The Dog Perk's booth at the 2009 Minnesota State Fair.
By Meredeth Barzen
You know that old saying that comes up every year around State Fair season? “At the Fair, you can find anything imaginable on a stick.” Well, thanks to The Dog Perk’s Tony Waara, that saying has applied to treats for both people and dogs for three years now. Tony’s the creator of Dog Biscuit on-a-stick, which he sells out of his Dog Perk booth located inside the Fair’s Pet Center (located on the northeast corner of Underwood and Murphy in the south center aisle). Type “The Dog Perk” into the State Fair website’s “Merch Search” for more info.
Like all brilliant ideas, Dog Biscuit on-a-stick has one heck of an origin story, which Tony was kind enough to share with us:
“Three years ago, we started our company [The Dog Perk's primary purpose is to sell T-shirts, bandanas and other products for dog lovers] and applied to be in the State Fair. Like all Minnesotans, we figured it would be years [until we were approved]. The Fair called two weeks later and two weeks before the start of [that year's] Fair. We were excited and overwhelmed, considering we had just started our company.
So, naturally, you think ’something on a stick.’ We first thought ’shirt on-a-stick’ and then it popped into my head—dog biscuit on-a-stick! So with a leap of faith, we placed a huge T-shirt order and prayed people would like our shirts.
The famed Dog Biscuit on-a-stick.
The first year at the Fair, we maybe sold a hundred biscuits. The second year, we put a coupon in the Blue Ribbon Bargain Book. With nothing to reference, we figured [we'd sell] maybe 100 or in our wildest dreams 150 a day. The first day I brought 50—my wife Amy was coming later with more. I walked in and in the first 15 minutes, all 50 were gone and I was on the phone to Amy screaming ‘Bring everything! There are people everywhere with coupons!’
Amy had to fight through the crowd to get to our booth where there were people waiting and waving coupons. We ran out of biscuits the first two days, so she and a neighbor began baking non-stop for nine days—the treats are made by hand, no mixer. Their hands were numb for the next month. We ended up selling 750 a day and total of 10,000 that year. We are planning on selling 15,000 this year along with our bandanas and T-shirts.”
The Dog Perk has another Blue Ribbon coupon this year, so you know the demand will be high again. So get down to The Dog Perk’s booth early to treat your furry friend to the hottest biscuit ever to grace a (rawhide) stick!
Back by popular demand, Sidewalk Dog and Tiger Sushi 2 in Uptown are hosting a yet another installment of the Sushi With Your Poochie shindig that we threw last month—and you’re invited!
During last month’s Sushi With Your Poochie: Part Deux parties, more than 150 dogs and 200 owners were treated to fresh sushi, fresh air and fun. For a complete overview of the event, click here to read Sidewalk Dog’s blog post on it. For photographic evidence, check out the complete gallery of photos that Sarah Beth Photography took at the event. If you attended last month’s event and Sarah caught you and your pooch in action, you can purchase the photo three ways: as a $5 low-resolution download ($1 goes to our beneficiary for the night, Minnesota Spay Neuter Assistance Program); a $20 print up to 5×7 ($3 goes to MNSNAP) or as a $35 print up to 8×12 ($5 goes to MNSNAP).
Anyway, the event was such a hit that we’re holding it again! On Wednesday, August 18th, we’re throwing Sushi With Your Poochie: Part Deux—Continued! Same time, same place. All your favorite parts of Part Deux are back, including the doggie sushi, the lovely Paw Reader Peggy Kelley and Tiger Sushi 2’s amazing human happy hour treats. This time around, we’ll have doggie ice cream from Pumphouse Creamery to help our four-legged friends beat the August heat, and our beneficiary will be The Pet Project, which helps people keep their pets by providing pet food and basic supplies to those who are struggling and provides connections to basic veterinary care and information on finding pet-friendly housing. Click here for ticket info.
Since we worked out the kinks for our July event and, as promised, turned it into “a well-oiled fun machine,” we’re giving you another opportunity to see what all the buzz is about. Here are some highlights to look forward to:
The sushi artists at Tiger Sushi 2 are once again hand-rolling special dog-friendly maki sushi for our four-legged friends! And, for the first time, doggie ice cream will also be available to help Spot beat the August heat.
Paw Reader and professional actress Peggy Kelly is back to inform you what lies ahead in your pet’s future.
In addition to being able to order off Tiger Sushi’s amazing happy hour menu, which the restaurant is offering for the entire event, you can purchase ready-to-eat boxed sushi from a table on TS2’s beautiful patio.
