Doggie Academy

Weaves & Teeters Class

2011-12-29T15:18:00.004-05:00

This video is from the final class of Weaves & Teeters. I am very proud of the progress each dog made and wanted to show them off. The students in the class were all very supportive of each other, and that made for a lot of cheering.

These dogs started by working with just 2 poles and getting comfortable the movement of the teeter totter. Here you can see how they worked up to 6 poles, as well as a 2 on 2 off contact position!

Because Cristina was handling Pan during that class as well as acting as camera person, we do not have any footage of her. Too bad, because she really rocked it that night. Bica & Charlie proved to be aces in the weave poles and Polly & Roscoe just loved the teeter totter.

Way to go guys!

This class was such a success that I will likely offer it again in the Fall. Sign up for my newsletter to find out when it gets scheduled.

Our First Trial

2011-12-03T19:41:00.005-05:00

The day after Thanksgiving, Hank and I embarked on our first ever agility trial. I was super nervous, but thankfully I had three very supportive people there to help me. Vinny came, even though it was probably the most boring day every for him, just to keep me from totally freaking out. My teacher, Frankie Joiris, came to run her dog Boing! and to make sure I got checked in, Hank measured, had a decent handling plan and to make sure I was in the right places at the right times. And a fellow student, Lindsay Hill, who's first trial was last Spring so she had good, fresh advice for me. I do not think I would have gotten through the day without those three people.

Our first run was the Novice Standard run. Hank held his start line well, took the first jump then messed up his contact at the end of the dog walk. I stopped, asked him to sit at which point he knew he screwed up so he took off. Boy did he take off! If it hadn't been my dog I would have been giggling at how much fun he was having. But I waited him out and he eventually came back and we finished the course.

I was very happy that he finished the course with me. His contact on the the teeter is fantastic! Overall, I am thrilled with the performance for our first trial. It was a challenging environment for him to work in. We were in one of three rings running at the same time, plus tons of people and dogs milling about. Here's the video:

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Our Jumpers run had many more handler errors, but Hank stayed with me the entire time and we had a blast! If you'd like to see that video it's posted on my Facebook page.

I am already trying to plan when we can go to another trial. We have a plan of what we need to work on and maybe next time we'll even Q!

Congratulations to the Graduates

2011-08-07T12:07:00.005-04:00

Yesterday I graduated two classes at the Brooklyn Dog Training Center: Puppy Fundamentals and Leash Aggression Seminar. I am very proud of how hard my clients worked and how far both dogs and puppies progressed. Well done Gatsby, Grizzly Bear, Kelly, Lucy M., Albus, Walter-Melon, Lucy K. and Buddy!

Here are some photos of the grads:

Henry the Cuddle Bug!

2011-05-31T11:56:00.004-04:00

I've been working with Henry and his family since he was a puppy. From the very beginning, he was not happy being handled. Even something as small as touching his harness elicited a bite from the little guy. In puppy class, he would try to bite his mom, his 11 year old brother, my assistant and even me! It was a very serious problem, especially in such a young dog.

Since then, we've been working in private lessons. Henry's family has been working very hard and he has been making steady improvement. They have followed all of my directions and practiced all the exercises I assigned. I am quite proud of the latest update from the family:

"Henry's new morning routine! He comes in for a snuggle and falls asleep again! Absolutely amazing! Thank you!!!!!!!!"

Congratulations are due to Henry's family. Henry had a behavioral problem that could have ended with him in another home or even in a shelter. Instead, he is an adorable cuddle bug that gets to throughly enjoy his family and vice versa! Hooray for Henry!

Victoria Stilwell is Coming to Town

2011-05-19T12:05:00.003-04:00

This does not apply to any Doggie Academy students, of course! But in case you are interested...

The hit show from the producers of

Supernanny and The Real Housewives of New York

NOW CASTING!

If you live in the Tri State area, and have a pooch that’s an obedience school drop-out or disrupting your life, IT’S ME OR THE DOG wants to hear from you!

This season the network is looking for dog owners with BIG personalities, who have stories where their dogs’ behavior is causing high tension and drama in the household. If bickering and disagreements are an everyday occurrence and someone is saying, it’s me or the dog, contact us today!

email: dewiener@gmail.com

or call

Daniel: 551.265.1190

My New Love: The Furminator

2011-04-04T00:11:00.010-04:00

I have been unsure about what brush would be best for Hank for almost 3 years. The brushes I used for Charleston didn't seem to do anything other than brush dust of his coat and did nothing for the copious amount of fur Hank sheds. He is so low maintenance as far as grooming goes that I have been too lazy to experiment.

I was placing a large pet store order online recently when I saw The Furminator. Something about it made me think it could be the perfect solution, a marriage of a slicker brush and soft bristle brush so I ordered one. At $50 a pop, it was a pretty big gamble.

The day it arrived I opened the package and called Hank to our usual grooming spot. He took one look at The Furminator and decided he didn't want anything to do with it. I wasn't surprised since he does understand new stimuli easily, so I did some quick Classical Conditioning work with him.

Very soon I was able to brush him. Oh my goodness! I could feel how thorough how the brush was and Hank quickly realized he was enjoying it. Within a few strokes the brush was completely full of fur so I held it over the garbage can, hit the discharge button and bam! the brush was empty. It was so easy and clean. Hank was Furminated!

I highly recommend this grooming product. The only drawback is that I should have bought the large instead of the medium, but that's the fault of the website for mislabeling the size recommendations. Best of all, now through April 21st you can save $10 AND get free shipping when you use the promo code DOGSTER2011.

Fun Times in Intro to Agility Class

2011-03-29T10:45:00.003-04:00

Here's a quick video of some of the fun we have at Ciao Bow Wow in Doggie Academy's Intro to Agility class.

Brooklyn Mutt Show Coming Soon!

2011-03-03T21:54:00.002-05:00

To start the excitement for this year's Brooklyn Mutt Show, here's a review of last year's event.

Puppies CAN Walk Politely on Leash

2011-02-26T14:57:00.004-05:00

Check out Doggie Academy student Ella on a walk with her dad! They've been working hard and it shows.

Think Ella's cute? She was adopted from Unleashed... go check them out!

Stolen Dog on Long Island

2011-02-25T21:05:00.002-05:00

If you know this woman, please help get this dog back to her family.

Nassau Police: Woman Stole Lost Dog in Craigslist Scam: MyFoxNY.com

Why Is Handling Your Dog Important?

2011-02-22T10:00:00.002-05:00

Handling is a topic that I usually talk about with my puppy clients. I stress the importance of teaching your dog how to tolerate (or even enjoy) being touched all over their bodies, especially in areas that tend to be sensitive.

I had a personal experience last week that highlighted why this is such a pivotal aspect of your relationship with your dog. Hank and I were at the dog run when he began lifting his front left leg and refusing to put weight on that paw. When I looked at it I noticed a giant splinter embedded in one of his pads. Oh no!

When I adopted Hank, I worked to make him comfortable with with my touch. I was bound and determined to be able to trim his nails myself, so I really focused on getting him comfortable with me manipulating his paws.

Back at the dog run I had two choices: take Hank to

the vet (but I'd rather avoid that bill) or take it out myself. I knew that Hank still had energy to burn at the park so I didn't want to take him home. Instead I asked him to hop up on one of the picnic tables, held his paw and yanked. It didn't come out right away. Hank cried. But he let me continue and eventually the inch long sliver of bloody wood chip was in my hand. And Hank went off to continue playing for another half an hour (I did clean his paw at home).

This incident could have cost me a vet visit or aggravation from having an under exercised dog in the house. Instead, I was thrilled that work I did years ago paid off!

If you have a puppy or a dog that is not comfortable having certain body parts touched and would like to work handling, call me. I'm happy to help!

Upcoming Disc Dog Seminars

2011-02-16T09:51:00.000-05:00

Hank & I participated in a Disc Dog seminar last month to learn how to catch and throw and Frisbee, respectively. It was a really fun experience and something that I'd like to do more of when I'm not devoting so much of my time to agility.

The instructor at the seminar was Marty Levy, who has been playing Frisbee with dogs for 15 and competes regularly. His dogs have won numerous competitions and awards in the sport. Most importantly he is terrific, engaging instructor that leads a really positive seminar.

And guess what? Lucky you, he's teaching teaching two more Disc Dog seminars this month! The seminars will be on February 27th atMorris K-9 Campus, with beginners in the morning and an intermediate class in the afternoon. If you've always wanted to play Frisbee with your dog or just to spend a few hours doing something cool with your dog, I highly recommend you register.

Agility Run Thrus

2011-02-12T09:35:00.000-05:00

Last week, Hank & I went to run thrus at Morris K-9 Campus. It was a really great training session for us (and workout too). Plenty of other dogs as distractions for Hank since the other participants were only 2 feet from the table obstacle.

In this video, we complete the entire course. The jumps are at 20" (which is low for Hank), but it we'd be working for a long time and I thought he was getting tired. His fatigue is evident when he enters the weave poles at a snails pace.

Overall, I am really happy with our progress. As always, comments are welcome!

Puppy's 1st Class Starts Tonight

2011-02-09T08:07:00.001-05:00

Are you looking for a puppy class to join with your new best friend? Doggie Academy's Puppy's 1st Class starts a new session this evening at Ciao Bow Wow and there are still slots open.

Puppy's 1st Class covers the normal puppy concerns (house training, mouthing, etc.) as well as useful behaviors like Sit. We will also deal with the very useful topics of attention and socialization. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions.

