13 AugEpisode 165 | She hikes with dogs like it’s her job because… IT IS! Meet Tamara Meyer, owner of NYC’s Shape Up Your Pup
Tamara Meyer is a dog trainer with something of a dream job: She hangs out in the woods with dogs. Her Manhattan-based business, Shape Up Your Pup, brings groups of dogs to trails near the city every day. Annie met her when she was very pregnant and was looking for ways to make sure that her young dog, Poppy, got some good exercise. Annie asks her about the origins of her business, her journey to becoming a trainer, and gets tips on how to work with dogs -- one or many! -- off leash.
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Mentioned in this episode:
Shape Up Your Pup – Dog Hiking and Training Services
Tracking collar mentioned: Garmin Astro 430
Day School Drop-Off Programs at School for the Dogs
Transcript:
[intro and music]
Tamara Meyer:
Hi everyone. My name is Tamara Meyer. I am the owner of New York City-based dog hiking and training company, Shape Up Your Pup, which I founded in 2017. Dating back, I have always felt very connected with animals and drawn to them, obviously dogs, especially. But as a kid I needed to stop and pet every dog that walked on the street.
It's funny, cause I actually did not grow up with dogs in my early age. I spent actually 18 years of my life begging my parents to get a dog. And it was literally years and years and years of begging and begging. And my mom being very stubborn was always saying no, just simply based on her thoughts about the house being stinky and hair everywhere.
And I just wouldn't budge either, so I totally persisted and finally convinced my parents in 2007 when they agreed to get a dog. I had my heart set on a lab and I just felt that a lab would fit in perfectly with our family. So I did tons of research and we were paired with our amazing dog when he was around eight weeks old.
But that moment that he came home truly carved kind of my life path. And I oftentimes get emotional talking about my dog Simba because he unfortunately passed three years ago. And I have so much to be grateful to him for, but he's really the reason behind every milestone I've accomplished the last four years. And of course the biggest one being starting my own company.
Annie:
Did you go to college? Did you study anything relating to dogs in college? Or did you work in any areas before?
Tamara:
So it wasn't until I really graduated from college that I knew I needed to set myself up for this career where I wanted to have really professional experience working with dogs for around two years. Cause I was just thinking very far ahead, and I was planning out, you know, what do I need to do to get myself to have the most experience I could? Work with every kind of dog, every breed, every temperament, and really set myself off on that path.
So right out of college, I began working for a local dog walking and training company in my town, knowing this was the first step to gaining professional experience. I just wanted to get as much exposure and learn all I could about dogs. So I shadowed trainers, and I trained with my own dog whenever he was up for it.
I also, during this time, decided to take the Karen Pryor Academy Foundations Course and learn the foundations of clicker training, which I began to apply these skills daily that I was learning. It was just the perfect time for me to really focus on it. And it was just the most amazing experience. Being in person at the workshops, everything kind of came together.
But even before that, through growing up in my hometown, and the reason I really kind of became comfortable with being out in nature and with dogs out in nature was, it was just by chance, but I took Simba hiking in my hometown when he was young for the first time. And we happened to run into a pack of about 10 other dogs with their owners. And you know, we kind of hung out with them that day. My dog fit in right away with the pack. That first day he made so many new friends right off the bat and it was just literally life-changing.
Me and Simba started going every day at five to meet up with this group in this trail in my town. And it didn't matter what the weather was, rain, sleet, snow, we were out hiking and having fun. And just seeing the dogs literally become ingrained with one another over the years and all these lifelong friendships develop. I essentially became one with nature, and being in nature with dogs, I literally just, I fell in love with the experience of being outside.
And through spending so much time over the years with a large dog pack in the great outdoors I developed, you know, a very specific skillset and understanding of kind of how the pack mentality works. And I just became extremely comfortable handling dogs in this sort of scenario. It was just kind of one thing led to the other.
But when I was working with that company fresh out of college, I sorta, about two years into it, I fell in love with the job and being hands-on with the dogs and, and working with the dogs. And it was just inseparable bonds that were being created.
But I always felt that I had kind of more to offer on a day-to-day basis. I felt oftentimes, you know, that 30 minute walks just weren't, it wasn't enough for many of my dogs. Especially for the higher energy dogs, even though I would actually cover an insane amount of ground in 30 minutes since I was essentially already jogging with them.
But I felt I had more to offer the dogs and essentially wanted to develop a trail running program for the dogs that needed more than just a 30 minute walk. You know, the dogs needed more mental and physical stimulation, and a structured kind of controlled environment. And several of the dogs that I had been working with had anxiety, and I just felt it would be more of a much needed life balance for them.
