Good Dog: Tucker

Good dog, Tucker! We got to catch up with this sweet lab boy and his owner, Kristen Wentworth this week. Kristen shares about meeting Tucker for the first time, a bit about their favorite summer activity - dock diving, some of their favorite dog friendly places, and more…

On Meeting Tucker

I found out about Tucker when he was a day old. I lost my last pup (a 12 1/2 year-old chocolate lab) just over a month before. I was actually looking into raising a guide puppy because I wasn't sure that I would be ready for another one of my own so soon. I was approved and went to an orientation, but due to it being during COVID, a lot of people wanted to do it. I was told it could be a while, so I had started looking for a dog of my own. My best friend saw a Facebook post about Tucker’s litter by a high school classmate of hers and sent it to me. It was the day before my birthday, and I ultimately decided to get myself a present. Knowing about him practically from birth was so amazing as I got to follow him from the start and got pictures of his first food, first bath, first time outside, etc. I also got to go out and meet him (he's from Pulaski) with my best friend when he was four weeks old, which was one of the best days of my life. It was absolutely love at first sight and really hard leaving him for another three and half weeks that day. 

Fun fact — two of his sisters ended up going to friends of mine in New Hampshire after seeing a Facebook post that I made about the litter and deciding to get him, so we got to meet them all on that day. And now we get to see his siblings Maple and Winni once a year or so when we visit family, which is really cool.

All About Tucker

Tucker is the perfect combination of energy and love. He is an active boy, which forces me to get out and do stuff with him every day, but he is also a giant love who will crawl in my lap (all 90 pounds of him!) and snuggle like no other. 

Tucker makes friends everywhere he goes. As a COVID puppy, I went out of my way to make sure he was socialized, so we went to every store and place where pups are welcome. He definitely has staff members that he remembers and looks for in many of these places. He also loves to visit with my neighbors, and is amazing with kids. 

Like most labs, Tucker loves to chase and retrieve balls, and he would live in the water if allowed. We started dock diving when he was 8 months old. He took to it right away, and has gotten pretty good. During our second year, we actually earned a sponsorship from his food company Canidae, which is a huge help. Tucker competes in all three disciplines of dock diving — Big Air (distance), Extreme Vertical, and Speed Retrieve — which classifies him as an Iron Dog. We received invites to the DockDogs World Championships in Dubuque, Iowa each of the past two years but were unable to attend.  I am really hoping we get an invite again this year and are able to go. Our season officially kicks off on Memorial Day weekend, and we have plans to compete in Vermont, Maine, New Hampshire, Connecticut, and New York over the summer.

Apart from this, he loves peanut butter and baby carrots. Unlike my previous two labs who would tear apart any stuffed toy within minutes of getting it, Tucker also loves his stuffies and probably has more toys than most children.

On Connections Made

One day last fall, we were out at Lake George, and we met a little boy named Tucker.  He thought it was so cool that he and my Tucker had the same name. He played with us for a few minutes and then went on his way with his family. Fast forward to last month, we were out at Lake George again and the same little boy came over to us at Shepard Park asking if that was Tucker. His mom proceeded to tell me that they have a seasonal home here and had just come up for the weekend. Apparently, the boy had not been able to stop talking about Tucker the dog after their last trip and had said on their way up the day prior that he had hoped he might see him. What are the odds? Needless to say, my boy has helped connect me with so many incredible people and pups, and this is probably one of the things I love about him most.   

Tucker and Kristen

On Local Dog Friendly Favorites

We live right behind Sutherland's Petworks, so this is hands down his favorite place and somewhere that we can be found several times each week. Tucker is also a regular at TJ Maxx, Hobby Lobby, Old Navy, JoAnn's, the Canal Street Marketplace, and Dancing Grain Farm Brewery. You can find us just about anywhere there is live music outside in the summer. 

And then, of course, there is the water. We mostly practice on the dock in Bennington, Vermont and travel around New England to compete, but we can also often be found at Lake George and Haviland Cove. The latter is a special place to me as I went there almost every night with my girl in the summer of 2020 before she passed away and have a memorial box there for her. Although Tucker never met Miley, he has always seemed to know there is something about this place and will go straight for the box as soon as we get there.

