Gah! Moving to NYC, with dog. Advice?

 All I can say is that I went to grooming school in Manhattan and there are TONS of people with dogs.  That won't be your major problem - in the city, you have to learn to sleep with noise.  When they say the place that never sleeps, they aren't kiddin'.  If he's ok in an apt. while you work, I doubt you'll have any trouble. 

I live in NYC, Brooklyn to be exact. I will echo the fact that TONS of people in the city have dogs. BF works for a doggy day care, and picks up and drops dogs off, and he says that you wouldn't believe the tiny apts. people keep dogs in in Manhattan.

We live in Brooklyn with two pit bulls. We have a large apartment with a back yard. Our dogs generally get a lot of exercise inside, as they can run in the house (its a long apt), as well as in our back yard, on daily walks, and in the dog park when its empty. If I were to give you a recommendation it would be to look in BK, the apts. you find will be much larger than in NY, and for a better price. It certainly isn't cheap, we pay A LOT of rent for this apt, but its gorgeous, in a brownstone, large, and with a back yard.

Since you live in Arlington I suspect he is use to hearing noise, honking horns and people talking outside during the nighttime?  I would think that would be the biggest adjustment for my dogs - the country bumkins they are.

My suggestion would be to try and find an apartment as close to the ground floor as you can.  That would make those mid-night potty runs or late night potty walks easier and faster.  When my girlfriend lived in DC/Arlington area she was quite a few stories up and she complained about the time it took to wait for the elevator and to get outside the complex (there was somekind of mall in her building) before she actually got her pupper outside, especially in the morning before work it added quite a bit of time to her morning schedule.  After all she is from the country and was use to opening her door and being on her walk.

If it were me I would want a quite block if possible, being on a main street might mean having to walk a block or two before you can actually allow your dog to releive himself.  Lot's of people walking by might be a problem.

All and all city living for dogs is fine.  If not anything, you are forced to exercise them with walks and jogs and its good for you too - I suspect you already know that.

 Good luck and best of luck with your new job.  I only live 40 minutes outside of NYC you are welcome to come visit us and let the puppers run and play together on our 3 acres of property anytime!  River, Brooke and Hailie love company!

Ha, Swissy, I was going to make the same offer.  I'm not as close to NYC as you but Riley & his mama are welcome here any time for play or to just get out of the city.

Well it sounds exciting for your career and NYC is a super place to be if you don't like the quiet life.  I have never lived in the city with a dog so can't offer much except that lots and lots of people do.  There used to be a member on here who life in Manhattan with a gorgeous black lab.  May be someone can remember them?  She used a daycare some days and also had a dog walker some days.  She would be a great resource for you I'm sure.

Good luck!! 

monkeybear

  I have done a little research, and I know there are parks, running trails, dog runs, etc. but I guess I'm looking for insight from those with more personal experience.  Riley is almost 3 years old, Lab, high energy and excited but settles down well with good exercise and is calm and non-destructive in the apartment.  My concerns are centered less around finding an apartment (which I know is a pain, but I've got some good connections and my company will be helping in that area) and more about lifestyle.  DC and Arlington are certainly not rural, but NY is a city city!

 Anything I should look out for or be sure to think through?  We would live in either Manhattan or Brooklyn - there aren't other options, for several reasons.  General thoughts or advice?

     I would have to say that Manhattan would probably be your best bet, although both boroughs are dog friendly. However, "the city" is probably one of the most hospitable to dogs in the country! Central park allows off leash dogs at certain times of the day, there are excellent pet stores, variety of foods, outstanding Vets. It is quite an urban environment but isn't far from other areas of NYC/NY state that offer more, er, fresh air, lol. I think you're really going to enjoy Central Park ... right outside the park is like a doggie hangout club ... Anyway, you'll never be bored. Just don't move to the Bronx, lol. Dog friendly activities are nil here, and the Vets here SUCK  (I should know I tried damn near every one of them ...)  

     You might also find this website helpful: www.urbanhound.com

 Thank you all so much for your input!  It has made me feel a little better. 

 I am thinking that I will probably look into Brooklyn first, as you do seem to get more for your $$$, but we'll see.  If I find something great in Manhattan, that would have the benefit of being closer to most of my friends.  It's not even a 100% done deal yet, but I figure I can't start thinking about this too soon (particularly as my boss last week said that if we decide it's a go, he'll want me up there "within 60 days" - hence the "gah!";).

 One more question, if I may... do you all have cars?  Living in DC, it's totally necessary to have one (particularly with my job), but if I'm able to live within walking distance of a train in NY, I'm thinking I'd try to get on without one.  Any thougths?  The major drawback I can see to *not* keeping my car would be that I'd have to rent one (or something) to get up to see my parents (and Riley's BFF, their Golden Retriever!), who live upstate.

 Houndmusic - thanks for the link - that is a cool site.

p.s. Alieliza, your pibbles are GORGEOUS.  I'm glad you found Tyson a sister

 

I sent you a PM, but Ill post this info here too.

When considering whether or not to have a car in NYC, keep in mind that you cannot bring large dogs on any form of public transportation (subway, trains, buses, etc). You also cannot take a large dog in any yellow cab, and not in most car services. They do have "pet taxis" but they are quite expensive.

If you need to go upstate, bring your dog to a vet thats not in your neighborhood, go large scale grocery shopping, or large scale shopping of any kind -- think major trips to target-- having a car is a benefit, though it can be a HUGE pain in the neck otherwise.

Things to keep in mind.

     I do have a car, but almost never use it. In the city, I do not use it at all - it's completely unnecessary, cumbersome. Everythign is located nearby, either within walking distance or accessable via bus/subway. Traffic is a B**** here and in Manhattan, is slighty better in Brooklyn, but not by much. Public transportation gets you anywhere within the boroughs, and is still relatively inexpensive. Well, a lot cheaper than gas, lol. The only reason I do have the car is when I need to get out of the city.