Brooklyn Bark Talks

Brookyn Dog Walkers Learn to Shoot Dogs..... with a camera

If you are at all like me, you have already upgraded the storage on your iPhone twice because you have taken so many pictures of your kitty and pup and you can't bring yourself to blow away even an out-of-focus, not-enough-light blur if you can make out a sweet, furry face in it.  It is a disease of all pet owners and a plague for pet professionals.

Let's face it, the digital age allows us to have an amazing quantity of pictures.  It doesn't speak at all to quality but we are all having such a good time with so many pictures that it doesn't matter.  Until it does.

Thursday evening, James Morrissey of Wild Coyote Studio worked with a group of us, one on one, to highlight ways we can acheive quality as well.  James has been the official portrait photographer of the Westminster Dog Show for the past four years.  Listening, watching and seeing his results, we understood why.

The first ingredient for producing a spectacular photo of your pup is patience.  Relax, and your pet will relax - eventually.  If you become tense and start giving commands in words unfamiliar to pup you will confuse him, he will be overstimulated and any chance of communication will be lost.  We didn't have any pussy cats in our workshop but we can only imagine.....

The next rule James shared is to never use treats as bait.  This goes under the heading of "avoid over stimulting".  Plus, in many dogs a treat induces drool, not something you really want in a formal portrait.  A favorite toy, a tennis ball, a duck call, these all can produce an alert - and dry - look.

James' favorite lure is the pet's owner, a technique he used on subjects at the workshop.  He had someone hold the leash and stand out of camera range.  He had the owner stand by his side, urging the pup and in each case, pup responded on cue and the results were beautiful.

James spoke how he worked to get the personality of each dog into his portrait.  For most dogs he stands at eye level with the dog.  But for a very little furry one, he might stand on a ladder and shoot down, emphasizing how small they are.

Large dogs are the opposite.  For a mastiff or a mountain dog, James comes in close so they fill the frame with their mass.

Ears up?  Ears down?  It depends on the breed.  Sitting?  Lying?  Standing?  Again, the breed and the pup's personality dictate the best pose.

James shared that the owners who were shooting their own pups through the workshop had a big advantage over him.  They know their pup's personality and they were a familiar and comfortable entity whom pup wouldn't feel compelled to meet, sniff and try to engage.

Some attendees brought their smart phones to use, others brought their SLRs.  James feels you can get fabulous photos with either, the main advantages of an SLR is speed of response when you press the button and ability to adjust depth of field and zoom.  He joked that camera-phones will eventually put him our of business.

Owners shot their dogs and then James posed each pup for a quick, formal photo shoot.  He spoke of shooting into the light, how the best light is just after sunrise and just before sunset for its softness and absence of shadowing and selecting background.  He explained and then he shot.

Surprisingly - or maybe not suprisingly at all - James only took two, at the most three, pictures of each pup.  He reviewed each group of shots with the owner to be sure they saw something which pleased.

Once the images were in James' camera, the group went inside where he loaded the newly taken images into his laptop and projected them on a waiting screen.  He referred to these as "raw" and went through each one showing how he would do touch ups - always removing the leash, cleaning up spots of dirt, darkening to compensate for use of flash, and removing reflections.

The seminar ended at 9:00 pm and by 1:00 am James had sent us the finished images.

James makes house calls.  He feels his best work is in the environment where pup or kitty is the most comfortable.  If you would like to contact him, his email is James@MorrisseyPhotography.com and phone is 212-544-9655.

The next seminar in the Brooklyn Bark/FIDO series: Your Dog is Smart, Now it's Your Turn will be on June 13th, featuring three of Brooklyn's top dog trainers discussing Fear & Agression in dogs.  At that seminar, Brooklyn Bark will officially be presented with the Platinum Paw, which was awarded to BBark for producing this series with FIDO dog owner advocacy group.

If there is a topic you would like covered, or if you are interested in dog walking / pet sitting please contact BarkMaster@BklynBark.com

Rescue Debut

Hardly the debut of rescue in Brooklyn, but the debut of the film RESCUE! BROOKLYN.

This documentary explores the work of our friend and hero, Sean Casey, and the Sean Casey Animal Rescue organization (a.k.a. SCAR) he heads.  It is a labor of love by Sean's good friend, videographer Charlie Spickler whose passion for the animals Sean rescues matches that of Sean's himself.

In the film Charlie details SCAR's impact on the community of both Windsor Terrace and Greater Brooklyn.  Sean's approach to running a No Kill shelter is uniquely his.  Charlie's drive is to share this model with any and all who might fight to do what Sean is doing in their own communities, establishing No Kill shelters influenced by Sean's.

