Maggie, her Dad and her cat Napoleon

Napoleon sporting the latest collar from Cheshire and Wain

Fashion editor, stylist, storyteller, and gamine barely describe the amazing Maggie Mann.  Combine her energy and enthusiasm with that of her creative director and husband, Ferdinand van Alphen, and you have a real powerhouse of a couple.  I wasn't there, though, to talk about their visual impact on the world but to visit and experience the brilliance of their cat, the one and only Napoleon JJF van Alphen-Mann. Kyle Knodell and I went to photograph the family in their adorable New York City apartment.  As Mrs. Sizzle often does, I asked Maggie all the usual questions:

HOW DID YOU FIND THIS BEAUTY?

"We adopted Napoleon from 2000 Spays and Neuters Animal Rescue. They were showing kitties at Petco. Ferdinand was spellbound. It was love at first sight, although he swatted my hand away when I tried to give him a scratch as if to say “we have not been introduced!!".

HOW LONG DID IT TAKE HIME TO BECOME ACCLIMATED?

It took quite a bit of time for all of us to become the happy trio we are. He had been shuffled around from place to place and lived on the street.  Once he felt that we loved him, that he was safe and not leaving us, things started to change. Funny enough, an impromptu family trip to the Sunset Tower in LA somehow cemented the trust. He loved hotel life and flying with me cross country.

WHAT IS SO SPECIAL ABOUT NAPOLEON?

Napoleon is a truly special little being. He is smarter than most people we know. He fetches, sits on command, and has an extensive kitty to human vocab. He is an excellent dancer and we do ballet together that we learned from George Balanchine and Tanaquil LeClercq . She wrote a book on cats and ballet that we love. His leaps and ball catching skills have been compared to the legendary Dutch soccer goalie Frans de Munck, known as the black cat. Napoleon is both aristocratic and humble, inherently elegant (a little spoiled yet worshipped by all) intellectual yet never condescending - a Renaissance Cat. 

Nappo and eating out of a Cheshire and Wain bowl, artwork by @Ferdidnand.ink

HOW DID HE BECOME SO DAMN CHIC?

Chic? Well as they say, you can never go wrong with black and white. Besides, he is always prepared for a formal event in white tie.  He is also quite the ladies cat…his Valentine is Yameli Mera, an Art Historian and Museum Curator in Mexico City. She came all the way from Mexico to meet him in person.Napo loves cuddles and kisses from everyone and if you come over he will give you a kiss."

For more on Napoleon follow him on @napoleoon_rules

Call my agent!

Oldie but goody, a real page turner

#TBT this is when I was very excited about the World Cup

Ava Smith of Wilhelmina and her foster dog, Lola.  "I've been fostering dogs since 2008 (over 20 dogs!). More recently, I've been traveling to Puerto Rico to bring stray dogs up to NYC, and helping them find homes here on the mainland. I encourage everyone to adopt a Sato (Puerto Rican stray) because they are the BEST dogs"  Ava works regularly with @animal_lighthouse

Kaya the Siberian Husky aka @herfurriness

Alexandra Vittekova at One.1 Management with her dog Kaya

Julian Schratter for Soul Artist Management NYC with his dog Rincon @rincondabully

Hollie and her rescue Pitbull from Marilyn

Luci Tafts of Elite and her rescue dog Wolfie

Joana and her rescue pooch from Women 360 Management

Laurence McCrea and his rescue dog Kisses from Supa Models London

Oksana Jager of IMG and her husband Dennis with their Pomeranian, Raf

Raf aka @raffytales in a Barker Korea shirt

It's hotter than ever here at Sizzle and not just because of the heat. Nope, it's because of The Dog Days of Summer, our latest project featuring handsome pups and sexy people. Photographer Peter Ash Lee, stylist Anne Christensen and a brilliant hair and make up (and also fur)  team collaborated on this project which started with a call to agencies to see which models might treat us to a sitting with  their very own dogs. Not only did we get a great turn out, but, to my utter delight, about 70% of the dogs were rescue, including the famous Puerto Rican born Rincon da Bully, who has three not bad looking dads, including  his main dad, pictured here Julian Schratter.  Feast your eyes on these hotties and think about adopting your own friend today!

CREDITS

Photographer: Peter Ashe Lee

Styling: Anne christensen

Hair: Yohey Nakatsuka using Bumble and Bumble and Marco Braca

Makeup: Mizu and Satsuki Soma

Steve, Edie and Clai

Steve Laird happy at camp

After a two-year courtship, I am proud to announce that earlier this month I was offered and accepted a job at Nike.  More will be reveled about that when I start in September, but what that choice has done is kicked off the fastest west coast family migration since the Gold Rush!

Thus begins the travel journal of the Sizzle sisters and their parents. While my family questioned the whole concept of us camping our way west, husband, Steve, was not to be deterred.  Camping had been a boyhood passion that he wanted to rekindle. 

So after buying out the local REI outdoor store and packing for a short week, here we are on the road.

First stop: Cooks Forest State Park

We arrived without drama, cooked a good meal, drank a bottle of delicious wine and then the fun began.  A few doggie tips to put forth before describing the evening.  