On The Love of a Dog

There are so many things I love about having a dog in my life. They don't care what you wear or what you look like, what you do for work or how much money you make. They just love you for who you are and find joy in the simple things. As a result, I have learned to do so also. I can be having the worst day, but 10 minutes of fetch with a giant dog who is grinning from ear to ear and tapping his toes in anticipation only to then run up to you with a big slobbery kiss is enough to turn all of that around for me. With all three of my dogs, I have also made countless connections, and that is the thing for which I am probably most grateful. 

Good Dog: Willow

Good dog, Willow! This sweet Yellow Lab / Golden Retriever mix is living the good life with Alexandra Barbieri! Alex shares what it was like meeting Willow as a puppy, Willow’s favorite places around the city, and how having a dog has changed her life…

On Meeting Willow 

My original intent when looking for a dog was that I would adopt, and I would not get a puppy. However, the adoption process was proving to be difficult at the time. I was living in an apartment, and some rescues are strict with housing requirements and living situations. I was also living with my roommate at the time who had an older dog that I adored, and all parties wanted to ensure the transition would be smooth.

When I found myself wanting to adopt every dog I saw at the SPCA, I knew it was becoming a bit overwhelming and emotional. I decided to take a break from looking, and that exact day my friends from Fountain Square told me there was a litter across the bridge in South Glens Falls with two dogs left. I was hesitant, as I still had it in my mind that I would adopt an adult dog, but I decided to visit after I was given some contact information and pictures.

Surprisingly, it was not love at first sight. At 10 weeks old, “Snowy” was super rambunctious and wouldn’t stop biting my shoe — it was not what I was imagining the first meet and greet to be like. I decided to sleep on it, and of course, I picked her up the very next day. I was completely unprepared for puppy life and all that it entails. We lived on the 3rd floor in a downtown apartment, so potty training was probably the biggest challenge. Still, it didn’t take long for us to get into a groove, get out in the woods daily, and start our life together.

All About Willow 

Willow is incredibly sensitive. She has the outgoing personality of a lab but also likes to be with just her people, especially getting some butt-rubs and showing her affection with a hard lean. She will also make it very clear when she wants me to wake up, with a hard paw or a stern groan.

She loves to hike and run in the woods with me, preferably near water. She doesn’t mind a nice dip, even in the middle of winter. She loves the snow but also likes to lay stretched out in the hot sun.

She can’t wait for the Adirondack chair to return downtown so she can jump on the arms and watch the traffic.

Her biggest quirk is that she does not tolerate skateboards and electric bicycles — she absolutely loses her mind.

On the Importance of Recall 

Once when she was a puppy, I lost her at Hudson Pointe where the floating bridges are. She was still so small at the time, so of course I was imagining all of the horrible things that had happened to her. I began running and calling her name when I finally ran into a gentleman jogging and asked if he had seen a yellow puppy. He said, “Yes! She’s walking with a couple a few hundred feet ahead with a stick in her mouth.” Crying with relief, I started running and eventually, there she was — sitting in the middle of the trail waiting for me like nothing had ever happened. I never saw the couple she was walking with, but I did immediately contact my dog trainer to start some very important recall training.

Some Local Favorites 

Willow’s favorite place downtown is Mean Max, where she can chill with me outside or play with her human (and often dog) friends inside. We also like to check into Fountain Square and Farmacy — thanks for keeping the water bowl out every day! 

Willow and I love going to Haviland’s Cove for some swimming and splashing. Typically, on the weekends, however, we head out of town for a nice hike.

On The Life Changing Magic of A Dog 

Willow changed my life. I always have had an active lifestyle, but it only increased once she joined me.

No matter the weather conditions — rain, heat, snow, below-freezing temperatures — we are walking, running, or hiking. She made me realize that I love trail running more than road running, and I now see the beauty in every step of our hikes in nature instead of just waiting for that final view.

I may not have slept in late for over 6 years, but I honestly wouldn’t want it any other way. She is the best decision I’ve ever made. I adore her and she knows it.