RESCUE! BROOKLYN tells Sean's story by following one of the thousands of critters whose life Sean has saved.  The story is of a stray pup who became known as John.  Puppy John was found, emaciated and unable to move, abandoned in a parking lot.  Pittiful puppy, Sean was not sure he would survive his first night in the shelter.

But survive he did and through the power of social media he became a celebrity with animal lovers around the world following his progress and contributing to his medical expenses.

"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world.  Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has." (Margaret Mead)

RESCUE! BROOKLYN is the story of Sean Casey and his thoughtful, committed citizens setting out to change the world, one animal at a time.

Check out the RESCUE! BROOKLYN trailer.

Actually, for $10 you can check out the whole movie, and we hope you do!  You can order your tickets online.

Join us at the world premier of this movie on Wednesday, May 15th at 7:30 pm.  RESCUE! BROOKLYN will be featured as the opening film on opening night of the Arts of Brooklyn Film Festival (AoBFF).  The screening will be at

Founders Hall Theater at St. Francis College
180 Remsen St 
Brooklyn, NY 11201

And the guest of honor at the screening will, of course, be Sean Casey himself.

For animal lovers, for Brooklyn lovers, this is the place to be.  Join us to kick off the third Arts of Brooklyn Film Festival with RESCUE! BROOKLYN.  It will be an honor!

 

 

If there is a topic you would like covered, or if you are interested in dog walking / pet sitting please contact BarkMaster@BklynBark.com

Let Your Voice Be Heard for your Dog, your Cat and all Animals!

Anyone familiar with the ASPCA knows their tag, “We are their voice.”

On Monday, May 6th you can really be their voice.  You can become part of a consortium traveling to Albany for  New York Voices for Animals Lobby Day!

What is more, the members of the ASPCA will provide you with an overview of pending or upcoming legislation that directly impacts animals and “real” lobbyist training before you meet with your elected official.

If you feel passionate about

•     Cracking down on puppy mills
•     Dog control officer training
•     Strengthening cruelty penalties
•     Stopping dog breed-specific insurance policy discrimination

This is your opportunity to be heard.  This is your opportunity to make a difference. 

You can make a difference and it won’t cost you at all for the ASPCA is providing coach bus transportation from Manhattan to Albany and back.  

We know you have the passion.  If you can find the time, we urge you to become the voice of the animals of New York State on May 6th.

Again, transportation is free!  The ASPCA is providing a charter bus to Albany which will depart from their offices in Manhattan (520 8th Avenue) at 7 am for the Legislative Office Building (198 State Street) in Albany.

So get on that bus and let your voice be heard for the furry and feathered citizens of our great state.  Contact our friend Michelle Villagomez, the ASPCA’s director for Government Relations.

Contact Michelle to arrange a place on the bus so your voice will be heard.  
Michelle.Villagomez@ASPCA.org
212-876-7700 ext 4550.

Seats are limited, so reserve your spot on the bus by emailing Michelle as soon as possible! You must already be registered to attend New York Voices for Animals Day in order for us to fulfill your request for a bus seat. Your seat is not guaranteed unless you receive an email confirmation.

And if you get to go, please let us know.  We would love to hear if our elected
leaders are listening.
If there is a topic you would like covered, or if you are interested in dog walking / pet sitting please contact BarkMaster@BklynBark.com

What is Alternative Boarding?

At Brooklyn Bark we've gotten a lot of buzz recently for our "alternative boarding."  In March, New York Magazine named us Best in New York and specifically cited our alternative pet sitting.  In April, DNAinfo blogged in all their Brooklyn editions Brooklyn Dogs Can Now Go Sailing.  The media buzz is based on BBark's alternative boarding.

Only, please, don't call it boarding, dog boarding, pet boarding or anything that conotes, ugh, confinement or cages.

Thomas Jefferson could have come up with this concept if he were with us today.  It is based on dogs having inalianable rights to love, family and supervised freedom.  When our Barkers' people are around, that is the way it is.  Why should it be different if their people have to leave for business, vacation or other reasons?

So dog boarding with Brooklyn Bark is designed to respect what we consider canine inalianable rights - life, liberty and the pursuit of squirrels.

It is also based on dogs being social/pack/family creatures who thrive in the presence of other dogs and humans.

And, it is based on the fluidity of the pack.

Plain and simple, we become part of pup's pack or he becomes part of ours while his LoP (leader of the pack) is away.