Camping with dogs is fabulous. Things to think about in addition to having already gotten your clean bill of health document from your vet prior to leaving:

Tethering them with a long cord so that they can move freely about while you cook and hang out. I recommend about a 20-foot rope to be tied around a post (Bolan style knot - pictured below) and a comfy place for them to settle in. I brought my favorite Cloud7 dog bed which is also a great place for them to sleep in the car!

Mistake #1:

Racoons can open coolers and scare the crap out of you while they do it! Cookies and bread were lovingly attacked and strewn about the camp site.

Mistake #2 and #3 (in no particular order):

Th inflatable sleeping bag matts only work if you close the valve…and if you relish the importance of fresh air breezing through the top of your tent be prepared for rain on your head.

Lessons to be learned and more to be shared.

Off to Chicago for a proper bed at The James Hotel!!

Edie and Clair loving The James Hotel in Chicago, they also appeared on @houndandlife

The James Hotel

Thank goodness for you my lovely boutique hotel. After a night of rain and raccoons we arrived at the Chicago mecca and were given a suite to try! I'm not sure who was more exited, my dogs or myself and Steve.

When we arrived we were greeted by the valets and doormen who were hugely helpful and catered to the dogs!!! Bones were doled out, water available and a beautiful bar for Steve and I to enjoy.

The suite, much to my surprise, was huge and chic - perfect for anyone that also has their dogs with them.  Right smack in the center of Chicago, The James Hotel, caters to the working set with a living room like lobby, the best steakhouse in town, and a super chic vibe to make any camper a glamper! I would highly recommend this little oasis in the middle of the big city!

Next stop for the Sizzle Sisters...Badlands, South Dakota.

Beignet

Adrian

Nima

Jolo

Chewie

Cheeky the Dog

We are thrilled to announce the first ever DOG & CO. runway show this Tuesday the 13th of September.  Backstage excitement begins at 2pm with live streaming off HuffPost Good News, the show is at 3pm and come to the DOG & CO. after party from 6-9pm in Turnstyles NY at Columbus Circle.  Shop all the looks here. All hound photos by Stoetzel Photo.

Nick Tooman and his beast Russell

Bryan Fuller with Henry

Kevin Hart being pulled by a giant.

Man oh man indeed.  My buddy Robert Trachtenberg takes a fine photograph.  Put some amazing men in front of this guy and the results speak for themselves.  His newest book, Red-Blooded American Male will steal your heart for sure. 

Bruce, below, and Scott Pask.

"From leading men to comedians, ballet dancers to quarterbacks, war veterans to Broadway veterans, Red-Blooded American Male features more than 100 imaginative, striking, and sexy portraits from award-winning photographer Robert Trachtenberg.

Uncovering a unique (and often self-deprecating) side to such talents as Jimmy Fallon, Seth Rogen, Channing Tatum, Waris Ahluwalia, Will Ferrell, and Kevin Hart, this collection goes beyond mere portraiture to challenge conventional notions of masculinity and traditional male imagery. 

Mrs. Sizzle takes delight in the man's best friend approach to this book and even wants to share with you two of her very good dogless friends, Bruce and Scott Pask.  All I can say, is "woof".

Not an animal but I couldn't resist.

Creative director extraordinaire (ferdinandvanalphen.com) with the likes of Tommy's such as Hilfiger and Bahama under his belt, Ferdinand is also a brilliant illustrator with a knack for twisting words and waving wands!

Here at Mrs sizzle we delight in a group of Ferd animal inspired illustrations that make me smile every time I look at them!  For more from this brilliant artist check out @ferdinand_ink  

Patricia and Ruby shooting the breeze in their exotic home

Sitting pretty Miss Rubie

Chic from head to toe

I spotted Patricia in Central Park and was struck by her personal style and of course her red miniature french poodle!  We took a stroll, became fast friends and so I present you with Amy Lombard’s photographs of Patricia and Rubywoo!

Tell me a bit about you growing up. Were you always fascinated with clothes?

I grew up in Pawtucket, Rhode Island. With a mother who loved fashion, style and was addicted to dressing perfectly daily.  When she and my dad went out for an evening at the country club I was her personal dresser zipping up, buttoning and clasping…when she went on a trip I would wear her most fabulous clothes to school breathing in the left over perfume fragrance that permeated the fabric from the last wear.

How did you amass your brilliant collection of outfits?

When I first moved to nyc there was a fabulous shop across the street from my apartment  called “the best of everything”..It was magical in away like an opium den…..Filled with exquisite vintage clothing and accessories.  I was just beginning my career in cosmetics and walked around feeling like a silent film screen star….Merry the proprietor and I dressed me in away that was spectacular and affordable fulfilling my fantasy to the nines. Today, I still have some of the pieces I purchased from her totally unaffordable in today’s world if they can even be found….This started me on a magical journey into the world of fabulous designers creativity and a massive vintage wardrobe collection.

How do you decide what you will wear each day?

I wake up in the morning looking at my schedule, who I am seeing, where I am going, seeing what the weather will be, go into my dressing room and based on my mood, spirit and feeling I see that one quirky item that becomes the focal point and inspiration for my ensemble.  It is possible that my mood swings will drive me to change 2-3 times a day into totally different creations.

