richfield

Dog’s favorite place to hang out: Two inches from my left arm

Favorite dog park: Not a “throw the stick and run” kinda dog

Favorite dog-friendly coffee shop: Gigi’s Café in South Minneapolis

Favorite pet store: Calhoun Pet Supply in South Minneapolis

Childhood dog: Enzo

Dog’s best trick: Somehow convinced my cat Muse to groom her

Dog’s best friend: Anyone who stops to pet her

Dog’s nemesis: Smudge loves everyone.

Sleeps on: Her own bed in my bedroom closet. I now sleep with earplugs as she snores louder than any human being I have ever heard.

Be honest: Do you ever use baby talk when speaking to your dog? My voice is too husky to talk baby talk but sometimes I find myself using an English accent when I speak to her: “Good day, Smudgely.”

Pat Neshek (Minnesota Twins pitcher) and wife Stephanee

Dogs’ names: Juicy & Kirby

Breeds: Juicy is a dachshund mix and Kirby is a chocolate piebald dachshund

Ages: Juicy, 4; Kirby, 2

Favorite toy: Juicy likes any stuffed animal that she can rip open, shred apart, and pull the stuffing out of. Kirby LOVES mini tennis balls with squeakers.

Favorite treats: Juicy likes those chewy doggie pizza treats (but she doesn’t get them much because they are terrible for her!) Kirby loves bananas! He goes crazy and can smell them a mile away … he’s even gotten into the back of the car while we were driving and eaten a whole peel with the banana!

Favorite place to hang out: Bike trails by the Coon Rapids Dam—they love walks!

Favorite dog park: Elm Creek dog park

Favorite dog-friendly restaurant: Eastside Food Co-op

Favorite dog-friendly store: Eastside Food Co-op

Favorite pet store: Petco

Favorite dog-friendly vacation: Dog beach in Fort Myers, Florida

Childhood dog: Stephanee’s family had a golden retriever named Brandy. Growing up, Pat had a cocker spaniel named Tuffy. When Tuffy passed away, the Nesheks adopted Dodger, a Lab/shepherd mix. After 14 great years, Dodger died in his sleep of old age last August.

Best trick: Kirby will roll over for treats—and loves getting treats so much, she will keep rolling over in continuous circles!  Juicy can dance—she can even ”raise the roof” when she gets excited! Both dogs will sit up in a “prairie dog” position, but it isn’t really a trick. They do it whenever they want something.

Dog’s best friend: Kirby and Juicy are best friends. Other than Kirby, Juicy’s best friend is Stephanee’s sister’s Chihuahua Ozzie. They grew up together in Florida. Kirby says his best friend is his daddy.

Sleeps on: Both dogs sleep in the bed with us—under the covers—every night.

Be honest: Do you ever use baby talk when speaking to your dog? All the time … they are our babies.

Cheryl Kaye (Morning show co-host, 102.9 Lite FM)

Dogs’ names: Ursula and Elwood

Nicknames: Ursie (Ursula) and Smelly (Elwood)

Breeds: Dobermans, both adopted from rescue organizations

Age: Ursula is 14 and Elwood is 8

Favorite toy: Anything fuzzy with stuffing inside—they like to rip them apart. I suspect they pretend they are squirrels!

Favorite treats: Anything remotely edible.

Groomer: Uh, I guess that would be me?

Dogs’ favorite place to hang out: My bed.

Favorite dog park: Ursula is a diva around other dogs, so we don’t do the dog park. But they love to go for leashed walks at Central Park in Roseville.

Favorite dog-friendly store: Chuck & Don’s Pet Food Outlet

Favorite pet store: Chuck & Don’s

Favorite dog-friendly vacation: The Gunflint Lodge on the Gunflint trail.

Childhood dog: Ringo, a beagle

Dogs’ best trick: Sleeping

Dogs’ best friend: Elwood adores Ursula. Ursula puts up with Elwood. Typical woman!

Dog’s nemesis: The rabbits in the neighbor’s yard

Sleeps on: Mostly the bed. But they love a good sun nap in the backyard.

Be honest: Do you ever use baby talk when speaking to your dog? Every second of every day: “Ursie bursee, boosie, tootie wootsie.”  “Elwood smellwood, pooper dooper.”  Wow, I can’t go out in public anymore after that admission.

