A dog can play while their owner is away!

Water Therapy for NYC Dogs -

I'm happy to see that since The Dog Run - NYC closed their doors a new location has opened for water therapy for NYC dogs. Water 4 Dogs is located on 77 Worth Street between Church and Broadway. Water Therapy for dogs is great to increase and build mobility, muscle, range of motion, endurance and flexibility. It can especially be helpful for older dogs with hip problems, aches, etc. The wonderful dog pictured here is one of our longest standing clients and her name is Maxie.

NYC Dogs and the Hot Weather!

The heat can pose problems wherever you live but especially in New York City. On extra hot and humid days you need to go easy with the dogs, overly hydrate them and look at the color of their tongue. If their tongue starts to turn blue you have problems. One time I had to run a bulldog into a bodega and shove him into the ice cream freezer because he was overheating. I then shoved bags of ice under his armpits and around his neck to cool him down. Luckily everything worked out okay and I'll always remember that sight of a beautiful white bulldog panting in a freezer with containers of Ben and Jerrys behind his head (^_^) But it could have turned out badly and I would go extra slow and be ridiculously safe on hot and humid days especially with dogs who have respiratory issues like Boxers, Boston Terriers, Pugs and Bulldogs.

Sometimes my walkers don't know what times are too hot for the dogs to take a long walk. I tell them to place their palms on the sidewalk and if they can't hold it there for more than 3-5 seconds then the dogs need quick bathroom breaks. New York City also has lots of manholes (pictured) and these are like a frying pan on a hot day and dogs can not leave their paws on them for even a few moments without jumping. In cities you also have smog alerts from the humidity and the concrete. Please click the following link to learn more about dogs overheating.

"the dog run - nyc" will be closing -

I've always loved the "Dog Run NYC" who offer swim therapy to injured, older and paralyzed dogs. Unfortunately their rent has gone up so much they will have to be closing their doors. I feel swim therapy for dogs is an essential pet service to keep in New York City and I hope they and others will continue to offer this service elsewhere. You can click the following link to read more about the closing of the Dog Run NYC.

nyc dogs and people getting electrocuted -

It has become a customary thing in the winter to read about people and their dogs being electrocuted by stray voltage in New York City. I advise my walkers to avoid anything at all with electricity on the streets and even to avoid the grates on the street because they can receive the stray voltage too. Please click the following link to read about a past occurrence where a woman and dog were electrocuted in the East Village.

should you leave your pet at home when travelling?

A recent ny times article discussed the positives and negatives of traveling with your pets. Cesar Millan, the "dog whisperer" on television, does not recommend taking your pets on airplanes. Unless you are moving permanently I would always first recommend leaving your pets home, where all the sites, smells and sounds are familiar. You can read the complete ny times article here.

5 wacky, funny and hopefully useful things for an nyc dog owner

1. celebrate your dogs birthday - Give your dog a carob cupcake or brownie for their birthday and watch them get sick as hell but come on, it's their birthday!

2. take your dog to central park - Where else in Manhattan can your dog walk over so much dirt and roll in the grass without getting arrested? If it's your thing there are also hours of the day you can let your dog off leash but please, if your dog can not even remember it's own name, you might want to think twice about doing that, at least on the days cars are allowed in the park.

3. have your dog photographed - If your 5 megapixel canon is not cutting it maybe you want to include a professional nyc dog photographer?

4. use an nyc dog trainer - Admit it, your dog has a problem, he likes to go #2 on your coffee table. And your explanation that he only does it when there is a full moon is not cutting it anymore. Treat yourself and your dog to an nyc dog trainer! What seems expensive today will be a bargain once that nagging situation has been solved and a good trainer will continue to answer your questions long after your check has cleared.

5. get a 2nd dog - Only have one dog? Get them a friend and watch how much more happy and well rested you find them! I tell my clients all the time if they had a second dog they would probably use us less (: Fine with me if it helps needing dogs get a home. If possible adopt a dog from the nycacc or your local shelter but either way be sure to investigate the compatibility beforehand of your dogs personality with the new dog. And it's always best to have your first dog "trained" before getting a second dog.

5 wacky, fun and maybe useful things for the nyc dog owner (part 2)

1. nyc dog yoga - What does that mean exactly? Well your Burmese Mountain Dog is not going to be doing the laughing lotus but doing yoga with your dog can be extremely peaceful for both of you!

2. nyc pet fashion week - You now have the ability to wear matching armaniesque outfits with your dog - only in new york, or ok los angeles probably too.

3. art of the dog massage - We give dogs massages all the time, might as well do it right!

4. sim pets / the game - Bring home a stray dog; train it; buy it toys, outfits and treats; take it to the local dog run but most importantly keep it happy or it will run away. If you get "too" addicted to this game please do as I did and throw it out!

5. dog breed meet up groups - Sounds fun but where is the nyc meet up group for mutts? Maybe I just missed it but if not someone should start one.

SWIM THERAPY for your nyc dog?

Is swim therapy right for your dog?

The following list is from "the dog run - nyc", a business that specializes in water therapy for dogs.

Swim therapy is beneficial for:

• Hip dysplasia
  
• Arthritis
  
• Knee injuries
  
• Elbow dysplasia
  
• Growth problems
  
• Range of motion problems
  
• Muscle degeneration
  
• Paralysis
  
• Growth problems
  
• Stroke
  
• Spondylosis
  

It also helps dogs recovering from:

• Orthopedic and neurological surgery
  
• Back, hip, knee, elbow surgery
  
• Broken bone repair
  

nyc woman and dog electrocuted

It has become an unfortunate Winter ritual in new york city. Every winter a new york city dog and or it's owner gets shocked, sometimes fatally, on a damp winter day. While we have always advocated our walkers stay away from anything with electricity, either a damp day or not, there appears to be many more hot spots to avoid too. Please view the aspca's article on how you and your dog can avoid stray voltage.

nyc rock salt - "no friend to dog nor child"

We all know how painful rock salt can be on dogs paws and this article in the New York Times discusses the effects on dogs and children in new york city. To make matters worse I've read the rock salt is an environmental and structural hazard too. Some products to protect your dogs paws are booties, and mushers wax but either way they recommend you always wipe off your dogs paws when coming back inside from the snow.