Finals Craziness?

Well, its that time of year.  Finals time.  Luckily enough for Law Student, its her last finals season!  In lieu of keeping ya in suspense, we're letting you know now that we will only post on Tuesdays and Thursdays for the next four weeks.

So what's new by us?  Unfortunately, Dental Student hurt his back, but it is on the mend!  Law Student has been trying all new types of fitness classes (any great fitness blogs you read?).  And Havi has been enjoying the nice weather when it comes by laying on the balcony...

Stay tuned!  

On Thursday we will Review Mr. Chewy 

and on 

Tuesday our Monthly Feature: Big Dog, Small Budget will run.

Wordless Wednesday

Havi thinks its too early for a photography session.  What a diva.

Guest Post: The Puppy Chronicles

By far no one gets more attention then Dosa, the puppy on our Big Apple Pittie Pack Walks!  Dosa's parents are experienced dog owners and usually make sure everyone knows the rules on our Walks and help out Gerti from Prettie Little Pittie lead the way.  Dosa has grown before our eyes and everyone loves remarking on how big she gets each walk.  She even has been attending Bully Project  classes on Sundays to work on her skills.  We asked her parents to impart some Puppy Knowledge...

Hello!  You may have noticed this little blue monster appearing in some of Havi's latest sideshows. Well, the monster has a name: Dosa, and I am here to introduce her.  Dosa is a four and a half month old pitbull.  We have had her since she was eight tiny weeks old. She is a truly amazing little pup and brings us joy everyday in so many ways. 

It might be Dosa's coloring, or her overall cuteness but people are constantly stopping us to oooh and aaah and ask us what kind of dog she is. We are huge fans of the breed and have a wide array of experiences with pitbulls (for another post), so we are thrilled at the opportunity to talk to people about pitbulls.  Some people love her pittie-ness right away and some are shocked that this cute, friendly, (usually) well-behaved puppy is in fact a pitbull.  It our hope that Dosa's friendly outgoing disposition and all the work we pour into her create a cute little ambassador that represents what a pitbull should be.  

Dosa's favorite activities include play time with the other neighborhood pups, amongst her favorites are a brussels griffon and a husky shepard puppy.  She loves a good nap in the sun and time with her squeaky toy or a puffed pig ear.  She loved attending puppy class at Unleashed by Petco, where Kate Senisi helped us learn to train her using positive reinforcement, and lots of treats.  Oh, and going on pack walks with Havi, Gertie and company is the best!

Anyhow: now onto the do's of introductions (we will save the don'ts for our next post) when we meet on the crazy streets of the city.

1) Please stop us and say hello - don't feel silly, we love it when people stop to chat with us.  We want Dosa to meet all sorts of people, and she has made many friends both old and young, big and small.  We would like her to be a breed ambassador and eventually go into therapy work so stop and say hello, but first...

2)  Talk to the owner before you throw your face in front of a dog-you-don't-know's face - this is a great forgotten practice.  It is a very confrontational stance and not all dogs love this behavior.  Please ask the owner if you can say hi to the dog first.  (We are crazy dog people and stop other people and their dogs all the time.  Don't be shy!)  

3) Be patient - we are working on a lot of new skills with Dosa.  When someone acknowledges her presence, she turns into a wiggling ball of love and it's hard for her to pay attention and listen.  I might ask that you wait until she sits, to avoid reinforcing her jumping all over you.  It's cute now because she is small, but it won't be so cute later.  Don't be afraid, don't be freaked out, don't think you are wasting time - it's great practice for us!

A future post will include some don'ts, but what other "do's" do you guys recommend?

See you on the streets!

Sixth Pack Walk: Small Pups Join a Big Walk!

On Saturday Havi and the Grad Students went on the Sixth Pack Walk through beautiful Central Park.  It was great weather and 14 pups came out to join the walk.  Most of the pups had been on the walk before.  But this walk we were joined by a bichon frise and a mini goldendoodle.  Both pooches held their own and the mini goldendoodle even switched off leader duties with Gerti!

Jax ready to lead the way!

Walking through gorgeous Central Park

Water break

Jackson mugging for the camera

Ezra had to leave the Pack a little early this week 

Gerti let us all know she was done with her leading duties by laying down in the middle of the walk!