I decided at that point to leave the company and I just went off on my own and that's how Shape Up Your Pup was born.
Annie:
Why don't you describe what, what you're doing with Shape Up Your Pup.
Tamara:
So, Shape Up Your Pup is a New York City dog hiking and training company. We pick up dogs Monday through Friday from 9:00 to 11:00 AM. And we drive out within an hour of the city. We spent the day hiking in beautiful trails that are all located within an hour of Manhattan. You know, all of our summer hikes are hosted at the water.
We pair the dogs based on temperament and fitness ability, which is something that I assess prior to, to ensure that all the dogs have a very positive experience coming into the pack. And it's something that, you know, through my experience with Simba, the lifelong friendships, it's all about that. And really having, you know, a steady routine and steady faces for all the dogs in my pack.
It is so heartwarming and rewarding to come across a dog that has anxiety in the city and is just so fearful of every little noise, and just walking outside is, it's difficult. And just kind of seeing the shift and transformation, in every kind of way, the minute we get into the trail, it's just, it's an experience I can't put into words.
A lot of the dogs that I hike are not really in love with the city. Can you blame them? But it's just a beautiful experience being there and seeing these changes happen before your eyes, and all of these lifelong friendships develop, and dogs kind of encourage each other. You know, one dog hates the water the first hike, and then by hike three is putting, you know, his or her paws in the water and just feeling it out and just getting comfortable.
But there's such a demand for dogs, actually, you know, walking on pavement, it's hard. And getting them out into the wild is what I do. So we do it year round. Doesn't matter what the weather is. We will of course cancel a hike if it's really bad out and the roads are bad, but it's been great. I mean, we have an amazing group of dogs that hikes weekly.
Annie:
What do you do in the rain? Are they all, they just get wet and that's it?
Tamara:
Yeah. So it's funny because a lot of dog owners say like, Oh, my dog hates the rain. And it's, it's funny because when we get out there, they don't even notice it's raining. But we do hike in the rain. It won't be like a torrential downpour, but yes we do hike in the rain and we do hike, you know, in the snow if the snow is on the ground. But of course, safety first. So if I ever feel that the conditions aren't safe for the dogs, we will — it's weather permitting.
Annie:
I'm curious, going back to when you were a kid and you're begging your parents for a dog, what did you think about dog training, or did you ever think about dog training? Where were you watching The Dog Whisperer on TV, or did you just have no clue?
Tamara:
So I actually was watching The Dog Whisperer. It was something that I knew I was going to do at some point in my life.
Annie:
What, get a dog or become a dog trainer?
Tamara:
Both.
Annie:
Really, wow.
Tamara:
It was more — getting a dog was something I always knew I wanted. And it was something I knew was going to kind of push me in the direction that I always knew I was meant to be. I don't know if that sounds crazy, but I just, I I knew that I was born to work with dogs. And it wasn't really, until I started working with dogs professionally, that I felt I could begin to set myself up for that, but I had always planned for it.
So I knew, back when I was applying for jobs, I was looking at what kind of experience is required to become something more serious in this field? And a lot of them were saying two to three years minimum, and dog training experience and this and that. So I just always kind of had that in the back of my mind. And I always kind of planned my future based on, what do I need to do to really kind of leave my mark in the dog world.
And it was just a perfect time. Everything just kind of happened and unfolded perfectly on this timeline. But you know, it was, it was tough obviously, balancing the business and the dog training course that I was doing. As you have done it as well, right?
Annie:
Yeah. Yeah. Well, I wasn't in the business yet. I was thinking about it. But I'm curious how, I mean, were you just lucky in that you found KPA and it happened to be like a program that sort of went along with your values? Or do you think you — cause I feel like I got lucky, cause I probably could have just as easily ended up in like a punishment-based or, you know, quote-unquote balanced-based training program. I knew really knew nothing going in.
Tamara:
Right. Well I really gravitated toward the positive reinforcement aspect of it. And I actually spoke with my boss at the time who, she kind of knew of Karen Pryor and we were talking about which one she thought would be a good fit for me. And she kind of pointed me in that direction early on when I was doing just the foundations. And I decided to continue on and do the professionals with them as well, because I just was so aligned with their values and the way that I wanted to compose my business, and you know, training with dogs. It just was very aligned with who I am as an individual.
