To Walk or not to Walk? Is It Really Even a Question?

Problem

One of the most important things dog owners neglect is a daily leashed walk with their canine companions.  I am not talking about walking two blocks, letting them defecate, and then taking them back inside. I am talking about taking your dog on an adventure around the city, and sharing an exploration with your pup.  It is not only important for them to see and smell new things, it makes you, the owner, feel better as well.  It also helps you and your dog form a closer bond, in a way to where you are not just their owner, but the leader of their pack who provides them protection and guidance throughout the walk, and eventually always leads them home.  This builds trust as well as helps prevent dogs from becoming “dominant” over their owners.  I try to take my dogs on about 3 mile walks each day and in return, my dogs are happy, content, and tired.

Solution

In my experience, many people will not get a dog because “they do not have a yard to run in.”  Well this is definitely not a reason to ever keep from getting a dog.  I do not have a yard, however daily walks can provide a dog with all of the exercise and mental stimulation they need.  Owning a dog is not about being lazy, and honestly one of the best rewards a dog can provide a human with is the motivation to get up off the couch and get outside to walk just for the sake of walking. As well as general leashed walks, off leash dog parks are a great outlet to let your dog exercise as well as become better socialized towards people and other dogs.  You would be surprised how many dog parks are around the city and probably just a few blocks away from your location.  I know that many people in my building do not even take their dogs to the building dog park, but instead will walk to dog parks nearby. The most important thing to remember is that dogs have been domesticated to be the companions of humans and live where we live, so please don’t ever let “not having a yard” stop you from enjoying the love and companionship that comes from dog ownership, because in the end the dog who is walked daily will be better mentally and physically balanced than the dog who is left in a big back yard on their own all day. 

To Walk or not to Walk? Is It Really Even a Question?

Problem

One of the most important things dog owners neglect is a daily, or at least every other day, leashed walk with their canine companions.  I am not talking about walking two blocks, letting them defecate, and then taking them back inside. I am talking about taking your dog on an adventure around the city, and sharing an exploration with your pup.  It is not only important for them to see and smell new things, it makes you, the owner, feel better as well.  It also helps you and your dog form a closer bond, in a way to where you are not just their owner, but the leader of their pack who provides them protection and guidance throughout the walk, and eventually always leads them home.  This builds trust as well as helps prevent dogs from becoming “dominant” over their owners.  I try to take my dogs on about 3 mile walks each day and in return, my dogs are happy, content, and tired.

Solution

In my experience, many people will not get a dog because “they do not have a yard to run in.”  Well this is definitely not a reason to ever keep from getting a dog.  I do not have a yard, however daily walks can provide a dog with all of the exercise and mental stimulation they need.  Owning a dog is not about being lazy, and honestly one of the best rewards a dog can provide a human with is the motivation to get up off the couch and get outside to walk just for the sake of walking. As well as general leashed walks, off leash dog parks are a great outlet to let your dog exercise as well as become better socialized towards people and other dogs.  You would be surprised how many dog parks are around the city and probably just a few blocks away from your location.  I know that many people in my building do not even take their dogs to the building dog park, but instead will walk to dog parks nearby. The most important thing to remember is that dogs have been domesticated to be the companions of humans and live where we live, so please don’t ever let “not having a yard” stop you from enjoying the love and companionship that comes from dog ownership, because in the end the dog who is walked daily will be better mentally and physically balanced than the dog who is left in a big back yard on their own all day. 

Doggie Clothes?

In my experience, many girls, and even some guys, love to dress their dogs up.  The smaller the dog, the more clothes it gets.  Sure, it is “cute” to dress your dog up in a dress, with sunglasses, a bow, and booties, however is it the best for your dog?  It is becoming more and more popular to see people doing this to their dogs.  I even know a dog groomer who will glue a bow into the dog’s fur, which has to be cut off or just left on.  Stores are popping up all over the city that advertise custom clothing, as well as other extreme things to “pamper your pooch.”  As I was watching “It’s Me or the Dog” one afternoon, an episode came on of a lesbian couple would had a dachshund and a Yorkshire terrier, both of which are tiny, cute dogs.  They would dress their dogs up in outrageous little outfits, and went as far as to put on diapers so they wouldn’t have to take their dogs to go to the bathroom every hour.  Their problem was that their dogs would fight nonstop.  As the dog trainer, Victoria, explained to them the reasoning for their problem, life in the dog world got much clearer to me.   Clothing restricts a dog’s natural smell as well as body signals.  Without this, two dogs cannot communicate properly, therefore will fight nonstop.  The transformation once the couple stopped dressing their dogs up was amazing.  The dogs sniffed at each other, and then just started playing, as if they were never mortal enemies who acted like they were trying to kill each other. 

I am not saying you should not pamper your pooch, love them all you want.  You can even dress them up once in a while, or give them a jacket on a cold or rainy day.  However, giving them an entirely different outfit everyday takes away from the fact that they are dogs and that they think differently than us.  Anything that will mask a dog’s smell creates a risk for not only you, but also your dog.  Dogs need to be able to communicate to help them build healthy relationships and to get properly socialized.  So please, for all you lovers of doggie clothing lines, keep it to a minimum to keep your dogs happy.  

Best Parks in the City

I have been to several dog parks in the city; however the best one I have found is the Schuylkill River Park Dog Run, located by the intersection of 25^th Street and Pine Street.    The park is not only for dogs, but also has a community garden and a place nearby for kids.  Each section is beautifully landscaped and has enough space for everyone to be happy.  The thing that makes me believe the Schuylkill River Park is the best is that there is a separate of leash section for little dogs, and then a larger section for dogs of any size.  In my experience, little dogs generally do not get along well with larger dogs because of not just size, but also the lack of proper socialization they get.  Many people do not correct bad behavior for little dogs because they are generally smaller and cuter.  Smaller dogs also are usually also not exposed to other dogs as much as they should be, because owners are afraid they may get “hurt” during playtime.  The separate park for the smaller dogs is great, especially for owners who want to socialize their small dogs, without the risk of getting hurt.   

The Schuylkill Park is also great because all the owners who bring their dogs there are very well aware of their dogs and their dogs’ actions.  In the many times I have been there, I have never witnessed any actual dogs fighting, or any other foul play.  Around the park there are also many plastic bag holders, so when your dog has an accident, there is never a reason to leave it, making the park much cleaner than most places in Philadelphia.  The final reason that the Schuylkill Park is my number one spot to take my dogs is because although there is plenty of grassy area for your dogs to run around in, the off leash section of the park is gravel.  I have run into parks covered in grass, which is usually all dead, or mulch, which holds the smell of urine and the other nasty things that dogs may leave behind, not to mention the muddiness when it rains.  The gravel does not absorb the smell as badly as the mulch, and always looks good, unlike the grass.  The gravel keeps the park looking great, no matter the weather. 

My Two Dogs Taurus (brown) and Jane(white)

Welcome to Dogs in the City

Welcome to Dogs in the City