To register for the class, go to doggieacademy.com/services and click 'Sign up for dog training classes now'.

National Train Your Dog Month

2011-01-12T14:24:00.002-05:00

The Association of Pet Dog Trainers has named January "National Train Your Dog Month." Check out this great post about it at A Brooklyn Dog's Life. It includes some training tips from yours truly!

Hank vs. the Slice

2011-01-06T10:14:00.002-05:00

One of the agility classes that Hank and I are taking right now is called "Serpentines, Slices and Threadles." Those are all terms for different handling techniques and our first class focused on the slice.

When a dog slices an obstacle it means that they take it at an angle, often a pretty extreme angle. This is tougher for the dog because it means they have to jump farther in a more narrow space. It seems easier for me because I just have to run a straight line, making Hank do all the work.

Hank has always been pretty intuitive about slices, but I was very impressed with his work in this class. It's hard to tell in the video, but the obstacles are set up at wildly different angles and Hank has to slice all of them.

Hank vs. Fetch

2010-12-20T12:40:00.003-05:00

Hank has never been very good at the game of Fetch. He's not one of those dogs that's obsessed with balls, he's much more interested in the game of chase. If you follow my blog, you may have seen his how-to video on the subject.

As for Fetch, his style has been to chase after the ball and then leave it where it lays when he gets distracted by something else. When he does bring it back, he loses interest after about 3 times. In order to try to build his interest I always stop after 2 rounds then put the ball away, but that's about as far as I've gone to work on it.

Yesterday, however, I think we had a breakthrough. Hank found a squeaky tennis ball at the dog run and brought it to me. Having treats with me, I traded the ball for a treat and threw the ball again. He was having so much fun that I continued the game past our normal 2 rounds. In fact, we played Fetch for 20 minutes straight!

I was freezing and wanted to leave but we were having so much fun (and so much success!) that I couldn't bear to end it. Finally, a bossy Dachshund stole the ball from Hank so I seized that moment to leave.

I bragged about our progress all evening and can't wait to try it again. Maybe I'll finally be able to put my Chuckit to use. Needless to say, Hank will be getting some of these in his Christmas stocking:

Walk & Train Lessons

2010-12-16T10:57:00.005-05:00

Do you want your dog's leash skills to improve? Would you like her to walk by your side or stop trying to say "hi!" to every dog on the block? If you don't have time to do it yourself, let me get these behaviors started for you. Walk & Train sessions can address:

-Focus & attention
-Leash aggression
-Pulling on leash
-On street fearfulness
-And lots more, just ask!

To see how Walk & Train lessons can work for your dog, check out the video of me with Finne (a star pupil).

Walk & Trains are available in half-hour and hour long sessions. Contact me for more information.

Hank vs. Agility

2010-11-17T19:40:00.010-05:00

As many of you know, Hank is my little agility man. What began as a way to exercise my too active dog, has turned in to a bit of an obsession. We are currently taking 4 classes a week, 2 at Port Chester Obedience Training Club and 2 at Morris K-9 Campus.

Dog agility is much more complicated than I expected when I took my first class. Hank is really amazing (when he can focus), I struggle with my handling. I would like to compete someday, but we need to work on more than a few things before we even consider that.

Here's a look at where we are these days:

Hank vs. Anal Sacs

2010-11-11T09:39:00.003-05:00

Do you express your dog's anal sacs? Did you even know that your dog has anal sacs and that they might need to be expressed?

The canine anal sacs are two organs around the anus that secrete small amounts of fluid that has a smell specific to your dog. The liquid is secreted during a normal bowel movement, urination and dog greetings (hence, the butt sniffing). If there is fluid build up in the sacs, dogs can often express them himself. When you see your dog scooting his butt on the floor or licking the area, he might be taking care of those glands.

However, if the sacs do not fully drain on their own (or with your dog's help) they must be expressed manually. Many people never need to know anything about this because their groomer will take care of it during a typical groom. Some dogs need their sacs expressed frequently and some never need it done.

Hank is low maintenance so he never gets professionally groomed. But, he clearly needs to have his anal sacs expressed right now. How do I know? For the past 2 days he has been licking his rear and he stinks. I mean he really stinks. He's been banned from the bedroom and on the trip to agility class yesterday he brought a really unpleasant odor to Lisa's car.

So it's off to the vet's today to get this taken care of. It is something that an owner can take do herself and their are plenty of videos online to teach you how to do it. I, however, do not have the stomach for it and can't even bring myself to watch one of the videos. I will probably look away when they do it.

I will bring hot dogs for Hank in an attempt to alleviate his stress, but knowing him it will be more stressful for me!

Norwegian Elkhound Sweaters?

2010-10-22T12:27:00.004-04:00

I was reading this month's issue of Dog World Magazine and it has a feature story on the Norwegian Elkhound breed. It was interesting reading about the ways they are used to hunt large game in Norway. Did you know that in order for a Norwegian Elkhound to be a Champion in Norway, it must win both a conformation show and a hunting trial.

In the States, this hearty breed is less of a working dog and more of a pet dog. What struck me most about what the article says about this dog (and is reiterated on the Wikipedia page) is that people use their prodigious amount of fur to spin into yarn for knitting and crocheting. Has anyone out there done this? Or does anyone own a dog fur sweater? They say that it's really warm. Where does one buy a dog-wool sweater? Can I get a matching one for Hank? I have so many questions about this, does anyone have answers?

Doggie Academy Appearances This Weekend

2010-10-14T19:16:00.011-04:00

Want to catch up with Doggie Academy? Well this weekend is the time to do it. I will be participating in a couple of super fun events this weekend that are open to the public.

On Saturday from 1pm-4pm I will be conducting FREE Canine Good Citizen evaluations at the annual MyDog Loves Central Park Country Fair. It is organized by Central Park Paws and was cancelled last year because of a big storm, so this year the Fair will be bigger than ever. Two years ago I worked the event in the agility ring and it was a blast. There was tons of doggie stuff to do and it looked like every participant was having fun. The highlight for me was getting to meet Laurie Williams. The Fair will be at the Naumburg Bandshell (mid-Park at 72nd Street), and will feature microchipping, contests, training tips from the great Parvene Farhoody (as seen on The Real Housewives of New York City), entertainment, giveaways, a Children'sCorner with activities designed for children and dogs, pet trickscasting from The Late Show with David Letterman, and, of course, CGC testing by me. All for you & your pooch to enjoy!

On Sunday, I will be representing the Port Chester Obedi ence Training Club (where I am a proud member) at the AKC's Meet the Breeds event. Meet the Breeds will feature 160 different dog breeds (and 41 cat breeds) along with tons of organizations and products. This year the guys from Rescue Ink will be there, too. I am most excited, however, to meet my friend Kirby's super cute Mudi puppy, Grif. Never heard of a Mudi? Then you have to check out her blog about Grif and her Bichon Frise, Sophia.

I encourage all you local dog lovers to get out to these events. And if you do, come find me and say hi!

Hank Explains the Game of Chase

2010-09-16T09:00:00.011-04:00

Introducing, Hank's first instructional video. Here he teaches how to start and continue a successful game of chase. Enjoy!

Ciao Bow Wow Has Moved!

2010-09-12T13:57:00.010-04:00

The home of Doggie Academy's group classes, Ciao Bow Wow, has a fantastic new location at 11 Maiden Lane.

The new Ciao Bow Wow opened earlier this month, but I went to their open house beforehand for a sneak peek. It was a really fun afternoon of wine, cookies and dog stories. I loved seeing clients old and new. The dogs had a great time too, romping around the giant space (and trying to grab a cookie or two).

I snapped a couple of quick photos to give you a sense of what it looks like. By now the beds, gates and cleaning supplies have been moved in and I'm sure the pups are loving it!

The wraparound space is a very cool loft, but it has all the amenities that your small dogs will love. And, of course, the same caring staff is excited to be here.

I just love this photo of Briscoe & his

mom enjoying the city views together.

Group classes begin this Tuesday, so register today and see this amazing daycare for yourself.

Dogs and their Fears

2010-08-29T14:22:00.003-04:00

Last night someone set off a series of fireworks on my block. The noise woke Hank and he hurled himself off the bed and right under it. He was stressed out for the rest of the night and spent most of it under the bed. It made me think about the laundry list of things that he's afraid of.

Hank has very many things that scare him. Inanimate yet odd objects like puppets, rocking horses and Halloween scarecrows send him into a defensive fury of barking. As do strangers who approach too quickly, people wearing hats or hoods, and heavy machinery. Some noises cause him to flee and hide like fireworks, motorcycles and the buzzing of insects (I know what caused this one & will blog about the story another time).

When I first brought him home (well after the critical socialization period was over) I was intent on making sure he was not storm phobic. We would go outside during storms and he'd get hotdogs during thunder. He used to be afraid of the Carroll Street bridge over the Gowanus, so we had a few dinners there. He's slightly better about motorcycles, which was always his most intense fear, ever since he was inadvertently flooded with motorcycles one day while visiting my sister (which could have gone disastrously in the other direction).

The most serious fear cases I see are ones where the dog has generalized fear. Some fear the outside world, some are afraid of all people and some are afraid of everything.

On the other hand, I've seen some dogs that could use a healthy dose of fear. Knowing no fear they tend to barrel straight in to trouble.

Please share your dog's fears with me. Are they manageable? Sad? Comical? Odd? Or, is your dog too bold? I'd love to hear your stories!

Welcome Cinder!

2010-08-03T09:18:00.000-04:00

The Westcott family has a new addition. Everyone, meet Cinder!

