Finding The Right Dog Walker For Your Pet
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- Written by Andrea Seiden
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Like all dogs, my puppy Maggie, a 66-pound flat-hair retriever, needs plenty of exercise and mental stimulation. I try to get a few walks in every day, despite her enthusiastic pulling and uncontrollable urge to pick up sticks, wrappers, and old tissues. Still, my schedule is often erratic, necessitating a dog walker. Thinking about someone (outside my pack) taking care of my dog brings back waves of apprehension from those dark days when I had to rely on a babysitter to tend to my children as I trudged off to work. Safety concerns topped my list, but I also had a sinking feeling that I didn't sign my kid up for enough activities or that I over-scheduled them. Today I ruminate on whether my dog will choke, chase a squirrel down a storm drain, or wiggle out of her iron maiden-like collar and get lost on the Bronx River pathway. Worse yet, what if I hire Cruella Deville, and she and Jasper aren't nice to my dopey puppy. (After all, Maggie does have a beautiful coat!)
Thankfully, I found a great walker, Adriana Santos, who I can trust and rely upon. Adriana says, "Trust and safety are the two most important factors when choosing the right dog walker." Adriana, originally from Brazil, came to Westchester as an Au Pair, ready to help mothers with their little children. At some point, the parents also asked her to take care of the pets – which she happily did. After all, Adriana grew up on a farm with loads of working animals and plenty of pets. She took care of 4 Goldens, 5 Dobermans, and one cat.
Today Adriana walks about 13 miles daily and scoops up at least 6 pounds of dog poop. In between, she gives plenty of belly rubs. She even helps with dogs who are delivering a litter of puppies. She tells me a dog is like a child who needs to be watched. One must be proactive and know what to expect about dog behavior and how to correct or reward such behavior. Adriana takes her job very seriously and is just finishing a dog CPR class; she reads books on dog body language and training. She suggests that if you are looking for a dog walker, tell the walker about your dog's behavior. Share if the dog pulls (like my feisty dog), likes to stroll, sniffs at every tree and bush, likes or hates other dogs, or will stop and nap during a walk.
It is vital to ask relevant questions to find a suitable dog walker. Remember, not all dog walkers are as human-social as they are dog-social. The American Kennel Club (AKC) suggests the following questions:
• What do you like most about what you do as a walker?
• How did you get into this career?
• How many dogs do you walk a day?
• How do you reward a dog for good behavior?
• How do you correct the dog?
• Where will you walk my dog?
• Do you walk multiple dogs together or one at a time?
• How long will you spend with my dog on each walk?
• Are you experienced with dogs similar to mine?
• How long have you been a dog walker? (If they're with a dog-walking service, inquire how long they've worked for the company.)
• Are you licensed, bonded, and insured?
• Can you provide client references?
• Have you participated in any pet care or first aid training?
• What's your cancellation policy, and what happens if you are sick and unable to come on a scheduled day?
Of course, there is nothing that replaces a face-to-face meeting to see how you like the walker and how your dog interacts with him/her. Because my dog is still feisty, I asked Adriana to join me on a test walk to assess how she handled Maggie. She was great and even offered me tips on getting Maggie to walk by my side. (This is still a work in progress.)
When you do settle on a walker, the AKC suggests you provide the following critical information to a dog walker.
• Your contact information, including phone numbers and email addresses.
• Veterinary information.
• Information and instructions about medication: indicate what the drug is for, and how to administer it
• Feeding instructions if he will be the one to give your dog a meal.
• Alarm code and instructions.
• Location of supplies (leashes, treats, cleaners, pee pads, etc.).
Adriana is far from Disney's Cruella, and in fact, she is a warm and loving anti-fur gal who is stern when needed. I appreciate that she sends me little notes and photos while she is on duty – assuring me that Maggie has not fallen down a storm drain and allowing me to relax and enjoy a night out.
Pets of the Week: Albus and Waffles
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- Written by Katy Goldman
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Nick and Ming Doray of Greenacres have a blended family of dogs so to speak. The first they got as a puppy and the second is a rescue dog they took in when he was three years old.
Their first dog, is a large brown and white Wirehaired Pointing Griffon named Albus, because even as a puppy, he had these deep sad eyes and looked like a wise old wizard (not because they're big Harry Potter fans). Nick comes from a family that only rescued senior dogs, so he's the first dog Nick has had from the puppy stage. Albus is a warning story that you get the dog you get, and not the dog you want.
Nick was familiar with the breed from a friend's dog back in college, and they're supposed to be real people dogs - great with children, goofy, and happy go lucky. Instead Nick got Albus, a serious, focused, job-driven dog who only loves his immediate family and a very, very select few people. Until he turned nine during the pandemic, he always sat just out of reach and tolerated snuggles for no more than 30 seconds at a time. Now at the grand old age of 12, he warms Nick's feet and demands hip massages before bedtime. That said, he and Nick understand each other and Albus is Nick's steadfast companion and best friend.