Annie:
When you started doing hiking with dogs, were you aware of any other companies that were also doing hiking with dogs in New York?
Tamara:
I sort of knew of — I knew that there was something of the sort, but I didn't really know of anything specific. I knew more so about a company that was doing dog running in the city, but nothing specific to that.
Annie:
There are at least half a dozen companies that are doing this, is that right?
Tamara:
Yes, yes. Now, yes. Now I am definitely aware of other companies that are doing this and, you know, kind of popping up left and right.
Annie:
Do you ever meet each other out on the trails?
Tamara:
So I speak, actually, with one company who — one of my clients who moved to Brooklyn. I needed to figure out a solution for her in Brooklyn. So, I am friendly with one of the companies. I don't know if I've specifically — I have run into a few. But I don't know if they're local to the areas that we go, or if they're from Manhattan. Most of the times if I see a large pack of dogs, we kind of pivot and do our own thing. So I don't really have one-on-one interaction with other packs, if we do come across them.
Annie:
What do you feel differentiates you from other people who are offering a similar service in New York?
Tamara:
Well, I want to say that I bring my heart and soul into this. And I do feel that my clients and the dogs that hike with me feel that every minute, being with me. I just consider every single pack member part of my family. And I do think that what sets me aside is how much I prioritize safety as well as their wellbeing. Nothing is more important to me than that.
I'm fully transparent with my clients, whether it's a positive or a negative. I just make sure that everybody is basically feeling like they're part of something that — you know, I always envision what I would expect as a dog owner. And my expectations are very high, and my standards are extremely high. And would I trust somebody with my dog? And what would I require of that person in order for me to be able to trust them with my dog? And that's sort of the standard that I feel I bring to the table. So it's something I don't take lightly.
And of course, I put a lot of pressure on myself to make sure that everything is perfect. I really, really make a solid effort to show the owners, at the end of the day, exactly kind of what happens on the hike and kind of overwhelm them with information and overwhelm them with content, photos and videos, for them to really feel like they are part of the day and to see and feel and be there. Because I feel that that's where kind of the magic happens. And I feel so fortunate to be able to share these moments with the owners.
I just, I really just prioritize the dog's wellbeing. It's all about the dogs, and they come first and they always will. So whatever I need to do to keep them safe and make sure that everybody's accounted for and happy and thriving is what I'm going to do.
Annie:
Tell me about safety. Because, it's something that we, we in the past have toyed with the idea of doing something similar at School for the Dogs, but I've always sort of stopped short of considering it because it seemed like too much liability to be out in the woods with dogs off leash. How do you mitigate that?
Tamara:
Right. I mean, I definitely think it takes a certain type of individual to be able to succeed in this type of business. I do.
Annie:
[laughs] Well, more than that. I mean, there must be like precautions and insurance and I mean, what do you do?
Tamara:
So well, I'm an LLC. So that's one. But I also have insurance with Pet Sitters International and Business Insurers of the Carolinas. I also of course need to protect myself. But it's, it's kind of something, you know, I go into my day prepared. And we're prepared to handle emergencies, and we're prepared to handle stressful situations. Because being out in the woods, you just have to be ready for anything.
And we have a handbook that we've created, and I'm very fortunate to have amazing employees who actually put it together for me. But a little handbook about what to do if XYZ happens and you know, a little pamphlet about wildlife and what to do if you encounter XYZ wildlife. And I just kind of feel that in order to succeed in this business, you have to anticipate what's going to happen and you have to be a step ahead.
And I really pride myself on the fact, knock on wood, nothing tremendous has happened. But I am always a step ahead and I'm always ready to spring into action. So I feel prevention is key, and being a step ahead allows me to keep them safe, whatever it takes. And we implement dog training, of course, into every single hike.
Annie:
You also have the dogs wear tracking collars, right? And bells, too?
Tamara:
Yeah. So we use bear bells, so that if there's any wildlife in the area, it's basically an alert for them that, Hey, you were around. Just giving them an escape route. So, we don't want to sneak up on wildlife. They're actually more dangerous if startled. So we just want to kind of do our own thing, but also announce our presence. So we were bear bells.
I provide Garmin satellite based trackers for every dog that hikes. They are phenomenal. So I have the Garmin Astro 430 and you can pair up to 20 devices at once, not that I'm doing that. But you can see which direction the dog's facing. That's how accurate it is. And they work out in areas that we might not have cellular service.
