Happy Holidays!
From our pup to yours, Happy Holidays Grand Rapids! We are so thankful to be able to do what we love in our great city. Looking forward to caring for your wonderful dogs in the New Year!
From our pup to yours, Happy Holidays Grand Rapids! We are so thankful to be able to do what we love in our great city. Looking forward to caring for your wonderful dogs in the New Year!
Berkley is a 7 year old Boxer with the best puppy eyes and floppy ears you could ask for! He comes running right to the front window as soon as I pull up, then runs to the door to wait for me to come inside. He knows he gets a treat when he sits but he is super excited for his walk and spins in circles a few times before he can calm down enough to sit. Once we head out he has his head and ears up looking in every direction so he doesn’t miss a single thing. He is quite the speedy walker but if it’s raining he will have to tip toe thru any puddles in his path. He may look like Mr Tough Guy but he is really just a big sweetie and I have found that he doesn’t like loud noises (leaf blowers were quite an issue this fall hehe). When it’s picture time he always has some handsome poses for me and if I don’t get his treat out fast enough he starts going thru his other tricks with a desperate look on his face. (So cute!) He does like to show off his bark every now and then but he is a very polite guy while we are out. When we get back he plops right back into a sit for his final treat and watches me leave out the front window. I always look forward to seeing Berkley, his energy and sweet face just brighten my day! -Alaina (Nature of the Dog -Grand Rapids Dog Walker)
Riley is a young German Shepherd who is full of energy! There is only time for a quick hello and pat on the head before she’s ready to bolt out the door. Once we are leashed up, Riley is all business. She is on the lookout for anything that moves. Riley loves spotting squirrels, stopping in her tracks, and slowly creeping towards them. She thinks she is being very sneaky, but the squirrels always catch on, much to Riley’s dismay. One of her favorite things to do is trying to chase cars. If we spot a car, I quickly distract her with treats, that way she doesn’t pull me down the sidewalk! I have been working with Riley on her reaction to cars and it is so exciting to see her improving week after week. After our walk, it is time for a game of fetch. She searches the yard for her ball and brings it to my feet. I love spending this time with Riley because I can tell how happy she is. Soon Riley is worn out, and I can tell because she always lays down, rolls over, and demands belly rubs, which I happily provide! Riley is such a sweetheart and I always look forward to our walks together! -Ashley (Nature of the Dog -Grand Rapids Dog Walker)
Riley is a sweet older whippet who is very well behaved but still has plenty of energy to keep up with his younger brother on our long walks! He has to practice lots of patience because his brother, Lucca is still learning the ropes and can be a bit crazy. There is lots of excitement when I come in and generally toys flying everywhere for a few minutes until I get leashes on. Riley does a wonderful job showing off what a “good dog” looks like trotting along right next to me and sitting so nicely for his treats. Occasionally he does have to be the big brother and keep Lucca in line but they always make up and I love watching them get excited and chase squirrels up trees together. Riley likes to keep one ear flipped over while we are out to really be able to hear every little sound. When I first met him, he had his leg wrapped up because he had gotten in a scuffle with a fox (crazy guy!) so I know if I let him he would happily bring home a squirrel everyday! Now that it’s getting colder Riley has to wear his fancy winter coat when we head out and he is not a fan, when we get back and I pull it off there is lots of crazy shaking and some happy circles before he climbs into his bed for a little nap. I always get a few good laughs walking Riley and his brother and love seeing them on my schedule! -Alaina (Nature of the Dog -GR Dog Walker)
Humanity would be at a loss without dogs. They have inherent super powers. Your dog loves you for simply existing and they have such a capacity for forgiveness. It’s invaluable to have a companion who judges so little and loves so large! I feel so much love from Tesla. She’s an easy going girl beaming from head to tail. Tesla always smiles when we walk through the neighborhood and she’s never one to fuss. Tesla naturally maintains a cool, collected disposition on our walks. Dogs don’t bother her, people don’t bother her and she pays no mind to garbage trucks or school buses! Dont let her age ever fool you, Tesla is 12 years young and though she admires lounging on her bed, she’s just as eager to be up and exercising with you. She really is a tough lady with a heart of gold. Her eyes are strikingly beautiful and the first thing to notice if you meet her. They’re soft and baby blue and she’ll use those sweet eyes to charm you and ask for her favorite treats! Tesla looks up frequently on our walks and I can’t help but be drawn to her expression. Her super power is contagious joy. She draws a genuine smile out of me on my roughest days. Tesla is unimaginably sweet and I’m fortunate to walk her every week! -Kailey (Nature of the Dog -GR Dog Walker)
