Caring Companion - Customized dog walks and pet care

We offer walks and activities designed to suit your pet's unique personality and interests

previous | next

Natasha Drootin
Dog Walker, Pet Sitter
Cat Sitter, Puppy Sitter
5 years of professional pet care experience

Email: natasha@customizeddogwalks.com

Phone: (917) 697 5501

Rate: $25/hour and up

Caring Companion offers walks and activities designed to suit your pet's unique personality and interests.

ORIGINS OF CARING COMPANION

The idea for starting Caring Companion began in 2007, and grew out of a passion for dogs, and a heartfelt desire to especially provide New York City dogs with the highest quality service available. I found that I had a natural affinity with dogs,and that they responded to me with happy wagging tails. I wanted to do more than just walk them, I wanted to make them happy and content as their owners were working long hours to provide for them. While not an animal communicator, I realized that in many respects dogs are people too: or at least they have similar traits.

I decided that I wanted to get to know each dog as and individual and to respond to their individual likes and dislikes. I wanted their walks to be quality time spent with a caring companion, to really make the effort to know and care about each dog differently. For example, some love the dog run, some love to play a game of catch without interruption from other dogs, some like to walk fast, some take their time greeting and socializing along the way.Some dogs like to walk with other dogs, some alone with their human friend. Dogs are all unique and each one has his own special personality unlike any other creature -- just like people.

I will not walk more than a few dogs at a time as it is not possible in a big pack to give the care and attention they need. A happy Content Dog is what drives us to give beyond what is expected.

WHY CARING COMPANIONS?

We hope to be a meaningful part of your dog’s life, helping you provide him/her with the quality of life he/she deserves. Your dog receives our undivided attention and personal touch when in our care. On our routes we see some walkers who do not, unfortunately, give the kind of care that meets our standards. They may be well meaning but lack the time and financial resources, and perhaps knowledge and skill, to give the dogs everything they deserve. Dogs are often grouped together according to what is convenient for their business and not what is best for the dog. Some walkers seem distracted and detached talking on the cell phone and chatting in the dog run.

Our goal is for each and every dog to have the most satisfying experience possible with us--not just walking your dog to the corner or to the dog run-- but customizing each and every walk so that your dog can be involved, stimulated, and satisfied with his time with us, and benefiting from his interaction with us every day!

WE LOOK FORWARD TO MEETING WITH YOU AND WITH YOUR DOG SOON

If you are interested in obtaining our services we can set up a consultation to speak with you and meet your dog. We would love to take a walk with you and your dog and get to know you both.

We at Caring Companions have a knack for making tails wag. We bring your dog home ready to rest after a full day. They will thank you, greeting you at the door with a joyous tail-wag and kisses!

Of course we know that YOUR dog is the BEST. Dogs complete our families, or in many cases they ARE our families, and the dearest to our hearts. We would be honored to become a part of the extended family that contributes to your dog’s long, happy life.

For more information we invite you to contact us at natasha@customizeddogwalks.com. We are always happy to talk to you and answer any questions you may have.

Happy Tails!

WHY WALKS ARE SO IMPORTANT

WHY WALKS ARE SO IMPORTANT

With the exception of Dogs facing health challenges walks are as important to a dogs daily routine as bedtime or mealtime. Not all walks are the same: some need more than others. Some go farther faster and longer. For example, a large powerful breed like a Rottweiler does not have the same needs as a bulldog with short legs. We customize our walks to provide for the needs of all different breeds and energy levels. The pace, rhythm, and distance best for each individual dog will differ. Some benefit from individual walks and some like small groups (no more than 3 or 4). We keep our groups very small in order to give each dog our personal attention. When allowing for all these variations, walks can be the single most powerful form of mental and physical exercise you can provide for your dog in order to give him or her a balanced, healthy life. Dog behaviorists agree that most American dogs are under-walked resulting in behavior problems, boredom and obesity (Cesar Milan, Cesar’s Way). No matter how big and beautiful a home may be no dog will be content without getting outdoors, walking, and exploring his environment in nature.

It can be difficult to fit in enough time to give your dog proper walks given the hectic pace of modern life, longer work hours, and demands on your personal time. And this is where we come in!

Our services are designed to help you to provide your dog with the extra care he/she needs in order to thrive in a busy city.

Considering how much dogs give us they need so little in return. They help us feel our connection with nature, they teach us to live in the moment and to enjoy the wonder and beauty of the simple things in life. They teach us what unconditional love is.