Ruby who is ruby...How did you come to have this gorgeous creature?

After I had put my two dogs, fanny and lewie to sleep I took some time off dog ownership.  Then at the 3 year mark I started to think about what I would like in my next dog. Always non-shedding a female and the perfect fashion accessory that was not going to drag me along the streets when I was in high heels.  Then I saw this show stopper red french poodle.  The owner told me where he came from and then….Boom I was on a plane to arroyo grande california to pick up rubywoo who is named after a mac red lipstick I wear……….She was the size of a tea cup and rode home business class being passed around the plane from passenger to passenger….She almost disappeared into a passenger’s purse!

Why is she pink?

Over the past three years her color started to fade, not a little but a lot…….Although she was gorgeous she was no longer that beautiful red….I entertained the idea constantly about dying her…..Then I met the perfect groomer herself hair dyed like crazy…..We were then invited to be in the national ad campaign to raise breast cancer awareness for susan g komen ….We were to be photographed for tutu tuesday which promoted the “race for the cure”…this was the perfect mitigating circumstance to legitimize my burning desire to make her pink…..Rubywoo turned out to be the most gorgeous raspberry color thrilling children and making the sourest adult chuckle.

What did you use to make her that color? 

The product I use is blessed by my vet actually recommended by her knowing I was a determined patient and bringing harm to rubywoo’s health in any way was out of the question.  It is called top performance pet hair dye gel for dogs and cats.

Is there anything else you would like to share with the world?  

It is never to late to pursue a dream and I am in the middle of creating the next chapter of my life through curated conversation with people on the streets of nyc. I love this connection and ruby is the perfect people magnet to engage the average citizen or the most exquisite one.  I thank god every day for my health and the blessings that I have been given…… I make a concerted effort to bring joy and happiness to the people whose paths I cross and say or do something that will impact their lives and make a difference.   Ruby, my favorite companion besides my boyfriend live our lives to the fullest and in the kindness of spirit.
 

Rusty Tore Up That Chair, 2015
acrylic on panel
24 x 18 inches

Old Dog, 2015
acrylic on canvas
36 x 48 inches

Dog Dance, 2015
acrylic on panel
24 x 18 inches

Wet Dog, 2013
acrylic on canvas
36 x 48 inches

Dog Barking at Nothing at All, 2011
acrylic on panel
16 x 12 inches

Man Acting Like Dog, 2009
wood, metal, graphite
24 x 12 x 24 inches

ALL PAINTING COURTESY OF THE FROELICK GALLERY

I had a run in Portland the other day and came across these amazing paintings that, of course, had dogs in them. I made my way into in the Froelick Gallery to find out about the artist Rick Bartow and learned that he had passed away last April.  When I asked the gallery about the dogs in his work this is what I found out, "Rick said when he didn’t have an idea of what to paint or draw he would look to a dog for inspiration - they were always doing something they “shouldn’t”." Of course they were, as they always do.

More about the show, "transformation, bold gesture and articulate line are only three elements to consider in Rick Bartow's art. His passion was working in the studio and engaging with the long history of visual artists. Prolific, experimental and committed to making marks, he left behind a striking body of paintings, drawings, prints and sculpture."

Enjoy these marvelous works and experience them in Portland at the Froelick Gallery on NW Davis Street in Portland, OR until October 1, 2016.

Shelby

Guiseppe

Jala

Chelsea

Pierre

Davey

Hugh

"My portraits of homeless animals are not meant to make people feel sad.  The goal is to find every animal a home."  - Richard Phibbs

Those lovely words are the first a reader sees in RESCUE ME, a fantastic new book by Richard Phibbs.  I am so honored to present this to the Sizzle community as this man changed my life with his arresting pictures of homeless dogs.  

I will always be eternally grateful to Richard for both taking the pictures and changing my life.  He is the reason I decided to become Mrs. Sizzle and help change the face of "purchasing" puppies as I once did.  Pick up a copy of this marvelous book and delight in these amazing faces and stories.

RESCUE ME is an Aperture publication.

I made the acquaintance of this wonderful man on TUMBLR, the one platform that doesn't seem to intuitively click with Mrs. Sizzle.  So I was even more pleased when Vladimir Dachevski reached out to me to share his work with dogs.

This photographer lives in Paris and hits the streets everyday with his camera,  "not only the dogs, I live with my  pictures, it’s my way of life. I have lived in Paris for 25 years and also work as a producer cinema in french company".

"For me Paris is the most beautiful city in the word.  I love to walk in this town as every day as it gives me some new picture of the life, people, and the light."

Steven, his partner Byron Lane, and rescue beauty Tilda Swinton at home.  All photos Mark Leibowitz

The author in his writing space.

I have a new friend.  My friend, Steven Rowley, has given me a gift: permission to laugh and cry and talk about the death of a loved one.  Lily and the Octopus (Simon & Shuster, June 2016) is a love story by Steven.  A love story you might ask…about an Octopus?  Well no, it’s a love story about a man and his dog who is succumbing to a cancerous tumor he has named The Octopus.  Is it sad?  Yes.  But it is so much more!  Steven makes it fun (at times laugh-out-loud funny) and a true celebration of life and the lengths we go to for our beloved dogs.