For short visits, the least disruptive for a pup is to maintain his routine, for dogs are comfortable with the certainty of knowing what is coming next.

The first option for Barkers is to have pup's Care Associate stay over at his home.  Pup's routine is undisturbed and he is with someone he already knows well and respects.  Dogs define their pack by their sleeping placement so having one of his known leaders in pup's own environment with his normal routine is the easiest on a very sensitive pup.

For pups who like a little adventure - and you know your own dog's personality - sleeping over at his Care Associate's home is as much fun as you had when you had a sleepover as a kid.  It's just a little bit different.  It's an adventure but it is comfortable.

But for a truly adventurous dog who adapts well, loves people and other dogs, a trip to Brooklyn Bark North is in the cards. 

Here your pup becomes part of Brooklyn Bark's Bark Master's "pack."  Your pup is welcomed by Assistant Bark Master, Remy, who is a 2 year old German shepherd, the Bark Master and her hubby David.  Your pup becomes an integral part of their pack - while observing your own pack rules about going on furniture, leash walking and general canine manners.

You can arrange for the Bark Master to pick up your pup in the kennelmobile, a CRV with the back section gated off as a first class cabin for dogs.  There is no charge for transport although minimum stay at BBNorth is 4 days.  This minimum is also for pup's well being as it takes a while to aclimate (think of your own travels).

When pup is part of the Bark Master family he is, yes, part of the Bark Master family.  With 17 acres available, daily hikes are on the schedule.  With a private beach, swimming is the thing in good weather.  With a sailboat on the Hudson River, well, you get the picture.

As the Bark Master says, "What can be more fun that a barrel of monkeys?  A houseful of dogs!"  Only, please, don't call it boarding.

For more information you can call Bark Master at 914-649-5188 to discuss.

If there is a topic you would like covered, or if you are interested in dog walking / pet sitting please contact BarkMaster@BklynBark.com

Salute to: Mighty Mutts Fostering Network from Brooklyn Dog Walkers

“Never believe that a few caring people can't change the world. For, indeed, that's all who ever have.”
                                                                                       Margaret Mead

In April, Brooklyn Bark Dog Walkers salute a wonderful network of volunteers who work together to change the world.  They rescue the stray dogs of NYC, one at a time, by fostering and then working to find them their perfect home.  

Mighty Mutts changes the world for these dogs.  They provide rehabilitation, veterinary care and often spay/neuter.  And a lot of love.  They also change the world of the person or the family who is fortunate to adopt one of their dogs.

A dog who has been living by his wits, struggling for survival rarely has the social skills to succeed as part of a human family.  

Volunteers take these strays into their own homes to teach them how to live, how to act and what to expect.  These are life lessons that are necessary to learn before there can be a successful adoption.

Think “Liza Doolittle”.

Once a former stray is deemed fully healthy and has adjusted socially, he earns the right to wear the “Adopt Me” vest.  His foster person takes him to dog events, such as FIDO’s Coffee Bark, for more socialization plus an opportunity to meet “The Right One” who may fall in love and want to adopt.

The Might Mutt foster parents also take their dogs to look for homes at Mighty Mutt’s weekly adoption drive every Saturday in Manhattan at the southwest corner of Union Square Park (14th Street and Union Square West) and Petco - Union Square (860 Broadway, New York, NY).
Do you think you could help save the world, one dog at a time?  

Contact our friend Robert Herskovits Robert.Herskovitz@Corcran.com or  
347-228-2034.  Or  info@MightMutts.org.

If there is a topic you would like covered, or if you are interested in dog walking / pet sitting please contact BarkMaster@BklynBark.com

Duffy Needs a Home

If there is a topic you would like covered, or if you are interested in dog walking / pet sitting please contact BarkMaster@BklynBark.com

A Towel and Some Gel Make Pup a Happy Snow Dog

Looks like the last snowstorm of winter is raging out there in Brooklyn.  Some dogs love the snow; others are checking Expedial.com to book a flight south.

Love it or leave it, our dogs and we have to deal with it.  Here are some tips from Brooklyn Bark dog walkers for safety through the snow.


