The transformation of Myrtle Avenue over the past decade is nothing short of amazing, and MARP (Myrtle Avenue Redevelopment Project) is largely responsible for that change. The bars where you tipple, the cafes and coffee shops where you snack and gobble up free wifi all owe MARP a nod for paving the way for their success. But what does Myrtle have to offer PUPS members? On the eve of their 10th anniversary, we put the question to MARP spokesperson Jennifer Stokes and her staff wanted us to know about three recent businesses that are tailor-made for the dog-owning community:

NYCPet.com (464 Myrtle, 718 636-3848), one of seven Brooklyn locations, is the results of 30 years of love and hard work in this family-run, pet-related retail business. George DiGuido and his sister-in-law Chris DiGuido absorbed the family business and opened what we know today as NYCPet.com. The store prides itself on its diverse inventory, competitive pricing, and customer service. True to its name, NYCPet.com is also planning an online store for fall.

Clinton Hill Animal Clinic (476 Myrtle, 718 623-3999) is a second outpost for owner Dr. Pamella Dendtler. After 26 years of animal care in Park Slope, Dr. Dendtler has expanded her practice to treat our furry loved ones of Fort Greene and Clinton Hill. Along with Dr. Monica Johnson, a doctor of internal medicine and surgery, the practice welcomes cats, large dogs, small dogs, birds and exotic pets. They offer internal medicine, soft tissue surgery, orthopedic surgery, digital x-rays, sonograms, treatment of skin disorders, vaccines, Hill's prescription diets house calls, and more.

Green Pets (572 Myrtle, 718 230-8300) is a first-time business endeavor for local Clinton Hill resident Twain Belgrave. Green Pets is an eco-friendly daycare, spa, and pet grooming facility located between Emerson and Classon Avenues. A ten-year grooming veteran, Twain saw an opportunity to serve the neighborhood's more environmentally- and health-conscious pet owner. Right now they are about 60% green. Their goal is to become 100% green. Green Pets offers daycare, boarding, grooming and a large outdoor play area. Among other offerings they carry toys made from recycled materials and natural shampoos. For more on MARP and tons of useful information, check out their blog: here http://www.myrtleavenue.org/blog/

Another in our series of dog-related health articles from PUPS

A Pet Peeve: Atopy Allergies
by Cheryl Cobette

During the spring season, we like to come out of hibernation from the long, frosty winter and thaw out with our furry friend by walking, playing or running in the park with them. But suddenly...a-a-A-A-CHOOO! The sound of sneezing from catching those pesky allergies; not necessarily coming from us, but from our beloved pooch. As I'm sure any pet parent knows, humans are not the only ones who have allergies. If you're like me in looking to help my dog Peanut, you'll want to learn more about allergies and what you can do to manage the problem.

Atopy is one type of allergy disorder caused by certain substances such as pollen, or insect venom. It is hereditary and can occur in both humans and dogs. However, according to sources such as wikipedia.org and peteducation.com, the symptoms--besides the sneezing--that take place in dogs can differ: itching, hair loss, small red bumps, face rubbing, ear infection, chewing on the feet, and biting are among some. And the fact that atopy can be caused by fleas is also something to be bugged about!

Consult your veterinarian if you believe your dog is having an allergic reaction, as antibiotics or other medications may need to be prescribed.  And check out the sites noted above to familiarize yourself with more detailed information on atopy and other types of allergies your dog may suffer from, so you can help them get back to feeling like the peppy pet they're meant to be!

Cheryl Cobette is a copy and creative writer. She and Peanutbutter reside in Fort Greene, and they consider Fort Greene Park a "second home."

Peanut in the park

Another Kick in the Grass

Remember a few years back when we pooled efforts with other dog organizations to get off-leash privileges codified into law? It was going to be clear sailing from here on out, right? Think again. There's a new campaign afoot in Fort Greene Park, and while it's not directed at PUPS specifically, it's sure to affect park users of all stripes, including dog owners. Long-time PUPS member, local firecracker, and Leelu's no. #1 snack dispenser Catherine Kunicki attended the mid-April meeting on the "soccer problem." What follows is a summary of her notes and observations as well as a little editorializing by yours truly.

In attendance at the meeting were Councilwoman Tish James; borough parks Commissioner Julius Spiegel; members of the soccer players, local parent groups and the Fort Greene Conservancy; NYtimes.com blogger Andy Newman; and Catherine and Leelu repping PUPS. As you can imagine, there were many points of view put on the table.

The primary topic of discussion was the fate of the soccer field on the Dekalb/Washington Park corner which has become a real point of contention in the neighborhood: At least one parents organization wants the soccer players gone. The soccer players argue they enhance the value of the park. Everyone wants to keep the lawn green, but after at least three failed attempts in recent years, no one is quite sure what to do. Ever the diplomat, Tish is exploring options with Long Island University, Brooklyn Tech, and other sporting facilities to find the soccer players a new home. And the soccer players are considering fund-raising to help pay for re-seeding the field this fall.

Now here's where things get interesting, at least from the PUPS perspective. After surveying the monument, one Parks rep blindsided Catherine by asking how she felt about "closing that area off to dogs." Apparently, in addition to damage to concrete caused by skateboarders, there is a noticeable amount of dog poop around the monument. The Parks folks are fed up and are considering ways to control access to the area. Catherine was also surprised by questions concerning the dog fountain and as well as last year's dog-bite controversy. In Catherine's own words, "the meeting was about the soccer field, but I do feel as if I got ganged up on more than a little."