Good Dog: Whiskey

Good dog, Whiskey! This 3 year old Miniature Poodle and Chihuahua mix is living her best life after a chance meeting at the filming of The Puppy Bowl in Glens Falls led to her adoption back in 2021! Her parents, Patrick and Bethanie Lawrence, share more about meeting her for the first time, her spunky personality, and some local dog friendly favorites…

A Chance Meeting at The Puppy Bowl

We adopted Whiskey on October 6, 2021, while I [Bethanie] was volunteering at the filming of the Animal Planet Puppy Bowl at the Cool Insuring Arena in Glens Falls. At the time, Whiskey was named Raspberry, and she was one of the puppies competing on Team Fluff. I immediately fell in love with her, so I called Pat and let him know that I was bringing a puppy home. I was able to speak with Whiskey's foster mom and the woman who ran Shaggy Dog Rescue, the Texas rescue that sent Whiskey and her sister pups to the Puppy Bowl, and all parties agreed to let us adopt Whiskey that evening. Since I was committed to my volunteer role that day, Pat went to the pet store and got all of the things we'd need for a 3-month-old puppy and put some supplies in my car for me to use with Whiskey at the end of the volunteer shift. I brought Whiskey home that night and introduced her to Pat and our first dog, an elderly little dog named Hank. The rest is history! 

Whiskey on screen at The Puppy Bowl • Photo courtesy of Bethanie Lawrence

On Whiskey’s Spunk

Whiskey is spunky and usually a little nervous when meeting new friends, but she's as sweet as can be and wouldn't hurt a fly. We love to have her fur dyed by her groomer to match her personality. Whiskey loves to talk and play with her dog brother Hank and her friends at Adirondack Sniffari. She's scared of vacuums and other motorized things like electric fans and clippers, but she's very brave and has been working on getting more comfortable around them. 

On Buried Treasure

Whiskey is a treasure hunter and loves to find things under the couch, bed, desk, anything. When she was a baby, she would go underneath our bed and shimmy around looking for dropped pencils, hair ties, socks, and everything we'd lost. She would be so proud showing us what she discovered. 

On Farm Life

We often visit family in rural Pennsylvania and let both Whiskey and Hank off-leash on our family's farm since it's large enough that we usually don't have to worry about them running away. The farm neighbors recently got chickens and those chickens have been coming onto the farmland, and Whiskey met them recently. By "met", we mean she saw them and tried to catch them. She didn't catch them, thankfully, but now she has to be on a leash at the farm. 

Bethanie and Pat, along with Hank and Whiskey

On Local Dog Friendly Favorites

Whiskey loves going to dog camp with Adirondack Sniffari, and Sniffari's Camp Counselor Caitlin Steadman is her favorite non-family human. Her favorite store is Sutherland's Petworks in Hudson Falls; the people who work there are the friendliest and most helpful around. Whiskey enjoys going anywhere with trees and forests and all of the smells, including the Feeder Canal paths and Betar Byway. 

On The Love of a Dog

We love having dogs because they are a source of positivity and comfort for us. Our dogs are always loving and cuddle up with us in the sweetest way. They make us laugh, help us through hard times, and give us so much joy; they're part of our family. 

Good dog, Whiskey! Would you like to nominate a pup to be featured in our Good Dog series (your pup maybe?!)? Email us at hello@glensfallsliving.com or send us a note here.

Good Dog: Honey

Good dog, Honey! This sweet 5 year old Beagle / Boxer mix is living the good life after being adopted from the SPCA in 2019. Her mom, Laura DeCaro-Wehrle (who you might recognize from Honey Bee Grooming!) shares more about meeting Honey at the shelter, her love for the ocean, her favorite local trail, and more…

On Meeting Honey

I saw Honey’s photo amongst a few others on the SPCA of Upstate NY’s Petfinder profile back in 2019. Her name had been Minnie. I decided to go after work with my coworkers to look at dogs there. We looked at a few puppies but they were all on quarantine because they had just gotten there from another state. Honey had been there for a few weeks. All the other dogs she traveled here with were already adopted. She was about 8 months old. She had some burn scars on her side but we don’t know how she got them. Although they’re usually covered by her hair length now, they’re still there. She was a wiggly little thing in the cage, dying to get out and say hello.