I was sent and early copy of Lily and the Octopus and it resonated with me on many levels.  Lily is a Dachshund. I had Dachshunds growing up – they are one long spine.  The octopus is cancer. I have cancer – and I have a kind of cancer that looks like an Octopus.  Octopuses do not mess around.  They grab you, as does cancer, and they mess you about. 

Funnily enough for Steven, the name Octopus in the book was a deal breaker.  I mean Lily and the Rhino…Lily and the Frog – nope! They just don’t have the same ring.  Nor do they have the same metaphoric presence for talking about attachment and letting go.

Lily was an amazing dog that came into Steven's life when she was a mere 12 weeks old and was with him through major transitions in his life.  Dogs are fabulous that way. They stay by your side, oozing with love no matter what the circumstances are.  Losing Lily was devastating and in sharing his story, Steven has allowed us to talk about the death of an animal in a tangible way.

This book has given us the permission to start a conversation about grief.  I thank Steven, I thank Lily and I respect the Octopus…though maybe a lesser grip is in order!

MORE ABOUT STEVEN'S DOGS:
The dachshunds pictured are from Dachshund Rescue of Los Angeles (DRLA), DRLA does fantastic work intervening to reduce the number of dachshunds euthanized in shelters in Southern California, and placing dogs with loving fosters until they can find a permanent, committed home. They also raise money to treat injured and abused doxies. Moxie (sitting in Steven's lap) is a sweet girl recovering nicely from IVDD (intervertebral disc disease), and 12 year-old Rhonda is the cuddly senior beside him. They both are up for adoption!  Daisy (the white dog) is a foster fail... she found a permanent home with her devoted foster mom! 

Tilda

Tilda is a 7 year-old terrier that Steven and his boyfriend Byron Lane (himself a testicular cancer survivor and the creator and star of the award-winning web series Last Will and Testicle) adopted from the Lange Foundation in 2015. The Lange Foundation plucks dogs from Los Angeles city shelters with immediate medical needs that make them more or less unadaptable, pays for medical care, and places them in carefully screened and loving homes. Tilda had been shot repeatedly with a BB gun -- someone had obviously used her as target practice. When the Lange Foundation intervened, she had broken ribs and needed to have her eye removed. But she is in tip-top shape now and knows nothing but love! 

Lilly

Steven purchased Lily as a twelve week-old pup from a breeder in rural Maine. While they had a very special relationship, acquiring a dog in that way has really opening his eyes to how many dogs there are in need of homes. It kindled a passion about rescue dogs, telling their stories -- particularly senior dogs who deserve a safe and loving space to live out their remaining years.

Last week my dear friend Ira Silverberg brought this very fun work to my attention - a boy and his dog story but this one has a special twist.  Mitch Boyer has a giant dog and that's dog's name is Vivian.  He is here to tell us a bit about his inspiration and the giant dog.

"My sister has a Dachshund named Gogo, and Gogo had a litter of puppies. I went over to the house the day they were born and fell in love with Vivian. The rest is history, haha. Vivian was the leader of the litter and quickly took command—Gogo still submits to her when we visit. She has a very strong personality and likes to be the one in charge.

When she was in puppy training, the trainer had a Bernese Mountain Dog, who Vivian loved. She was only the size of that dog's paw, but she thought she was just as big. She still does."

Mitch and Vivian true to size

I asked Mitch about his inspiration for the giant dog project that he is turning into a book aptly titled, Vivian the Dog.

"It was after finding Romain Laurent's work. He has this fantastically bizarre music video where a giant head is lying on the Coney Island boardwalk while singing. That image stuck in my mind and I decided to do something similar—with Vivian. She already had a giant personality, so making her a giant seemed like a logical step. 

The idea for the book evolved while chatting with my girlfriend about the pictures. I've moved around a lot—9 states, 15 cities, and 22 different houses or apartments—and by extension, so has Vivian. No matter how many times you do it, it's always hard to pack up and move to a new place, especially for kids. So I thought it would be great to tell the story of a big dog, moving to New York City. I loved the idea that she would misunderstand why it's called the "big city," and think that everyone there is a giant. When she discovers they're not, she immediately becomes homesick and wants to return home. I think everyone can associate with that feeling, losing the excitement of a new experience and immediately seeking comfort. But I also think it's important to push through those moments so you can grow, and that's really the idea behind the book."
 

Meg 16 years old Java 14.5 years old Juneau, Alaska

Englebert 9 years old , Hercules 17 years old, Climber Eeoyore 14 years old Denver, Colorado

Ratzoe 21 years old Vashon Island, Washington

Nancy LeVine reached out to me about a year ago to tell me about this amazing project that had consumed her life for several years.  I was in awe of the project and am now proud to present her book, Senior Dogs Across America. She explores how she came to find herself on this path back in 2006.  Here is her artists statement:

"11-24-06 My dog, my muse, died today... on my birthday. She died only 5 months after her sister, my other muse. She licked my face – my tears – in the last moments of her life. My nine months of caring for two failing bodies is over now. The vet visits, acupuncturist, swim therapist, cardiologist, medications, supplements, diapers, stroller, my vigilance to their silent needs…hoping not to miss any. I loved them passionately. To the quiet, exquisite presence of each aged dog, I honor them with this work. To the tight cord of love between them and their person(s), so profoundly palpable, I dedicate this work.

