Living in NYC with a German Shepherd Dog

Hi guys! This post is a bit outside of my usual content, but I’ve received a lot of requests on IG & TikTok to talk about having a big, high energy dog in NYC, how I get her enough exercise, pros and cons of a big dog, and my daily routine with Yara.

First, I want to say that having a larger dog that requires regular exercise is a time commitment! Please do not get a dog without considering the time they will take from your schedule – it’s okay to not want to give up that time, but make sure you give it some thought before bringing an animal into you home! If you get a high energy dog, they need to get that energy out, and it’s your duty as their owner to make that happen.

My routine with Yara generally goes like this:

• Park before 8am so we have at least 45-60 minutes to run/play fetch
• Breakfast when we get home
• Two bathroom breaks/short walks throughout the day
• Dinner at 6:30
• Bedtime bathroom break

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It’s not as convenient as having a dog outside of a city, but with a little more effort it is entirely possible! Here are some of the things I’ve learned over the last 1.5 years of having Yara in NYC:

1. Most parks allow dogs off leash between 9pm-9am (unless explicitly stated that they do not)! I live near Central Park and go almost every morning before . It is always filled with dog! This is a great way to socialize your pup and give them space to run. Pro tip: save your arm and get a chuck it! **please check the park before letting your dog run free! There will always be guide signs at the entrance of the park.***
2. Work with a trainer. Yara was extremely reactive and pulled terribly on the leash when we first brought her home. After a few weeks of sheer frustration and hating walks, we decided to get a trainer. I regret not doing it sooner! He helped us find the right type of collar for Yara (we started with a gentle leader and switched to a prong collar), showed us how to correctly walk her, and also helped Yara feel more comfortable on the leash and outside. Walks are going to be a daily occurrence so it’s worth properly training your pup so it can be a pleasant experience for both of you. If you are looking for an NYC based trainer, we used Dominik from the Dog Behaviorist and loved working with him!
3. Buy one of these or a handheld shower head for easy cleaning! NYC can be gross and Yara’s paws get dirty fast. I couldn’t deal with her walking all over the nasty sidewalk and then jumping on our furniture so I started washing her paws in the tub. The MudBuster is great for a quick wash and a handheld shower head will make bath time so much easier!
4. To my pleasant surprise, most apartment neighbors don’t notice or care about your dog barking. Yara has a LOUD bark, I was shocked when I heard such a booming noise come from her body. She’s not an incessant barker by any means, but she does bark when someone new comes over, we get a delivery, and at random noise in the hallway. This is the second apartment we’ve lived in with her and we’ve never received a complaint. Similarly, I’ve never been bothered by any of my neighbors dogs and I know there are at least 5 on my floor alone. Again, this could be luck, but so many city dwellers are dog owners and understand the natural of living in close quarters.
5. Ask your Uber driver if they will take a pet before they get to you (and make sure you specify their size). I always send the driver a note asking they are willing to accommodate a 50lb. dog. Some are totally fine with it (though they may ask you to keep your pet on the floor or your lap) and others aren’t. Just be courteous and ask before they arrive at your location. This will save you a lot of time and frustration!
6. Having a dog helps you discover more of your city! Before Yara we stuck to the same routine paths near our apartment, once we got Yara and started spending more time walking outside, we started to discover new parts of our neighborhood.
7. Protect the paws! In summer, the sidewalks and streets can get extremely hot, in winter, they’re covered in harsh salt. We got these shoes for Yara to wear in the snow and on extremely hot days. She definitely didn’t love them at first, but has adjusted to wearing them.
8. Large dog means large dog food bags. Make your life easier and set up auto ship for dog food! You’ll never run out and won’t have to haul a 30lb. bag of food 10 blocks to your apartment.

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Things to Consider:

• Many dog services are extremely expensive, especially for larger dogs. Getting Yara groomed in NYC, which includes bath, nail clip, and minimal body trim, costs about $175. In NJ, it costs $75!! We take Yara to my mom’s in NJ to be groomed because it’s such a savings.
• Not all apartment buildings allow dogs over a certain weight and some don’t allow dogs at all! Our building has a weight limit of 50lbs. of pets per unit…yes, you read that right, 50lbs. of pets per unit. Meaning you can have five 10lb. dogs, two 25lb. dogs, or one 50lb. dog 😂 Trust me, I’ve seen some larger dogs in our building, but it seems like those folks already lived her before getting their pup. It’s more difficult to apply to a new building with an XL dog as that may be a reason for them to deny your application…(sigh).
• Potty training a puppy in a high rise or 5 floor walk up isn’t going to be easy! I am thankful every day that we didn’t have to do this with Yara (we rescued her when she was 1) because I don’t know how people do it! Yara has an extremely sensitive stomach and has has a few accidents. It’s nearly impossible to get them outside before the deed is done. You either sacrifice having an accident in your home or try to get to the sidewalk and panic that the accident will happen in a common space (or worse, the elevator).

Getting Yara was one of the best decisions we made! She gives us so much joy and happiness, and any “inconveniences” she causes are entirely worth it. Having a big dog in a city is completely doable, but please considering the impact on your lifestyle before making the commitment to a new pet.

And please, consider adopting before purchasing from a pet store or breeder!! There are so many amazing dogs that need homes. If you’re in the NYC area below are a few rescue organizations I recommend:

• Muddy Paws Rescue – this is where we found Yara!
• Social Tees Animal Rescue – They are frequently looking for new homes outside of NYC as well as in the city
• Waggytail Rescue

Feel free to DM me on IG with any questions and I’ll do my best to answer!

*Melissa