Ichi's Friends Dogwalking Service

Ichi's Summer Book Club

2011-06-16T10:19:00.000-04:00

Summer is a great time to catch up on all your reading (especially at the beach with your pooch next to you) so we thought we would start a new thing over here at Ichi's Friends...a summer book club! We aren't literary scholars over here, just regular dog crazy people so all of the books we suggest will be canine-themed. And if you have an especially good dog book you think we should read, please email us. We are always looking for good dog books!

Anyway, to start thing off, we would like to suggest A Dog's Purpose by W. Bruce Cameron. This book made me cry, laugh, and was so beautifully written that I think it is a must-read for any dog lover. Written from the point of view of a dog through many life times, the book's premise for me was very unique although to be honest, I was a bit skeptical at first. I soon got into the story and could not put this book down so that I finished it in 2 days! It is the kind of book that you do not want to end but you end up reading quickly since you want to know what happens (at least if you are like me). This book really captured the beauty of dogs and really made me think of how Ichi sees the world. I imagine writing from a dog's point of view could be quite challenging but this dog's voice is so spot on and authentic, you will definitely think about your own dog and his take on the world around him.

So, pick up your copy and start reading! And feel free to email me to share your thoughts on the book. In the meantime, we will be searching for next month's book.:)

Help Ichi's Brothers and Sisters in Japan!

2011-03-14T23:04:00.001-04:00

We here at Ichi's Friends are quite shaken up over the devastation that the magnitude 9.0 earthquake and tsunami caused in Japan on March 11, 2011. Ichi's mama is from Japan and this picture was taken by Ichi's papa the last time they were there. Luckily, all of our immediate family is safe and accounted for but thousands of others are still in need of our help, including the doggies and kitties of Japan. Please click on the links below to donate:

To Help Our Human Brothers and Sisters:

American Red Cross
World Vision
AmeriCares

To Help Our Animal Brothers and Sisters:

World Vets
National Disaster Search Dog Foundation
Japan Earthquake Animal Rescue and Support

Introducing Your Dog to Your New Baby and Congratulations Olive!!

2010-12-07T15:28:00.001-05:00

One of Ichi's Friends original clients, Olive the frenchie, became a big sister late last month to a new human addition to the family. In honor of this special occasion, I thought I'd put up a few helpful tips on what you can do to prepare your fur baby for the arrival of a human baby.

Before the Arrival of Baby

Re-enforce or train your pup basic commands such as "sit", "off", "down stay", "leave it", and "quiet".
Play a recording of baby noises such as crying, giggling, etc. so that your pup will be used to the baby's sounds.
Socialize your pup with as many babies and children as you can. If you have friends with babies, have them come over and hang out with your pup.
If your pup isn't going to be allowed on the bed or on furniture once the baby comes home, start before the actual baby gets here so as to allow time for your pup to adjust.
Having a baby is a full time job and it's likely your pup won't be getting as much attention once baby comes home. Before the baby is born, slowly decrease the amount of attention you are giving your dog while at the same time providing your pup with an interactive toy such as a stuffed kong to keep him/her busy.
Practice walking your dog next to the stroller before the baby arrives. Give lots of praise and treats for good leash manners.
If your pup has behavioral or training issues such as jumping up when greeting you, a hard mouth, or resource guarding, address these before the arrival of the baby by meeting with a professional trainer.

Once the Baby is Home

Before the baby comes home, bring in a blanket or something that smells of the new baby so your pup can smell it and get used to the new baby's scent.
Try and have a neutral person bring the baby into the house for the very first time so that your pup's "people" can greet him/her in the usual manner.
Have your pup on leash and be prepared with treats when introducing your pup to your baby for the first time. Have your pup calmly sit and reward good, calm behavior around the baby.
Try and include your pup and not punish him/her for just being curious such as when you are feeding or bathing the baby. However, if your pup is not acting appropriately, give him/her a "time out" so that she/he understands that nice, calm behavior allows your pup to be near you and the baby.
Never leave your pup and your baby unattended alone!! You may trust your dog but it is always better to be safe than sorry.
Do spend quality time with your fur baby and make sure he/she doesn't feel completely neglected and abandoned because of baby.

The bottom line here is that you want to make sure everyone in your "pack" is safe and happy. Set your dog up for success at all times, meaning with proper training and early planning, your dog will have no trouble adjusting to the arrival of a baby. And of course, feel free to schedule extra time with Ichi's Mama to take care of your pup if you need it:-)

Ichi's New Friend: Lloyd Hobbler

2010-12-06T15:57:00.000-05:00

Meet Lloyd Hobbler, our first ever tripod client who has a truly remarkable story to share!! Lloyd's proud parents adopted him from a rescue down south that had found this sweet puppy thrown out from a moving car, shattering one of his rear legs on impact. This truly horrific past has done nothing to dampen the little guy's spirits though, he now prances around Greenpoint on 3 legs, happily greeting anyone that walks by! Lloyd is still a puppy but is already so good at making new dog friends and sitting for treats. Here he is posing for us in his yellow raincoat. We are so glad to have met this very special guy!

