How to Handle Your Dog Seeing NYC for the First Time

Seeing NYC for the first time is a magical experience, and seeing a dog see NYC for the first time is even better. I’ve fostered three dogs so far, and every time, one of the best parts has been their first-day amazement and curiosity. Particularly during the monotony of the pandemic, seeing a dog witness the sights and sounds of NYC for the first time injected a newness into my daily routine and gave me a newfound appreciation for the city. Here are a few tips for making their arrival in NYC as smooth as possible.

Arrival

Many Muddy Paws fosters are strays or shelter dogs, with little to nothing known about their background. After a road trip here from states such as Kentucky or Georgia, they exit their transport van one by one to be introduced to their fosters, like contestants on a much cuddlier season of The Bachelor. Upon their arrival in NYC, your foster may be shell-shocked or shy or really have to pee. However your dog responds at your first meeting, move slowly, get down to their level, and provide treats. Know that this first response is rarely a sign of their true personality; it can take time for them to settle into city life. For example, one of my foster pups barfed with nerves on her first day (you did not see that on my Instagram). Be patient as your dog decompresses.

Walking

First, you’ll likely have to walk your dog home. On your foster’s first walk in NYC, a 20-minute walk could easily take two hours. Again, your dog will likely be nervous about the city, so walk slowly and give them time to acclimate to their environment. Also, it’s important to let them sniff. A dog’s sense of smell is estimated to be between 10,000 to 100,000 times more acute than a human’s. My dogs needed to smell every single thing in NYC, and there are so many smells–Nuts 4 Nuts carts, manhole exhaust steam, garbage, and even more garbage.

Then there are sounds: One of my fosters would howl along with every ambulance siren, and another refused to walk over sidewalk cellar doors after one banged when she stepped on it. This is understandable, since dogs can hear things four times farther away than humans can. Give your foster time to adjust to all the new noises of the city.

Commands

Even on your first walk, it’s important to start teaching your dog the rules of the city. For example, don’t eat off the street, no chasing rats, and sit at the crosswalk. Ideally, your dog will walk on your side with a loose leash, rather than pulling it taut, but it can take a while to work up to that. Make sure you have plenty of treats for this walk and future walks, since food helps incentivize your dog to stay by your side and listen to your commands. Use verbal encouragement as well, and skip your podcasts so you can focus your attention on your dog. And remember that new Muddy Paws dogs should not be allowed to interact with other dogs or humans. A command of, “Sorry, I don’t want to say hi. They’re new here!” can be effective on canine passersby.

Location

There are also pedestrians, cars, and bikes to consider, so it can help to choose a more mellow location for your dog’s first walks in NYC. Remember, your dog may have never experienced city life before, so finding a park or greenery can help your dog feel calmer. And being around nature is good for humans, too. You could also find a more spacious route, avoiding the many sidewalk widths in NYC that are under 12 feet wide. For example, my fosters especially appreciated the calmer and broader sidewalks of East End Avenue, or walking the 15-foot-wide sections of Park Avenue and seeing the holiday lights in winter.

Having a dedicated walking routine, both with timing and location, can help your dog assimilate to NYC. I let my dogs pick out their favorite spot to go to the bathroom–the telephone pole outside my apartment, for example. Another foster of mine preferred going to the bathroom in a pile of leaves, perhaps a hint at a more rural lifestyle in her past. Returning to that spot every day helps enforce their routine.

Weather

The weather can affect your dog’s comfort in NYC, especially when it’s extremely hot or extremely cold (so, 90% of the year). Watching puppies witness snow for the first time in Central Park is one of the purest things you’ll ever witness; however, your dog may be disinclined to walk in inclement weather. Likewise, be cautious in hot weather, staying as cool as possible, giving your dog plenty of water, and keeping an eye out for excessive panting or drooling—signs of overheating in dogs.

Inside

When your dog arrives at your home for the first time, it helps to counterbalance the overwhelming outside with a dedicated indoor area, room, or pen, along with their crate. This is the rare time when tiny NYC apartments can be good; you should start your dog in a smaller space and gradually introduce them to the rest of your apartment. Potential obstacles like stairs, loud neighbors, or other pets should all be tackled slowly with your foster, using lots of encouragement and rewarding good behavior. One of my fosters had a panic attack the first time she saw the one flight of stairs to my apartment, but within a week, she was the one leading me home.

Overall, establishing a routine early with your foster is the best way to get them used to the city. You’ll start seeing progress by using positive reinforcement, training with treats, and going slowly. NYC can be an overwhelming city at first, but once your fosters make it here, they can make it anywhere.