Facilitating and Maintaining Friendships With Doggie Playdates
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- Written by Andrea Seiden
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Scarsdale families understand that playdates are a wonderful opportunity for moms and dads to get to know other moms and dads while their young children make friends of their own. With the right activities and a few well-chosen snacks, everyone enjoys a fun, relaxing afternoon with friends – relationships that may last a lifetime.
But, what happens when the children go off to the Scarsdale Middle School, high school or college and moms don’t have an excuse to sit in the backyard or around the kitchen table with a their posse of friends anymore?
Sloane Worth, a Greenacres resident for 18 years and real estate agent from Houlihan Lawrence, shares that she and her friends now arrange playdates for their dogs. Instead of toddlers playing Simon Says or Tag in her backyard, Sloane’s caramel red Austrian Labradoodles, Whiskey (3-years old) and John B (still a puppy), play fetch and tug of war with their doggie pals. Supervised backyard fun allows the dogs to get the exercise and socialization they need to thrive. “I have had as many as seven dogs chasing a ball in the backyard,” says Sloane. If you don’t mind a little poop and digging, a doggie play date is a great excuse for pet owners to connect over a cup of coffee or glass of wine.
Whiskey and John B love each other as if they were littermates and can spend hours in a park or big yard with or without their neighborhood friends. Originally Labradoodles were bred as therapy dogs, so when Whiskey and John B aren’t chasing each other, they love to cuddle together in a cozy, living room chair. Sloane confides that her Muppet look-alikes on occasion have been known to get into mischief. “They crave eating paper towels and tissues. We are not quite sure how they swallow down the Charmin, but usually what they eat today comes out tomorrow,” Sloane says with a chuckle.
Sloane and her family are frequently seen walking Whiskey and John B on Kingston, Brite, and Huntington. “Walking a dog is a great way to meet your neighbors,’’ Sloane tells us. Going on she shares, “But having a doggie play date is a great way to make friends.”
Pets of the Week: Benny, Wally and Sadie Welcome You Back to the Office
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- Written by Susan Douglass
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Susan Douglass, President of the Scarsdale Forum, and her family create a holiday card every year featuring their dogs. The theme of this year’s card is "welcome back to the office." Last year's theme was supply chain delivery issues, and the prior year's theme was taking care of yourself during Covid. The cards usually feature a poem or text to bring out the nuances in the theme. Above is this year's photo featuring their dogs Benny (left) and Sadie (right), along with their grand-dog Wally (center).
Here is the text that goes with the card:
Wally: The boss says we have to return to the office five days a week.
Sadie: I like being virtual.
Wally: False! There’s no such thing as a “virtual dog.”
Benny: Next thing you’ll tell me, there’s no such thing as Santa Claus.
Sadie: At least I'll get to dress up in something other than sweats.
Benny: More importantly, I can take clients to lunch again ...
Wally: While the rest of us stay in the dog house.
Sadie: How 'bout we celebrate being together.
Wally: Yes, it's good to return!
Wishing You Joy As You Return To Doing The Things You Love!
A bit of background about the dogs. Benny, who is 8 1/2 years old, is an Australian Shepherd. He was certified by Therapy Dogs International (TDI) as a therapy dog when he was 15 months old. He has volunteered at White Plains Hospital since then, except for a 2 1/2 year hiatus due to Covid. Sadie is a miniature Australian Shepherd who is 6 1/2 years old. The family adopted her when she was 2 ½ and took her to school so she could become a TDI-certified hospital volunteer. As with Benny, Sadie passed her test on the first try, and is a popular volunteer at White Plains Hospital.
Grand-dog Wally is a 5 1/2-year-old Aussie Doodle who belongs to Douglass’s younger son Martin and his family, and lives in Harrison. Wally is a frequent visitor, where he plays with his dog cousins.
Susan explained, “although we would love to feature our two grandsons in the holiday cards, their parents prefer that we not do so (our sons Nathaniel and Martin were "tortured" by being featured in our hilarious themed holiday cards until they were teenagers).
Sadie and Thandi: Part Bernese, Part Poodle and Part Teddy Bear
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- Written by Joanne Wallenstein
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Meet Sadie and Thandi, mini Bernadoodles who are part Bernese, part Poodle and part Teddy bears. These two love bugs bring so much joy and love to Fox Meadow's Auerbach Family. Sadie is 4 years old and has been with her family since she was 3 months old. She comes from Ohio and shares the same birthday as her one human brother, so birthday celebrations are extra special. Thandi is 4 months old and recently arrived from Canada. She is very happy to be an American citizen and has settled in well. Both Sadie and Thandi love to go on walks, snuggle with their family, get belly rubs, play with their human brothers, and chew bully sticks. Their favorite activity is to go hiking with their family and both love to spend time outdoors. Sadie has hiked some incredible trails and Thandi was just introduced to her first hike, which she loved. When it comes to getting extra treats, both these cuties know how to turn on the charm. They have filled the Auerbach home with so much love and warmth, it is so hard to imagine life before they arrived.