‘Senior Dogs Across America’ by Nancy LeVine

Twelve years ago, I began traveling the United States to photograph senior dogs. Like the diverse human pageant that Robert Frank captured in his book, The Americans, back in the 1950’s, I found dogs inhabiting all manner of American life -- and with many years inscribed in their beings.

My interest in the world of the senior dog began as my own two dogs began to approach the end of their days. This was at a time when I had lived enough years to start imagining my own mortality. I entered a world of grace where bodies that had once expressed their vibrancy were now on a more fragile path.

I saw how the dog does it; how, without the human’s painful ability to project ahead and fear the inevitable, the dog simply wakes to each day as a new step in the journey. Though their steps might be more stiff and arduous, these dogs still moved through each day as themselves -- themselves of that day and all the days before.

As mortality was weaving its way through this project, so was another American thread. The media were consumed with reports about our country’s sharp political fractures. It was all about the Red/Blue conflicts and the strident voices leading the charge. Yet, what I witnessed in my travels was something quite different. It was people caring for the most vulnerable dogs. Whether the senior dog was part of a family where the dog/person devotion knew no bounds or one of the elders being tended at an animal sanctuary, I saw something much deeper than our divisions, something important about where we live and the best way to die."

Poople 14 years old, New York

I met a man who loves dogs - so much, in fact, that he has 5 of them with his husband.  He is my idea of a hero and here is his story.

Meet Joey Teixeira, his husband Michael Keeney and their 5 furry kids as seen by Jonno Rattman.

Joey with Moose, Mervin and Jack

"Growing up I was always drawn to animals but I didn't necessarily think that I would make a career out of it. Before I was old enough to do it myself, I would make my mom rescue animals. In fact, I distinctly remember one time when I made her chase an injured crow down the street.  She was wearing rubber dish gloves and carrying a big cardboard box. Another time I had gone to the movies with some friends on a frigid night and when I got to my car a pigeon was sitting next to my driver side door. It wouldn't move so I scooped him up and stuck him in the crate that I kept in the trunk of my car, specifically for these types of occasions, and I brought him home. He spent the night in my shower and the next morning he was fine so I let him go in my backyard and he flew off. I guess he was just cold and needed a place to sleep.

As you can see, I have always had an affinity for animals and rescue just seemed like second nature. I actually had a pet mouse that I found on the street and kept for 4 years. We were inseparable - she was like having a dog and would just sit with me when I was on the computer or watching TV. My whole family was devastated when she passed away of old age…RIP Trixie.

In high school I started working retail, as most teenagers do, and it was fun for a while (the social aspect of it) but I was not really interested or too concerned with sales goals and fashion. By the time I entered college, I had moved to NYC and was living on 79th & York.  One day, I passed by the upper east side Biscuits and Bath location. They had a hiring sign in their window so I went in and got the job on the spot. That was my big break into the world of working with animals professionally. I worked there for about 2 years.  I started as a handler on the play fields with the dogs and left as a front desk associate. After that I walked dogs for a short time privately in my neighborhood until I was recruited by a start up company that was opening up a dog daycare similar to the Biscuits and Bath model. It was called K9dergarten and I was instrumental in creating the business, facility, and brand from the ground up. I spent about 3 years there and actually helped the founder of the private rescue organization called See Spot Rescued start the organization.

Michael and with Jack and Mervin

I left K9dergarten as the Brand Director to start my adventure at the ASPCA. That was a little over 2 years ago. Now I am the Senior Manager of Customer Relations and Communications for the Adoption Center. My main role at the ASPCA is to oversee the adoptions and customer service of the adoption center. I also work on our pet retention programs and act as the media spokesperson for my department. While working at the ASPCA my eyes have been opened to a lot of different philosophies, and it has changed me for the better in so many ways. It's helped me to become less judgmental and taught me how to meet people where they are. There are a lot of different approaches to pet ownership and I love being able to help people and animals every day. In my short time at the ASPCA I've been able to see over 10,000 cats, dogs, puppies, and kittens find their forever families. I was able to deploy to North Carolina to assist with one of our biggest animal cruelty cases which was a life changing experience all on its own. Working for the ASPCA has also inspired me to become a vegetarian."

Mervin - 7 year old Chihuahua, Adopted from the ASPCA, he came into the shelter as an emaciated stray, had to have both back legs repaired and all of his teeth removed. He also is on a special prescription diet because he got a urinary blockage that ruptured his bladder. Today he is happy and healthy and has 46k followers on Instagram (@mervinthechihuahua).

Abigail - 8 year old Boston Terrier, she is deaf and was rescued from a puppy mill where she was being used as a breed dog. She loves EVERY person she meets and will do anything for a treat or a belly rub. She also has an Instagram (@abigailthebostonpig).