Betty on the Waterfront

2010-11-10T15:23:00.000-05:00

Here is a pic of Ichi's pal, Betty the dachshund posing in front of the water in Williamsburg. Betty is such a super sweet girl whose tongue is always peeking out and ready to pick up any food bits. She loves exploring her new neighborhood in Brooklyn (she and her parents came here from Manhattan) and especially likes going to the nearby pet stores to sample treats! Betty also likes exploring McCarren Park with her pal Bea the beagle or walking all the way to Greenpoint to drop Bea off and play in her backyard. We here at Ichi's Friends are so happy to have made a new friend in Betty!

August on the Waterfront

2010-10-19T20:47:00.003-04:00

Here is our favorite golden retriever August giving one of her award winning smiles at her favorite park on the waterfront. Auggie likes to go on a very specific path when she gets to the end of Grand Avenue always ending up at the water fountain where she makes Ichi's mama turn it on for 2 seconds before she will continue walking. Auggie's mama told us that this was probably because she always washes her ball for her there after playing, silly girl!!

Spotlight on: Doug

2010-09-29T15:45:00.002-04:00

Dougie recently became Ichi's new bff when he stayed at our place last week. We even caught the two of them cuddling on our couch after a long walk! Doug is a shih tzu terrier(?) mix that was rescued by his dog trainer mom when he was just a little pup. Now, he is an energetic, well socialized, gourmet food connossieur who regularly taste tests Ichi's mama's new recipes. His favorite things to do when he stays with us are: walks to McCarren Park, tug of war with Ichi, and cuddling all of Ichi's family members to see if he gets jealous (he doesn't, he's used to it). Ichi misses Doug already and can't wait to have another sleepover with him soon!

Pic of the Day

2010-09-20T14:53:00.003-04:00

This is baby Lafayette, a boarding client who stayed with us this weekend. Here he is enjoying the sun at McCarren Park.

Ichi's Fun Weekend Getaways

2010-08-30T11:29:00.007-04:00

Even though Ichi loves living in Brooklyn and exploring his neighborhood, he sometimes gets the itch to leave the city and go on an adventure. These are a few of the places that he recommends to get away from the city:

Bear Mountain State Park
This state park is only about an hour away from the city by car and offers so much hiking that Ichi comes home and passes out! There are numerous lakes in the entire Harriman State Park area that Ichi likes to jump into and cool off. Just be sure you check your pups for ticks at the end of your hike and make sure to bring plenty of water. I sometimes pack Ichi a peanut butter and honey sandwich on whole grain bread for a energy boosting treat.

Fire Island
Ichi loves hanging out at the beach all day and what better place to do so than Fire Island? Because no cars are allowed on the entire island and because most of the island is super dog friendly, this is our favorite place to take the little guy on a hot summer day. Since it's a bit of a hike, it is better to have some extra time when visiting but a day trip is manageable if you stay closer to the city. Please keep in mind that dogs are not allowed at Robert Moses and some other areas of the island so do your research before you go. Also, there is a large deer population on the island so make sure you give your pup a thorough tick check before you leave. Also, do make sure you provide some sort of shade cover and a lot of fresh water for the little guy if you're spending the day on the hot sand.

Woodbury Common
Okay, so this place is more fun for Ichi's mommy than for him! But, because Ichi likes to go wherever his mommy goes, AND because he is very well-behaved in stores, we like to bring him to this premium outlet mall about an hour out of the city. With over 200 stores and name brands from American Apparel to Gucci, there is something for everyone at this huge outdoor mall. Well behaved dogs are welcome in most of the stores but bear in mind no dogs are allowed in the food court so you may want to bring your own snack. This mall is quite close to the Bear Mountain/Harriman State Park area so you can give your pooch a nice hike afterwards.

Fort Tryon Park
Technically speaking, this park is still in Manhattan. All the way up at 192nd St., Fort Tryon park is an amazingly beautiful park that makes you feel as though you've left the city. It is a perfect place to take your pup for a hike and even has a well maintained dog run so your dog can socialize and make new friends. Ichi loves exploring the huge park and picnicking on one of the many huge lawns on nice summer days.

