Guest Post: Remi Takes Manhattan

When Remi and her owner showed up to our first Big Apple Pittie Walk and every walk thereafter, we were excited to meet them!  Remi is one of those gorgeous pooches that should be modeling somewhere.  Her owner has a car and will drive her pup anywhere for a fun walk.  When I asked Remi's owner to write a post about Remi, I didn't know what to expect...

When the Grad Students asked me to do a guest post, I didn’t know where to begin.  There are so many stories to choose from – the good, the bad and yes, even the ugly – but on a routine walk the other day I was reminded about how walking a dog has changed the way I see and interact with my neighborhood. 

When you have a dog in the city, you can’t just open your front door and let it out for some exercise and a bio break.  You need to get out and take a proper walk.  While there are many times I curse the walk (pouring rain, freezing cold, way too early on a weekend), it has completely changed how I see my neighborhood, so instead of complaining I try to just sit back an enjoy the ride,  or in my case-the pull!

I have lived in my neighborhood for 10 years (8 of those with no dog) and in the 2 years since I adopted Remi I have met and befriended people I was too “busy” to meet pre-dog (more people know my dog more than they know me!) and I have learned that instead of always rushing to a destination I can simply stroll around the city and enjoy the journey. 

Here is a glimpse into her favorite spots on her daily walks...

 

Every morning we take a stroll along the Hudson River, where she looks forward to seeing her buddy A hanging out on the pier,

V and his landscaping cart is always a hit – she breaks into a full on sprint when she spots him and then jumps right in

 She also flirts with all the Doe Fund workers who keep the errant tennis balls they find just for her (no photos!).   The morning walk is not just about the humans, she also has a mad crush on handsome Primo, the Weimaraner and gets more excited then a pre-teen girl seeing Justin Bieber.

On our afternoon or evening walks through the neighborhood, she likes to hit a couple of her favorite spots.

Favorite local indoor hangout: Hudson Wine and Spirits which happens to occupy the ground floor space of my apartment building – treats for the pup and treats for the owner!

Favorite local outdoor hangout: Walkers, which she has been stalking all winter waiting for outdoor seating to return. Look how sad she is that the tables are still not out….but wait with the great Spring weather……I now have a happy pup!

She is also a fan of the 1^st Pct, where they leave these cozy carts for when her paws need a break (true story…after a long walk she jumped on the cart and refused to move!).  In addition to a rest stop, the 1^st Pct was also home to the Mounted Unit and Remi would stop by regularly to visit with the horses before they were moved (she was very sad when the left and would sit in front of the door for weeks).  My dog loves a man in uniform and always cozies up to the officers as well.

Remi is also a professional begger.  She knows every doorman and parking garage attendant in the neighborhood and will regularly “visit” random buildings on our walk, making sure to befriend the all the doorman for treats and belly rubs.

So Remi the social butterfly has helped me slow down and appreciate my environment and now I look as forward to seeing Remi’s friends as she does.  Of all the benefits I get from dog ownership, this was the most wonderfully unexpected one.

And now with the Big Apple Pittie Pack, we look forward to expanding our horizons every other weekend not only to new neighborhoods but to new pups and owners!!! 

How great is Remi's day?!  If any other Big Apple Pittie Pack members have a post to share, let us know!