We got her out and I could tell she was a sweetheart but I was so scared to adopt my first dog as an adult. Being an animal care professional for over 10 years, I was so conscious of picking the pet that would fit my lifestyle. I have a small home, I worked long hours, I have cats, and I very much don’t like to get up at 5am to run my dog. I was very nervous about picking a dog that wouldn’t thrive in my care. My friends thought I was crazy because Honey was such a doll. Even the ladies at the SPCA had more faith in me than I had in myself. They let me know that Honey had a family coming to meet her the next day at a PetSmart event at 10am. My heart dropped, but then they said, “so make sure to be there at 9am”. I am so grateful to them for that information. They knew we belonged together and that the other family would find another dog to be their own perfect match. Honey was ours. 

It would be my husband (boyfriend at the time) Drew’s, first dog. Ultimately I let him decide. I brought him to the adoption event to meet her. Drew knew immediately. We brought her home that day. Three years later I opened Honey Bee Grooming, where not only did Honey become my logo, but she also became COO and the best shop dog around! It makes me feel really good when people meet Honey at the salon for the first time and say something like, “oh it’s THE Honey?!” Like she is famous or something. It’s great to see that other people think she is as wonderful as I think she is. 

On The Perfect Dog

Honey embodies her name for sure. She is a goofy little dog with a goofy little beagle’s bark. She is so wiggly, jerky and completely uncoordinated. Her favorite game to play with other dogs is chase. Her favorite things to do are to dig, go on sniff walks, sleep, and eat. The first thing people always notice about her is how soft she is. Even before I became a dog groomer, Honey got monthly baths. All that worrying and she is the perfect dog for Drew and I. 

Laura DeCaro-Wehrle and Drew Wehrle with Honey

On Invisible Big Dogs

Honey gets along well with other dogs, but she does this really hysterical thing where if a dog is over about 50 pounds, she kind of ignores their existence. It happens at the salon a lot — although she is always kept separate, she is very uninterested in any large dogs. We will also hang out with our friends who have 3 dogs — two under 50 pounds and one about 70 pounds — and she loves to play with the first two and pretends the other one isn’t there. He is so infatuated with her too. He will try to snuggle next to her sometimes when she curls up on the couch after playing and there’s a 50/50 chance on whether she just gets up and walks away or begrudgingly lets him lay next to her for a while. She is so sassy. 

On Dog Friendly Vacations

Drew and I have never gone on vacation without Honey. We look forward to it every year. Last year we found out that although she doesn’t care for lakes so much, she thinks the ocean is the bee’s knees. I think it has to do with the waves — she likes to dig at them when they come in. They give her automatic zoomies. 

Some Glens Falls Favorites

Honey’s #1 favorite thing to do in Glens Falls is to hang out with the peeps and pups from Adirondack Sniffari. They pick her up from the Salon on Mondays. The way she greets Tom and Cait is such a wonderful sight to see.

She also loves to accompany me to my nail appointments at Studio Elements in Glens falls. We see Sam at Nailvira, and the ladies there love her.

During the warmer months we love to grab a bite to eat at Raul’s. Honey loves to sun bathe and watch the cars go by at the circle. Last year was her first year being able to handle that level of distraction and excitement so I am excited to have more lunch dates with her this year! 

Honeys favorite trail to hit around Glens Falls is Meadowbrook Preserve. The lands are a bit marshy which makes for a dirty dog but the best sniffs in her opinion. A dirty dog is a happy dog! 

On Therapy Dog Goals

Honey is an aspiring therapy dog. We still have some work to do before I feel comfortable taking the test with her, but I take her to my appointments to practice managing her excitement in ever changing environments. She loves to sit quietly at the window and watch everyone walk by. 

On Loving a Dog

My favorite thing about having a dog besides the unconditional love is always having a best friend around. She always down for whatever we have in mind. I could never be lonely when Honey is there. I don’t need a social battery to hang out with her. Shes the very best friend a girl could ask for.