My sister, Kim, recently adopted Cinder from Peppertree Rescue. She is a 2 year old black lab mix with a gorgeous square head and white markings on her chest and back paws. She also has a limp tail, meaning she has no control over it. It's pretty comical to see her running around and her tail is just along for the ride. At least my sister doesn't have to worry about Cinder knocking stuff off the coffee table with it.

Cinder is actually the name Peppertree gave her (apparently she was previously called Joan) and Kim decided to keep it. I happen to think it's a pretty badass name.

Hank & I went to visit Cinder the day she was adopted and I'm happy to say that the cousins loved each other! They played together all afternoon and Hank was exhausted by the time we left.

I am so excited for Kim and Cinder, I think they both got very lucky finding each other. I'm looking forward to many years of sister/doggie play dates.

Bank Card Bonus

2010-07-26T10:09:00.001-04:00

When HSBC changed the terms of my checking account after over 10 years and started charging fees they didn't charge before, I looked for a new bank. I found one in Capital One where I'm actually accruing points for banking as normal. The best part though is my new debit card!!

Bring Home Some Peaches

2010-07-23T10:46:00.004-04:00

This sweet face was dropped at a doorstep of a known animal hoarder in Brooklyn. The hoarder would keep her (that's what hoarders do!), but luckily she has some concerned neighbors that are looking for a good home for Peaches. Can you give her a home? If you can, please email here.

The Poop on Poop Bags

2010-07-23T09:43:00.000-04:00

I've been thinking about poop bags lately.

The topic has been on my mind because I bought a pack of PoopEase bags recently... and they are the WORST. I bought them in part because they said they are biodegradable. More like just plain degradable. They literally fall apart before you even use them. Every time I touch them I end up with tiny black and silver plastic bits all over my hands that only come off to attach themselves to my legs, face & neck. Even worse, those bits came from somewhere so when I try to use them they are more hole than bag!

Lesson learned, I will never buy these bags again. I don't even usually buy specially made poop bags. Normally, I re-purpose grocery bags. Usually we have so many that it's not a problem, but we do occasionally run out (when Hank poops more than I shop).

What poop bags do you use?

A Blog for Dog Nerds Everywhere

2010-07-22T09:19:00.000-04:00

My good friend (and fellow agility student), Kirby, has a new blog geared for people who love dogs and dog training: Dog.Nerd.101. If that describes you, I highly recommend you follow her blog!

Kirby is an avid dog agility participant with her super sweet Bichon Frise, Sophia. She is also a psychologist and student of learning theory and behavior analysis.

Her most exciting news of the moment, however, is her new puppy Irhaberkí Gandálf Gríffmadár aka "Griff." He is a Mudi that she imported from Hungary. Never heard of a Mudi? They are a rare breed here in the states and used as herding dogs in Hungary. The only other Mudis I've met belong to my agility instructors and those are two cute, sweet, agility superstar dogs.

Kirby worked really hard to get Griff and I'm looking forward to hearing all about their adventures together. So, follow along with me and read all about Kirby, Sophia and baby Griff!

Hank vs. The Heat

2010-07-08T13:50:00.005-04:00

With the extreme heatwave we've had recently, exercising Hank has been an extra challenge. It's been too hot to do much of anything outside but I still have to keep the big man busy.

There are a handful of dog toys out there that involve ice to keep cool. We have a Chilly Bone, but it doesn't keep Hank busy very long and then he tries to destroy it. And we don't have a Kool Dogz because it's secured by sticking it into the ground and we don't have a yard. So, I filled a mixing bowl with treats and water and put it in the freezer overnight.

This is a great and easy way to keep your dog cool and occupied in this heat. It does make a mess of your floors though, so do this outside or be prepared to mop!

Pier 6 Dog Run Review

2010-07-07T12:46:00.006-04:00

Work has been steadily progressing on the Brooklyn Bridge Park for a long time, and now parts of it are actually open. In addition to all it has to offer for families, kids, bikers and sunbathers, there is also a new dog run in the borough of Brooklyn. At the very end of Atlantic Avenue, the Pier 6 Dog Run is open for business!

I am always excited to have a new space to play with dogs. This run is so new (and clean) that the few times I've been there, I've had the whole place to myself. Since I was working with a client's dog at those times it was fantastic, like my own personal training ring. It's circular and there's some seating around the circle so I almost felt like a lion tamer, except my lion was a super sweet Cockapoo. I'm sure that solitude in the park won't last long as word gets out that it's open.

Though I am not one to look a gift horse in the mouth, there are a couple of major flaws with this dog run. First, there are no garbage cans. That's a big problem because dogs poop in the dog run. The nearest garbage is outside the run, so that means that you're either leashing up your dog to go out to throw out poo, leaving your dog in the run unattended while you throw out poo or holding on to poo until you're ready to leave.

Second, there's zero shade. I wouldn't even consider going there on a day like today because on a 100 degree day, the lack of shade and the additional heat coming off of the BQE overpass would make the run unbearable for people and dog alike.

Like I said, I don't want to complain because I absolutely appreciate all our local dog runs, but I am keeping my hopes up that construction is not 100% complete and that these issues will be addressed.

Once the weather cools, this will be a terrific playground for Brooklyn dogs!

Your Dog Could Pull His Own Weight

2010-06-30T19:26:00.017-04:00

Leaving my apartment recently, I met one of my neighbors walking his dog. I'm not usually a meet & greet type of person, but something about what was going on struck me as amazing. He had configured a cart for Jack Russell Terrier, Romeo, out of a Staples shopping basket!

Weight pulling is a great sport/activity for dogs to participate in, channeling their energy into something positive. Sue Sternberg runs a program called Lug Nuts to teach dog owners in urban areas the game of weight pulling as an alternative to dog fighting.

However, I had never seen someone go to such creative lengths to create a positive challenge for their dog. The front wheels pivoted and there was even a bike chain inside to add weight. Those of you that know/own/love JRTs, know that they are little dogs with big energy, and this is a wonderful way to expend that energy.

Romeo was so proud of pulling that cart, he absolutely pranced around me to show it off!

Please Adopt Sarge

2010-06-03T15:28:00.004-04:00

Stray from the Heights has a gorgeous dog named Sarge available for adoption. He is a large, handsome young man and he is in need of a home ASAP. I have had a training session with him and he's very responsive (and did I mention beautiful?).

This guy would do very well in an active home that is prepared to put effort in to training and exercising him. I'm told he does well with cats, and I've seen him in action with some of his doggie pals. However, he is not suitable for a family with small children.

Training will be a very important part of his success and we've begun outlining his training protocol. I will be happy to go over it with his adopted family.

If you think you might have room in your home for Sarge, please fill out an application. Poor Sarge has been bounced around so much (through no fault of his own), that I would love to get him in his forever home fast.

Shop & Help Shelter Dogs

2010-05-28T09:34:00.001-04:00

Did you know that just by shopping you can help a local animal shelter?

Simply shop at some of your favorite online retailers (like Barnes and Nobel, Petco, Target, Amazon, Williams-Sonoma, Gap and more) through iGive and a portion of your purchase will be donated by the retailer to Waggy Tail Rescue! How easy is that?

I've had several clients that have been adopted from Waggy Tail and they've been really cool characters. So, let's help them out and shop through iGive!

Hank vs. Bicycle

2010-05-26T10:00:00.000-04:00

Hank is a super-high energy dog and I always struggle with keeping up with him. Running with him is not an option for me, since my knees would not hold up. Vinny will occasionally Roller Blade with him (see an earlier post about it here), but I'm not solid on skates. My friend and fellow trainer Lisa Long has been encouraging me to bike with him for a while. I've been nervous to try it, but finally gave it a go the other day.

We went to a quiet, dead end street (so quite that the only traffic on it the entire time was a student driver). I started slow, but Hank caught on quickly. We kept to the one block so that we could practice turns and teach Hank that he needs to pay attention to where I'm going. This video is the first turn he takes just off of watching me (I also added a verbal cue "here we go"). After that success, you can see him break into a trot for the first time. That's when I knew he was having fun.

When starting an exercise program with your dog, they need to be conditioned just as you would. So, when Hank showed signs of fatigue we went home. Overall, this experiment was so successful that we'll continue to ride together and increase Hank's stamina. In fact, we've already trekked home from Dog Abby together!

Word of Caution on Doggie Prozac

2010-05-20T12:18:00.007-04:00

I read an article in The Brooklyn Paper recently, and was appalled by the simplistic approach it took to canine psychopharmacology. The gist of the article was: we had a dog that bit, so we had the idea to give him Prozac, but we had to work to convince our veterinarian, and now he's cured.

Even the photo comment makes light of Dutch's behavior:

"Dutch is a violent Mr. Hyde until he pops his Prozac, as this photo sequence shows."

Do not believe that solving behavior issues is this easy. Just like people, psychopharmacology affects every dog differently. It has been documented that Prozac can actually lower bite inhibition in some dogs, making them more likely to bite in stressful situations.

Psychopharmacology can be a good option for your dog, but it needs to be considered carefully. Drugs need to be paired with a proper training protocol. Again, like people, psychiatry involves medication AND talk therapy. The best approach for severe behavior issues is to work with a qualified trainer who may refer you to a Veterinary Behaviorist to address the medication needs. A good trainer and Veterinary Behaviorist will communicate with each other about your dog and his progress.

Dog Tail Docking

2010-05-12T11:40:00.009-04:00

Back in college my Golden Retriever, Magic, was nicknamed "Tail of Doom" because of her propensity from knocking every single thing off of a coffee table in one swipe.