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Thandi
Sadie
Thandi (Left) and Sadie (Right)
Logan the Lounger
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- Written by Andrea Seiden
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The Wheaten Terrier is prized for its soft, silky coat and playful, kind nature. People love the graceful breed’s vibrant color - a rich golden, reminiscent of wheat fields gently swaying in the summer breeze awaiting the harvest. Their eyes are dark reddish brown with a slightly almond shape. A true showstopper. However, don’t let a Wheaten’s beauty fool you. Beneath all that fluff, you will find a working dog. Wheatens were originally trained to patrol the borders of small farms, ridding them of vermin; rising early to herd sheep and hunt with their master.
But for Logan, a one-and-a-half-year-old Wheaten living in Heathcote along with his owners Joanne and Jon Shapse, getting up early to hunt, round up mice or even go downstairs to eat puppy chow is the last thing on his mind. At sunrise, most dogs are at the ready – waiting to go outside, do their business, and eat. Not Logan. Logan is more of a lounger than a worker. Snoring away with his head supported by downy pillows between Joanne and Jon, the 7 AM alarm does little to disturb this handsome snoozer. When Logan does open his peepers, rather than jump up, he rolls over and begs for belly rubs, tickles and kisses. Given Logan’s sweet, yet debonair personality, his owners are more than happy to accede to his requests. Joanne confides that, “we are not sure who loves this morning ritual more – the dog or us.” No matter, it's a great way to start the day.
Like 60 percent of all dog owners, Joanne and Jon allow Logan to sleep on their bed with them. Sharing sleeping quarters with this adorable furry friend is cozy – especially on a cold winter night. But mornings can sometimes be tough, especially if one of them has an early morning commitment. Joanne, shares “If we didn’t drag him out with a leash, he will just sleep-in like a teenager--missing his many walks around Scarsdale.”
When awake, Logan rules the roost. “The house revolves around him,” says Jon. He is a constant source of energy and a fountain of happiness – even if he doesn’t herd sheep.
We would love to feature your pet as our Pet of the Week. Interested? Email us at PetsofDale@gmail.com.
Beckett: A Standout in Heathcote
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- Written by Andrea Seiden
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In a village of cuddly goldendoodles and cockapoos, a large agile, muscular, 70lb German Shepherd named Beckett is a true standout. Shepherds were originally bred as herding dogs, but because of their smarts and loyalty they have become a jack-of-all-trades. They are a very special dog breed and can be trained to do everything from acting in a movie, reminding their owner of medication needs, busting up criminal activity, and assisting the visually impaired. Like her lineage, Beckett has a unique role to play –a loving companion in the Fuchsman/Rifkin family.
Beckett’s owner, Stacy Rifkin, clarifies that Beckett is a female and was named after Becket, Massachusetts where her sons went to Camp Greylock. “Our entire family loves Greylock and the host town, so the name felt right.”
The Fuchsman/Rifkin family has a tradition of giving their dogs a name beginning with the letter B – such as Bruno, Bella, and Bubba. They landed on Beckett as it was an appropriate choice no matter the dog’s gender. Stacy went on to share that after their dog Bruno was put down in September 2019 they felt a real need for another furry friend.
Becket’s arrival could not have come at a better time –the week before the Covid pandemic became a reality and people were ordered to stay home. Just when Scarsdale residents were going mad with a lack of stimulation and connections, Beckett pushed the Fuchsman/Rifkin family to get outside and ultimately, stay sane. Beckett, just a puppy at the time, loved long daily walks. In fact, Stacy and Beckett logged more than 10,000 steps a day.
In addition to serving as a lovable companion on these treks, Beckett was a constant source of fun and entertainment for the family. Together they socialized with other dog owners and spooked neighbors (not used to a Shepherd) on their daily haunts. Beckett’s favorite route included a stop at the Metro Deli where the owners spoiled her with turkey treats and bowl of water.
Today you will still see Stacy walking Beckett each morning, but more often than not, you will see Beckett riding in the backseat getting ready to tackle daily errands. “Just say the word ‘car’ and Beckett runs to the door. “She is my buddy. What more can I say?”
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