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.

By Meredeth Barzen

“THIS JUST IN: Tens of thousands around the Twin Cities metro area were reduced to uncontrollable fits of hugging after the Internet release of the Twin Cities Puppy Bowl’s full-length footage.”

Don’t be surprised if you see that headline flit across the Star Tribune’s front page this week—the Twin Cities Puppy Bowl is coming, and trust us: It’s going to be huge. Hugely endearing, that is.

Clarence of Red Lake Rosie's Rescue takes a time out.

It all started when Lisa Weikle, general manager of Fetch Delivers, was struck with inspiration—to team up with Sidewalk Dog, Sarah Beth Photography and Pampered Pooch Playground, creating a Fantastic Four-style super-squad with only one purpose: put a bunch of puppies in a room and film the inevitable explosion of cuteness that ensues. “I wanted to bring these four groups together, since I know we share the same passion for animal rescue,” Lisa said.

Okay, so we copied Animal Planet’s idea.

But what makes the Twin Cities Puppy Bowl different is that the star players are from local rescue groups like Safe Hands Rescue, Red Lake Rosie’s Rescue, Secondhand Hounds, All Dog Rescue, Minnesota Boxer Rescue, Pet Project Rescue, Rice County Humane Society and Minnesota Pit Bull Rescue.

“It’s great exposure for a new rescue like Secondhand Hounds,” said the group’s founder, Rachel Mairose. “It shows that there’s a need for adoptive parents out there, and there are always puppies available for adoption.” She added, “Who doesn’t like cute puppies?” Answer: no one we want to associate with, that’s for sure.

Check out each pup's personal trading card, designed by Sarah Beth Photography.

“We all have a vested interest in making sure these guys get placed with good families,” said Suzanne Grindle of Safe Hands, a 3-year-old rescue that gets many of its puppies from the high-kill Harlan County Animal Shelter in Kentucky. Some TC Puppy Bowl players came from as far away as Mexico, like Pete from Pet Project Rescue, which works with a Mexican shelter to place puppies and encourage spay/neuter initiatives.

And so, last Saturday, Pampered Pooch Playground was filled to the gills with adorable rescue puppies, pouncing and frolicking and donning adorable, hastily-knitted (but unfortunately, not prescient) Vikings sweaters.

Molly Feeney of Just Paws Puppy Training (shown here with Aldo—not a TC Puppy Bowl player, but a football fan nonetheless) played ref.

Molly Feeney of Just Paws Puppy Training put on her referee shirt to make some tough calls, Clyde’s K9 Cuisine (formerly Well Pet Foods) whipped up some special football treats to re-energize the noble athletes, and The Dog Perk outfitted players in jersey bandanas. Stunt Puppy, Topline Canine, ScoopyPoo and DoodyCalls also helped the day go off without a hitch, and the pups (and people) went home tired and happy.

Pete runs the controversial somersault play.

The result debuts this week on TC Puppy Bowl’s Web site and Facebook page, complete with insightful commentary from Tom Scott and George Scot McKelvey. You can also catch it on Super Bowl Sunday before the big game at “the official veterinary clinic of the Twin Cities Puppy Bowl”—Pet Crossing Animal Hospital & Dental Clinic, which is throwing a big dog-friendly fundraising shindig complete with food, activities, a silent auction, and a screening of Animal Planet’s Puppy Bowl VI. Proceeds from the bash benefit the clinic’s Pet Protection Program for Cornerstone Women’s Shelter, and Sidewalk Dog readers get $5 off if they RSVP by Feb. 4th.

When you watch it for the first time, you may want to don protective headgear—you’ll be hit square in the face with fuzziness, after all. Until then, here’s a teaser to tide you over until the big day!

If you’re looking for dog-related or just plain dog-friendly events in the Twin Cities, then you’ve come to the right place. From the Events page on our Web site to our monthly newsletter to our Facebook page to this very blog, we’re constantly telling you what you and your dog should be doing. (Hope that’s okay!)