So many dog breeds consistently have their tails docked that many people do not even realize that it has been done. How many of us have ever seen a Boxer dog with a natural tail? I'm sure many people think that the Boxer is born with a short stubby tail.

I had a moment the other day at the dog run, when I saw a Boston Terrier with a natural tail and I realized that I can't remember ever having seen one before. The dog was adorable

and I wondered why Boston Terrier tails are docked. This dog didn't seem to have any problems or issues with having a long tail instead of a nub. So why are we habitually docking them?

A quick bit of research gave me the most prevalent answer: tradition. Because it's part of the "breed standard" it continues to be done. Many working dogs had their tails docked to prevent them from being injured in the course of the dog doing his job. But, in this day when most dogs are pet dogs do we really need to continue medical procedures that seem unnecessary?

The best pro-docking argument I found was here:

Why Are Dog's Tails Docked?
1. To avoid tail damage
A number of working gundog breeds have to hunt game through heavy vegetation and thick brambles, where their fast tail action can easily lead to torn and bleeding tails which are painful and extremely difficult to treat. Docking the end of the tail eliminates the risk of injury.
Working terriers are docked for the same reason. In addition, terriers which are bred to hunt below ground for purposes such as fox control, have their tails docked to a length which is more practical when working in a confined space.
Other non-working breeds which have an enthusiastic tail action, are also liable to damage their tails, even in the home.
Since docking was banned in Sweden in 1989, there has been a massive increase in tail injuries amongst previously docked breeds. Within the 50 undocked Pointer litters registered in that year with the Swedish Kennel Club, 38% of dogs suffered tail injury before they were 18 months old and in 1991, the number of individuals with tail injures had increased to 51% of the group.
2. For reasons of hygiene
Long haired, thick coated breeds like the Yorkshire Terrier and Old English Sheepdog are docked to avoid the hair around the base of the tail becoming fouled by faeces. Even with constant grooming and washing, such fouling is unpleasant. If allowed to get out of hand, it can lead to severe problems of hygiene, or even flystrike and subsequent infestation by maggots.
Hygiene problems can be greatly reduced or eliminated altogether by docking.
3. To maintain breed standards
Breeds which have been docked over many generations have been selected for specific qualities of build and conformation, but not for tail length, shape or carriage.
If left undocked, it is unlikely that the best dogs would carry good tails. In seeking to maintain the quality of the breeds, breeders would therefore be left with a diminished number of suitable sires and dams. The genetic pool would be reduced, greatly increasing the risk of hereditary diseases taking hold. Some breeds could even disappear for ever.

I'm not sure I buy into the whole "genetic pool would be reduced" argument, but the statistics from Sweden are interesting. I'd love to hear from people that have experience with docking vs. not docking. I'm of the mindset that people should be made aware of the pros and cons and let them choose whether or not their breeder gets their puppy's tail docked.

As for Magic's Tail of Doom, I wouldn't have docked it even if it meant saving years of spilled beverages.

Get Your Yoga on to Benefit Shelter Dogs

2010-05-10T10:05:00.000-04:00

This is very exciting! My friends and personal trainers at Triomph host Community Yoga Class every Thursday, taught by the wonderful Dami Byars. Everyone is welcome and the class is by donation only. Each month, Triomph chooses a different organization as the recipient of the class donations and this month the recipient is BARC!

Not only do the donations help a wonderful local shelter, but you'll love the class. I'll see you there!

Gorgeous Shepherd for Adoption in Brooklyn

2010-04-30T08:23:00.000-04:00

A Fort Greene woman has

rescued a 10 month old German Shepherd but can not keep him and is looking to place him in his forever home. Here's the information from Fort Greene Pups:

Our dog walker just informed me that one of her other clients (Sharon) recently rescued Charlie, a 10 month old german shepherd, from a not so great living situation. He had some bites on his neck but has been checked out by a vet and is taking antibiotics to clear everything up. Sharon already has a dog and can't keep Charlie, so I'm forwarding you his photo and Sharon's contact information. My dog walker has been taking him out on long walks and reports that he's a good smart boy that needs love, time, attention and socialization. He looks extremely handsome from his photos, but then again anybody that knows me knows I'm a sucker for a shepherd!

See you in the park,

Nancy Peterson

President, PUPS

If you have room in your life for this handsome pup, contact Sharon Mulready at mulreadyphoto@gmail.com or 413.475.2180. If I did not have my hands full with Hank, I would be making that phone call myself.

Another Brooklyn Adoptable

2010-04-13T10:04:00.000-04:00

Here is another great adoptable dog in Brooklyn. I've got a real soft spot for this one, because Jimmy looks a lot like Hank.

Super Cute Puppies For Adoption

2010-04-12T20:37:00.002-04:00

This announcement came in from FIDO. If you're planning on adopting you should definitely check out these pups!

Puppies!
Terrific Puppies and their Mom need homes...The puppies will be ready to go home starting 4/24/10. Here is a video of the momma dog (Daisy) and her nine puppies:

Daisy, who is a young mom, was picked up as a stray in Queens. She is a Cockapoo (26 lbs. approx). Her puppies paternal parentage is unknown. While six of the puppies are fluffy I don't think any will be truly non-shedding or hypo-allergenic. A few of the puppies are definitely spoken for. There are three females and six males. Based on their various growth rates so far I'd say we are looking at 20 - 35 lb dogs when they are adults. Daisy will weigh around 28 lbs. once she's gained some needed weight.

Daisy is also looking for a permanent home. She's a lovely dog for the right family; like the puppies she will need someone around for a while because she's has some separation issues which, while not extreme, will need attention and behavior modification. Someone who could be at home for a good part of the day so that house training and socialization can happen smoothly.

There is a $200 adoption fee paid to Sean Casey Animal Rescue, plus $8.50 for a city license. There is also an adoption application to be filled out. All inquiries about the puppies or their mom should be made directly to Viviane Arzoumanian, 917-476-8315, pumpkinpups@gmail.com.

Pup Abandoned in Fort Greene Park

2010-03-23T21:56:00.005-04:00

According to the Fort Greene PUPS, a seemingly sweet young Pit Bull was abandoned in Fort Greene Park yesterday. She was found tied up at the Visitor's Center and was taken to NYC ACC as all the other local shelters were full. She is not yet appearing in an online search of the dogs at ACC, but she should be available soon. Fort Greene PUPS thanks to the individuals who stepped up and got involved because it's always heartbreaking to come across a dog that's been abandoned.

This picture of the dog was taken by the kind person who took care of her.

While I can't speak for her disposition, she is a gorgeous little pittie in need of some nourishment. The ACC is packed full with dogs in need of homes, many of them pit bulls. She won't last long at the ACC before they euthanize her, so if you're considering adopting please go meet her ASAP. It would be terrible for such a beautiful girl to be put down.

Special Needs Dog in Need of Forever Home

2010-03-18T15:45:00.005-04:00

Hope's information came to me from a television production company that is producing a new show for Animal Planet about dog rescue and adoption called Last Chance Highway:

Hope is a very calm Lab mix. This poor girl had been struggling on her own as a stray for so long that she might never have had contact with people. The moment she was rescued she just reverted into herself and showed no signs of being social. She has NEVER shown signs of being aggressive towards people or other animals, but she is very shy and will need a family that is willing to be patient and help this poor girl break out of her shell. Our rescuer got Hope vetted and spayed and found out that remarkably Hope was heartworm negative! A wonderful foster mom has taken her in so this loving dog gets the and attention she needs. Now several months later, Hope looks like a completely different dog and she is 100% healthy. Hope's tail has started wagging and she is slowly, but surely building up a trust in people. Hope is an incredibly brave and resilient dog and she just needs a loving family to help her become more social.

We have rescued a "special needs" dog named Hope and we are hoping to find her a loving family that would be willing to take on her shyness and help her break out of her shell and become a beloved family member. Hope was rescued down in Mississippi and she is currently there in a foster home where she is being house and crate trained and interacting with other dogs, people and kids. Because of stricter spay and neuter laws and the overall better treatment of dogs and pets, our rescuer only adopts dogs to families in the North East through the rescued dog transport service PETS, LLC. The transport service drops of newly adopted dogs to families in PA, NJ, NY, CT, and NH.

UPDATE: Hope has found her forever home in New York!

Brooklyn Mutt Show Wrap Up

2010-03-15T15:12:00.007-04:00

What a great weekend at the Brooklyn Lyceum! Even with all the rain, tons of mutt families joined us to celebrate all things dog and raise money for BARC (I got my BARC t-shirt, did you?).

I loved meeting tons of great people and their mutts and helping them with some of their behavior questions. Hank was happy to be my demo dog, showing off useful behaviors as well as useless tricks. I'm sure he would rather have been romping with the other dogs all day, but he did manage to make a few love connections anyway. A super cute Pit-shund (part Pit bull, part Dachshund) named Sparkle was his favorite playmate. He might be in love.

Some of my current clients joined in the fun and participated... Gray even won a bronze medal for best tail! Congrats!

Regan Fishman, the director of the event, did an amazing job and I'm already looking forward to next year's Mutt Show.

Doggie Academy at the Brooklyn Mutt Show

2010-03-05T09:38:00.004-05:00

To conclude our week of announcements here goes:

Doggie Academy will be on hand at the Brooklyn Mutt Show to answer your behavior questions!