Good Dog: Murray Murphy

Good dog, Murray! This 10 year old American Pitbull Terrier and American Staffordshire Terrier mix is all smiles as he lives the good life in Glens Falls after being rescued from a tough life in Texas. His mom, Emily Murphy, shares more about the chance meeting that brought them together, his affinity for Thomas’ English Muffins, and some local dog friendly favorites…

On Meeting Murray 

I actually met Murray at the Charles R. Wood Theater where I work! I had been Executive Director for about 3 weeks, was 24 years old and still in grad school and thought I already had enough life changes happening, what was one more? It was funny, I was in my office with the door closed when I heard a knock on the door and had to finish up a call before I could answer. When I came out, it was just this little guy standing there with no human.

After a second, I saw the human around the corner — Bridget Dunigan, who was the Managing Director at Adirondack Theatre Festival at the time. She was looking to drop something off for me and he was there with her. I just assumed he was her dog, but it didn’t stop me from obsessing over him. Our Box Office Manager at the time, Dan Cowan, told Bridget in an e-mail that I hadn’t stopped talking about her dog and to please bring him by anytime.

A week or so later, they came back and I started asking questions about him. Come to find out, Bridget was fostering him through a rescue called Rescue Dogs Rock in New York City. He ended up in New York after he was rescued in Texas, having sadly been used for dog fighting then dumped before he was brought to the Callaghan Road Animal Hospital in San Antonio where they saved his life and got him stable for transport. All that mattered to me in that moment was that she had said ‘foster’ and that meant he was available to be adopted. I immediately texted my mother that I had found ‘the one’ and made plans to have a trial sleepover that weekend and a playdate with some dog friends in the family to see how he would acclimate. Everything went perfectly and he moved in a few days later on April 29, 2017.

He was unfortunately heartworm positive when he was rescued, but the folks at For Pet’s Sake Veterinary Center took incredible care of him and continue to to this day. Otherwise, he was ready to love and be loved and I am so glad he knocked on my door that day!

On Murray’s World

Now that he’s gotten a little older (being a rescue, we’ll never be sure of his age, but we think he was about 3 when I adopted him 7 years ago, so about 10 now) he definitely has acquired the personality of a grumpy old man. We always say, “it’s Murray’s world and we’re just living in it!”. He likes to nap when he wants, where he wants and does not like to risk getting his velvet ears wet in the rain or snow. He loves his Grandma (my mother, who still hasn’t forgiven me for getting her hopes up about a human ‘the one’) and they love to curl up and watch a Hallmark movie when I’m working long days at the theater. 

He also goes to ‘camp’ with Adirondack Sniffari twice a week where he gets to go on adventures with Camp Counselors Caitlin and Tom and he learns so many new things. He does go solo as he can get a little overwhelmed by other dogs because of his history, but he has no problem being the center of attention. He loves all humans and will protect them from the neighborhood squirrels by chasing them around the backyard until he tires himself out, then you’re on your own while he’s napping.

Murray with his mom, Emily Murphy

On Social Media Fame 

Murray has gone semi-viral a few times on various platforms. The first time, because he inexplicably became obsessed with Thomas’ English Muffins - that brand only. Truly, I conducted an experiment with control muffins and a hidden GoPro in the kitchen and he would only take out Thomas’ English Muffins and just carry the package to his bed and hold them when home alone. Not even eat them, just kind of sit with them. I entered him into their #1 English Muffin Fan contest and he won! They sent us a huge box of toys, a personalized bandana, orange balls and even a 3D printed gold medal English Muffin.

He also went viral on TikTok after finding a nest of bunnies under the porch in the backyard. He nudged them all out onto the grass and cried until I came out, and they were so small I didn’t even know what they were. He was so worried about them as if they were his babies and I was worried that he would hurt them in some way, even accidentally. But, he just sat by them and watched over them. Right away, we had North Country Wild Care come and re-nest them and we covered them so he couldn’t get to them but their Mom still could. Still, he would just sit and watch them until they eventually grew out of the nest and headed out on their own. Whenever a bunny comes across our yard, I like to think its one of his children or grandchildren coming back to say hi!