So as much as I like other tracking devices, I have found the Garmins to be the most reliable and the most safe. And it's, you know, it's a precautionary measure because just, you can't put a price on safety, and I prioritize it to no end. So whatever we need to do to keep the dog safe is what we're going to do.
As far as the car, we have a safety gate that separates basically, you know, the back from the, from the cockpit, and all the dogs are wearing seatbelts, the entire drive. So the dogs aren't just loose, you know, in the back. If we open the doors of course we practice impulse control, and no jumping out, but–
Annie:
Do you have a certain kind of seatbelt you recommend?
Tamara:
So, it's actually just a seatbelt attachment. I can get you the name later on, but yeah, it's just seatbelt attachments that I attach to the actual seat belts in the back. So if God forbid there was ever a situation, you know, they would not be flying around.
Annie:
So they're just attached to whatever harness they're wearing.
Tamara:
Yes. For the most part. I do have seatbelt harnesses for a few of the dogs, mainly the bigger ones, but yeah. And we bring a ton of water on the hikes.
Annie:
How many dogs do you have at a time, and how many clients do you work with in total?
Tamara:
I have, I wanna say around 50. That's if all are active, on a weekly basis, but also fluctuates depending on the time of year. Like of course summer is a little bit lighter because we have a lot of clients that go away for the summers.
Day to day, we hike on average 8 to 10 dogs more or less. So I could have more than that, but if I do have more than that, and if it's over 12, then I will have a third person there. So that also ties into the safety factor. Because we like the ratio of people to dogs to be, you know, safe and reasonable. So, you know, I'll have a third person meet us at the trail and do the hike portion with us. And it's pretty seamless and it works out really well.
But if any, you know, for any reason, God forbid, there's an emergency. I mean, you gotta have another person there to help handle whatever might happen.
Annie:
How do you deal with keeping the dogs close enough to you that you're not stressed out about where they are and while you're walking, in the woods?
Tamara:
So all the dogs generally stay close. Of course I have hunters that do like to go a little bit farther off trail and pursue a scent and whatnot. But you know, all the dogs have a very firm Touch. So all the dogs recall when we ask. We practice this throughout the hike. I don't really particularly hike dogs that won't respond well to that sort of cue and that sort of environment. If I find that a dog needs more training in that area, we'll do more training in that area. I love off-leash training. It's my specialty, as you can imagine.
But I, we'll kind of circle back if ever need be for a particular dog that might need more work in that area. But for the most part, the dogs really generally stay close and I do trust them. And I know their personalities too, so I know which dogs I can trust a little bit more than others. And I kind of gauge situationally. If I know a dog is kind of very scent driven and hunt driven, I'll be more on that dog's case, of course, and we'll be practicing recall maybe every single minute.
And, you know, for example, we have one dog in particular who, he loves hunting. And he kind of made a 360 in the last couple months cause we've been doing a lot of work with him. But he initially was just, I felt he wasn't very present with me as the handler. He was just more interested in the environment and what was going on around him and every little kind of noise or sound was like, you know, his senses were through the roof and he just couldn't control it.
He, we did a lot of work with. He was hiking on a long leash for a while. And I will proudly say he's transformed. I mean, he's just a different dog, in all the best ways. We have been doing so much work with him. And it's just, it's incredible. It's incredible. Like if I were to show you videos of him then and now, it's just, oh my God. His attentiveness, his presence, he's giving me that eye contact I've been yearning for. He’s just so present there with me and I totally trust him now.
So he just needed a new direction. He needed kind of somebody to step in and take direction and kind of show him, This is what I want. And I truly feel he's a different dog.
And again, I assess the recall beforehand. So we do the meet and greet in Manhattan. Sometimes I do semi-private hikes or a private hike to kind of gauge whether any further work is necessary. And I just kind of make sure that starting off the bat, the dogs are going to already have that preexisting foundation. So we'll set them up for success, always.
Annie:
How are you doing marketing? Are people just generally finding you, or are you reaching out to places?
Tamara:
So, early in the business, when I was first starting, I actually spent the entire summer of 2017 getting up early, going to Central Park during off-leash hours, and dog parks, and just really approaching people and introducing myself and my new business.
And I want to say it kind of just felt natural to me since dogs really bring out a fire in me that I can't describe in words. But dogs are, they're just an instant conversation starter for me. And I could literally talk about dogs all day. So I have no problem doing that.
But also connecting with people face-to-face to me was a key element in creating strong relationships with the owners and with dogs. And I also feel like, if you get a business card and you kind of just don't meet the person one-on-one and really kind of get that gut feeling about them it's hard to trust a person with your dog out in the wild. Like I just knew I had to be meeting people and connecting face-to-face, and I put in a lot of hours doing that.