March 13th and 14th, the Brooklyn Mutt Show will celebrate all things mixed-breed. Dogs will complete in catagories such as Sloppiest Kisser, Best Tail, and Least Useful Pet Trick. Wanna register your pooch? Go here. The best part? A portion of all fees go to BARC Shelter.

During the show, I will be in the vendor area (I hear there will be lots of great dog product vendors to check out). I will demonstrate how to teach simple and useful (or at least fun) behaviors. Hank might even make an appearance!

I'll also offer mini-seminars on topics such as:

What to know before you get a dog
Tug: is it ok?
Is your dog bored?
Leash walking: what equipment is right for my dog?

Sign ups for one-on-one time slots with me will be available both days. Or just stop by and let me shake paws with your mutt! This event is sure to be tons of fun for dog & human alike.

New Classes Beginning This Month

2010-03-03T09:06:00.001-05:00

This seems to be the week for announcements and this is a big one:

Doggie Academy will be offering group classes beginning March 28th at Ciao Bow Wow in the Financial District!

The classes offered will be "Puppy's First Class" and "Basic Obedience." For information about what they will cover, go to our Services page. The one hour classes run for 6 weeks and the puppy class starts at 11am while the basic class begins at 12:30pm. If you have any questions, feel free to ask.

I am especially excited for 2 reasons:

I get to design courses that address issues that, from experience, I've learned dog owners want and need.
Ciao Bow Wow is a gorgeous, eco-friendly facility.

To register for either of the classes go to our Sign up page.

Plus, one more announcement will be coming this week. How's that for a teaser?

New Website Live Now!

2010-03-01T15:29:00.002-05:00

I am very excited to announce that the re-design of my website is now live!!! (Three exclamation points, that's how excited I am)

I worked with a designer who works specifically with pet related businesses and am thrilled with the result. You'll notice it still has the same feel of the old site, but is much more attractive.

Click through the new site, tell me what you think.

And stay tuned, because the blog is next up for an overhaul.

Hank vs. Fresh Snow

2010-02-26T08:45:00.005-05:00

It seems like it's been snowing forever which brings me down, but releasing Hank into the front patio this morning brought a rush of energy. He could barely contain himself and flailed wildly.

There are a few crazy photos of him on our Facebook page, too. Enjoy the snow day everyone!

"Bring Your Dog to Shop Day"

2010-02-25T18:18:00.008-05:00

"Bring Your Dog to Shop Day." The name says it all, right?

As a part of "I Love NYC Pets" Month, the Madison Avenue location of Christofle is hosting this dog friendly shopping event. In addition to martinis for you, they will have robbie dawg treats for your buddy. Robbie dawg founder, Lisa Fortunato, will also be on hand to share tips from her organic treats cookbook The Everything Cooking for Dogs Book. To top it all off, if you mention "Picasso" a portion of your purchase will benefit the Picasso Veterinary Fund.

Hank's 2 Years Old!

2010-02-06T09:08:00.000-05:00

Hank's 2nd birthday was this week and we celebrated with some his favorites: Nature's Variety Raw Diet medallions (shaped into a heart) and a frosted bully stick from Buttercup's Paw-tisserie (and a party hat of course).

Not only does this video celebrate Hank's birthday, but also demonstrates how a solid sit-stay is possible, even in the face of giant temptations!

Designer Dog Crate Alternatives

2010-01-29T21:04:00.002-05:00

As someone whose dog is still crated at the age of two, I totally relate to anyone who would like a more stylish alternative. The standard, ugly, extra large black wire crate has been taking up a huge part of my kitchen for a year and a half and I'm really sick of it.

I frequently wish I had a better option. So, when I saw the DenHaus designs I was thrilled. Their pet "dens" are less dog crates and more attractive furniture pieces. They have three design options so that many tastes will be satisfied. While they are big not enough for Hank (and probably couldn't contain him anyway... he's been trying to break out recently, but more on that later) I would love to have the BowHaus in my apartment. At $599 it's not the most cost effective option, but it's definitely a great looking and multi-functional option!

Hank vs. Treadmill

2010-01-12T10:18:00.004-05:00

Vinny & I have tossed around the idea of getting a treadmill for Hank for a while. He has so much energy, it would be nice to be able to really tire him out at home.

During a visit to some family that has a treadmill, we got to try him out on it. He was a little unsure of himself at first, but once he got the hang of it he was all business. The only way it could have been better is if the treadmill was longer so that he could really open up and gallop. You can see, he's limited to a fast trot.

Now we're trying to see if we have room for a treadmill in our apartment!

Need help exercising your dog? Call me! I'm available for playdates, walk & trains and exercising in Brooklyn and Manhattan.

Best Interactive Dog Toy Ever?

2010-01-09T13:39:00.001-05:00

Hank vs. Santa

2009-12-27T18:41:00.002-05:00

Here's Hank showing off one of his Christmas gift from his Grandma for Vinny & Damien.

He was actually quite good-natured about it. But not as good as his cousin, Lucky, who wore his Santa suit for most of the day!

Merry Christmas From Doggie Academy

2009-12-25T09:00:00.000-05:00

Last Minute X-mas Idea

2009-12-23T09:08:00.005-05:00

Haven't figured out what to get for the dog-loving party animal in your life? I found this at CrunchGear and it looks amazing:

Bark4Beer

It's a dog collar with a retractable bottle opener! This would have been perfect in college. Our dogs, Magic and Amber, would have been even more popular at parties.

Once you have the Bark4Beer all you need to do is teach your dog to fetch the beer first. If you need help with that, give me a call (for teetotalers, this works for soda too).

Hank vs. Snow

2009-12-21T13:31:00.005-05:00

This is one edition of "Hank vs." that Hank clearly wins!

NYC was hit with the first snow storm of the season and the first thing Hank wanted to do was pee... for 31 seconds! Now, before you go thinking "wow, he must have really had to go" I have to tell you that he does this ALL THE TIME! Usually his first pee of the day is obscenely long, but sometimes it's his 3rd, 4th or 5th that is the length of a commercial break. We'd been out until about midnight the night before & this was at about 9am. What can I say, boy's got a big bladder.

Holiday Deals

2009-12-01T16:26:00.002-05:00

Looking for a way to save during the holidays? Or maybe a gift for someone who loves to take advantage of all that Brooklyn has to offer? Brooklyn Based has put together a coupon book of 30 Brooklyn Based Deals for $30.

The deals include a free cupcake at Baked with any purchase, a buy one get one free sake tasting flight with an Omakase meal at Zenkichi, 20% percent off handbags at Thistle & Clover; $50 dollars off a 3rd Ward membership; 20% off cheese and (still) wine at Stinky Bklyn and Smith & Vine; a free draught beer during happy hour at the Bell House... and 20% off your first lesson or behavior consult with Doggie Academy!

Check out Brooklyn Based to find out how to get your hands on this great book of deals!

Holiday Open House at Westchester SPCA

2009-11-29T12:19:00.003-05:00

Join the Westchester SPCA for their Holiday Open House on Saturday, December 5th from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Join the SPCA along with 100.7 WHUD to celebrate the holidays with your canine companions! Have your photos taken with Santa or Frosty by Liza Margulies of Snootydog.com while enjoying live music, fabulous food, wonderful refreshments, games for the kids, prizes and much more!

Please RSVP by December 4th to lisa@spca914.org or call (914) 941-2896 x22 for further details! No fee to attend.

The Holiday Open House will be at Club Fit, 584 North State Road, Briarcliff Manor, NY 10510

Guiding Eyes Fundraiser & Contest

2009-11-25T14:10:00.007-05:00

Want to show off your dog in his finest party attire while helping a great cause? You have until next Monday (November 30th) to submit your photo entry. Your $20 entry fee goes to Guiding Eyes for the Blind and you have the opportunity to win some terrific prizes. Visit dogsinpartyhats.com for all the info.

click to enlarge

October is Adopt a Shelter Dog Month

2009-10-22T11:59:00.008-04:00

Let's celebrate our loved shelter dogs! Send in photos, videos, stories of your adopted dogs.

I'll start with this stupid video of Hank:

Don't have a shelter dog of your own? Well, get on down to Biscuits and Bath where we have almost a dozen adorable puppies for adoption (I have a soft spot for Azure and I know Agatha has many fans). Need help choosing just one? Need help training once you get your cutie home? Let me help you!

Catherine Malandrino Charity Event

2009-10-21T11:52:00.002-04:00

All you dog loving fashionistas get out there and support Stray from the Heart!

Catherine Malandrino and Stray from the Heart Private Shopping event

When: Wednesday, October 28, 2009 6pm - 9pm

Where: Soho Boutique, 468 Broome Street, NYC 10013 212.925.6765

Guests will enjoy 15% off full price merchandise for the evening. Cocktails will be served. 10% of the evenings proceeds will go to benefit Stray from the Heart.

RSVP: soho@catherinemalandrino.com

Looking for Halloween Doggie Fun?

2009-10-16T13:23:00.000-04:00

Here's a list of doggie costume parties coming up in Brooklyn. If you have any more to add, please leave a comment!

Bay Ridge:
Harvest Festival Halloween Canine Costume Contest
Sunday, October 18th, Noon until 5PM (Rain date: Sunday, October 25th)
Narrows Botanical Gardens
Those wishing to register their dogs for the Canine Costume Contest have to register at Paws 'N Claws Grooming, 57 Bay Ridge Avenue (69th St). No dogs will be registered on the day of the event. Registration is October 1st to 16th.