(note: for fun in the snow with you pup check out Being a Dog in Winter in Brooklyn)

1 - BEWARE OF SALT:

New York City - and most municipalities - use the least expensive snow melter they can buy (remember "lowest bid" and "fewer taxes for the rich"?).  This is generally calcium chloride.  Calcium chloride is caustic - caustic to pavement, caustic to cars and caustic to doggie paws as it does what it is supposed to, suck moisture out of anything in its vicinity.  For doggie paws, this can be seriously painful.
We humans wear protective foot gear. Few dogs tolerate booties, but you can try.
Part two of BEWARE OF SALT is applicable to all dogs who play in the snow but especially the little ones whose tummy's are easy magnets for that calcium chloride.  As soon as you come home, be sure to towel off your furry one so that a bad tummy won't accompany his next round of self-grooming
 

2 - BEWARE OF SNOW AND ICE BALLS:

Many have fur growing between their toes.  Even in a light dusting, the snow can stick to this fur and the heat of the paw pad melts it to water.  Then the water freezes again as it loses heat to the ambient air and snow creating ice-balls between pups toes.  As the snow collects, it can compact into sharp, pointy icicles digging and wedging between those toes.

 

 

Rachel addresses these problems:

OMG! WHAT TO DO?!?!?
Don't be (too) afraid- be prepared.

 

a.  Always keep a doggy towel by the door.
Even if the weather is perfect, I recommend that owners keep a doggie towel by the door to wipe of bellies and paws.. There is so much gross stuff in the city, it's nice to have your feet wiped when you come in. In the winter it's great to have a warm towel to remove snow and salt.

b. Use jelly or oils:
For extreme temperatures - winter and summer- use a small amount of petroleum jelly or olive oil on the paw pads. This will seal the pad from the elements and is safe when the pups decide to lick. There is a great product called Mushers Secret that has been developed by arctic snow teams to protect their dogs while running. I use it in summer and winter on pups who have sensitive feet. I have tried it and yes, it really works.
Just make sure there is a towel handy when you come back from your walk to wipe the product off or else your apartment will have oily foot prints -- not fun to clean.
I will have Mushers Secret with me when there is salt, but Vaseline or something similar will do just as well and is much cheaper.

c. Trim paw hair:
Trim paw hair (the hair between the toes) so ice will less likely clump

d. Use booties (if pup allows):
Hehe. Most dogs won't tolerate booties, but they are the best protection. Plus, they are just comical!

Try it and upload pictures and/or videos for all to see.

When you come back from the walk:
DRY YOUR PUP'S FEET & FUR! Wash with warm or lukewarm water if possible. Never use hot water.

An ounce of prevention, a.k.a. using Musher's Secret and a towel, will let the fun of winter shine through without any of the bad stuff.

If there is a topic you would like covered, or if you are interested in dog walking / pet sitting please contact BarkMaster@BklynBark.com

A Sweet Dog Story: Adopting Ginger

When a little brother or sister is on the way, parents lay in a supply of story books about their arrival to share with the older sibs.

Finally, a book about adopting a new dog into the family,  "Adopting Ginger."  This delightful tale was written by a retired school teacher, Linda Griffin, based her neighbors bringing a rescue dog into their lives. 

"Adopting Ginger" is aimed at children from age 5 and up.  It tells the story of brother and sister and their parents making a family decision to adopt a dog.  They go together to their local shelter and have a difficult time choosing just one pup to bring home.

But the magic that always seems to happen happens and the whoe family falls in love with Ginger when she licks the kids fingers and wiggles her butt.

Although the book doesn't go into details - this book is for young kids - Ginger was rescued from a high-kill shelter in South Carolina and brought north for adoption.  She has been through a lot and it shows.

Quite accurately, the story describes Ginger's fear and trepidation as she is brought to still another place.  She has no way of knowing this is where she will be loved and cared for the rest of her life.  She is terrified of stairs and of almost everything she encounters.  Hides from everyone and she won't eat.

Ms. Griffin shows how Emma and Aiden, the two kids, bring Ginger around with a lot of love and a lot of patience and a lot of treats.  They don't give up but devise little plans to help Ginger explore her new environment and build her confidence.

Within a week it all pays off and Ginger becomes a full fledged part of the family, playing, eating and teaching them all how to do the "wiggle butt" that so endeared her to them in the shelter.

If you know a family with children that is contemplating adopting a dog or even a cat, rabbit or other pet, this is a great story to prepare them for what is to come.  My copy is going to my veterinarian who is expecting her first child and who will, undoubtedly, be adopting a new dog into her family within the next few years.  It's a great story to share the love.

If there is a topic you would like covered, or if you are interested in dog walking / pet sitting please contact BarkMaster@BklynBark.com

Westminster be Damned!

The Westminster Dog Show, the premier event of the American Kennel Club is over.  What an irony that our beloved New York City gave birth to the ASPCA and the Westminster Dog Show.  Proceeds from the forth day of the very first Westminster Show (the newly formed Kennel Club took its name from the hotel where they met, pictured at left) in 1877 were donated to the ASPCA which had been formed nearby in 1866.