Jack - 9 year old Chihuahua, 4lbs, adopted from the ASPCA, he started as a foster but we decided to adopt him when we fell in love. At first Jack was a bit of a pest to the other dogs because he loved them all so much and would just follow them around kissing them, but now they all get along great and he & Mervin are best friends. He also has an Instagram (@jackfits)

Moose - 13 year old Pomeranian, adopted from BARC shelter in Williamsburg. He is a sensitive but sweet old man. He was my first dog and first rescue.

Minnie - 5 year old Border Collie mix, she is a very shy and sweet girl who was adopted through See Spot Rescued out of Jersey City. She came from a realy high kill shelter down in the south. She was a foster at first and then we fell in love, she and Abigail are beat friends. She is the most well behaved dog!

Tonto at the beach in Long Island

Tonto and friend Georgie

This summer, my friends and I decided that a trip to the Noto Valley in Sicily was just what we needed to celebrate the 40th birthday of one of the members of our quartet. After weeks of research, we agreed a renovated farmhouse overlooking the 300BC town of Scicli would do us just fine.

The first few days of the trip went just as planned: leisurely breakfasts, sunning by the pool, and daily jaunts into surrounding baroque towns. But one particular morning would unfold a little differently. After returning from a run, I hopped the stone fence surrounding our rental property to find a curious little puppy staring back at me. While I wasn't expecting him, I wasn't too surprised—we had encountered stray cats and neighboring dogs wandering the property since our arrival.  However, as I sat down to say hello to this little creature I knew we had an immediate connection.

My friends and I spent the afternoon trying to find his owners, leading us to the local pet shop and veterinarian. They explained that my best option would be to turn him into the police, as he didn't have a microchip and therefore was without an owner. The other option was to take him home to Brooklyn, but we were unfortunately out of time to get the necessary vaccinations and paperwork before my return home.

I was heartbroken.

We decided to enlist the help of an Italian friend (more like saint) who now resides in New York, and began the first of many international conference calls to try to find a home for Tonto. (This was the name I decided to give my sidekick pup. Little did I know that it essentially translates to "dopey" in Italian...sorry Tonto!) Two days and many tears later, the local pet shop owner agreed to board Tonto for a month and to try to find him a home in Sicicli.

In the weeks that passed, I received photo updates and emails about Tonto's progress, but his boarders had no luck with finding him a home in Sicily. Then, fate stepped in. I had to make an unplanned trip back to Europe and decided that this was my chance: I simply had to go back to Sicily and pick him up. With the support of family, old friends, new friends, and some downright strangers, I was able to process his paperwork and vaccinations, and arrange the many connecting flights it would take to bring him home. But, most importantly, I received the emotional support necessary to make the journey and successfully bring Tonto to his new home in Brooklyn...where he now sits by my side, destroying his latest chew toy.

As I reminisce about our journey, I almost can't believe it happened. I'm, for real, not the girl who goes to Italy and brings home a dog. Well, I guess I am. But I'm also the girl who is reminded of the bountiful love and kindness that Tonto and I received throughout his journey home. I am forever grateful that in finding Tonto, I found the good in so many others.
Here's to spreading that good, and spreading the love.

xo
Emily & Tonto

Rachel and Lafitte who here is wearing a Dog & CO. signature shirt and and a Yark collar.

Lafitte sporting a Dusen Dusen sweater with a pile of toys including a white knot toy from The Knot House and coffee cup from Haute Diggity Dogs

Lafitte in a DOG & CO. top and a Max_Bone collar and Rachel in her own R Varsity Sweater

Wet fur! Rachel in her Randy Reproductive sweater and Lafitte in a Wagwear denim coat and a Yark lead.

Lafitte looking good and smart in his Dusen Dusen sweater.

This week we visit the apartment of Rachel Antonoff the super duper inspired fashion designer and cutie extraordinaire.  Although Mrs. Sizzle got lost in the rain she was relieved to get to the cozy apartment with the barking dog, none other than Lafitte Antonoff.  Amy Lombard was on hand to photograph and there to help us look stylish was the brilliant DOG & CO.!  I had to ask Rachel many questions about this handsome scruffy dude.

Tell us a bit about how you came upon this lover?
I was obsessed with Barkbuddy and kept applying for dogs and not getting them. Danielle from Barkbuddy emailed me saying they had found a little guy with "wobbly legs" at a kill shelter in LA and I fell in love with him the moment I saw his picture. I was in LA and went to meet him. As soon as I saw him I knew he belonged with me!

How did he get his name?
Lafitte was named after my uncle's Bichon.

What does it mean?
I've heard a bunch of different things but the most popular seem to be a famous pirate.

What got you going with animals?
I've loved animals for as long as I can remember.

Do you like dressing him up?
I love dressing him up but he seems happiest in the nude so I typically let him go au natural.

Does he come to the office with you?
He comes to the office a few days a week but he has the greatest time at his daycare so I try to bring him there a few days a week too.

Will you be designing dog clothes anytime soon?
I think so, yes! I got really excited to do it while we were playing dress up at our shoot.