Brooklyn Heights:
Howl-o-Ween Doggie Charity Costume Parade and Contest
Sunday, October 25th at 1PM
Parade begins at the Remsen Street entrance to the Promenade
It’s free to attend the parade, but if you want to enter your dog the cost is $25. All proceeds will be donated to nonprofit animal causes. Tickets are now available at Perfect Paws at 102 Hicks Street, the corner of Pineapple Street. Tel: (718) 852-6200. You must purchase your ticket at least a day before the event to register your dog.

Carroll Gardens:
Howl-O-Ween 09
Sunday, October 25th, 1PM to 4PM
DiMattina Dog Run, Hicks & Woodhull St.
$5 suggested donation, proceeds to benefit The Picasso Fund.

Fort Greene:
The 11th Annual Great PUPkin Dog Costume Contest
Saturday, October 31, Registration begins 11:30, judging starts at noon sharp (Rain date: Sunday, November 1st)
Fort Greene Park at the stairs below the monument in Fort Greene Park (at the crypt level)
Suggestion donation per entrant: $5.00. All donations will go toward keeping the bag dispensers filled for the year.

Big News for Doggie Academy

2009-10-15T13:14:00.000-04:00

Hooray for Doggie Academy! I am now officially an AKC Canine Good Citizen evaluator!

What does that mean? CGC is a designation given to dogs (and their owners) that are proven to have good manners at home and in public. The test includes walking through a crowd and reacting calmly to another dog. For a full list of the test items go here.

Interested in having a CGC of your own? Call me and I can help you train and prepare and then administer the test during one of our lessons.

Bulldogs Face to Face

2009-10-02T12:54:00.000-04:00

I loved how these two English Bulldogs were so calm and cool (and handsome!) when they met at the Pup Crawl.

Pup Carry, Roll and Crawl

2009-10-01T12:37:00.004-04:00

One of the great things about the Pup Crawl was that dogs didn't have to walk in order to participate. Not only did I see plenty of dogs being carried (like Coco, the cute 5 month old Chihuahua with the tongue that sticks out) but plenty were being rolled in various contraptions. Whether they were old, missing limbs or just plain tired, no one was left out!

More Pup Crawl

2009-09-30T12:29:00.002-04:00

This is a video from City Hall Park as we all gathered for the Pup Crawl this weekend. Get a load of the range of dogs... from Pomeranians to Pits!

1st Annual Brooklyn Bridge Pup Crawl

2009-09-29T12:51:00.001-04:00

Hank & I participated in the 1st Annual Brooklyn Bridge Pup Crawl and had a fantastic time!

It was a gorgeous evening for a walk across the bridge and to be accompanied by hundreds of other dogs and their owners, all with light up Lulu Leashes to benefit animal shelters made it perfect.

I shot lots of short videos and will try to post them little by little. This one is narrated by my friend Lynda who was fairly obsessed with a gorgeous Bernese Mountain Dog named Madison:

Boots Rocks Hide & Seek

2009-09-28T15:12:00.003-04:00

Our seminar in Sunset Park last week concluded with a fun game of Hide & Seek for the participants. Hide & Seek is a great way to challenge your dog's recall and teach him to respond even if he can't see you.

Everyone did really well and each dog had their own challenges. Here's a video of a stellar performance by Boots. During the first 2 rounds her owner, Alice, had found hiding spots off to my right. This video is the 3rd round and Alice switched it up and is hidden behind a tree to my far left. Boots, assuming she was once again hiding on the right, took off in that direction. This is what Boots did when she realized Alice was not where she thought she was:

Fantastic!!

Interested in joining us for the seminars? Call (718-812-3890) or email (info@doggieacademy.com) for information.

Huggable Urn

2009-09-21T12:30:00.005-04:00

This made me go "EWWW!": Huggable Pet Urns.

While trying to find the right urn for Allie, my daughter Sydney would tell me that she missed Allie, so she would have to hug the cardboard box where we kept Allie's remains.

The urn is made by hand-sewing a pocket in a plushy that resembles your pet or in a personalized pillow. A plastic container with a sealable lid is then slipped inside the pocket. Your pet's ashes can then be placed inside the plastic container. Depending on the size of your pet and the size of the plushy you choose, it is possible that NOT all of your pet's ashes will fit into the plushy.

As much as I've loved my dogs, I never wanted to keep their remains in a stuffed animal to hug. Is it just me? Do you think this will catch on?

Hank vs. Crate

2009-09-20T12:18:00.000-04:00

This post is meant to give hope and encouragement to those of you in the process of crate training your dog.

I've had a handful of clients lately that have been frustrated and concerned about their dog in his crate. The process can be really challenging, especially when you're dealing with an older dog that has no prior crate experience. However, I'm here to tell you that it takes time, patience and consistency to get your dog to the point where not only does he accept being in his crate, but also enjoys being in there. It will happen, do not give up!

When I first adopted Hank, he hated his crate. He whined, cried and barked in it so much that I had to sleep in the living room for the first handful of nights he was with us just keep him calm calm enough that our landlord wouldn't evict us.

This is Hank today:

Notice the open door of the crate. Vinny & I were watching the Yankee game and Hank just put himself to bed.

So keep up the good work guys, it will be worth it!

Want to Teach Your Dog to Skateboard?

2009-09-19T10:53:00.000-04:00

The Woof Report shared this blog and I wanted to share it too. Dr. Sophia Yin blogged about how to teach a dog to ride a skateboard. Not only does she give clear step by step instructions, but I love that her blog is called Leadership without Force. Check it out the skateboarding tips here.

Personally, I have a soft spot for Tillman, after seeing him on Greatest American Dog. Can your dog do this?

Brooklyn Bridge Pup Crawl

2009-09-18T22:37:00.004-04:00

FIDO let me know of this excellent event coming up on September 26th. It's the 1st Annual Brooklyn Bridge Pup Crawl to benefit animal shelters. Hank & I are registered (and unless I have to work we'll be there)! I'm hoping for a beautiful fall night and will bring my Flip camera so I can share all the great Brooklyn Dogs!

I also love that participants receive an illuminated leash. As the owner of a black dog, I can totally see the benefit of that.

Please join us for a moonlit walk across the Brooklyn Bridge to take in the Statue of Liberty and the Manhattan Skyline—and to help provide food to animal shelters across the country.  The ASPCA estimates that 1 million pets are at risk for being put up for adoption this year due to home foreclosures and heart-breaking decisions about how to reduce household expenses.   

The night will include refreshments for you and your pooch, as well as a special doggie bag with treats to say thanks for helping to feed other pets in need. Prior to the walk, your pup will receive a stylish illuminated dog leash to keep us visible and to light up the night to draw attention to the cause.

The event is free, but we ask that you make a small donation when you register online. All donations go directly—and in full—to our partner shelters.

Want to volunteer or help out? Let us know.

Sunset Park Clean Up

2009-09-08T11:45:00.002-04:00

One of the participants of my Sunset Park training seminars has organized a volunteer clean up in the park. So, grab your work gloves (and any yard tools you have handy) and join the group on Sunday, September 13th from 9:30am-12:30pm. A clean park is a benefit to all dog owners (and non-dog owners) in the area!!

For more information on this opportunity to give back, contact Carol Singh at singhcarol85@yahoo.com.

Calling All Dogs for Mural

2009-08-19T17:03:00.002-04:00

If you are in Prospect Lefferts Gardens and have a dog, you might want to participate in "Doggywood."

Dog mural coming to Lincoln Road

PLG Arts is working on transforming the "temporary" construction fences on Lincoln Road into a mural celebrating the diversity of the neighborhood. While it's a neat idea, I've been hoping they'd do something more interesting than generic nods to diversity—y'know, like a painted replica of the glass tower building. Or life-size paintings of real estate offices.
Still, I'm glad to see that someone on the planning team has the right idea—a section of the mural will exclusively feature neighborhood dogs. In fact, if you'd like to get your dog up there, you can send a photo along with a brief description of "what makes your dog special" to thedoggywood@gmail.com. Fifteen winners will be selected via an online vote starting on August 23, followed by a painted portrait by local artist Susan Berkowitz.
The final work, "Doggywood" will reside on a panel 7' x 8' feet, part of the PLG Community Mural Project on Lincoln Road near the Prospect Park Station, and will be revealed during an event on Saturday, September 12 and Sunday, September 13, 2009.

Freestyle Comes to Brooklyn

2009-08-08T12:22:00.004-04:00

You've seen Canine Freestyle routines on YouTube. The combination training, teamwork & music in a dance-like performance with your dog always looked like fun. But you never knew how to get involved. Well, you're in luck!!

One of the FIDO members has been involved in Canine Freestyle for several years and is looking to start a club here in Brooklyn! Roni Henning & Willow love this competitive dog sport and if you think you would too, send an e-mail to roniprint@aol.com.

If you haven't seen this video, check out Carolyn & Rookie in this amazing performance of "You're the One That I Want." This could be you!

Is Your Dog Your Best Man? Maid of Honor?

2009-08-07T12:35:00.004-04:00

Are you thinking about having your dog in your wedding party like this couple in England? Call me to help brush up on his/her aisle walking skills!

Groom picks dog as his best man

A groom stunned guests by having man's best friend as his best man.

David Harding, 32, picked his pet springer spaniel Frank because he did not want to offend his friends by choosing between them.

He dressed his 18 month-old 'best mate' in a tuxedo collar and hat.

'My friends were quite surprised,' said Mr Harding.

He married wife Michelle, 32, at a church in Northam, Devon.

Michelle said: "Frank is a big part of our family and we wanted to 'include him in our wedding.

