The Amazing Shanti

Not a magician, just an extraordinary Frenchie.

Normally I only have pictures of dogs at the park but this one of Shanti was so spiritual I had to make an exception.

This is how she sits. She wasn't posed.

Think of her when you're meditating.

ScooterSnacks Movie

ScooterSnacks Movie made with love by a fantastic bunch of women and their dogs at Ft. Greene Park in Brooklyn. Thanks especially to Stefanie Dworkin who filmed and edited, Clare Piaget who also filmed and did some of the animation, and Joan Albert who art directed and did animation. There's strength in community!

The Park on a Saturday

The park on a Saturday in fall is glorious! After off-leash ends a parade of eager shoppers and their dogs parade over to the market for fresh vegetables, fish , delicious milk, etc. Those puppies who don't do so well walking around the stalls are hitched up at the park entrance.

What a Great Clinton Hill Weekend

This has been a pretty special weekend. Halloween brought the Pupkin and the amazing 313 Clinton Ave Halloween Night (this year Carnival of Carnage). Sunday was the marathon (still going on right outside my window.)

This neighborhood is an incredible community.

Here are a few of the amazing costumes from the PUPKIN. You can see more at http://www.fortgreenepups.org

The Pous Chef

One more close-up of Ben as my Pous-Chef.

(come on...he's cute as hell...with a lot of resentment in his eyes...but it only lasted 2 minutes)

Halloween 2009 -- The Pupkin

What a fabulous day! Halloween on a Saturday should be mandated by law. OK, maybe not. The year that it does fall on a Saturday makes it SO SPECTACULAR!

Here's Ben suffering as the Pous Chef to my Chef of Death.

More on the Great Pupkin to follow.

Beautiful Ben on the Beach

Ben's shadow in mid run

New Day at the Beach

So we, Rachel and I, made it to Jacob Riis Park again this morning. An incredibly beautiful day that started out cold and got a lot warmer during our walk.

There were five of us. Three anxious dogs and 2 dozy humans. Plus a lot of sandpipers and a few fishermen.

Here are the dogs, Izzy, Mr. Smith and Ben, stuffed into the back seat of Rachel's car and behaving very well, on the way down to the beach.

The Beach Video

This is a little late but here's a short video of Ben and Izzy frolicking on the beach.

We'll probably be going back this weekend. This time Mr. Smith is joining us. (God I hope there's no poop on the beach.)

Wrangling the Pack

So I've had the help of some amazingly talented women in making a video about the popularity of ScooterSnacks. Here they are wrangling the dogs for one of the shots.

Hopefully the video will be available soon.

Ben at the Beach

Pure joy...mine watching Ben zoom around on the huge expanse of Jacob Riis beach, his first beach experience. His having such a huge, wide-open space to run in, new smells to investigate and a lot of diggable sand!

It was also a little scary--the crashing of the surf was totally new. Intriguing but not completely inviting. So Ben dipped his toes in but didn't swim. Maybe with a few more visits?

The Most Beautiful Saul

OK finally I caught Saul on camera. Video as it happens. Every time I walk into the park when Saul is there, if he sees me, he'll run right at me across the field hoping for some ScooterSnacks.

I can't resist him. He's two hundred pounds of dog coming straight at me but the biggest threat is his drool (copious strings of it as soon as he sniffs the snacks). Other than that his teeth are tiny and he truly is gentle.

Saul is one of my favorites.

Ben is in Love

Ben has suddenly developed a lovey-dovey attachment to Izzy. The other day we spent the morning with Izzy and Mr. Smith. Nothing unusual. But when it came time to leave Ben kept trying to follow them home. First time he wouldn't listen to me. Finally I gave in and walked with Rachel and Lisa.

At Clinton Ave. we had to leave them. Ben made a high-pitched bark that turned into a wine and then a howl most of the way home. He was so distressed and I had no idea what to do.

Anyway he was happy to meet up with her again that evening and share a moment of fluffy tails waving in the wind.

A Night Tail

Beautiful cool September nights have started. And the park is a peaceful, relaxing place to be. especially after 9pm when the dogs can go off leash again.

Ben is hard to see at night but usually doesn't stray too far. However one of his favorite spots is right in the middle of a bank of bushes. I think he forages for the tenderest greens. I love how his tail looks like an exotic flower in this photo.