 

Although not connected, the two organizations - the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and the American Kennel Club, the renamed Westminster Kennel Club - represent two diametrically opposing views of dogs in 2013.

 

The modern AKC has become shameless in their exploitation of dogs from a wanton disregard to the welfare of non-AKC registered canines to registering products of puppy mills to adopting breed standards that are blatantly unhealthy for the dogs bred to those standards.

 

Do you ever wonder why and how puppy mills exist and prosper? 

 

Do you ever wonder how an obviously malformed, sickly doggie in the window can have "papers"? 

 

According to the New York Times 40% of the AKC's $61 million annual income comes from registering these puppies.  If products of puppy mills were not "AKC registered" two things would happen:

1. Puppy mill bred dogs would no longer be particularly valuable.  As a result, many, if not most, of the mills would become unprofitable and close up. 

2. The earnings of the AKC would shrink significantly, perhaps close to 40%.

 

To prevent revenue shrinking, the AKC continues to issue papers (and collect the fees) for dogs who are bred in squalor and starvation.  At times, according to the New York Times, these are well respected members of the AKC producing these pitiful puppies.  These puppies are the "purebreds" that are sold in pet stores and on the internet. One example they site the A.K.C. registered malemutes found when breeder Mike Chilinski's facility was raided. Although he had been "inspected" by the A.K.C. law enforcement found squalor, diseased and dead malemutes and breeder Malemutes weighing less than 50 lbs.  Chilinski received a prison sentance of 5 years, so egregious was his abuse of his dogs.

 

"Of course this puppy has papers," the prospective buyer is told at the pet store.  "It is AKC registered."  (There are many things they are NOT told, including that if the puppy is not sold by the time it is no longer "cute" - about 6 months of age - it is euthanized.)

 

This reassurance to the uninformed buyer is all that is needed to close the multihundred dollar sale of the misbred product of a puppy mill.

 

How obvious the AKC is in protecting its revenue stream over canine welfare came to a head last year.  Pedigree dog food had been the primary sponsor of the Westminster show for over 25 years.  When they used their air time during The Show to promote shelter adoption and raise money for rescue, AKC refused to renew their relationship, turning instead to Purina as their new sponsor.  Did we mention that Purina is possibly the least nutritious dog food on the market?  At least they don't ask you to support and adopt "throw away" dogs!

 

The AKC is no more kind when it comes to puppies whelped by reputable breeders.  The AKC adopts breed standards for aesthetics (whatever that means) not for health and welfare of the dog.  Think of the bred-to-standards bulldog who can hardly breathe or the thoroughbred Labrador who develps hip dysplasia.  These can be, and often are, dogs who are bred to an aesthetic standard which was developed in absence of considering healthy consequences and spend their often shortened lives in discomfort and pain. 

 

When one of AKC's own such as Oregon collie breeder Ted Paul, once a highly regarded AKC judge, speak out in favor of limits, the organization ostracizes him.  From the time of his statements, Mr. Paul was never again hired to judge an AKC event.

 

Where does the ASPCA come in?  The ASPCA as well as the Humane Society of America (HSUS) work to develop laws that mitigate against the abuses and cruelty of puppy mills.  They promote legislation such as laws that prohibit a dog being caged or tethered more than 14 hours per day, the stacking of wire crates, the number of sexually intact dogs that may be owned.  Each and every bill in each and every state has been vigorously opposed by the AKC.

 

ASPCA and HSUS work with law enforcement to identify and raid puppy mills.  Virtually every mill has ties to the AKC as that is how they get their dogs registered and the AKC comes to their defense with platitudes about responsible breeders.

 

Is the AKC institutionalized domestic violence against canines?  How often do we see a societal facade of a well respected, loving couple where there is abuse when the lights are turned off?  When the abuse is made known, people familiar with the couple are in shock and disbelief at the abuse that was being perpetrated behind closed doors.

 

The American Kennel Club is that openly loving but privately abusive spouse when it comes to dogs.  May the ASPCA and HSUS expose them for what they are and may dogs - all dogs - have better lives as a result.

 

 

 

 

 

 

If there is a topic you would like covered, or if you are interested in dog walking / pet sitting please contact BarkMaster@BklynBark.com

Help us Find Marley, a Lost Toy Yorkie

If there is a topic you would like covered, or if you are interested in dog walking / pet sitting please contact BarkMaster@BklynBark.com