We do this by:

Customizing our walks
Getting to know the breed
Reading up about the breed
Observing the dogs body language during our initial walks
Paying close attention to what he/she is communicating to us
Understanding the way dogs communicate with humans
Giving individual walks and giving your dog our undivided personal attention and care
Keeping our group walks small (no more than 3 or 4 dogs)
Grouping together dogs for walks or Play-Groups whenever possible according to temperament, age and size.
Basing everything we do on what will benefit your dog, not what will suite our business needs
Talking with the owner about their dog’s personality needs and schedule

WHAT WILL A CUSTOMIZED WALK MEAN FOR YOUR DOG?

We do what your dog likes to do, and avoid what makes him uncomfortable. He might like to play ball, visit and socialize in the dog run, sit on our lap and view the action, visit his local pet store or neighborhood friends, take and outing to Central Park etc.

We also work with the dog’s owner:

Does your dog need a relief walk for a shorter time; or is this the main walk of the day? Does the dog need his/her training re-enforced? Does he/she have behavior problems or fear
Aggression?

We have sometimes asked dogs walkers the dog’s age or breed and they did not know. Our services insure a high degree of personal involvement and we are sincerely invested in your dog’s health and happiness, and we want to be a contributing factor helping you to improve your dog’s life in every way. Since walks are the foundation of a dogs day, we become his close friend and caring companion so that they can rely on and trust us. They can feel that we are learning about them and trying to understand them and meet their needs. Only if they are looking up at us, engaged, wagging their tails or focused head-forward ears-back on their walk, in the zone; only then do we feel that we are doing our job properly.

I decided that I wanted to get to know each dog as and individual and to respond to their individual likes and dislikes. I wanted their walks to be quality time spent with a caring companion, to really make the effort to know and care about each dog differently. For example, some love the dog run, some love to play a game of catch without interruption from other dogs, some like to walk fast, some take their time sniffing and greeting along the way. Some dogs like to walk with other dogs, some alone with their human friend. Dogs are all unique and each one has his own special personality unlike any other creature -- just like people.

My first job was working for Peter Bogdanovich, who was more often traveling than not, but liked to come home to his three cats. When not working, I was outdoors on the upper west side feeling the need to pet every dog that passed by. I realized I had a calling to work with animals, so I starting working with a pet sitting company who I worked with for three years before starting my own company.

Send your dog on a daily walk with a Caring Companion who will pay close attention to what he is communicating and walk him properly. I like to meet with the owner and the dog and have a conservation about the dog's needs and personality and hopefully take the dog on a walk with the owner so I can learn about the dog from the owner. Sometimes the owner can provide enough specifics for me to customize a walk right away. Other times, I continue to observe the dog during our walks. by paying close attention to the dog and by understanding dog language I can customize a perfect walk just for him.

Each dog has his own great story. Here are a few of them:

For example, when I had "Chewy", a two year old male golden retriever, I realized that I had a full-fledged ball player on my hands. So after our thirty minute long walk, we took an extended outing to the park equipped with a Chuck-it. I had to navigate and find a perfect spot where he could run and fetch uninterrupted by well meaning dogs trying to distract him to play.
"Harry", an eight-month golden retriever, could not wait to wrestle and romp with his playmates. Our walks were thirty minutes to an hour with a field trip to the dog park where he would interact joyfully with anyone willing to play. I taught Harry's Mom and Harry about the joy of Kong.
"Anna", the happy dog of a veterinarian, was adopted by her mom while she was vacationing in St. Kitts. Anna is so happy when I arrive for her walk, she jumps as high as a pole vaulter. She races out the door ready for action. She can't greet or play with other dogs, because she becomes aggressive. Because of this, I walk her on quiet streets avoiding other dogs. After being a good girl, I reward her with a trip to the local pet store and buy her a pig's ear or a flossie. She takes it in her mouth delicately and holds it the whole way home without a taste. When she gets home she takes her time eating it in her quiet spot while I play with the cats.

Cesar Milan talks about how the dog's walk is the most important ingredient in his living a happy and balanced life. I have seen this to be true. A dog's demeanor changes for the better after a proper walk and a proper walk daily equals a happy dog. This is why I never substitute a dog's walk time with a group visit to the dog park. I see many walkers who put all of their dogs in a large pack and bring them to the dog park every day. They may have good intentions, but they put their own time contraints or financial concerns over what is the highest welfare for the dog.

Dogs have a seemingly endless capacity for love and friendship. When I see therapy dogs or seeing eye dogs, I feel that some of them must be angels. It is an honor for me to work with dogs. I hope to be a part of the extended family of people who love and care for your dog. It would be a priviledge to help you provide your dog with the quality care he deserves.

Cesar's Way The Natural Everyday Guide to Understanding & Correcting
Common Dog Problems by Cesar Milan and:
The other end of the leash: why we do what we do around dogs by
Patricia B. McConnell