Bone Adventure will have special rawhide sushi treats, chew toys and other whimsical products for sale.
A small portion of ticket proceeds will go to our fabulous beneficiary, The Pet Project, which helps people keep their pets by providing pet food and basic supplies to those who are struggling and provides connections to basic veterinary care and information on finding pet-friendly housing. The Pet Project will also receive part of the proceeds from all paw readings and $1 from each of Tiger Sushi’s fabulous martinis (Ninja Jinga or or Pomegranate Empress, anyone?) sold that night. Please note The Pet Project requests that you NOT bring a food donation to this particular event. You can donate at the event, or support them by purchasing raffle tickets, paw readings and those yummy martinis.
We’d love to see you, with or without your pup!
The Deets
What: Sushi With Your Poochie: Part Deux—Continued, an encore on-leash social event presented by Sidewalk Dog and Tiger Sushi 2
Date: Wednesday, August 18th.
Time: 5:30 to 8 p.m.
Location: Tiger Sushi 2’s gorgeous patio at 2841 Lyndale Ave. in Uptown Minneapolis. (Free parking is available after 4 p.m. in the Egg & I parking lot across the street.)
Cost: $15/person in advance; $18 at door if not sold out ahead of time.
A pup gobbles up a sweet treat at 2008's Paws on Grand event.
As if this summer weren’t full enough with events celebrating great neighborhoods and their four-legged friends, we’ve got another one to tell you about: This Sunday from noon to 4 p.m., St. Paul’s Grand Avenue will be packed with pups for the Paws on Grand event.
Many of Grand Ave.’s businesses are holding specials, deals and activities for the event: At Dog Days, trainer Linda Schindler will be answering questions and you can get your dog’s nails trimmed for $5. At Frattallone’s Ace Hardware, visit some adoptable pups from Homeward Bound Rescue—and if one catches your eye and goes home with you, you’ll get a $50 gift card to the store. The Bibelot Shop is offering 20 percent off all pet-related items, and the list goes on!
It’s a be-there-or-be-square kind of event, and as Sidewalk Dog is anything but square, you can be sure we’re choosing the first option and showing up with bells on. So stop by and say hi!
The doggie sushi has been distributed, the Paw Reader tent has been dismantled and the verdict is in—Sushi With Your Poochie: Part Deux was a smash success. Sidewalk Dog is happy to report that during Tuesday and Wednesday’s festivities, more than $1,000 was raised for our fabulous beneficiary, Minnesota Spay Neuter Assistance Program (MNSNAP). Click here if you missed the party but would still like to donate to this noble cause.
Make no mistake—serious fun was had by all. And if you weren’t able to make it and need further proof, Sarah Beth Photography snapped some great photos. See for yourself!
Tiger Sushi 2 owner Lisa Edevold serves up doggie sushi handmade especially for the event. Photo by Sarah Beth Photography.
Yes, he uses utensils to eat his treats. He's a dog, not a barbarian! Photo by Sarah Beth Photography.
Münter, doggie guest of Fox 9 News' M.A. Rosko, eyes a cold one. Photo by Sarah Beth Photography.
Eloise (a.k.a. "Weezie") the mini Aussie shepherd greeted guests Wednesday night. Photo by Sarah Beth Photography.
A potential puppy pile? Photo by Sarah Beth Photography.
Stunt Puppy's Ken Goldman pauses to give his dog Bauer some love. Photo by Sarah Beth Photography.
Stella the mystery mix gets her paw read by improv actress Peggy Kelley. Photo by Sarah Beth Photography.
As part of our new Treat Taste Test series, we’re doing the taxing work of trying out the latest and greatest in local dog treats. Last month, Sadie the Wonderdoodle chomped on the house-made treats from Sarah Jane’s Bakery. This month, we’re sampling Bedtime Bones, a chamomile-laced biscuit made especially for sleepytime.
Karlene Wieland, the treats’ creator, got the idea from Koszi, her Newfie/husky mix. “She was pretty calm for a puppy until about 9 p.m. every night,” Karlene says. “It was like some switch turned on at 9 on the dot and she was manic—crazy puppy running around, playing hide and seek with her humans, chasing the kittens … We joked that she should have a cocktail with the rest of the family so she would go to sleep. Anyway, I wondered if my chamomile tea would work on her.” With a background in new product development and marketing, Karlene did some research and found that chamomile affects dogs and people similarly with the added benefit of aiding digestion in dogs. Koszi is now Bedtime Bones’ official vice president of quality assurance and “chief inspiration officer.”