Havi loved the warm weather and that her BFF Jax joined!

What did you do this weekend?!

Fun New York Pooch Events

Some fun events are on the horizon!

April 13 - Big Apple Pittie Pack Walk

April 17 - Bark in the Park

May 6 - Bark for Life

Know some other events going on in NYC in the few months?!

Havi wants to know!

Just Some Pups Were Crushing On

In lieu of a post, here are some pups that are super cute that need a home!

Molly is a 3 year old shelter survivor who was pregnant when found at the shelter. She is sweet as sugar and really wants a new start at life.  She has had her babies and was a wonderful loving mom.  She came into the shelter with two young dogs we thought were her puppies and older male with thought could be her mate. The pups looked nothing like him so he could her son too!  Her pups have found homes and it is her turn to find her forever people. She is small but would be considered a medium size dog at a healthy 45 pounds. The foster mom has a three year old child and cats so we know she can live with both.She is housetrained and loves to watch TV! Football to be exact. She loves to hang with her people and would make a great companion for a active family. 

Marley is a sweet, playful pup and is about 17 months old and about 60 pounds.He just lost his long term foster and is inboarding on Long Island. Marley has the most soulful eyes and a tail that never stops wagging. He is very people oriented, bonding quickly and sticking to your side like glue, constantly gazing up at people with an adoring expression. Every time Marley hears the words "Good boy!" his eyes light up and he smiles, it seems like his one wish in life is to gain approval from his human, a sure sign that he is highly trainable and will make a fantastic, intelligent addition to the right family. He's a very affectionate boy and a great snuggler who will gladly flop over in your lap for some belly rubs. He has shown no sign of any resource guarding issues.  He seems like he would get along with most other dogs, especially those who wouldn't mind joining him in some puppyish play. Marley is housebroken and neutered.

Elsie is a sweet low to the ground sort of pup. She has the short legs and stocky body of a bulldog and  she weighs in at around 60 pounds. She is around 5 years old but still has a ton of pep and playfulness. In her foster home she has been known to wander through the house trying to pick up as many toys in her mouth as she can fit (her record is 3!). She walks nicely on a leash but absolutely loves to run full steam ahead when she's off leash in the yard so a home with a nice fenced play area would be ideal for her. If she becomes a city girl again she would make a decent walking/jogging partner.  When she's done running laps she enjoys curling up with her person on the couch for a nice cuddle session or lying down in the yard and entertaining herself with a squeaky toy.  She like dogs-boys seem to be her favorite. In foster care she has been great pals with another male pit bull named Marley who is also up for adoption. After a long stay in a foster home in NJ they have both been moved to a boarding facility on Long Island. 

Raja was a friend's friend;s brother's ex-girlfriends (seriously) dog who was left when the girlfriend moved away. Someone worked so hard to get this dog adopted by a gentleman who after adopting her was evicted from his apartment and literally left the dog there to fend for herself. When Raja's picture popped up in the newspaper, that someone went into overdrive trying to get this girl a home (as you can see by the pictures, she's a doll!)

She's 3 years old, shots are up to date and she's spayed. She is currently at Hi Tor Animal Shelter (low kill, not no kill) and has to be adopted through them at this point.

Inquire within as we have the PetFinder and Rescue information for all these pups!!

In Case of Ememergency?

A while ago I read That Touch of Pit's post about Lucy's Accident it occurred to me he had a list of emergency numbers.  


We have never gone away and left Havi, but we do realize that in case of emergency your mind does get fuzzy.  We made an Emergency Havi List that we framed and put behind the door.  

We listed our vet, emergency hospital, pet chaffeur, and a cab that will pick up people and their pooches.  We think we will add our neighbors as well.

Do you have an emergency list?  Who is on it?

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!

Monthly Feature: Big Dog, Small Budget

In our Monthly Feature we chat about our small budget and our big pup!  We know one of the biggest obstacles for families to adopt a dog is the expense.  In this feature we explain all of our monthly expenses and wrap up our year to date costs!

