DEAR DOGGER PACK!
We know how much you love your pet, and how you just can't get enough of all pet related news!
So we thought, why not start a monthly dogger newsletter, where we can show you our most popular dog pictures, feature a pet of the month, spotlight an employee, and impart some fun advice. (This month, it's how to make Valentine's Day the best ever for your dog).
And while we're at it, might as well throw in an announcement or two, and answer some frequently asked questions. Also our dog Trouble wanted his own column, so we started that for him too. It's called Trouble Times. Sound good? We hope you like it!
Cheers,
Basia & Ian
dogger co-owners
IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT
Next Federal Holiday: President's Day
Monday, February 17th
If you have regularly scheduled appointments on Mondays, our default policy is that your walker will come, and you will be charged a $10 holiday fee.
Please use PetCheck or let us know if you’d like to cancel your service that day.
The last day to cancel or change services without a fee is Friday, February 14th.
Any service requests or changes for the holiday made after the 14th will be subject to a $10 late-change fee.
SINCE YOU ASKED
How do I use the PetCheck App to cancel, change or add an appointment by myself?
1.Go to the App Store, search and download the “Pet Check: For Pet Owners” app.
2.Launch the app and login with the credentials Ian sent you upon signing up with dogger, if you do not have them, please email him at dogger@doggernyc.com
3.On the Schedule page, click on the “SCHEDULED” link to see all your future services.
4.Click on the service you want to change to open it.
5.Click on the red “Cancel Appointment” button to cancel, or on the ”Edit” button in the top right corner to change the time, service type, or add a comment for your walker to see.
Have any more questions? Please email basia@doggernyc.com and if it's something frequently asked I'll feature it next month!
FEBRUARY ADVICE
How to make Valentine's Day the Best Ever for your Dog
February 14th is just around the corner, and you want to make it the best day ever for your one and only Fluffy. What can you possibly do to top last year? Here's what we recommend:
1.Have flowers delivered to Fluffy while you’re at work, make sure they’re good flowers, and by that I mean edible and tasting like meat. Might as well make them be meat flowers then. Is that a thing? If not, just roll up some ham and salami slices and tie together with string cheese or sausage casings and voila. If it’s too much work, just throw the meat slices and/or sausages at Fluffy and that’s good enough too.
2.Make dinner reservations well in advance. But if Jean-Georges, Momofuku, or Masa are already booked, just see #1 above.
3.Choose the perfect gift. It must be very expensive, and so unique that you can’t buy it anywhere. How else will Fluffy know you really love them? Like your grandmother’s antique ruby ring, or your great—grandfather’s Rolex. It’ll look nice on Fluffy’s collar, and if you really want to go the extra mile, bedazzle it with some real diamonds or emeralds. Sapphires will work too.
4.If you have to step out for the evening to spend time with someone else (though who could possibly be more worthy?), you can always leave Fluffy at the dogger HQ for an evening or a night. But book early! Their annual Valentine’s soiree fills up quickly and is full of hot canine singles.
5.Do not let St Valentine down on this, or else he will appear, be very angry at you, and will not give you a treat.
TROUBLE TIMES
Advice Column by our dog Trouble, the resident dogger Fixer
Dear Trouble: Help! My dog just ran away, what should I do?
Dear: "Help! My dog just ran away, what should I do?":
I presume you already ran after him, called his name, biked all over the neighborhood asking if anyone saw him, but he's gone and you don't know where he went even though you looked everywhere. You're filled with terror and don't know what to do next.
Here's what you should do:
1. Get on-line ASAP. There’s a very good chance someone helpful picked up your dog and took him home, and is now checking to see if anyone is looking for him.
Go on these sites right away:
And see if anyone posted about seeing or finding your missing dog. Report your animal as missing on all of these sites. If someone found or even just saw your pup, they’ll reach out to you. You should also keep checking if anyone posted about finding him.
2. Set up Facebook and Instagram pages for your missing dog, and ask everyone to share. Tag your local dog walking companies asking for help (including us of course). We'll help spread the news. #Hashtag with phrases that are followed by many people in your neighborhood, such as #prospectpark #parkslope #dogsofbrooklyn #parkslopeparents etc.
3. Make a Missing Dog Flyer and put it up on street corners. This will take some time, so do the steps above first. Enlist help.
4. If the police or animal control pick up your dog in Brooklyn, they will bring it to the Animal Care Center at 2336 Linden Boulevard. You can call them at (212) 788-4000, but it's most effective to go there in person. That way you can also leave your flyer with them.
5.Call or visit your local dog shelters to see if anyone brought your dog there. If he's chipped they'll scan him but it might take a few days.
Sean Casey Rescue: (718) 436-5163
BARC Shelter: (718) 486-7489
6. Have someone on the lookout near your house, often dogs come back on their own.
Call us for help. Pray to the Dog Gods. Have Faith. Don't give up.
All the best,
Trouble
Double high-five from Sadie Lifton!
MOST POPULAR PICTURE OF THE MONTH
Miss Daisy Owen: "I can't believe how cute I am!"
PET OF THE MONTH
William White
If you were to cross Prince William (the future King), Walter White (the Breaking Bad anti-hero), and a Pekinese, you’d get William White. And so for his sheer Magnificence and Glory, he gets to be our first Dog of the Month!
His back story is just heartbreaking. He was a street dog in sketchy Los Angeles, barely surviving because both of his hind legs were broken when he got hit by a car. He ended up at a shelter, but no one wanted him for a year because of his injuries. Finally, the heroic MaryGen and Shane adopted him, and now he’s thriving and living his best life in Brooklyn. He has two cat roommates named Ninja and Freddy, and in his spare time enjoys board games, true crime podcasts, cheese, and his pink fluffy bed.
He is also in the process of applying for the newly vacated Younger Prince of England job, because he has questionable teeth and knows how to cut ribbons and knight people. Two Princes named William are better than one!
EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT
Taylor Argenbright
Taylor is our General Manager, and she is in charge of all the scheduling, walker training, and problem solving. She is also in the midst of learning to be a Dog Trainer! When she completes her certification, we hope she will stay on as the dogger in-house trainer.
Having moved here from Florida in the summer of ‘16, Taylor leapt into a full walking schedule in record time. She averaged about 100 miles per day in 100 degree heat, going across 5 different neighborhoods, and using every mode of transportation from train to Citibike to bus to scooter to foot. It was amazing and we literally would have died without her.
A talented and classically trained dancer, Taylor has that magical quality of being able to hypnotize the small anxious doggies, the ones who hide under beds and have little freak outs about going out. Though the big scary dogs love her too!
TAYLOR'S TRAINING TIP
Does your puppy know their name?
Is your new puppy not responding to their name? They might not know it! Teach your pup their name by saying it in a cheerful voice to get their attention. When they look at you or come over, say “Good <Puppy Name>” and give them a treat.
UPCOMING PET EVENTS
Feb 1
Fido Coffee Bark (Outside of Picnic House, Prospect Park)
Feb 5
Brooklyn Dog Frisbee League (Prospect Park)
Feb 8
A Dog Plays in Brooklyn (576 3rd Ave, Brooklyn, NY)
FEB 9-11
144th Annual Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show (Madison Square Garden, New York, NY)
Feb 14
Last day to cancel Presidents Day Service
Feb 14
Valentines’s Day
Feb 17
President’s Day
Feb 20
The Good Dog Show: A Dog-Friendly Comedy Show (99 Hanson Place, Brooklyn)
Feb 20
Feb 22
Life Lessons from Pet Loss (Greenwood Cemetery)