Tell us about the sweater you are wearing in the rain and how you came upon being a fashion designer?
That is the Randy Reproductive Sweater, actually named after my good friend's gynocologist Randy.  I have been designing for roughly eleven years and fell into it in a really strange way. I always designed in my head but it wasn't until my early 20s that I thought to really attempt it. A friend and I relayed our ideas to my childhood neighbor in New Jersey, Marlene Sapoff, who sewed us three samples which we immediately photographed and cold emailed to random editors. We were mostly ignored but one editor, Jane Keltner, emailed back and had us into Teen Vogue to show her our three samples. She called Megan Mitchell at Barneys and scheduled an appointment for us and thus began the weirdest year of my life. I really got my education from being thrown into the deep end with no formal training.

I hear Amy Lombard just shot your look book for Spring 2016! How did that happen?
I have been a fan of Amy's for a while now. I first met her when she shot my brother and I for Nylon last year and she was just such a pleasure to work with. She seemed like a really natural fit for the lookbook and we were so excited she was into. She is really very talented andI love the images so much!! Here is a sneak peek:

Pete

And Pete again

This is a nice story.  Years ago I used to work for Tibor Kalman, one of the great prolific creative directors on the planet as far as I am concerned.  At the time when I was interviewing to work for he and Ingrid Sischy at Interview magazine, he told me that if he hired me it would be like pushing me down a tall staircase as I was so inexperienced.  Well he did push me and it was the best learning experience of my life to be the art and photo director of Interview Magazine.

Years later I was reunited with Maira Kalman, who's artwork and children's books I raised my kid on, in Bellport NY at the home of my dear friend Bob Morris.  It was here I asked if she might take part in a Sizzle project.  With Gillian Laub directing and Bob there for moral support with his dachshund Zoloft, we interviewed Maira and here is what we got.

All photos by Bruno Staub/CBA

David and his wife, photo agent Chris Boals, have been friends of mine for years so, don't you know, Mrs.Sizzle's ears perked up when she heard that David started running with a pack of dogs.  Even better, one of Chris' photographers, Bruno Staub, was up for following David one day and the result speaks for itself.  I had to ask David how he got into his new career.

Tell me about some of your previous jobs?

Modeling was primary business in the early to mid-nineties, tapering off at the end of the millennium. My daughter was born in 2001 and my son in 2004. During that period, my wife, Chris, was building and running her own talent agency, CBA, which is demanding to say the least. So, I stepped into the stay at home role. Over the years I've worked at a few places for short periods, production assisting for Jenny Landey, hanging priceless art for Sotheby's auction house, but house husband and soccer/ dance dad, were the jobs that stuck! 

 When did you decide to make the transition to dogs?

I was a stay at home dad from when our daughter was born, and then our son came along two years later. That was my primary focus for 13 years. As the kids got older and became more self-sufficient, I found myself with more time. I'm a lifelong dog person, who for a number of reasons, didn't have a dog in his life. Between traveling as a model, raising kids, and owning a cat that was old, cranky, and intolerant of other animals in the house, it just never was possible. After the cat died and our building lifted its restriction on dogs, I started regularly dog sitting a friend's dog, and began to see more and more dogs in our building. With the kids being more independent, I started trying on ideas of what could be next in my life. In the fall of last year, I discovered a website called rover.com, which made it easy for me to create a profile and provided structure, and connected me with its client base. Within a week, I had requests and bookings coming in. Pretty immediately, it seemed like a perfect fit for me. I realized how much I missed having dogs in my life, and I've barely had a day since then without dogs. 

Did you grow up with dogs?

My family always had at least one dog in the house, and most of the time, we had multiple dogs. We had plenty of room because we lived on a farm, and even took in strays. When I was in high school, my dad started breeding dachshunds, and continues to do so today. I spent my whole childhood surrounded by dogs, so I've come full circle.

Do you have a dog? 

No, not yet. I'm the very happy stepdad to very many dogs, and they are a constant presence in our home.

How do you deal with different temperaments? 

I always meet every dog that makes an inquiry about me. It's important to understand the needs of the dog and of the owner, before committing to caring for them. That includes taking an assessment of the dogs' temperament. Do they behave well around other dogs? Are they antisocial? Aggressive? What triggers set them off?  I've taken care of all kinds of dogs: blind dogs, ones with anxiety, aggressive, antisocial...  I've never met a dog that I didn't love and want to help.

What is the most important piece of advice you can give people about dogs? 

 Dogs read and adapt to their caretakers emotional state. So if you're confident and calm, they will be. If they sense that you're nervous or hesitant, or that you're not in control, they get nervous. They don't want to be biting, fighting, or shivering in a corner. They want someone to create order and safety so they can behave as they've come to be known, as mans' best friend.

What's a typical day like?

I get up and take the dogs that are boarding at home out for a relief walk. Then I bring them back and feed them. At that point, I take in the daycare dogs and get everyone settled. Late morning I tend to take them for a long walk, to the dog park. Then I'm in and out, doing neighborhood walks and any personal errands that need to be done. The dogs at the house get another walk mid-afternoon, typically at some point after they all have nap time.  The daycare dogs get picked up, and then the boarding dogs  are fed, walked, and then hang out with me and my family ‘til bedtime.