Ben is a Swimmer!

Wow! What a great thing to learn about my dog. Ben is like a four-legged porpoise.

Izzy and Rachel, Lisa and Mr. Smith, & Ben and I went to Prospect Park this morning. It was Ben's first time. He was unreasonably happy in that park, running here and there, occasionally running loops. But when he got to the water, well, that's when it got really fun.

First we came up on a waterfall with a manageable shelf which both he and Izzy explored, just getting their paws wet. Then he navigated himself down to the lakeside. All I heard was a large "SPLOOSH". He was in before I had a chance to blink.

Paddle , paddle, paddle then hauled himself out. He did this twice more - all in not permitted areas (there was little I could do to stop him) - then turned his nose up at the dog beach. I think it's just too crowded and rowdy for him.

I wonder why Ben being a water dog makes me so happy. Maybe because I love the water so much too.

No More "Day XX"

Izzy is 11 pounds lighter (total since beginning of year and not all from the last few months) so this blog is changing.

Now it's going to be about Izzy and her friends at Ft. Greene Park. We hope other dog people will write stories about their dogs. If they don't, we will!

Here's Mr. Smith getting hauled out of the water earlier today.

Elmo Gets in on the Action -- Day 86

Michelle was kind enough to pack Izzy a supply of ScooterSnacks for our Maine Vacation because we all know how CRAZY she is for them. Well my parent's dog, Elmo, is food dominant, but also pretty picky on his treats. Well Izzy had to share her snacks with him (cuz he was as crazy as Izzy is about them) and I had to be careful to give them each a treat with a distance separating them. Izzy had to eat her treats, food, etc. outside on the grass. By the end of the week, Elmo was carrying his treats out there to eat them with Izzy. And there was no competition, just a pair of dogs, happily eating their ScooterSnacks.

Izzy Lost More Weight! Day 85

I have great news. Izzy lost 4 POUNDS. Yes, the girl on her way to a new svelte doggy self. She is down to 73. Woohoo! and you can see it in her Saucy walk.

Back from Maine! Day 77 to 84

So Izzy had her annual trip to Maine. I realized something about this while we were there. I discovered Maine and Maine Camp, where we go, because of Izzy. The first time I accepted Nancy's invitation to go there was the first fall that Izzy came into my life. And I accepted partly because Nancy invited me every year since college, but mostly because Izzy could come along too. And we have gone every year since, and are now even joined by my family and friends.

Well this was a perfect week. The weather was great. The water was warm. Izzy and I swam almost every day. We walked the beach, we hiked the train, I ate Lobstah. The cutest was when I set up my blanket and umbrella on the beach and Izzy would dig her hole next to my blanket, in the shade of the umbrella and lay down right next to me. I loved it!

So this week, I only came prepared with half a week's worth of food, due to the limited space in the frig. I also had the "special sauce" from Michelle and the idea about how to prepare some food for Izzy. Well, It was a hit with Elmo, my parent's dog (he normally gets wellness). Izzy was a little more subjective about my concoction. Definitely she prefers the Scooter Food made by Michelle. So sad, even my dog does not like my cooking…

Izzy's on Vacation --Day 76

Izzy is away in Maine for the week, frolicking in the ocean, eating barbecue and generally enjoying nature.

She'll be back in about 9 days with some awesome photos and lots of stories.

We know you can't wait!

Through the Slats of a Bench -- Day 75

So I can't tell if this is a desperate cry for ScooterSnacks or a look of suffering because she's not getting any.

In any case Izzy has determined that putting her head through the slats of a park bench is an excellent way to get more treats.

Ben's Beautiful Head -- Day 74

OK this post isn't about Izzy. Had to slip one in about Ben and his beautiful head... It's like a slip-stream mobile home -- rounded edges with a blunt front end made for cutting through wind.

Ben has the advantage of meltingly beautiful brown eyes.

Last night Mr. Ben tore off his dew claw. But I only discovered it this morning. Well Sharon discovered it actually.

He seems fine. Not limping. And still running around like a mad man.

I put some Neosporin on after cleaning the wound with saline solution. No bleeding so I'm guessing he's fine.