Frank Vascellaro and Ameila Santaniello (Husband-and-wife TV news anchors, WCCO)

Dog’s name: Cleopatra

Dog’s nickname: Cleo

Breed: Hound/boxer mix

Age: 16 and still doing OK

Favorite toy: Too mature for toys, but loves being around our three kids

Favorite treats: Cleo has been exposed to a wide variety of foods and eats darn near everything. About the only thing we found she doesn’t like are beets.

Groomer: Hurray for short hair. All she needs is a little nail clip at home every now and then, but Amelia points out that she sheds.

Dog’s favorite place to hang out: These days, she just wants to be around us at home with a special emphasis on the kitchen.

Favorite dog park: The unofficial dog park bordering Minneapolis, Edina, and St. Louis Park near 40^th St. and France Ave.

Favorite dog-friendly coffee shop: Java Jack’s Coffee Cafe

Favorite dog-friendly store: Settergren Ace Hardware on Penn Ave. and 54^th St. Great people, and the dogs always get a treat.

Favorite pet store: Cleo has never had a bad experience cruising the aisles of Petsmart.

Favorite dog-friendly vacation: We take Cleo with us Up North every weekend.

Childhood dog: Frank had Mickey and Gino and Amelia had Chibi and Poco.

Dog’s best trick: Cleo is super smart. She’s 16 and is too mature to be tricked into performing, but she’s still very aware.

Dog’s best friend: Frank

Dog’s nemesis: Thunder and lightning

Sleeps on: In younger days, she would sleep in our bed and could jump up there. These days, I need to carry her up and down the stairs because she’s old. We bought her a dog bed for the floor about two years ago.

M.A. Rosko (Morning news reporter, FOX 9)

Dogs’ names: Munter and Red

Nicknames: Munter, aka “Private Pinkerton” when she’s on squirrel watch duty, and “Princess Muntavia von Licktenstein” when she’s being a willful, yet beautiful Teutonic princess. Red also goes by “Ass Man,” as he charges at other dogs in a terrifying manner, only to gleefully grab a tantalizing sniff of nether regions.

Breeds: Munter is a silver dappled miniature dachshund; Red, to the best of our knowledge, is a Lab.

Ages: Munter is 9, Red’s about 5.

Favorite toys: Munter loves her threadbare, barely stuffed but still humpable Koala bear. Red goes ape for a peanut butter-stuffed Kong.

Favorite treats: Red eats anything; he’s a Lab. Lately he’s obsessed with picking up mulberries that have fallen off the tree in the backyard. Munter likes “people food,” which I should call “other people food” as other people feed it to her, I do not.

Dogs’ favorite place to hang out: Munter likes to go to live shot story locations with me and bask in attention. Red enjoys the backyard.

Favorite dog park: Airport or Minnehaha Falls

Favorite dog-friendly restaurant: Café Barbette and Galaxy Drive-In (the newly remodeled “Wagner’s” drive-in, in St. Louis Park—gives free kiddie cones to all dogs.)

Favorite dog-friendly coffee shop: Butter, on 36^th and Grand Ave., bakes its own biscuits

Favorite dog-friendly store: Diamond Lake Hardware

Favorite pet store: Urbanimal

Favorite dog-friendly vacation: I can’t wait for this one! October 8-11, the Gunflint Lodge is hosting “Waggalot,” a dog-friendly celebration. There will be hikes, photography, seminars on training and nutrition, canine massage and more. Join Red, Munter and me up north this fall!

Your childhood dog: My first dog was a terrier named Governor, whom I called Govvy Gee-Gee. As an infant, I ate his dog biscuits out of his Christmas stocking, and whacked him on the head with a (soft) xylophone mallet. God bless that dog.

Best tricks: Red makes bananas disappear. As in, I swear I left some bananas on the counter, now all I can find is a bit of stem on the floor.

Dogs’ best friends: Munter’s best friend is my boyfriend’s yellow Lab Samantha. Red has recently become BFFs with my Fox9 Morning News co-worker Alix Kendall’s new adopted dog, Pax.

Dogs’ nemesis: Munter has a prejudice against big fluffy dogs like Huskies. Red wants a piece of my mailman, who happens to be the nicest man in the world.

Sleeps on: Munter likes to change position several times each night, and burrowing under covers is necessary. She has two dog beds (she’s taken over Red’s large bed as well as her own) but  a pile of clothing on the floor will do. Red sleeps wherever Munter has chosen not to.