But, you know, it was funny. Some people trusted me enough on the spot and actually signed up their dogs for a hike literally the next day. And of course, you know, in any business it's a process to get rolling, but I was really focused and ready for the challenge, and things happened rather quickly. I just was starting to get word of mouth.
And at this point it's all word of mouth. I don't do much marketing because I also want to keep this sort of niche, in a way. I want to make sure I always have room and space for the dogs that have been with me since day one. And I don't want to become so big to the point that it becomes impersonal. Does that make sense?
Annie:
Yeah. Sure. And do you have some dogs who go with you every day?
Tamara:
I don't even recommend that really, because I feel that dogs should have downtime and recovery time in between hikes. So, at most, you know, if it's a very high, energetic dog, like an Australian Cattle or, you know, an Aussie or something like that, that they can recharge and regroup very quickly. I don't typically recommend Monday through Friday hikes for any dog.
And it also ties into the personality of that dog. Everything is very personal. And I kind of pride myself on that. I will do what I need to do. If I need to take a dog off a certain day, and it's not working, or if I need to reduce one day for a dog, because it's not working for the majority of the group, I just kind of look at the majority of the group as a whole and what's best for the majority.
But yeah, I mean, as far as marketing, it is word of mouth. I'm very selective about the dogs that I take in because I want to keep this very positive. And I also want to make sure that the dogs I'm bringing in are going to only add to the fun and make it even more positive.
And of course I have dogs that are a little bit high maintenance, you know, that comes with the job. But I have some behavioral dogs, I have dogs that, you know…For example, one dog who, he was never reactive to any dogs while hiking with me, but I received a call from the owner and she was devastated that her dog suddenly was showing reactivity to another dog in Central Park on this morning. And she just was kind of flabbergasted and didn't know what to do.
He was a maturing male. He definitely had, you know, pre-existing anxieties and phobias and he was, he's definitely a more sensitive dog. He is my heart and, you know, he's just such a phenomenal dog, but it's something that like, you just have to learn everything there is to know about every dog in your pack and really know them like the back of your hand in order to make sure that they're happy and that it's going to work out.
Of course, higher maintenance dogs in a pack is not always easy to manage. This particular dog is great with any dog that I bring in. But if we ever see you a dog that's external to the pack in the trail, a dog that's not part of his pack. He will not be so happy about it and a little opinionated.
But it's something that, I've taken the time to learn everything there is to know about every dog in my pack. And it's very rewarding, kind of working them through their triggers, and being able to make a negative into a positive, and just kind of, I always like to end the day on a positive note. So even if it was a rocky start for a particular dog, we just always look at the positive and try and set them up for success.
And that's basically my motto is just setting up every single dog for success, and the people that work for me as well. I mean, I’m very fortunate to have really solid people behind me and kind of just looking at the big picture. It's very important to make sure that everybody's happy and everybody is set up for success. So not just the dogs.
Annie:
So are, I mean, you're literally going on all these walks then?
Tamara:
Yeah. I pretty much go on at least three hikes. Let's say, when we're up to full capacity Monday through Friday during the year, I'll do at least three hikes. I can't physically do five. I wish I could. I wish I could.
I used to think I was super woman and I used to definitely do four, at least, a week. But you know, for longevity purposes and being able to do this for a long time, I definitely need to prioritize my own health as well and make sure that I can continue to do this for longevity. You know?
So of course, in any business taking a step back and trusting people is hard. But I have been extremely fortunate to have kind of crossed paths with just amazing individuals that I can wholeheartedly say I trust my baby with. And for example, they're out today. I'm here doing this podcast with you and they're actually in the woods right now doing the Friday hike in my place.
Annie:
So you have good people. And so you see yourself sort of continuing to go on hikes, but maybe not being the one having to do the pickup and the drop-off, cause the pickup and the drop-off seems like a big deal.
Tamara:
It is. It does take time. And it's more that I just want more flexibility to do more training. Because at the end of the day, I really want to spend more time doing that. And having more time to meet with new clients, so I don't have to kind of do that on the weekends. Because the way things are right now you know, all my focus is on the hiking Monday through Friday.
And then whatever else I'm doing, especially, you know, the other sides of handling a business, which is scheduling invoicing, kind of getting everything ready for the next week and whatever, I just kind of want to have more time to do all of that during the week. And not to say I won't ever do the pick-ups or drop-offs, I definitely will. But you know, it's just something that I have thought about and in a way that I can utilize my time better to kind of do more and help more dogs.