Sharing his stories got him a lot of attention across social media and landed him a spot as the family dog in the local film Forget-Me-Nots by Caitlin Stedman and Kayla Romanowski and he was even included as one of the rescue dogs in local author Elizabeth Macy’s book Lucky’s Adventures in Winter Wonderland. It always means so much to me to see bully breeds being celebrated in the media and shown for the happy, loyal and goofy dogs they are!

On Local Dog Friendly Favorites 

As I said, Murray loves being the center of attention, so taking a walk around downtown is his favorite. Often, folks will ask to pet him and say hello and he loves getting pats and told how handsome he is. We love to walk over to the electrical box outside of St. Mary’s that his (and my!) dear friend Shelley Fairbanks painted - he is the big brown smiling mug on the side facing Warren Street! He loves to explore around Crandall Park and if the playground is empty, hop up on the slide to show ‘All Paws’ that he learned at camp!

We’re big fans of Davidson Brothers’ dog menu (he usually opts for the grilled chicken) and he’s been known to join me at any of the amazing restaurants with outdoor seating like Fenimore’s, farmacy and Raul’s! They always bring out a cold bowl of water with the cold margaritas at Raul’s, which we love!

On the Unconditional Love of a Dog 

Being able to come home after a long day and having a little tail wagging when they see you regardless of what may have gone wrong that day is such a gift. Your dog doesn’t care if you messed up at work, got in an argument with a friend, had your shirt on backwards all day and no one told you - they’re just happy to see you. An unconditional love like that of a dog is so special and unlike any other connection we experience as humans. Plus, giving a dog (especially a rescue dog) a happy, safe and healthy home is such a rewarding feeling. I’m only 31, but being a part of bringing a dog from bait dog in dog fighting ring to an adored and celebrated superstar pitbull advocate may be one of the greatest things I’ll ever achieve.

Good dog, Murray! To read more in our Good Dog series, click here.
Would you like to nominate a pup to be featured in our Good Dog series (your pup maybe?!)? Email us at hello@glensfallsliving.com or send us a note here.

Good Dog: Charlie

It’s high time we talk about the dogs of Glens Falls, don’t you think?! We’re excited to kick off this new series with one of the most handsome dogs in town - Charlie! His mom, Erin Glock (who we chatted with in a My Glens Falls story here), shared more about meeting Charlie for the first time, his work as a therapy dog, and some local dog friendly favorites…

On Meeting Charlie

I vividly remember the first time we met him. I was finishing up a triathlon with a group of friends in Kingston, NY, and my husband Mike and our other two pups at the time, Sammy and Willie, came to cheer me on. On the way home we stopped in Athens at our breeder Joy’s home to pick him out. We also got Sammy and Willie from her as well, so it was a bit of a family reunion. 

The puppies were five weeks old at the time and we had first pick! I hopped right in the whelping box and snuggled all of them. It was impossible to narrow it down — I thought I had one picked out with the red ribbon, but Mike said the green ribbon pup was the one. He always jokes that I didn’t want Charlie. 

Three weeks later we drove back down and picked up the green ribbon puppy, who had turned into a 15 pound fluff ball. We also loved that all three of our dogs were related biologically. Since then, Charlie is one of the best dressed pups in a bow tie every day. 

On Favorite Activities

Charlie has been a pretty laid back and lovable guy since he was a puppy. He is a momma’s boy and thinks he is a lap dog. He can be goofy and playful, he enjoys the occasional game of fetch, swimming, hiking and being a connoisseur of toilet paper.

On Being a Therapy Dog

We’d have to say his favorite activity is being a registered Therapy Dog through Therapy Dogs International. He spends his time visiting staff and patients at Glens Falls Hospital a few times a week and goes to Crandall Public Library once a month where children read to him. If you see him while he is working, ask for a Charlie sticker — they are a hot commodity. 

On Local Dog Friendly Favorites

You can find Charlie walking around town, on the Queensbury Rec trails with his sister Penny, or visiting some of our dog friendly establishments (Davidson’s, Common Roots, and Dancing Grain to name a few). He is also working on his ADK-9 hiking patch and can’t wait to explore more of the Adirondacks.

