The Dog House NYC offers both solo walks and playgroups.  Our experience as boarders underlies our playgroups—we recognize how much our dogs like their own pack of buddies.  We also know how good exercise during the day makes for a quiet and contented dog at home. Because safety is our overriding concern, we structure our playgroups so that they are small, averaging three or four dogs in a group.

We know there are those who think a solo walk is somehow superior, like having a personal trainer.  Our view is different:  we think a solo walk is too often a lonely walk.  But we recognize that some dogs have a genuine need to be walked alone, and for them we provide solo walks.

We offer 1/2 hour, 3/4 hour, and 1-hour walks and 1 hour, 1 1/2 hour and 2 hour playgroups.

Playgroups
To be successful, playgroups must be formed with dogs who live close to each other in order to maximize the time spent in the dog run and minimize the pick-up and drop-off time. For this reason, it is not always possible to place a dog in a playgroup at first. When this situation arises, we recommend that the dog subscribe to a 1-hour solo walk that joins him in the run with an existing playgroup, and we place his name on a list of dogs on or near his block who may in time form their own playgroup.

Bad Weather Policy
Walks will set out as usual in most weather conditions.  However, in the event of heavy rain or other unusually bad weather, The Dog House NYC reserves the right to cancel the afternoon walk and substitute a 15-minute relief break per household.  In such an event, you will still be expected to pay the contracted price. On your average drizzle/shower day, please leave thirsty towels outside your door.

So far as very hot summer days are concerned, we recognize that dogs may not want to gallop around much but we believe they enjoy getting out of the house and hanging out with friends as much as you might enjoy sitting under a sun umbrella at an outdoor cafe.

Keys
Most owners leave two sets of keys with us.  The walker keeps one set and another is kept in a locked closet at The Dog House NYC for back-up use, as when a walker is sick or a client’s door in inadvertently pulled shut with the keys inside.  It is also possible to leave keys with the doorman if there is one.

About the Pick-Up and Drop-Off
We bring our own leashes and haltis, etc. with us.  Our aim is to show up at your door, snap the leash on and go outside as soon as possible. We call you the first few times we take your dog out to establish a norm, and thereafter we contact you only to tell you of something out of the ordinary, whether good or bad.

In Case of an Emergency
In spite of our best efforts, sometimes things do happen on a dog walk.  We want you to know our walkers have back-up for all kinds of emergencies.  We call it our umbrella policy:  please help us by filling out the waiver below with contact numbers and vet names, and then surely we won’t need to use it!