Ichi's New Friend: Buster

2010-07-16T09:27:00.002-04:00

Buster is the newest addition to Ichi's Friends. He is the most affectionate, silliest springer spaniel you will ever meet! It was pretty much love at first sight upon meeting this handsome gentleman. Buster moved here with his parents from Utah but is adjusting so well since he's such a happy-go-lucky kind of dude. He likes to go for romps at the dog park but is also quite happy exploring new neighborhoods like Greenpoint (Ichi's hood). If you see him walking around, make sure you stop and say hello to him. He will be the one with the tail that is wagging non-stop!

Ichi's Summertime Treat: Banana and Peanut Butter Frozen Yogurt

2010-06-18T11:57:00.006-04:00

This weekend is supposed to be a scorcher! One of Ichi's favorite ways to cool down on those hot summer days is to...eat ice cream! Here is a very simple way to make a healthy, delicious treat that will have your dog going absolutely bananas:

Banana and Peanut Butter Frozen Yogurt

Ingredients:
1 ripe, peeled banana
1 cup peanut butter
1 tbsp honey

1-32 oz container low-fat plain yogurt

First, mash up the ripe banana with a potato masher until smooth. Next, put the peanut butter in a microwave safe dish and microwave for 30 seconds or until runny and melted. Combine the mashed up banana, peanut butter, and honey and mix until smooth. Add the yogurt into the peanut butter and banana mixture and stir until well mixed. Put the mixture into a lined, cupcake pan or ice cube tray and freeze. Get ready for your floor to be covered in drool while your pup waits for the mixture to harden!

Toxic House Plants

2010-06-16T12:18:00.003-04:00

If your pooch is anything like Ichi and enjoys the taste of plants and greens, this article is a must read for you. Most dog owners are aware of the dangers of your dog consuming chocolate, medications, or even onions but we rarely hear about the poisonous effects of everyday plants on our pets. After checking on the ASPCA's website, I came across a whopping 393 plants that are toxic to dogs. At the top of the list are these 5 plants:

Sago Palm (pictured above)
Lily
Azalea/Rhododendron
Oleander
Castor Bean

If your pet ingests one of these plants, contact your veterinarian immediately. If you have any suspicions that your dog has consumed something poisonous, you can always contact the ASPCA's Animal Poison Control Center at (888)426-4435.

Spending Time with...Gordon

2010-06-15T13:24:00.003-04:00

Gordon is a 16 year old mutt who is one of Ichi's Friends. He gets walked often with Bea (age 4) and Ichi (age 3) since they tend to walk better when they follow this gentle giant. Despite the age difference between the pups, Gord is always in front of the pack, pulling to speed ahead while the two young ones slowly lag behind. Gordon's owners work long hours so he often comes and hangs out at Ichi's house after the 30 minute walk to just hang out with the family and sleep in Ichi's bed (which is much too small for him) or sleep in our bed (which is just right) and taste test the dog treats I make. He is such a love bug with a wonderful personality that all of us should look up to:-D

Spotlight on: Olive

2010-05-10T12:50:00.000-04:00

Olive is the cutest frenchie EVER! She has been a client and Ichi's friend since the beginning. In fact, they met in puppy kindergarten, how cute is that?! She loves going on walks with us and pulls to go to the dog run at McCarren. Once there, she likes to sniff around and mark or play with sticks. She and Ichi love to wrestle like crazy and get all the other dogs excited as well! Thanks for being such a loyal client and friend, Olive!

Ichi's 3rd Birthday Pics!

2010-04-27T17:22:00.000-04:00

So it's taken me awhile to post these pictures of Ichi's fun filled 3rd birthday party. We're so happy his doggy friends were able to make it. He had so much fun playing and eating birthday cake. Now we have to think about what to do next year...

Ichi is almost 3...

2010-03-03T19:57:00.000-05:00

I can't believe it's almost that time of year again. On April 3rd, Ichi the Killer will turn 3 years old... These are pictures of his past cakes and parties and this year, I feel the pressure to somehow outdo the previous birthdays. I know that for him, as long as he gets to eat birthday cake and play with his friends, he really won't care what it looks like or what he gets which is the great thing about these furry creatures we call dogs. But as his mommy, I want to give him the best day of his life since he pretty much makes every day the best day for me (I know how cheesy this sounds)... When did I become this crazy dog lady??? Seriosuly, I wear dog themed clothing from Zazzle and I am 27 years old. Something is wrong with this picture.

Ichi the "dogitarian"

2010-03-03T17:56:00.000-05:00

This is a picture of me and Ichi participating in the Dogswalk Against Cancer in May of 2009. Hopefully, we raise more money this year in the battle to fight human and doggie disease!