Be honest: Do you ever use baby talk when speaking to your dog? All the time. Even on the air.

Lisa Goodman, Minneapolis City Council Member and key player in getting last year’s doggie dining ordinance passed

Dog’s name: Sadie Rose

Dog’s nickname: Miss Sadie

Breed: Goldendoodle

Age: 4

Favorite toy: Anything soft and stuffed animal-like

Favorite treats: Homemade snicker doodles by Senator Linda Higgins

Groomer: Royal Pet

Dog’s favorite place to hang out: Loring Park dog park or any beach

Favorite dog park: Loring Park

Favorite dog-friendly restaurant: Nick and Eddie or Toast Wine Bar and Cafe

Favorite dog-friendly coffee shop: Cafe Espresso Royale

Favorite dog-friendly store: Corazon

Favorite pet store: Urbanimal

Favorite dog-friendly vacation: Lake Michigan dog beach on Montrose in Chicago

Dog’s best trick: Shaking hands

Dog’s best friend: Our cat Coco

Dog’s nemesis: University of St. Thomas–Minneapolis Campus plaza and fountain where she has been told not to play in the water.

Sleeps on: Couch

Be honest: Do you ever use baby talk when speaking to your dog? Of course!

Al Franken (Recently seated Senator whose first piece of legislation was the Service Dogs for Veterans Act, which will pair service dogs with veterans who have physical or mental wounds, including PTSD. His dog, Kirby, recently passed away.)

Name: Kirby

Breed: Black Lab

Age: 8

Favorite toy: His favorite game was tug of war, so anything that helped him play that was his favorite toy. Until, of course, it ripped.

Favorite treats: He was a Lab, and Labs eat anything. He didn’t get people food or table scraps (unless he stole them). He got the same kibble every single day—Eukanuba—and every day he ate as if it were the first time he’d ever had it. He absolutely destroyed it.

Favorite dog park: Lake of the Isles Dog Park—right by the soccer field

Favorite pet store: Urbanimal

Childhood dog: There were two—Brownie was a mutt, and Gunther was a dachshund named after Gunther Toody from “Car 54, Where Are You?”

Best trick: He wasn’t a service dog. His best trick was running around in circles chasing his tail whenever I came home. It wasn’t much of a trick, but I liked it.

Dog’s best friend: Me, the kids, Franni, my wife, anyone else

Dog’s nemesis: Franni, only while cooking food he wasn’t going to get to eat

Sleeps: On a chair. It was “his” chair.

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What makes the new Sidewalk Dog postcard extra special?

1. It features our new interactive map of dog parks and dog-friendly patios, courtesy of our good friends at Stunt Puppy. Check it out and add (and review!) your own faves here.
2. It was designed by the enormously talented Sarah of Sarah Beth Photography.
3. It stars darling Dachshund Kassi, whose mom is Kari Finkler of Mod-Dog, “modern art for modern pets.” (I recently bought their oh-so-mod Cavalier King Charles Spaniel notecards for a fellow Cav mom.)

Check it out! Isn’t it pretty?

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By Meredeth Barzen

File under: ‘Why didn’t someone think of this sooner?’

In a move so natural it was almost inevitable, some very smart people created Now Boarding, the second half of the above equation that’s right next to the MSP Airport’s parking lot and is so swanky, you’ll find yourself asking if they let people stay there as well.

The facility, which is affiliated with the Animal Humane Society, stands apart from other boarding operations for many reasons:

Now Boarding’s pet pool: Club Med for dogs

• There’s a pool. A pool, for Pete’s sake! Add an umbrella drink to the water bowl and your dog’s halfway to Aruba.
• Your pup can choose from any one of 4,000 square feet of irrigated, synthetic K9 grass upon which to do its business.
• They’re a Pet Haven foster facility, so in addition to taking care of your lovely animals, they’re providing food, water and shelter to plenty of homeless animals in the area.
• The outdoor/indoor space can be rented out for events, Meet Up groups, or any other pet shenanigans you can cook up.
• You can park there, drop of Spot, and be shuttled to the airport in time to make your flight. The ultimate in handy-dandy!

Want an inside look at Now Boarding’s new digs? Attend Dogs and Drinks “Jump into Spring” event on May 30th. We’ll be there and would love to meet you!

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