"Before the wedding we took him to the church to make sure he was alright there and asked the reverend who said he didn't mind at all - I even noticed he had put a dog bowl out.

"He was as good as gold on the day, super quiet, he way wonderful."

A Snuggie... For Dogs!!!

2009-08-04T20:52:00.001-04:00

AhhhhhHahahahahaha!!!

Best View in Brooklyn: Dog Training Opportunity in the Park

2009-08-03T09:23:00.002-04:00

Thanks to some of the Sunset Park Training Seminar participants who wrote lovely comments about Doggie Academy here:
Best View in Brooklyn: Dog Training Opportunity in the Park

Doggie Academy Blog Has a New Home

2009-08-01T11:50:00.002-04:00

The Doggie Academy blog has moved! The new address is blog.doggieacademy.com.

No worries, if you go to the old address you will be re-directed.

Blind Collie Has a Guide Dog

2009-07-27T13:13:00.009-04:00

This is a fantastic story from BBC News. For the full story, click here.

Lombardi Street Visits Villalobos Rescue Center

2009-07-24T15:37:00.004-04:00

My dear friend Kevin Jackson is writing and directing a web series called Lombardi Street. As a part of the show's promotion, he and Shaun Gerardo visited Villalobos Rescue Center. Villalobos is a Pit Bull sanctuary and many of the Michael Vick dogs ended up here.

Brandon Bond directed a documentary about many of these dogs called "Vicktory To The Underdog" and all profits go to Villalobos. If you'd like to buy the documentary go here. I think I am going to get myself a copy, unless there's going to be an NYC screening soon (hint, hint, Kevin).

Check out KJ's video aabout Lombardi Street, Brandon Bond & Villalobos.

Find more videos like this on Lombardi Street

Sunset Park Seminars

2009-07-23T09:40:00.003-04:00

Yesterday was perfect weather for our weekly Sunset Park training seminars.

I'd like to especially congratulate Alice because all of her hard work is clearly paying off. After an unfortunate bounce, Boots's tennis ball sailed out of the park and into the street. It was a tense situation as Boots ran after the ball, but Alice was able to call Boots off of the retrieve and back to safety! Way to go Alice & Boots!

If you'd like to have that kind of reliability on your dog's recall, join us in Sunset Park during morning off leash hours. Shoot me an e-mail me to info@doggieacademy.com and I'll fill you in on the details.

Why Would I Want My Dog To Talk?

2009-07-21T13:59:00.002-04:00

There are so many things that are wrong about this:

Now, a device that ''translates a dog's barks into words''

London: Your dog will soon start talking to you, all thanks to Japanese inventors who have come up with a device that can detect a dog's emotion from its bark and translate it into human words.

The talking gadget called Bowlingual Voice is developed by Japanese toymaker Takara Tomy.

It detects six emotions in total- including sadness, joy and frustration – with a recorded repertoire of spoken phrases such as "play with me".

The revolutionary gadget comprises of a microphone placed around the dog's neck and a hand-held unit-operating device for pet owners to carry.

When the dog barks, the microphone records the sound and transmits the data to the owner's hand-held device, which then "translates" it into what the dog is apparently suggesting.

A speech synthesizer audibly makes the owner aware of the dog's intentions, which also appears on the screen of the wireless hand-held unit.

An answering machine function can also record the dog's expressions of desire when owners are absent.

The technologically modified version of a basic model introduced seven years ago will be available for 129 pounds in Japan from next month.

The original Bowlingual translated emotions onto a screen without sound.

Sunset Park Seminars

2009-07-15T13:52:00.003-04:00

Recently I was contacted by a group of dog owners in Sunset Park to do a series of group lessons based on the dogs' behavior in the park. At the top of their list of concerns was working on recalls since the dogs would not come when called once the leash came off.

Of course, being in the park is very distracting for all dogs so we have our work cut out for us, but the seminars have been a lot of fun and the dogs and owners in attendance are terrific. A special shout out goes to Su Su this week for being such a super star when it comes to eye contact!

We meet in Sunset Park one a week during morning off-leash hours. If you would like to join us, e-mail me directly and I will invite you to our Yahoo Group.

Movie Dogs

2009-07-10T13:36:00.004-04:00

Vinny sent me a link to a post aboutBest Movie Dogs From 90s and the list includes an awful lot of dogs from movies I've never seen. Air Bud, Ritchie Rich, A Goofy Movie? It took me a bit to realize that I wasn't a kid in the 90's and therefore would not have cared to see Ernest:Scared Stupid.

So, I googled "Best Movie Dogs From 80's and found this: Hot Dogs of the '80s. Not all of the dogs are from films, but they are mostly dogs that I do remember fondly. Here are my favorite selections from the list.

10. HOSE HEAD: The beer-gulping dog is owned by Bob and Doug McKenzie in 1983's Strange Brew. Later he dons a cape and saves Octoberfest.

Who could forget a dog named Hose Head?

9. UBU: Technically, his full name is Ubu Roi, and he was the mascot for UBU Productions, which produced classics like Family Ties in the '80s.

Sit Ubu, Sit. Good dog.

8. WONDER MUTT: Mark Harmon's best friend in 1987's Summer School isn't happy until he finds "Bob" at the end of the flick.

By far, one of the coolest dogs ever.

4. HOOCH: Tom Hanks' canine counterpart in 1989's Turner & Hooch was ugly and slobbery. Alas, he didn't make it 'til the credits rolled.

I think I cried at the end of the movie.

2. EINSTEIN: Doc Brown's hairy pooch in Back to the Future becomes the world's first DeLorean/time-traveling pooch.

How Spuds Macenzie beat out Einstein for the No. 1 slot, I don't know. I guess becuase he had all the babes and all Einstein did was travel through time.

Who's your favorite famous dog?

Hank vs. Vacation Update 2

2009-07-08T14:34:00.005-04:00

Before we left Mystic for the weekend, we did want to try to give Hank the opportunity to play in the water. If you live in an urban area, you probably know that it's tough to find a place to let a dog swim. A waitress at the Somewhere in Time Cafe (if you go, have the Topper egg sandwich... so good!) turned us on to a boat launch where, though not specifically allowed, it was not illegal to bring your dog to swim.

Hank had a great time splashing and running around, but it took a couple of local kids to get him to actually do the doggie paddle. The girl went out into the water, just beyond where Hank could stand and just calmly stared at him, blew bubbles in the water and bobbed up and down. Eventually he realized he just HAD to get to her and figured out he could swim.

Then, we gave her little brother a tennis ball and he threw it in the water so that Hank had to swim to get it. Thanks for the help, guys!

After all of that, he actually slept almost the whole way home in the car. He curled up into the smallest ball you've ever seen a 75 lb dog curl into.

Hank vs. Vacation Update

2009-07-06T14:28:00.005-04:00

We made it through virtually unscathed! Hank required more attention than I am used to when traveling with a dog... I guess he is just high maintenance. However, he was not the most naughty dog in the hotel this weekend. That honor goes to the pooch that barked incessantly all night and day. It didn't bother me, though, I was just glad it wasn't my dog that people complained about.

Hank did bark occasionally when we left the room, but I'm told by housekeeping that he settled quickly. Ah, the power of a stuffed Kong! We did get creative about keeping him busy and one night even set up a little agility course in the room. He had to jump over or crawl under tables while Vinny and I played keep-away with his Cuz ball.

Vinny took it upon himself to exercise Hank the most, and this is what he came up with:

If you have any question as to whether or not Hank enjoyed skating with Vinny, take a look at this photo I snapped.

Hank had more fun times this weekend that I will try to post about soon.

Fatal Leptospirosis Case in Williamsburg

2009-07-02T11:10:00.002-04:00

As reported in AMNY, a 6 year old rat terrier named Parker died after contracting Leptospirosis, likely from McCarren Park in Williamsburg.

Please check out the AMNY article as well as the FIDO in Prospect Park fact sheet on the disease so that you know how to protect your dog.

Hank vs. Vacation

2009-06-29T13:34:00.004-04:00

It's been a while since I've added a Hank vs.... post. I guess there are fewer and fewer "firsts" in his life now. However, Vinny and I have planned to take the holiday weekend off and get out of the city. We're just taking a 3 day weekend in Connecticut. Simple, quick, easy trip. But we are bringing the dog. (dun dun dun-dun) His first vacation.

I have traveled with dogs a lot. Charleston and I took a week long road trip once covering Pennsylvania, Kentucky, Tennessee, North Carolina, Washington DC and everything in between. I took Magic on a week long vacation in Charleston, SC so I'm pretty comfortable traveling with my dogs.

Hank is another story, though. He is super active and immature. If he's bored for a millisecond he's sure to start chewing something I'd rather he didn't. And here's the kicker, I still don't trust his housetraining. We will be staying in a hotel and I have to come up with a plan to keep him well behaved while we're there.

Here's the plan so far. We are leaving Thursday evening, so he is going to go to an extra day of daycare on Thursday. Weather permitting, I will run with him every morning (or late morning, it is vacation after all). If I can sneak him into the fitness room I'd love to get him trained to run a treadmill. I am packing all of the food puzzle toys we have and he will not eat out of a bowl once. I am in the process of investigating dog daycare in Mystic. If you know of any good daycares or dog runs, let me know!

What are your ideas for occupying a busy dog?

Worst Dad Ever?

2009-06-24T16:31:00.002-04:00

I'm not sure if this guy is the worst Dad in the world, or just a really weak man in a bad position. Read his Craigslist ad and tell me what you think.