Below is a sampling of what’s happening over the next couple of weeks.

Various dates/times/locations – Play groups. Each one has a unique spin, so be sure to check out a few before taking your pick: Just Paws Puppy Training’s Mini Paws, The Canine Coach’s Playtime, Pampered Pooch Playground’s Tiny Tails and Fresh Air Training’s Pint-Sized Play.

Thursday, 1/21 – Talk2theAnimals Wisdom Behind the Whiskers radio show. Have you ever had the feeling your pet was trying to tell you something? Join animal communicator Janet Roper of Talk2theAnimals as she defines and talks about the benefits of animal communication. 1-2 p.m. on Diva Toolbox Radio.

Sunday, 1/24 – Animal communication/TTouch workshop. Get in touch with your dog! For just $25, you’ll receive an animal communication reading from Ilga Cimbulis and learn relaxing and calming TTouches from Aloha Pet Care & Dog Training’s Lisa Sellman. 4:30-7:30 p.m. at Auntie Ruth’s Animal Care & Wellness Center in Minnetonka. More info.

The Canine Coach's newest course: Canine Inspired Change

Saturday, 1/30 – Canine Inspired Change info session. The Canine Coach is offering a new course called Canine Inspired Change in which pet partner teams will learn to foster emotional growth and teach social skills to people of all ages in various educational settings. Attend for free or make an optional donation to Red Lake Rosie’s Rescue. For more info, click here. To register, click here.

Saturday, 1/30 – Shure Pets at the Ladies Shopping Expo “Shop to Your Heart’s Content” event.* Visit the Shure Pets “Puppy Love” booth for a special opportunity to buy direct from local consultant Stephanie Thompsen (i.e. the nice lady who comes to your house to show you snazzy pet items). The expo, which will be held at the Andover Community Center, starts at 10 a.m. and ends at 4:30 p.m. For more info, contact Stephanie via her Web site. (See “Pet Parties are a Fun Night In.”)

Sunday, 1/31 – Peaceful protest at Petland. Join the Animal Rights Coalition for a peaceful demonstration from 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. outside St. Paul’s Petland, a store that sells puppies obtained from commercial breeders who mass-produce animals. Some posters will be available. Better yet, make your own from artwork obtained here. (See “Saying No to Puppy Mills: Peaceful Protest at Petland” for a photo from a recent demonstration at Shakopee’s Petland.)

Thursday, 2/4 – Dog Day at the Metrodome. Indoor, off-leash play plus pet-related vendors in the concourse from 5-9 p.m. Only $1 per dog and FREE parking (enter at Gate B). Dogs must be licensed and tagged. Minneapolis Animal Care & Control will sell licenses on-site. Questions? Contact Adam Kocinski at adam@podiumsportsmarketing.com  or at 651.238.2651.

*Note: The Ladies Shopping Expo “Shop to Your Heart’s Content” event is not dog-friendly.

By Meredeth Barzen

A dog is not a cat. We at Sidewalk Dog know this—very well, in fact—but there is one advantage cats have over dogs. They can use litter boxes, a fact that they lord over their canine counterparts on those 6-degree winter days.

A well-trained pooch shows off his skills on a Doggy Solutions potty.

Well, the cat’s about to come out of the bag on that myth: There are indeed litter boxes designed for dogs of all shapes and sizes, which can be used indoors or on a balcony or patio. This isn’t to say that you should stick a “dog potty box” (as they’re called in the biz) in the corner and leave Fido to his own devices at home all day, but there are some situations when this solution makes sense. Kerry Graf—founder and owner of Doggy Solutions, which makes attractive dog potty boxes with special K9Grass or gravel and posh details like architectural-grade wood and custom models—gives four scenarios when a doggy potty might be a good fit:

1. When an individual lives in a residence (a condo, apartment or townhouse) that does not have easy access to a yard. While it is not meant to replace those all-important walks to give the dog necessary exercise and socialization, it can be incredibly helpful when the weather is bad, the hour is late or early or when the dog owner gets delayed at work.