Jedi Master Training -- Day 73

Is Izzy turning Ben to the dark side?

Look at these 2. They are working every trick that they have to get treats. And Ben is Michelle's. He gets Scooterfood and treats all the time. He has no fear of cut off!

Hungry, Hungry Hippo -- Day 72

Izzy loves Michelle and the scooter treats. Look at her. Eating right out of her hand. Izzy would probably grab a treat right out of her hand if she could. or her bag.

We had been away for 3 days, and instead of marking her territory and greeting her friends, Izzy had to find Michelle.

Izzy's Baltimore Weekend -- Day 69, 70, 71

I think Izzy is most grateful for central air conditioning. It was in the 90s while we were in Baltimore and Izzy barely wanted to leave the house. In the car, we had to ride with the windows open and the air on. It was unbearable.

She did greet my mother with much enthusiasm that was not a/c influenced. Thank goodness! And she was rewarded with (just) chicken for dinner. A big bowl of it. Important lessons learned for Izzy!

We tried to go to our favorite park for our regular hike, but instead ended up spending all the time around the water. In Izzy's case, it was in the water! She was very happy.

Tummy Tuck Needed? -- Day 68

So tonight I was giving Izzy her daily belly scratch. On her chest, there is a lot more loose skin there now. She always had loose skin there, but it is noticeably more. Well, I noticed a lump. Would I have noticed this before? There would have been no way. Is it a concern? I am sure. We will have to have the vet check it out. It feels much like one of those fatty deposits that my parents' dog has. She shows no pain when I touch, pinch or, squeeze it. I will have my parents check it out when we go home.

Drool Pool -- Day 67

This is Izzy drool. She is staring at Michelle, trying to use her jedi powers to get more scooter treats. The mere thought of them make her salivate. Will it stop her from becoming a jedi master? who knows….

SMACK DOWN! -- Day 66

So a funny thing happened on the way to the park…

Izzy and I were walking to the park this morning, and there were some new dogs walking across the street. Izzy kept looking at them, until we passed them and then was looking back at them. They must have been boy dogs the way she was wagging her tale and distance flirting. Well, I stopped paying attention and was looking forward until the I heard this THUD. She had walked into a light post! When I realized that, I laughed so hard that she did not know what to do. I realized that I should show concern (of course, I was concerned) that I immediately consoled her and made sure she was ok.

She got even. When we were leaving the park, she was following me. When I turned around to put her on her leash, she was gone. I walked around and there she was with Michelle. That is love for you.

We're Back! -- Day 65

Izzy had some regular dog food. So Mr. Smith was over on Monday and I needed to feed the dogs dinner. I did not have enough Scooterfood to feed them both, so I feed them some canned Nutro and Royal Canin dry. (this is what Izzy used to eat.) Well, MY BAD! I suffered for it today! It makes me appreciate the scooterfood all the morning when it was clean up time on our walk.

Herding the Izzys -- Day 64

Izzy and Izzy 2 look like a herd of brown cows munching on the yummy grass of the hill today. I probably had to call her 5 times to get her to lift her head to take the picture. Otherwise, she looked a little more like a bear on the hill eating grass. Life is good when the grass is so green.

Dealing with the Most Humid Month's first days -- Day 62 and 63

This picture exemplifies how Izzy felt about the weekend. It was too hot on Saturday to do anything and too wet and humid on Sunday to do anything. So she is just going to lay there and look like she is melting into the ground.

It looks like our mild weather is over and it is going to get hot. It will be interesting to see how Izzy holds up through this

.

.

Izzy's Boyfriends -- Day 61

Some days I think we go to the park to see Izzy's boyfriends. Most days, we go to the park so Izzy can beg Scooter Treats off Michelle.

Also, some days we go to the park so that Izzy can munch on the tasty untouched grass. You know which stalks I am referring to, the ones that pop up from cracks in the sidewalk where no dog has peed. And they are bright green and flat. Is it as good as a ScooterTreat? No way. But it is good stuff in Izzy world.

Jedi Mind Powers -- Day 60

Izzy was using her jedi mind powers on me this morning to get up and get her to the park before it got too hot. Can you see it in this look? And we were already in the elevator heading out the door. I think the morning in the park is better than happy hour any day for Izzy.