Actor needed for emotional role � One day high pay

Date: 2009-04-17, 12:52PM EDT

My deceased aunt gave my two kids a Cocker Spaniel a few months back. The dog has been a terror and become overwhelming for me. I am a single father raising two young children. I cannot face telling the kids that the dog must go. I have found a good home for the dog, and just need someone to transport the dog, and play the villain.

Premise: You will be the dog walker hired by daddy (me) to walk Skittles. I will introduce you to the kids, and you will tell them you are going to help Skittles get her exercise when Daddy is too busy to walk her. At that point you will walk Skittles to your car and take her to her new family 20 minutes from my place. Then return holding just a leash. The story will be that Skittles broke free of the leash and took off. At this point prepare for crying, things being thrown at you, and possibly cursing. My kids are young and dramatic, their girls.

Pay will be $500. The job will take roughly 2 hours at best.

This job is ideal for an actor looking to diversify their role base, or someone who genuinely likes to make children cry. Acting experience is a plus, but not necessary. Please inform me of any prior experience in this kind of situation.
Location: DC, MD, VA
it's NOT ok to contact this poster with services or other commercial interests
Compensation:

Summer Snow Anniversary

2009-06-19T14:22:00.002-04:00

Yesterday marked the 1 year anniversary of our summer snow party with Charleston. In honor of his memory I'm re-posting this.

We did it! We got 600 lbs of crushed ice for Charleston.

To catch you up, our 5 year Lab, Charleston, has an inoperable tumor called a Fibrosarcoma in his mouth. He will likely not live through the summer so we have been doing everything we can think of (thanks to everyone that has contributed ideas so far) to spoil him rotten and make his last weeks as fun and comfortable as possible.

So, one of Charleston's favorite things ever is snow. Since he won't be around for winter, Vinny had over 600 lbs of crushed ice delivered by the good people at Tullo Ice (who threw in a bag for free) in an attempt to mimic snow for him. Of course the day we planned to do it turned out to be the hottest day of the year, but it was still super fun.

It worked better than we could have imagined. Check it out:

Video courtesy of Snow Route, Inc.

Digg This!!

Last Weekend's Seminar

2009-06-15T14:47:00.002-04:00

My apologies to those of you that tried to reach me this weekend (or tried to schedule an appointment). I was attending a 3 day seminar with the preeminent Animal Behaviorist Dr. Ian Dunbar and Dr. Nicholas Dodman of Tufts University, one of the top Veterinary Behaviorists.

It was time intensive and a terrific opportunity to learn from two greats in the field. Though the lectures were fairly basic, I did take away some terrific new ideas on aggression, OCD, fear and other canine behavior issues. I especially liked Dr. Dodman's presentations because he had a lot to share about new medical treatments for behavioral issues. They also gave us a sneak peek of some exciting things coming up in the field of training.

One of the best parts of the weekend was seeing several of my colleagues and friends. Often, I only see these people at events like this so it's nice to catch up with how everyone is doing. I even met a couple of fellow "twitterers."

Continuing education as a dog trainer is terribly important. New ideas and techniques are always out there and I want to make sure I know about them. Special thanks to St. Hubert's for hosting the event.

New Vet in Carroll Gardens

2009-06-10T15:10:00.003-04:00

As reported in A Brooklyn Life, Carroll Gardens is about to get a new vet.

The address is 455 Court Street, right next to Frankie's 457. No word on when they will open or what their services will be like. If you are among their first clients, let me know what you think!

Akita Update

2009-06-10T12:21:00.002-04:00

The lovely Akita that was abandoned at Hillside Dog Run has found his forever home. Matthew (the President of the Friends of Hillside Dog Park) found a family in Staten Island with a 14 year old Akita to foster him and they've decided to keep him.

They've named him Jay, and he is one lucky dog!

Will Sunset Park Get a Dog Run?

2009-06-08T16:48:00.006-04:00

There's a debate raging right now over whether or not to add a dog run at Sunset Park. The Sunset Park Dog Owners Group is all for it and there are comments, both pro and con, on their page dedicated to the proposal.

Whichever side of the fence you fall on, you may want to attend the Parks Committee Public Hearing on the matter. It is scheduled for Wednesday, June 10th, 6:30 PM at 4201 4th Avenue and 42nd St.

Here's the SPDOG's flyer about the proposed dog run and the Parks Committee Public Hearing:

I do not live in Sunset Park, nor do I visit the park very often so I do not have an opinion on this matter. However, I'm positive that many of you out there do.

Another Dog Abandonded in Brooklyn Heights

2009-05-13T12:04:00.007-04:00

Is this a sign of the times? I find it hard to believe that it's a coincidence that two dogs were abandoned at Hillside Dog Run in two days. The state of the economy and the city's banning of large dogs and certain breeds in public housing has to play a role here.

In any case, I am glad that our community is so willing to help. Thanks to everyone on the Hillside Yahoo Group that has helped, is helping or offered to help these great dogs.

Here's info on Sweetie who was rescued in the park yesterday.

Sweet puppy for adoption: a beautiful and super-sweet black and white female Pit mix puppy, approximately 5 months old and 40lbs. At first no one knew this dog was abandoned today because she was playing so well and actively with the other dogs at Hillside Dog Park. But it became apparent after many hours that the puppy’s prior owners intentionally left her. No tags, no microchip, no collar. She’s currently being fostered with a neighborhood family that already has a 10-month old puppy (and a 8 year old daughter), and won’t be able to foster this new pup for long.

As you’ll see from the photo, this pup is very sweet, playful, and is great with children and other dogs. This is an active dog and will need a good amount of daily exercise (at least an hour at Hillside for some off-leash fun).

My fellow neighbors, the economic crisis is overflowing the animal shelters with abandoned dogs. There’s no room left. Let’s take care of our own during these tough times, from our neighbors to our pups.

If you’ve been thinking of adopting, now’s the time–these dogs will make their new owners very happy.
For more information or for an interview to see one of these dogs, please contact me at mparker@hillsidedogs.org.

A special thanks goes to Matthew Parker, President of the Friends of Hillside Dog Park. He is currently fostering Akita (whom I posted about Monday) and has this to say about him.

Warning: if you meet Akita you’re going to want to make him part of your life. As Friends of Hillside Dog Park president, I see a lot of dogs, and they are all good, but Akita is exceptional. He’ll make a great companion for someone who wants a big dog, but also one that’s laid back and well trained. I think he’d do fine even in a small apartment. Someone’s going to adopt a great dog. If you’ve been thinking about it, and you want a big dog (he’s an underweight 72 lbs and will likely be at least 80lbs), he’s right here in Brooklyn Heights waiting to meet you.

Beautiful Akita/Shepherd Mix Abandoned in Brooklyn

2009-05-12T10:09:00.003-04:00

This came in from the Hillside Dog Run Yahoo Group. The gorgeous dog was found yesterday and the foster dad is looking for a home for him as soon as possible.

Hillsiders:

This morning someone chained a dog to the fence at the corner of Columbia Heights and Vine and left him there with a bowl of water.

I've taken the dog back to my house and he's in the backyard with food and water.

This is a beautiful dog and super friendly. After I fed him, he curled up in my lap for tummy scratches. I haven't heard him bark yet, even when I've left him for a few minutes.

He knows how to sit, stay, give paw. He's unneutered and appears to be between 2-4 years. He's also playful and seems to be just fine around other dogs.

He's a bit underweight and dirty at the moment. I'm taking him over to the vet when she opens this morning to get him checked.

If you or anyone you know is looking for a wonderful, beautiful and well behaved dog, someone's going to get very lucky with this one. I only wish I could keep him myself. I'm waiting for my friend who's involved in Akita rescue to wake up, but it would be great to find this dog a home as soon as possible. He's gorgeous.

Update:

We just got back from the vet. She thinks he's about 4-5 years. Just gave him a rabies and distemper vaccine. His heartworm and parasite test came back negative. She says he's in good health.

Once he gets another 5 lbs on him, he'll be in great shape. He weighed in today at 72 lbs. He's a real looker (see photos).

Great disposition!!

Looking to adopt him to a good owner as soon as possible. Please spread the word, or if you're looking for a great dog--he's right here. I wish I could keep him.

If you are interested in adopting this handsome man, or can help in another way contact Matthew at mparker@hillsidedogs.org.

Breed Specific Legistlation Event

2009-05-04T12:01:00.005-04:00

The following is free and open to the public:

Breed Specific Legislation: Justifiable Discrimination?

Presented by the Committee on Legal Issues Pertaining to Animals
New York City Bar Association, Meeting Hall
42 West 44th Street
New York, NY 10036
Tuesday, May 5, 2009, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.

American Staffordshire Bull Terriers ("Pit Bulls"), Rottweilers, German Shepherds, and Doberman Pinschers have all been the subject of Breed Specific Legislation (BSL). Is BSL a solution to prevent dog bites, dog fighting and abandonment, or an over-inclusive policy that wrongly discriminates against certain breeds, penalizing responsible people and their pets? A panel of experts will discuss the law and policy surrounding this controversial issue.

Panelists:

Debora Bresch, Esq. — Legislative Liaison, ASPCA
Deborah DiIorio — In Our Hands Rescue
Michael McGraw —Director of Media Relations, PETA
Heather McManus, Esq.— Senior Attorney, American Kennel Club
Ledy VanKavage, Esq. — Senior Legislative Analyst, Best Friends Animal Society
Moderators:

Bina Ahmad, Esq., Christine Mott, Esq.

If anyone is able to go, I would love to hear about it.