On the one hand, there's a certain comfort in knowing dog owners, now joined by skateboarders and soccer players, are no longer alone on the bottom rung of park hierarchy. No matter how many garbage cans we donate and bag dispensers we install, regardless of how many poop pick-ups we sponsor and It's my Park Days we volunteer for, despite the fact that, by our very presence, dog owners helped make and keep this park safe for everyone, there will always be someone in the neighborhood looking for a scapegoat. My heart goes out to both the soccer players and the skaters. But as Catherine's comments above show, our actions as dog owners are under the microscope, too, so do your bit. Be responsible with your dogs in the park. And drop Tish a line as well and let her know where you stand.

Be sure to check out The Local's take on the issue here (http://fort-greene.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/04/17/soccer-solution/) or visit Letitia James site (http://teamtish.blogspot.com/2009/04/lets-talk-soccer-games-in-fort-greene.html

Lelu

You asked for it. You got it! As a Certified Pet Dog Trainer, a long-time member of the APDT (Association of Pet Dog Trainers) and student of world-renowned dog behaviorist Pat Miller, Rikke Brogaard's been one of NYC's most sought after trainers more than a decade and we're proud to call her our neighbor. Due to the flood of submissions and our limited space, Rikke's posting unedited answers on her blog -- rikkesdogblog.blogspot.com/ -- so please be sure to click on over. Without further adieu, her she is, answering your questions.

Q: What are your views on medicating a dog when all other methods have failed?

A: In my opinion, behavioral drugs should be used only when the prescribing vet and a behavior expert agree that classic behavior modification protocol alone is not enough. And even then, rational use of the drugs is key. That said, I have seen great results in dogs that were treated in this manner. It's a great option, especially considering that in recent years a new series of behavioral drugs for dogs have been developed to target very specific issues like Separation Anxiety, Noise Phobias, General Fearfulness, Generalized Anxiety Disorders, Canine Compulsive Disorders, and some Canine Aggression. However, the decision to give your dog pharmaceuticals shouldn't be taken lightly. As with humans, prescription drugs are not cure-alls and drugs alone should not be used as a method of control; with severe behavior issues, proper supervision and management and owner responsibility are equally important. Additionally, not all issues can be treated with drugs, so I can't stress enough that, should you go this route, proper supervision is crucial.

Q: How do you stop a dog from barking when it hears a sound outside?

A: The short answer is: You don't! Dogs bark. That's what they do. To expect them to never bark would be unreasonable and unfair. That said, I like to teach dogs a quiet cue – posted on my blog -- but first make sure you're doing the following: Give your dog plenty opportunities for exercise and play with other dogs as well as people. Provide ample mental stimulation through games like hide-and-seek, tug, fetch, chew toys and chew "puzzles" like Kongs stuffed with frozen food or Busy Buddies. This helps fight boredom while you're gone and assures that the highlight of his day is not the ten-second adrenaline rush he gets from barking at the mailman. Also, if you're gone all day, block your access to the front door so that he doesn't have a sightline to people passing outside on the street.

Q: I adopted an older lab about a year ago. I've just started letting him off leash but am having trouble getting him to come, especially if he's sniffing something delicious or wants to see an interesting dog. Any ideas on how to get him to come to me regardless of what else is going on around us?

A: Yay to you for adopting an older dog! That's awesome! This is one of the most important cues for any dog to learn, regardless of age. It's not easy; dogs are easily distracted and the highest motivator will always win out. So you really have to work hard to make it worth his while. I'd suggest booking a few sessions with a Positive Trainer so you'll have someone to help trouble shoot, observe, and assess your progress. But here are some basics recall rules you can try at home on your own:

NEVER call your dog to come if you are upset with him or to punish him. DON'T call your dog if you're only going to leash, crate him, clip his nails, etc...in short anything that he finds unpleasant. DO call him often for no other reason than to praise him for coming and to give him a yummy treat or a nice pat. This way he won't be able to predict when it's time to go home and he will be much more motivated to come back to you to check in. NOTICE when your dog when he comes to check in with you without having been called. Reward him with a pat or a treat. If he thinks there might be something in it for him he will stay closer to you and come by you more often in general.

Find out more on Rikke's blog (http://rikkesdogblog.blogspot.com/) and web site (www.rikkebdogtraining.com). We'll get to your other questions in upcoming issues.

PUPS Poop Pick-up in the Park
by Kath Hansen

We had our somewhat annual Poop Pick-up "event" in Fort Greene Park in mid-May. Considering that the task is to pick up all the unclaimed dog doo in the park, I am amazed anyone wants to participate. But this year's enticement of a $75 gift certificate for dinner at Loulou certainly lured a number of intrepid poop seekers.

In addition to the gift certificate, PUPS also awarded a mega supply of poop bags and the crown of "2009 Grand Poo-Bah" to this year's winner, Laurence Frabotta. Laurence can usually be found hanging with Suki, his regal St. Bernard, but on poop pick-up day, he was all business. Rounding up 2.5 pounds of forgotten feces and 10 pounds of trash for a total of 12.5 pounds, he is Fort Greene Park's King Doo. Check out Kizzy's photostream of all the participants; a huge thanks to her for taking pictures. And also big thanks to our official Weighmaster, Michelle.

Kizzy's photostream link: http://www.flickr.com/photos/31403417@N00/sets/72157618350164292/

Laurence and Suki