What's your fav brand of leash!

I don't favor a brand so much as a style.  Which is a six-foot flat nylon leash in varying widths, according to the dogs size, and without a bag dispenser. That's because they get in the way when I wrap the lease around my wrist to adjust the length of the lead as needed. I have several of my own leashes so I can use them instead of the dog’s personal leashes which vary in style and length and make it awkward when walking multiple dogs. I am, however, a big fan of the Easy Walk, and Gentle Leader harnesses by Petsafe. When you’re walking several dogs at once, their combined pulling force can be quite a workout, and these harnesses do a great job of neutralizing a dog’s desire and ability to pull on the leash, and can very quickly train the dog to walk with a loose leash. 

 

Alex, Eliza and Olive the dog

Olive and Rufus

Rufus with a pink leash from Pelcor

Home Sweet Home

What a fun day shooting with Howie Guja in Bellport last week and here is a story of a gorgeous rescue dog Rufus as told by my dear friend Alexandra Beitel, "Rufus, otherwise known as Woofus came into our lives almost 3 1/2 years ago.  We felt it was time for our 13 year-old, obstreperous Jack Russell, Olive, to have a sibling.

John, Alex and Eliza and their two rescue dogs Olive and Rufus

Elena SanGabinao, a beautiful, loving friend and Rufus’ foster mom, called and said "I have the dog for you!"  She described Rufus' temperament as gentle, affectionate, goofy and sweet.  We coordinated a meet and greet and, needless to say, our entire family fell in love.  Rufus amuses and beguiles everyone with his charm and lack of modesty as he instantly rolls over and exposes his freckled belly trustingly.

He brightens our home, melts our hearts, makes us laugh and by the way....Olive is smitten!"

Rufus hails from an amazing rescue organization called GIMME SHELTER Animal Rescue located in Sagaponack, NY which was founded my Michelle Neufeld Montak.  She works tirelessly in bringing animals in high kill shelters up to NY to have them fostered and adopted.  Michelle is hosting her annual fundraiser on July 23rd at the home of Ellen and Chuck Scarborough. Purchase your tickets here.

Photo agent Lewis Van Arnam sent out one of his updates the other week with a new photographer that immediately caught my eye as there were multiple dogs in newsletter. As we all know I am a sucker for a dog in a car I immediately reached out to Jenny Risher. This is what I discovered:

WHAT GOT YOU INTERESTED IN PHOTOGRAPHING DOGS?

I was invited to be a guest artist for a local Detroit Charity auction. The benefiting charity, Forgotten Harvest, helps many families and children in need. I thought it would be fun to create a series for kids.
"Go, Dog!" is a combination of three elements: our sons' favorite book,"Go, Dog. Go!" by P.D. Eastman, my admiration for dogs, and The Motor City's greatest love of all -the automobile.

DO YOU HAVE A DOG?

My husband and I visited a local dog shelter for over a year before we found Felix. On our last visit, the shelter's van had just returned from Alabama. Since the staff was familiar with us, we were invited to visit with the new arrivals. It was love at first sight- and a mixed breed, 7 month old pup named Felix, became part of our family.  I often think about the incredible journey Felix had within that 24 hour day; leaving an Alabama kill shelter, traveling 14 hours in a small cage, meeting a strange new couple, and then falling alseep with his new forever family....What a day!

WHAT IS DIFFERENT ABOUT SHOOTING DOGS THAN PEOPLE?

Honestly, there isn't a difference to me in photographing dogs and people. With people you have to be patient - boost their confidence, and offer direction for posing. Well, for dogs- it's the same thing...I make noises to get their attention, given them positive praise, and position them for the photograph.

I give the same care and attention to a dog, as I do a person. I'm using the same intuitive skills of reading body language - I can tell if the dog has had enough, needs a break, wants a treat, feels relaxed, or happy.

WHERE DO YOU CAST THE DOGS YOU SHOOT AND WHAT'S THAT PROCESS LIKE?

For the "Go, Dog" series, I cast the dogs from friends and the wonderful worldwide web! I contacted local dog organizations to find specific breeds. It was important to me to pair the look of the dog, with the look of the car. I kept asking myself: "What kind of car would this dog drive?"

BESIDES DOGS WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE THINGS TO SHOOT?

Beside dogs, I love photographing portraits. I believe you can feel all the successes, struggles, loves, and losses through a person's eyes.

WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE KIND OF CAR?

My favorite car from the series is the Grey Mini Cooper and the Weimaraner. The owner of the dog, sat in the car with the Weimaraner. We were all laughing at the dog, because she was so
relaxed, and kept slumping over on to her owner, who was hiding behind the dog. I think in this image, the dog was thinking: "You humans are so silly".

I believe everything is captured in the eyes. If I don't feel a connection from the eyes, it's not a successful picture. My ultimate goal now, is to have this collection published in a book.

To get a peek of the BEHIND THE SCENES video of the making of the Dogs in Cars series click here.