To keep Albus's energy up in his old age, and because the kids really wanted another dog, the Dorays decided to rescue their second dog in 2021, a 3-year old cream lab mix they named Waffles. They renamed him from Waldo, as they felt that keeping the name he came with was just asking for trouble from a rescued runaway pup. The Danbury Animal Welfare Society had brought him up from a kill-shelter in Kentucky. Waffles was scrawny and missing half his fur from skin disease, but his spirit and energy were intact. In the months after joining their household, Waffles fully recovered from the sorry state he was in and became the happy go-lucky, playful, snuggly dog that the Dorays had hoped for. He plays fetch for hours and loves making new friends, especially of the four-legged variety, with whom he desperately tries to rope into a wrestling match or a game of chase. Albus just barely tolerates his existence!
Aside from being a world class snuggler and a 90 pound lap dog, Waffles is also an accomplished thief. On several occasions the Dorays have walked into the kitchen to find that he has managed to lighten their pantry or countertop of some delicious, forbidden item. Memorable heists include $200 worth of prime rib that was left unguarded for all of 5 minutes, and an entire cake, which he first carefully unboxed and then unwrapped from its cling wrap before devouring in his lair.
Sammy and Henry: Pets of the Week
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- Written by Katy Goldman
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Sammy and Henry Kimpler are an adorable cat and dog duo in Fox Meadow. Sammy, the Kimpler's sweet cat, turns 15 this month. Her mom, Ali, adopted her in Chicago in 2008 and she has been Ali's best friend ever since. She enjoys napping in sunbeams (or under blankets when it's raining), cuddling on laps, being pet, and sneaking leftover people food wherever she can find it. One time she ate an entire stick of butter, so the Kimplers don't leave that out anymore! She dislikes taking her medicine and car rides. Other people may think that they have the best cat, but they know they really do! Sammy is wonderful with her younger human siblings Owen (8), Ethan (6) and Charlotte (2), and has never bitten or scratched them, even when they probably deserved it!!
Henry is a 10 year-old Wheaten Terrier, and he is his dad Kyle's best friend. He's also a Terrier all the way through and views commands as more of suggestions. His favorite things are barking at people that walk by on the street, playing in the snow, and going on hikes. But mostly he is a lazy boy and wants to just lie around. Henry absolutely loves people and if you ever come to the Kimpler house, you will need to greet him or he won't leave you alone! He also loves to get into trouble, usually by chewing up toys. But he has also been known to eat the Kimpler's rugs and once ate the lining underneath their couch! (He needed surgery to fix that little oopsie.) He is very gentle with the kids though, and even lets them walk him on the leash (even Charlotte!).
Both Sammy and Henry are very special and important to the Kimplers and they love them so much!
Beau and Scarlet: Two Peas in a Pod
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- Written by Katy Goldman
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The Bennett family of Fox Meadow have two of the cutest English Labradors you've ever seen! Beau, their chocolate lab, is almost two years old and joined the Bennett family as a puppy. Scarlet, their yellow lab, is five and was recently rescued from Louisiana through the New York State Retriever Rescue (NYSRR) organization.
When the Bennett’s decided to get another dog, they all said they'd love another Labrador; but this time an older one. Beau the baby, wanted to remain the baby of the family! They looked at all the local shelters but were not able to find another Lab that they thought would be a good fit.
Then Alyson, Beau mom, stumbled across the NYSRR based in Long Island. They explained to Alyson that they had a partner in Louisiana who helped to place unwanted dogs (predominantly Labs). Once NYSRR approved the Bennetts to adopt, they waited to see which dogs would be available. It didn’t take long before they were told that a number of Labradors that belonged to a reliable breeder in Louisiana were being surrendered to the NYSRR for re-homing in the northeast. Serious family illness had prevented the breeder from properly caring for her dogs for some time and she had decided it was in the dogs’ best interests to re-home them.
Once Scarlet got her updated vaccinations and passed her veterinary check, she was on her way to her new home. Scarlet boarded the non-profit Rescue Road Trip truck with many other dogs who were getting a second chance in life and set off on a grueling 3-day journey from the Deep South up to New York and beyond. Along the route, many ‘angels’ met the truck at the rest stops and gave the dogs one-on-one attention and walks to break up the journey. Finally, the Bennetts had their Gotcha Day! They met the truck at its stop in Brewster, NY, and a scared and trembling Scarlet disembarked from the truck. She made it! The Bennetts are convinced she was smiling all the way home because she knew she had been rescued.