We had a wonderful time leading the Mutt Strut Community Dog Walk this past Wednesday! The walk started at Fido & Stitch and ended at the Garage Bar for food and drink specials. The dogs looked great in their Halloween costumes, and Green Dog Photography was there to capture all the cuteness! Thank you to all who came out! (Pictures below are from Green Dog Photography www.greendogphotography.com)
We have had the pleasure of having Buddies Pet Photography join us on our Grand Rapids Community Dog Walks. Sara from Buddies Pet Photography has been wonderful to work with, and has taken some beautiful shots as shown below. For more information on Buddies Pet Photography, check out her website: www.buddiespetphotography.com
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Dog of the Week! This week we present to you the energetic pup named Marley! On February 2nd she became a beautiful two year old Pit-Lab mix. This little girl is so much fun to walk and each time I am impressed to see how much she is improving. So far her biggest change is this: When I first began walking her I would walk in to see a shy little pup curled up in her crate nervously watching me. After I opened it, while sitting on the floor and talking quietly to her she would begin to very slowly walk out, come over and give some kisses. But, the last time I walked her, I crouched down to open her crate, as usual, she was so happy and jumped out to give me a kiss so fast she knocked me over! Getting her harness on is a very unique thing, she will ever so gently step into it and wait patiently, as soon as she hears it clip however, be ready to jump out of your skin! (I still do every time!) She will immediately be overcome by excitement and will start squeaking, barking, yipping, jumping and spinning in tiny circles. The first time she did this I freaked out because I thought I pinched her skin in the clip, but nope, she’s just really that excited and can’t contain herself! As we begin our walk she zips back and forth so fast she will often trip over herself but it doesn’t slow her down. It seems to be she has to sniff and check everything the second she sees it like it might disappear if she doesn’t. :) Although she has gotten used to me she is still rather shy/nervous about other people and especially dogs. At first she would be very wary and need some encouragement to keep walking if she just heard a dog barking. She has come quite a ways with that, she will get a bit nervous but continues walking, even if we pass by another dog. Marley’s favorite part of the day is when we have a few minutes left and we get back early. Once inside, she quickly stops to have her harness taken off then runs and sits by the slider door to the backyard. She’s off like a shot with her Frisbee the second she can squeeze through the door. Her energy is contagious and I end up laughing the whole time we play. At the end of our time this well-mannered pup will drop her toy by the door and wait for me to open the door. Each walk with Marley is a real treat and I cannot wait to get to know her better and watch her improve as she grows into the beautiful dog she is sure to be. -Kym (Nature of the Dog -GR Dog Walker)
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Bailey! This little sweetheart is made of pure energy and is ready to go as soon as you arrive. Each time I walk in she’s laying down and acting shy. When you open her crate she takes two slow steps then she is hopping around, giving kisses and tearing back and forth from the front door and the kitchen. Once her harness is on she gets in one quick stretch and it’s go time! She does so great on her walks and absolutely LOVES meeting new friends of any kind, poor little girl whines when the squirrels run away from her. Bailey is an amazing pup who is improving and growing each time I see her. When I met her I would carry her downstairs easily in one arm and now I can barely lift her. Starting her walks used to take quite a bit of encouragement as she was very nervous and hesitant to leave the parking lot. On our walks now we have a great time exploring the neighborhood and different streets each time, she would go all day if she could, especially if there are the little flags along the sidewalk to follow. After her walk and lunch we usually have a few minutes left to play. She loves to play tug and fetch, depending on the day she will chase a ball the whole time, or she will lay down and give you puppy dog eyes. If you are lucky enough to see “the eyes” from her, sit down next to her and she will curl up in your lap, give you a couple kisses and put her paws on your hands. Bailey is truly made of sugar, spice and everything nice. I look forward to each walk and to see her growing into the gorgeous girl she’s sure to be. -Kym (Nature of the Dog -GR Dog Walker)
Thank you for the recommendation GRNow! Here’s a great write-up with 5 Reasons to LOVE Downtown Living! The original article can be found here: http://www.grnow.com/5-reasons-love-downtown-living/
As the demand for urban living continues to increase, business owners are starting to cater to their residence growing needs. Many retail & speciality shops are opening within the local neighborhoods to accommodate city living and lifestyle needs. Each downtown neighborhood highlights a unique business district offering places like yoga studios, book stores, clothing boutiques, home decor shops, salons, butchers, bakeries & cafes. Whatever area downtown you decide to call home you will be in walking (or biking) distance to many popular and locally owned hot spots!