1 Dog Walking Session with RuffCity DogWalking - $25.00

7 gallons of spring water Gristedes Brand for Havi - $7.92

Evo Red Meat Formula from Mr. Chewy - $17.99 

(with a bloggers coupon code, check back Thursday for our post about Mr. Chewy!)

3 Months of Pepcid AC from CVS - $11.40

March Total: $62.31

June: $149.31

July: $111.99

August: $193.22

September: $186.83

October: $205.63

November: $249.79

December: $383.27

January: $126.01

Feburary: $126.11

March: $62.31

YTD: $1,794.47

Any tips on ways to save?!  How'd you guys do this month?!

Small Business Week/Weekly Feature: RuffCity Dogwalking

Welcome to Small Business Week!  We are featuring some of our favorite small businesses in the tri-state area!


We know that our most popular feature is the Weekly Feature: Love Letters From a Dogwalker.  So without further adieu we are featuring RuffCity DogWalking...

I moved to New York City with my black lab rescue, Blakely, in 2007 after graduating from the University of Maryland. Immediately, I realized what a dog-crazy place it was. It kind of amazed me actually, how a place so full of buildings and so lacking in grass could be home to so many furry friends. But I soon realized that man’s best friend is happy anywhere their Masters are located; as long as they had plenty of attention and resources to keep them that way.  And this Big Apple has plenty of pup-friendly resources! Walking services, daycare, spas, swimming lessons (who knew the doggie paddle doesn't cut it?), playgroups, endless pet stores and most importantly, a lot of people who absolutely love them. I knew right away that I wanted to work with the animals that I loved and that had given me so much love since I was a little girl. 

I took a job in advertising and stayed there for 3 years before taking the plunge and fulfilling my dream. My first NYC roommate, Stacia, and I started RuffCity Dog Walking in July of 2010.  She had recently finished her degree at the New York School of Interior Design but like me, knew that she wanted to head in a different direction. It was there we began the journey that would lead us here to the Spring of 2012 with 9 walkers on our side and a large group of the most ridiculously adorable pups in all of New York. It isn’t always easy, but when you’re doing what you love can you really call it work? 

We cover the entire width of the East Side, from 96th Street to Delancey and handle every type of personality imaginable. From the playful ones who make the dog park world go ‘round, to the formerly abused ones who need just a little extra TLC, to the brand new baby ones whose development we're so proud to be a part of, to the challenging and temperamental ones who always keep us on our toes, we never go a day without learning something about ourselves or them.

RuffCity, we lead lives full of the unconditional love and happiness we receive from the furballs we get to spend time with everyday and we have this beautiful city and all the beautiful people in it to thank. We love you and your pups!!

Stay tuned for RuffCommute- a daytime out-of-city hiking experience for your dog! Summer 2012!

Check out RuffCity's Web site and Facebook!

SweetIris is the perfect way to make some extra money, Sweet Creations was our Wednesday Featured Small Business if you are looking for that perfect party treat, if you are looking for a foster pup in NYC check out Tuesday's FosterDogsNYC, and for dog training check out Monday's Feature on Poodles to Pitbulls.

We loved Small Business Week and hope you did too!  

Want you business featured next time?  Email us!

Stay tuned for next week's posts from some very special guest bloggers!

Small Business Week: SweetIris

Welcome to Small Business Week!  We are featuring some of our favorite small businesses in the tri-state area.  

The best part about this company is that you can use Samantha's services no matter where you live!

Haven't used that bag in over a year? Haven't worn those shoes in ages? SweetIris will come pick them up from you and put them on eBay and give you cash. 

SweetIris sells Womens, Mens and Childrens Clothes, Handbags and Shoes only. SweetIris is a Consignment Store that sells on eBay only. Owner Samantha Cowf will come to you pick up the items you want to sell go home and research them and then email you what she believes she can get for it on eBay. If you want more for the item she will be happy to sell it at your price and if it doesn't sell she will bring the price down. SweetIris will hold your item until it sells unless you want it back. 

If you are interested in having a free consulation with Samantha you can contact her at (516) 668-2114 or sweetiris11@gmail.com.

 

Sweet Creations was our Wednesday Featured Small Business if you are looking for that perfect party treat, if you are looking for a foster pup in NYC check out Tuesday's FosterDogsNYC, and for dog training check out Monday's Feature on Poodles to Pitbulls.