Good boy, Charlie! Would you like to nominate a pup to be featured in our Good Dog series (your pup maybe?!)? Email us at hello@glensfallsliving.com or send us a note here.

Canine Commute: Local Pups Take The Bus To Day Camp with Adirondack Sniffari

It’s not just the kids that are waiting at the bus stop this month! Local pups are hopping on the bus to head to day camp at Adirondack Sniffari, and well, could they be any cuter?! We caught up with owner Caitlin Stedman to find out more about a day in the life at camp, renovating the bus for the pups, and more…

Tell us a bit about yourself! 

Hi, I'm Cailtin! I am the owner and camp counselor at Adirondack Sniffari.  I have always loved animals and have felt a strong calling towards dogs in particular. After beginning a training journey with my pup Vinny, I became driven to know all that I could about dogs and how to deepen our relationships with them. I am always taking courses and workshops to broaden my knowledge and hone in on my personal philosophies surrounding dogs. The courses I have taken that have been the most impactful for me are My Dog Camp, Happy Rescue Dogs, Karen Pryor Academy Dog Trainer Foundations and Training Between The Ears Level 1. 

On Starting The Business

Adirondack Sniffari is an outdoor adventure camp for dogs. I started working with dogs in the fall of 2020 when I was lucky enough to be hired by Mallory Stark at Lucky Dawg. I was really inspired by her work ethic and connection to her clients (human and dog). I've always wanted a job where I can spend my days outside but I felt like with traditional dog walking, I spent a lot of time in the car. It wasn't until I found my mentor Rhonda Bilodeau on Instagram that everything clicked. I took her intensive online course called My Dog Camp and shadowed her in Vermont. Through Rhonda, I found dog camp to be the perfect mix of hiking, training and just letting dogs be dogs. Adirondack Sniffari welcomed its first campers in April of 2022. I still look to other graduates from the My Dog Camp course and Rhonda for advice and information weekly. It's been a wonderful community and resource!

A Day At Camp

My partner Tom Appler and I pick up our campers each morning and ride to our fenced in space in Queensbury that we call The Serengeti. Here we play, dig, dip in the kiddie pool, go on the agility/playground equipment and take lots of breaks for relaxation. Then we load up on the bus and head to the private land which is off Route 149 just inside Adirondack Park. It's about 13 acres that the owners Donna and Dave graciously allow us to hike on. Throughout the entire day we are practicing a calm mindset, impulse control, proper play etiquette and fluidly moving from prey drive to social drive. Camp lasts at least 2 hours with an additional 1 to 2 hours of drive time. 

On The Bus

We have a few dogs in camp who really like their personal space which I totally understand! It didn't seem fair to me to crowd dogs together in my car for a lengthy drive time. Also, it can be very overwhelming for new dogs coming in. I saw dog buses on Instagram and TikTok and loved how the dogs could be harnessed into their own seat for added safety. I thought this would be perfect! I put a post out on Facebook and saw a bus for sale at the Head Start just around the corner. It felt like kismet! I got a great deal on it and it has only needed a couple minor repairs. 

Renovating took a few months. I worked on it with my Dad and Tom. Vinny, my dog, supervised of course! We started by taking out seats, then took off all the lights and stickers. After that we sanded which by far took the longest! Primer and paint went on smoothly. The blue color is pulled from our logo. We had our lettering (and logo) designed by Advokate and it was installed by M&M Digital Printing. They both did an amazing job! The interior is still a work in progress. This fall we are painting the interior walls and removing some leftover sticker residue. 

Most of the dogs took to the bus right away! We have a couple of nervous pups but they are getting the hang of it. The dogs would pace and sometimes try to play in my car but in the bus they just hangout in their assigned seats! I think they really like the extra space to decompress and the security of the harness. 

On The Future

We are adding in new campers right now and it is so exciting! I love watching the dogs blossom out at camp. They come in happy, excited but a little confused and then they pick up new skills, meet new friends and just have a blast. I feel that we ask a lot from our dogs on the daily. The world is structured to make dogs fit into the human way of life and camp provides an outlet where they can safely be dogs doing dog things! 

By the Way…

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