Street Wise -- day 59

Oh my god the streets are way too hot. And the humidity is killing.

So Izzy takes every opportunity to lay and relax during walks. Still her goal is THE PARK and greenery.

Vampire EYES -- Day 58

Look into my eyes...Feel my pain...Love me...

OR just give me a treat and we'll be good.

Way Too Early Rising -- Day 57

Was it because we got up at 3:30am to drive back to bklyn or because it was super humid and warm? who knows? But Izzy was pretty much mush today.

Weekend Jul 25 & 26 -- Day 55 and 56

Another weekend out of the city. YAY!

We went to Baltimore to spend time with the family. It was spent in the backyard, laying on the cool cement floor in the basement, and hiking.

My mom still insists that Izzy's personality has changed on this diet. She really did not greet mom, at all. And Mom is Izzy's greatest spoiler. That is who provides her bandana collection. I am not sure what that is all about. We will see what happens when we spend the week with her and Dad in Maine.

Dad and Steph should believe that her poo is virtually stink free, but they still deny it. LOL!

GooGoo Eyes Again -- Day 54

Izzy has been practicing her goo goo eyes. Not to mention, working her flirt moves (including the roundhouse.) She smiles, she winks, she sits like a pro, anything to get a scootertreat. I thought she only works these moves on Michelle. But when Blanca had some scootertreats, Izzy was trying to work Blanca, too. JoJo dropped his treat and Izzy was there like a hoover to scoop that one up.

You might wonder, am I not feeding her? Is she starving? The answer is no. She gets her breakfast and dinner (warmed up, of course) every day. She gets some chicken treats in the morning and a few pieces of lamb lung from her walker. This is all in addition to the chicken bones she scoops up off the sidewalk. The girl should not be hungry. (and I have heard her tummy growl in the past, it is impossible to miss.)

The Pied Piper -- Day 53

Izzy has like a homing device on Michelle. I did not see or hear her in the park until Izzy went running up the stairs in a hurry. I looked up and there were Michelle and Ben at the top. Michelle is like the pied piper of the park. We walked with them for awhile, even to their exit. When they left, I started towards our exit and Izzy just stood there, not sure which way she wanted to go. Of course she caved and followed me, but that look of utter confusion was on her face for a good minute.

Moseying Down Chicken Bone Alley -- Day 52

Mr. Smith is staying with us. He and Izzy are like the chicken bone hoovers of Fort Greene. If there is a chicken bone, they will find it.

They have also started making a ruckus in the hallways of my building. As soon as I grab their leashes and open the door, they are running and playing and romping and tumbling down the hall. How they do not wake everyone is a mystery to me! THEN I open the door to the stairway which starts the mad race down the first flight, quick tour of the 4th floor hall, and then back down the rest of the stairs. You would think that after like gazillionth time on the fourth floor, they would know what is there, but that does not stop them.

And all this before we ever start the walk!

Rain, Again -- Day 51

Izzy does not poop for her dog walker, erin. She is a very private girl (well, was, with this blog and everything....). Anyhow Lisa and Mr. Smith were kind enough to walk Izzy in the evening so I could work on my pottery. Izzy gifted lisa with one of her barely smelly, nice and firm, rather small poops. It is a sign of her love!

Leaving the Country -- Day 50

Back in the city.

Izzy was so tired from our weekend adventure that I did not think she would make it to the park. How wrong I was!

She was happy to see her friends and even pulled her regular tactics to stay longer.

She was tired when we got home, but rested up after work. We took a nice long walk in the evening and she JUMPED into bed with me. Usually I have to help her up on the few occasions she her royal highness wants to grace the bed. But tonight she jumped on her own.

A Weekend in the Country -- Day 48 and 49

We got up bright and early for our drive with Izzy 2 and Tucker up to the Catskills. It was one jam packed weekend trip.

Izzy hiked, and swam and ran around like a wild dog. She saw some bears, a couple deer and even a few newts and frogs

Both days, I gave her a little extra food because she was one busy dog. She only got a couple chicken treats which she shared with Jack and Izzy 2. And she drank a ton of water: water from the bowl, lake water, stream water and some puddles.

She was so tired when we got back on Sunday night. She was in exactly the same spot Monday morning as she was Sunday when we got back from our walk.