Since she’s been home, Scarlet's been an absolute gem. As she previously lacked human contact, wherever Alyson walks, Scarlet follows closely behind. At the beginning, whenever Alyson went upstairs or disappeared for a short while and then came back, Scarlet was surprised to see Alyson reappear. Those first few days in the house, Scarlet wouldn’t walk between the rooms; she’d pace around one room, take tentative steps to move to another, but then back out. The Bennetts placed themselves on the floor between the rooms and slowly but surely as Scarlet approached them they would move a little further towards the next room. Scarlet’s now walking and running comfortably around the first floor of the house!
Scarlet is incredibly cuddly and just wants to be near Alyson the entire time. She is adored by the whole family and the children (Felicity, Daisy and Lachlan) love returning home after school and being greeted by two dogs. They were keen to have Scarlet try her very first Starbucks pup-cup, which of course she loved!
Scarlet and Beau have formed a beautiful companionship and Beau has welcome her without any jealousy whatsoever. Now they cuddle together, play together and get into mischief together - a perfect partnership.
If anyone is looking for a Labrador, the Bennetts would highly recommend the NYSRR. They often need fosters too and the stories behind Rescue Road-trips are very emotional.
Feature your pets in the Scarsdale10583.com Pet of the Week column. Email us at [email protected].
Go Dog, Go: The Life of a Retired Racing Dog
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- Written by Andrea Seiden
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As I was petting a muscular, smooth-coated dog in the clearing of Red Maple Swamp, I noted that he was shivering in the drizzling rain despite wearing a tony down-filled black turtleneck and army green parka. In his even-tempered way, the dog seemed to side-eye his owner; his droll expression communicated, I did my business – now let’s get a move on, Sunday Morning may still be on. Clearly this dog was unusual in our neck of the woods -- where we see so many doodles – not to mention his sartorial appearance.
The dog stayed close to his engaging (and quite frankly, hilariously funny) owner who introduced himself as Daniel Rosenblum. The dog, he said, was a Greyhound, named Baz Blackwell. In his former life, he was a champion racer. Before Daniel adopted Baz a few years ago, Baz competed in at least 20 races in Florida and bested in several. In fact, Daniel’s father found videos of Baz going for gold. He seemed to fly down the track. Hard to believe, Daniel continued, this 80-pounder, competed with other dogs, chasing down an artificial lure. All the while, hundreds of elderly fans who had made five-dollar bets cheered him on as he crossed the finish line ahead of the pack. Now he excels at sleeping. He is a very loving and sweet dog, but I can’t deny that in his retirement, he is very lazy.
I took a closer look at the all-or-nothing Baz -- once a champion racer and now a couch potato. I could see that this graceful hound was built for speed. With his lean inverted S-shaped body, narrow, aerodynamic skull, and shock-absorbing footpads, it’s no surprise that Greyhounds are the fastest dog breed.
I had recently traveled to Egypt where I learned that over 5000 years ago, the pharaohs bred greyhounds to detect, chase, capture, and dispatch desert wildlife. The pharaohs and their subjects believed that the Greyhounds were gods. As if he were able to read my thoughts, Daniel confided, Baz is now the king of our shared castle. He is a perfect dog for me. Very chill unless he sees a squirrel – then his very strong prey drive kicks in. I looked around the swamp, relieved that the rain had deterred small animals from venturing out of their habitats.
I asked Daniel about Greyhound racing in this country and found out that it was once legal and had been viewed much like horse racing. However, dog racing has gradually declined since the 1990s in response to the concerns of animal welfare activists, declining public interest and changes in the entertainment business and gambling. Most, if not all tracks have closed, marking the end of this sport altogether.
Volunteers at organizations such as Adopt-a-Greyhound and Greyhound Pets of America work tirelessly to find good homes for retired dogs. Greyhound Pets of America founded in 1987 has assisted in the placement of over 100,000 greyhounds to homes throughout the country. Daniel shared that the agency with which he worked was so committed to the dog’s welfare that they came out to his home to ensure it was appropriate for a dog and to vet him. Daniel was grateful that he got the green light because Baz is exactly the dog he wanted.
As my conversation with Daniel was wrapping up, my anything-but-a-chill dog, Maggie, emerged from a pile of decaying mulch where she was rooting around for mushrooms, old tennis balls, and the occasional lost sneaker. She wanted to play tug of war with Baz and offered him the end of a soggy branch that she was proudly clenching in her mouth. Baz would have none of it. He was content huddling at Daniel’s feet.
With a gentle tug on Baz’s leash, Daniel said his goodbyes and headed home with his graceful and obedient Baz who will continue to recline rather than race in this new chapter of his life.