One of our favorite picks for walkable neighborhoods is Uptown, located just east of downtown, with four distinct business districts: East Fulton, East Hills, Eastown & Wealthy St. Known as one of GR’s hippest areas offering a fun mix of shops, restaurants and bars. A few of our must visit shops in Uptown include Art of the Table, Books & Mortar & Clothing Matters. Feeling thirsty?! Check out our go-to breweries in this area: Elk Brewing & Brewery Vivant.
Downtown Grand Rapids has a unique and growing food culture that plays a huge role in the evolution of our city and its local flavor. Our growing appetite for fresh and local dinning options has opened the doors to many new and exciting ventures in the culinary scene. Over the last 12 months we have seen around two dozen restaurants/bars, microbreweries and distilleries open downtown, with many more projects in the pipeline for 2017. You will never have to worry about a boring culinary scene while living downtown! Like the speciality shops found in the variety of business districts peppered around downtown, you will also find a handful of speciality foodie options to fit every taste and every budget.
Check out some of our foodie favorites: For a great cup of coffee & delicious pastry, Lyon St Cafe, purchase locally sourced meats from Louise Earl Butcher, or try the best (seriously, THE best) made from scratch soup at Uncle Cheetah’s.
Living downtown and being closely connected to your community fosters healthy relationships and meaningful connections. These are key factors that play a big role to a persons level of happiness. Many of the business districts are built upon locally owned & operated businesses, where the owner also lives in the neighborhood. When you spend your time and money locally you are supporting your fellow neighbor & small business owner, keeping money and jobs here in Grand Rapids. Doesn’t that thought alone make you smile?! 🙂
Get all the thrills of city living while keeping a connection to mother nature. With just over 1,200 acres in 71 city-owned park sites you can easily find green space downtown. Enjoy an array of trails all around the city or the riverwalk running along the Grand River connecting you to additional parks and trails on both sides of the river. Just a short distance north of downtown you will find the largest area of green space within in the city of Grand Rapids, located in the North Quarter and its three up-and-coming neighborhoods: North Monroe, Creston, & Cheshier Village. This stretch of Monroe & Plainfield Avenue is desirable for its close proximity to the center of downtown, its beautiful riverside views, and the anticipated developments in 2017.
With a boom in downtown development, and an increase in urban living options, we are seeing a shift in the standard of amenities with more attention to residence with pets. My favorite pet friendly downtown living option are buildings that offer affordable pet fees, indoor pet relief areas & grooming stations. I recently visited The Rowe, located on the corner of Michigan and Monroe Ave, (one of the newest development projects downtown) and was excited to see they included pet friendly options with the recent redevelopment of the building.
Living downtown with a dog has become much more hassle free with the opening of businesses like Fido & Stitch, who offers a wide variety of pet supplies, pet food and grooming services and A Pleasant Dog for all of your dog training needs. For the busy downtown dweller looking for a little help with daytime potty breaks, we recommend dog waking services from Urban Tails or Nature of the Dog… and yes they come to you!
If you’re like me, and your dog is your number one sidekick, you will also appreciate the many dog waste stations around town for your pet’s unexpected pit stop on your way to the local watering hole for a delicious beverage on a dog friendly patio. Our favorite park with the pup in tow – Hillcrest Dog Park, located at 1415 Lyon St NE. A great places to let your fur baby burn off some energy and run like the wind!
And last but not least, taking your pup in for wellness visits is easy without leaving downtown! Visit a local veterinary clinic – Eastown Veterinary Clinic or Wealthy Street Animal Hospital.
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