Annie:
The way I found you was — I mean, when I saw that you were also a Karen Pryor Academy graduate, I was like, Hold on! How did I not reach out to this person first? But, you know, we're not walking Poppy a lot for a variety of reasons, which at first I felt really bad about. And now I feel like, you know what, like there's no right or wrong. This is just how we've set up our lives right now. And like, we're doing the best we can for this dog. And I think we're giving her a good life.
But I did feel like she needed more just physical exercise than we were able to give her without…Well, I mean, I felt like the way we could get her enough exercise was maybe to hire a walker to come at least twice a day which was really gonna add up money-wise.
Tamara:
Right.
Annie:
I mean, to have like a professional take her for like a really good walk twice a day would, in New York City, be, I don't know, it could end up being like a hundred dollars a day.
Tamara:
Right.
Annie:
And I'd heard that there were hiking, that there were services that would take your dog out for a hike. And so I tried a couple of them before you, and they, I would certainly recommend them. I didn't have a bad experience, but I think as a dog trainer who has a facility that operates high-end services that offer a lot to both the dog and the person, I felt like I, as the human being involved, wasn't getting enough of what I wanted.
Maybe she was having a great time, but first of all, I wanted more information about what was happening. I wanted more photos or more of, like some sort of follow-up. I didn't need a detailed essay, but just something to make me feel like I was getting some kind of like window into the experience.
Because part of what you're doing when you're doing this is making yourself feel like you're doing something good for your dog. And all I could do was sort of trust that in time she was gone, she was having a good time. Because if they sent me a photo, it was like one photo. It was often a closeup.
Tamara:
Oh, wow.
Annie:
And if they sent me like a report, it would be like, She's such a great dog. And I was like, I know. But tell me more.
And then the other thing was the ease of pickup and drop off. Which, one other company I tried did do pick up and drop off, which I appreciated. The other one had like pickup and drop off zones, and you could pay extra for them to do a pickup and drop off, but it was considerably extra, like $30 each direction.
Tamara:
Wow.
Annie:
And so, we did that for a few months. We made the pickup and drop off work, but it wasn't particularly convenient, given that I also had a toddler in tow.
Tamara:
That's tough. I can't imagine. I understand that.
Annie:
So I really appreciate that you guys do that. And you charge, all of the services, interestingly, charged I think the same. You charge, is it $95?
Tamara:
$95. Yeah..
Annie:
$95. Which is, I mean, it's funny because on the one hand, it's a lot of money to be spending on something that is not perhaps strictly necessary for your dog. On the other hand, it's quite a bit less than what we charge for our what we call Drop-Off programs, which are between three and five hours at School for the Dogs for a small number of dogs. I think we charge like double that, and we're not taking them anywhere.
So compared to School for the Dogs, you're a bargain, which is hilarious because it's actually, it's, even if I like give myself a major discount as the owner of the business, it's still probably less expensive [laughing] for me to send her with you.
Tamara:
That's awesome. Really that's awesome. I mean it. I would love to hear more about School for the Dogs and how that sort of works. But one client in particular, who I think you know, do you know, Sunny Day and Surprise?
Annie:
Yes, yes.
Tamara:
So they they were hiking with me for a while, but it was tough coordinating cause they lived in Long Island City. But I know that Surprise was coming to School for the Dogs, and he, I have to say it, was the best trained Shiba I've ever met. He was phenomenal. He was great on the trails. He was such a good dog. So my hats off to you.
Annie:
Well, thank you.
Tamara:
Yeah. Yeah. He's a good boy, and Sunny Day was also a very good boy. I admire your business, and you know, I love what you guys do.
Annie:
Thank you so much. And we should definitely figure out like some Shape Up Your Pup / School for the Dogs joint outings sometime soon.
Tamara:
Oh, I would love that. I would love that. Absolutely.
Annie:
Maybe you could lead a hike with our clients or something like that.
Tamara:
Oh my God. That would be so much fun. Let's definitely do that. And give my love to Poppy. She's my little princess. She's the best.
Annie:
Oh. She really is. She, we have the back deck and she loves to just go and sit out there in the sun, which is what she's doing. Taking in the rays.
Tamara:
Lucky girl. I could totally see that. We're just overjoyed to have her and I feel very blessed. So thank you for trusting me with her, and you know doing this for her.
[outro and music]
