Hi and welcome to the SnifNYCDogs blog! 

In the past year, my husband Josh and I have gone from two people who never owned a dog to self-proclaimed “crazy dog people”.  (Check out the About Us tab to learn more about us and our dog Oscar.)  I was lucky enough to get the opportunity to join a really cool dog-related start-up company earlier this year called SNIF Labs.  So now, I get to bring my dog to work and blog about him - how cool is that??   

This is Oscar, the 2 year old Brussels Griffon who has stolen our hearts…

So, the purpose of this blog is to share some of the cool things we’ve done/found in NYC in the hopes that people who read our blog will return the favor.  We’ll also share any cool dog products we come across and post our random dog thoughts.

Here’s another picture of Oscar posing for his glamour shot at one of our favorite places to hang out - Washington Square Park.

Please visit our New York Dog Map, we’ll be posting more information on this soon.   Also, check out our sister blog in Boston…www.snifbostondogs.com.  They’ve been doing a great job sniffing out all the coolest stuff for dogs in the Boston area.

Until next time,

Anya

I begged my parents for a puppy for 18 years. I went off to college and they got 2 puppies - I sulked and complained to anyone who would listen about the unfairness of it all, but it took me quite a few more years to finally get myself a furry best friend.

My husband and I went back and forth for years about getting a dog - we researched breeds, browsed postings for rescue dogs, read books about raising a new puppy and finally in January of 2006, we brought home this amazingly cute ball of fluff…

I’m not exaggerating when I tell you that Ruff-A-Muffin Oscar The Weapon of Mass Seduction (aka Oscar) has changed our lives. We delayed getting a dog for years because we were worried about the responsibility and lifestyle change - and anyone who has a dog will tell you that it IS a lot of work.

But the reward is way beyond what we expected. Not only do we get to enjoy the company of the sweetest, cutest dog we know, but we now finally have something in common that we both feel equally passionate about. I actually quit my “real” job to work for a dog-friendly start-up company (www.sniflabs.com), where I can even bring Oscar to the office! Finally, we’ve made a lot of new friends and gotten connected with our local community. Here’s a picture of Oscar with his BFF, Buddy….

We met Buddy and his owner in a local dog run last year. Buddy and Oscar got along so well that we started arranging play dates and quickly realized that Oscar wasn’t the only one who had found a cool new friend.

So, in the past year, we’ve gone from two people who never owned a dog to self-proclaimed “crazy dog people”. We’re constantly on a search for fun new dog-related things to do and places to visit. So, we’re going to share some of the cool things we’ve done/found in NYC in the hopes that people who read our blog will return the favor. We’ll also post our random dog thoughts - mostly for our own amusement, but perhaps we will amuse you too or generate some healthy debate.

Since Oscar (talented canine that he is) has not yet mastered typing, my husband Josh will post on his behalf. My colleagues, Marcel and Silvia, will also pop in from time to time to tell us about cool new dog-related products that they have come across in their travels.

So, let us know what we should check out next…..have dog, will travel.

-Anya

Hi and thanks for stopping by my blog!   Is it great to be a dog in New York City, or what??  I’m on a mission to check out all the coolest dog-friendly stuff in NY and let all my pals know about it.  Your mission (should you choose to accept it) is to come along for the ride!

New York City is a pretty cool place to be a dog.  My dad is a total pushover - when he takes me out for a walk in the morning, I always try to drag him to the Dog Run at Washington Square Park.   Usually, he’s cool with it, but if we’re out for a quick walk on the way to work, I’ll have to resort to hardcore techniques like planting myself on the corner, giving him pleading eyes, and refusing to move.  Mom, on the other hand, takes no crap from me.  Don’t get me wrong  - she spoils me rotten - and if she’s eating something you can bet I’ll get a piece of it - but for some reason I don’t have the same control over her when we’re out prowling the neighborhood.  She’s also a lot tougher when it comes to deciding what I can pee on.  Mom won’t even let me pee on the sides of buildings - only curbside peeing for me!  I really WANT to be a good neighbor, but sometimes I just need a gentle reminder. 

I have a tremendous Dog boutique radar.  If you get me within 5 blocks of a place that sells  dog toys or treats, you’d better get ready for a serious tug of war - I’m gonna try to drag you there.  Hey - I’m a pup who knows what he wants and isn’t afraid to go get it.  Keep posted - I’ll be adding a map with all of the boutiques, pet stores, dog runs, grooming salons and day care places that I’ve discovered in my travels.

I guess my honesty about being stubborn might make you think I’m a “bad dog,”  but that couldn’t be further from the truth.  I’m a total heartthrob, and my face is immeasurably cute.  If Helen of Troy was beautiful enough to launch 1000 ships, I’m cute enough to stop 1000 tourists on the streets of the Village, and that’s why mom and dad got me into the Delta Society therapy dog program - but we’ll get into that later.

Check back later and I’ll tell you about some more of my favorite places to hang out in the big apple!

Smell’ya Later 

-Oscar