How would that chamomile work on Sadie the Wonderdoodle’s occasional case of the nighttime friskies? Let’s find out:
Size: Big enough for a special treat at the end of the day, but not so big that you’re essentially feeding your dog another meal.
Texture: Dense, with a good snap to it when broken in half.
Bouquet: Lovely chamomile scent that’s supposed to freshen your dog’s breath as an added bonus.
Appetizing to the human palate? A little too dry for people—we’ll stick with the tea, thanks.
Test: Sadie the Wonderdoodle sniffed the package intently as we photographed it. What was this new frontier in treat technology? She’s run into peanut butter and chicken liver before, but flower essences are totally new territory. The treat was well received, though, and sure enough, there were no desperate pleas for a rousing game of tug o’ war that night—just a nice snuggle.
The verdict: A great addition to your dog’s bedtime ritual.
Where to buy: Online or at Bone Adventure (Edina, Wayzata and Northeast Minneapolis). Note: The bones are currently buy-one-get-one-free if ordered from a Minnesota ZIP code!
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.
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.
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:
A guest at last year's Sushi With Your Poochie enjoys the festivities. Photo by Sarah Beth Photography.
Hold onto your hats, dear Sidewalk Dog readers. Something big is coming. Something that’s new, improved, better than ever and—we’ll give you a hint—involves raw fish.
That’s right—we got such a good response from the inaugural Sushi With Your Poochie shindig that we threw last year at the incomparable Tiger Sushi 2 in Uptown that we’re throwing another next month—and you’re invited! (Nuff said? Click here to purchase tickets.)
And while last year’s event was a great success considering it was the first doggie/sushi party the Twin Cities has ever seen, this year, we’ve worked out the kinks to make sure everything runs like a well-oiled fun machine. Here are some highlights to look forward to:
The sushi artists at Tiger Sushi 2 have offered to hand roll special dog-friendly maki sushi for our four-legged friends!
A very insightful “paw reader” will be on hand to inform you what lies ahead in your pet’s future.
You’ve got two chances to attend—the event will be held on both Tuesday, July 20th and Wednesday, July 21st. So if one night conflicts with your golf game, don’t sweat it. Plus, each night will be less crowded and more fully staffed than last year.
In addition to being able to order off Tiger Sushi’s amazing happy hour menu, which the restaurant is offering for the entire event, you can purchase ready-to-eat boxed sushi from a table on TS2’s beautiful patio.
A small portion of the ticket sales will go to our fabulous beneficiary, Minnesota Spay Neuter Assistance Program (MNSNAP), which provides low-cost spay and neuter services in a mobile surgical unit. MNSNAP will also receive part of the proceeds from all paw readings and $1 from each of Tiger Sushi’s fabulous martinis (Ninja Jinga or or Pomegranate Empress, anyone?) sold that night. All the proceeds from raffle ticket sales will go to MNSNAP, and on-site donations are also encouraged.
We’d love to see you, with or without your pup!
The lovely patio at Tiger Sushi 2. Photo by Sarah Beth Photography.
You’re already salivating for a spicy tuna roll, right? Here’s what you need to know:
The Deets
What: Sushi With Your Poochie: Part Deux, an on-leash social event presented by Sidewalk Dog and Tiger Sushi 2
Date: Tuesday, July 20th and Wednesday, July 21st
Time: 5:30 to 8 p.m.
Location: Tiger Sushi 2’s gorgeous patio at 2841 Lyndale Ave. in Uptown Minneapolis. (Free parking is available after 4 p.m. in the Egg & I parking lot across the street.)
Cost: $15/person in advance; $18 at door if not sold out ahead of time
Tickets: Tickets are available for either night. Choose whichever date works best for you! Click here to purchase tickets and put yourself and Fido on the guest list for fun.
Neighborhood:Linden Hills in Southwest Minneapolis
For you (and your little ones): Beautiful handmade, natural, creative toys. We’re talking carved wooden figurines, dolls made from cotton and wool, science kits and art supplies. No plastic cartoon characters here.
For dogs: A jar full of treats and a scratch behind the ear inside; a bowl of water outside when the weather’s warm.
Neighborhood:Linden Hills in Southwest Minneapolis
For you: Loose-leaf teas and fresh coffee beans roasted on-site in the store’s antique, turn-of-the-century roaster, as well as brewed coffee, espresso and tea drinks. No Wi-Fi, in case you didn’t notice.
For dogs: Water bowl when the weather’s warm, treats for tricks (or just for a cute face) and lots of love from proprietor Jim Cone.
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.”
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.
