Are you an aspiring dog mom? All around an animal lover? Well, luckily for us East Coasters, New York City is densely populated with not only humans but with dogs. If you are like me and enjoy going to dog parks for the thrill of simply watching cute little puppies play, you are in the right place. From parks to sanctuaries, there are so many places to visit that exceed the overall cuteness level.
Here are some of my favorite:
Take a trip to Madison Square Park!
Located off of Fifth Avenue, Madison Square Dog Park is the absolute place to be. Separated by large and small dog areas, you can watch dogs of all different breeds romp and play year round. This is a great place to meet other dog owners as well as people who simply share the same love as you do. Plus, there's a Shake Shack in the park.
Go to a meet up in Stuyvesant Square Park!
Infamously known for its "Doodle" meetups, or "Doodle Romps", this is a great place to really engage! During certain times of the year dog owners often meet up for Doodle Romps where a plentiful amount of Golden-doodles, Labradoodles, and a million other poodle mixed breeds that come to play. After all, it is like dog heaven.
Head to a dog cafe!
Visit Boris & Horton, New York City's first ever dog cafe, where you can interact with many other dogs and their owners! Take a stroll through the East Village and enjoy a nice cup of coffee. While there is both indoor and outdoor seating, there is even a doggy den if you wish to watch them play!
Volunteer at a shelter!
What better way to spend the day with dogs than actually helping them? There are many great shelters throughout the city to help out in such as Animal Haven in Soho, The Brooklyn Animal Resource Coalition in Williamsburg, or work with a nonprofit such as the Mayor's Alliance for NYC's Animals. There are so many dogs that are constantly in need. Dog walking or investing time to just play with them in the shelters does your part!
Join Wag!
If you love to dog watch, walk, and make money, Wag! is the right business for you. Wag! is a dog walking app that connects you to dog owners around the city who pay hourly rates to walk their dog. Not only do you get to meet and interact with different dogs on a schedule based off of your needs, you get to get paid for something fun!
Go to a dog beach in Prospect Park!
Located in the Long Meadow aspect of Prospect Park in Brooklyn, there is a great open swimming area for dogs! If you enjoy watching pups swim and play on the beach all day this is a great spot to just relax and dog watch. Plus, there is plenty of nature to watch as well throughout the park such as birds and migratory birds.