Small Business Week: Sweet Creations

Welcome to Small Business Week!  We are featuring some of our favorite small businesses in the tri-state area.  

We love the the beauty in the Sweet Creations of Randi Nazem.  She has the ability to make any life event more exciting!

Sweet Creations is a small business that sells delicious homemade chocolate treats and it all started in a kitchen of a small one bedroom apartment in Chelsea, NYC.  

Owner, Randi Nazem has a keen eye for detail and is crafty in her own way. As a side business at night and on weekends, apart from teaching 5th graders all day, she decided to sell her sweet treats to all her friends and family.  Everyone began talking about how cute and amazingly tasty her stuff was and that was the start of Sweet Creations. 

Sweet Creations sells all things SWEET: cookies, cake pops, chocolate pretzels, chocolate lollipops, Oreos, marshmallow pops, you name it - Sweet Creations can do it! Randi also creates pop holders out of styrofoam personalized to match any event. 

You can contact Randi Nazem for details and pricing at Sweetcreations108@gmail.com.  Like Sweet Creations on Facebook!

Sweet Creations is our Wednesday Featured Small Business, if you are looking for a foster pup in NYC check out Tuesday's FosterDogsNYC, and for dog training check out Monday's Feature on Poodles to Pitbulls.

Small Business Week: Foster Dogs NYC

Welcome to Small Business Week!  We are featuring some of our favorite small businesses in the tri-state area.  


Sarah Oren is another member of the animal community in NYC whom we love...

I started Foster Dogs NYC in August 2009 when I picked up my then-foster pittie "Mocha" from Manhattan ACC. She was such a cool dog, but I had no idea how to get the word out about her. One nice rescue group posted her on Petfinder, but I wanted to be able to provide a more personalized forum. Mocha was adopted only a month after picking her up from the shelter!

I felt lost when I first started thinking about fostering, and wanted to start a blog that promoted availabledogs, promoted fostering, and provided potential volunteers or adopters with helpful links and articles.  Foster Dogs NYC has become a one-stop-shop for anyone interested in fostering or adopting - or for anyone who loves to look at photos of cute dogs! Most dogs on this site are in the NY tri-state area, and are in the care of various dog rescue groups. We post for rescue groups in need of an extra boost for theirdogs in need, and for foster owners who need to get their dog's profile posted online!

To date, over 1,400 have been posted on FosterDogsNYC.com, most of whom have had happy endings! Our success rate is growing with increased exposure to our site. We hope to soon become a registered nonprofit organization so we can take our efforts even further!

FosterDogsNYC is founded by Sarah Oren, who is also TheDogMatchMaker - matching up shelter pups with the perfect family!  

FosterDogsNYC is our Tuesday Feature of Small Business Week check out yesterday's post on Poodles to Pitbulls.

Small Business Week: Poodles to Pitbulls

Welcome to Small Business Week!  We are featuring some of our favorite small businesses in the tri-state area.  

Poodles to Pit Bulls Clicker Training, Inc. is an Astoria, Queens based pet training company specializing in modern, humane, and force-free training. We don’t use force, corrections, or intimidation, and focus on developing relationships built on mutual trust and respect. The training is hands-free, loads of fun, and makes it easy for every member of your family to take on the role of "dog trainer". We work with all breeds, ages, temperaments, and sizes of dogs, as well as many types of behavior problems ranging from housebreaking, barking, and leash walking, to some more serious issues like aggression, separation anxiety, and fear-based behaviors.

 Ettel Edshteyn graduated with distinction from the Karen Pryor Academy and is a Certified Training Partner. She uses behavior theory and clicker training to help dogs and their people live together harmoniously, and with mutual respect and trust.

 She continues to stay on the edge of new and innovative training theory by reading books and articles, staying active on various online training forums, and attending seminars and workshops held by the foremost trainers and scientists in the dog training and behavior field. She has experience working with a variety of dog breeds and their owners.

Want more information?  E-mail ettel@poodlestopitbulls.com or comment below!

Stay tuned for tomorrow's spotlight on Sweet Creations...