Doggy Solutions' elevated canopy model

2. During the housetraining process when puppies need to go frequently. Having an acceptable potty area readily available can really help the puppy be successful sooner. For training purposes, some new puppy owners will start with the potty in an indoor location even though its ultimate placement may be on a balcony or patio. With puppies, we strongly recommend simultaneous training to an outdoor location so the puppy learns that both the potty as well as outside are acceptable options.

3. Geriatric and special-needs dogs are great candidates. Many dogs have medical issues that cause them to urinate frequently and it is not practical to take them for a walk every time they need to go.

4. Some senior citizens may not be able to get their dog out as frequently as they should. A potty can help solve this problem and allow them to keep this very important companion by their side for longer.

Luc, Sidewalk Dog’s resident lemon (see category number three above), used a Doggy Solutions potty as a pup when his mom lived at Loring Park City Apartments. If you decide to use a dog potty box, fall is the perfect time to train your pup to use one, before the potty-training-adverse days of winter are upon us. Since we’re no experts on potty training (human or canine), we asked another expert on the subject for her top tips on teaching a dog to use a potty—Molly Feeney, owner and lead trainer at Just Paws Puppy Training. Here’s what she suggests:

1. Start the training ASAP—never put off any training with any dog. The sooner, the better, so they don’t become freaked out when you really need them to use it. You can even put the potty right out your front door so they understand what the potty means.

2. It will take some time and solid training to get your dog to use a potty. It’s not going to happen overnight. Keep the area around the potty small and enclosed so they have only one option: to use it. Don’t give up after one week, stay committed and consistent and call in a professional if needed.

3. Be sure to train your pup to “go potty” just as you teach them to sit, lay down, shake, etc. You must teach them a command to eliminate before expecting them to understand what a doggy potty is.

Now if we could just teach our dogs to drink tea and read The New York Times, they’d almost be civilized …

The dog-lovin’ Greater Wayzata Area Chamber of Commerce is throwing a HUGE party for hounds and their humans in Downtown Wayzata from 11AM-3PM tomorrow. Check this out:

• FREE off-leash play for puppies and small dogs hosted by Just Paws Puppy Training
• Doggy vendors giving away FREE samples and treats in Bone Adventure’s parking lot (Stunt Puppy, Lake Minnetonka Pet Sitters, ScoopyPoo, Sidewalk Dog and more)
  
• Warm water dog wash to benefit Homeward Bound Rescue
• Canine Touch demos by Colette Bolster
• Doggy fashion show sponsored by Lulu & Luigi
• Pet tricks contest sponsored by Camp Bow Wow Plymouth
• Pet portraits hosted by Untiedt’s Garden Market in the Wayzata Bay Shopping Center
• Drawings for gift certificates and gift baskets
• Dog-friendly shopping galore
• And much, much MORE!

For full details, visit Wayzata Weekends and download the Puppy Passport.

Hope to see you there!

In case you hadn’t noticed, puppy season is here! We’ve seen those cute, waggy tails all over the city. If you’re a proud new puppy parent, it’s Just Paws Puppy Training, to the rescue.

Determined to give puppies their best start, which leads to long-lasting good health and behavior, Feeney said, “I focus on positive and practical training methods to build obedient, confident and loving puppies.” The company’s classes teach dog parents and puppies how to interact, and her ongoing playgroups show pups how to socialize with their furry peers in a fun, off-leash environment.

Just Paws Puppy Training classes and playgroups take place indoors in Edina and St. Louis Park, and outdoors through the summer in Wayzata. Just Paws also offers private training sessions in your home or at a pre-determined site.

A special outdoor puppy playgroup hosted by Just Paws Training and Bone Adventure is coming up Saturday, June 21 as part of Tails by the Lake, Wayzata’s Day for Dogs. Mini and small –dog breeds are invited to join the puppies for off-leash play.