If you live in Hoboken, you’ve probably joked at least once that there’s dog poop everywhere in the aftermath of the New Jersey tundra this winter. It’s one of those local lines people say half laughing and half serious. But when you really think about it, that joke points to something real. This town has a huge number of dogs packed into a very small space. A lot of dogs, a lot of owners, a lot of walkers, all sharing the same few miles of sidewalks. That’s part of why the r

When I was a young dog walker, one of my clients brought home a Belgian Malinois puppy. Beautiful dog. Alert. Intense. Wired in a way that demanded engagement. They were cat people. They loved the idea of having a dog. What they were not prepared for was what that particular dog required. Within weeks, the puppy was living behind a baby gate in their bathroom because they did not know what to do with him. He barked. He chewed. He paced. He needed direction, structure, and wor

Hoboken is small enough that you see everything. You’ve seen the calm walkers moving down Garden like it’s second nature. And you’ve seen one person holding six dogs on Washington Street at 12 PM, leashes braided together, trying to navigate lunch traffic like it’s an obstacle course. From far away, it all looks like dog walking. Up close, it’s not. If you’re hiring a dog walker in Hoboken, here are the types to watch for. The Giant Pack Walker Six dogs. One person. Washingto

A dog walker’s take. I walk dogs in Hoboken for a living. I see the city before most people are awake. I see it in the rain, in August heat, in winter wind. I see it when commuters are rushing, when kids are spilling out of schools, when bars are closing, when cafes are opening. And I can tell you this without hesitation: Hoboken is one of the most dog friendly cities in America. Not because it says it is. Because it lives like it is. Dogs here are not simply just pets. They