On the trail Overlook Mountain, Woodstock
Near the top of Overlook. Four dogs, one handler, and a long downhill ahead.
Friday Forest Hike Instagram
Full-day Catskills hikes for New York City dogs
I pick your dog up at your building in the morning. We spend the day on forest trails and creeks in the Catskills, and I bring them home tired and clean before dinner. No more than four dogs on a hike. One handler, and it is always me.
— Christopher Mejo, founder
✓ Christopher Mejo, Solo Handler
✓ Four dogs per hike
✓ GPS collar on every dog
1:4
4 dogs, maximum
Strict 1:4 ratio. Every dog stays within immediate sight and voice range on the trail.
GPS
GPS on every dog
A Garmin Alpha GPS collar on every dog, so I always know where each one is.
NYC
Door to door
Morning pickup and evening return in Manhattan and Brooklyn. Every dog rides in a crash-tested crate.
See pickup neighborhoods → $2M
Fully Insured
$2,000,000 commercial animal care liability policy, and I am bonded.
Review operating terms → Services
Hikes, grooming and training, from one person
Most clients start with hikes. Some add a bath after the trail, or training for the elevator and the sidewalk. Service dog training is a separate program for people with disabilities.
Catskills Dog Hikes
$250 / dayPickup 7:15–8:30 AM, about four hours of trail and water time, home 4:30–6:00 PM. The van ride, tick check, rinse and photos are included.
Private Grooming
From $150A private bath and hand dry, one dog at a time, with no kennel dryers and no other dogs. Haircuts from $195. Post-hike bath add-on $95.
Dog Training
From $175 / sessionLeash manners, recall, elevator and lobby behavior, and Canine Good Citizen testing. Force-free methods. No prong or shock collars.
Service Dog Training
Assessment $350Task training for mobility and psychiatric disabilities, with public access practice on NYC streets, elevators, and the subway.
A hike day
What happens on a hike day
The same routine every hike day, so dogs know what to expect and settle into it quickly.
1
A free 30-minute consult
I meet you and your dog at home or in a nearby park, check vaccination records, and see how your dog handles a new person and a new place. Dogs with an AKC Canine Good Citizen certificate can skip this step.
2
Pickup, 7:15–8:30 AM
I collect your dog from your door or your doorman. Each dog rides in its own crash-tested crate in my climate-controlled van.
3
About four hours outside
Most of the day is on private land near Woodstock and Overlook Mountain, with marked trails and a pond. New dogs stay on 30-foot long lines until their recall is reliable.
4
Home, 4:30–6:00 PM
Before the drive home your dog gets a tick check, a rinse and a towel dry. That evening I text you photos and the GPS track of the route.
Christopher Mejo • Founder & Solo Handler
Who does the work
The person you meet is the person who hikes with your dog
Gotham Paw is a one-person practice. I do the consult, the pickup, the driving, the hike and the drop-off. There is no rotating staff and no second driver. That is why hikes are capped at four dogs and why I run two to three hike days a week.
I have trained dogs for over eight years across New York, serve as Executive Director of a regional service dog placement nonprofit, and breed and exhibit Spanish Water Dogs, a traditional working water breed.
Credentials: AKC CGC Approved Evaluator • Fear Free Certified Professional • Canine Wilderness First Aid & CPR
From the Catskill Trails
Photos from recent Friday and Saturday hikes. For new ones each week, follow @gothampaw on Instagram.
Spruce ridge Giant Ledge, Catskills
The spruce ridge at Giant Ledge, where the trail levels out and the dogs find their pace.
Saturday Peak Hike Instagram
Creek stop Stony Clove Creek
The creek stop. Most dogs wade in; a few just watch from the bank.
Friday Forest Hike Instagram
Recall practice Slide Mountain Wilderness
Recall practice on a quiet stretch of trail, long line still attached.
Saturday Peak Hike Instagram
Client Reviews
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What clients say
"Living in a Tribeca loft with an energetic two-year-old Vizsla was overwhelming. Gotham Paw completely transformed our routine—Archie comes home exhausted and calm in the most peaceful way."
Alexandra V., Tribeca with Archie, a Hungarian Vizsla Client since October 2024
"Christopher is the only person in New York I trust with our dog. The small pack size, the Garmin GPS collars, and the door-to-door pickup make this service completely irreplaceable."
Marcus & David L., West Village with Buster, a French Bulldog Client since March 2024
"As an attorney working long hours, knowing Winston is running mountain trails and swimming in Catskills creeks twice a week gives me complete peace of mind. Worth every single penny."
Elena R., Upper East Side with Winston, a Golden Retriever Client since June 2023
Get in touch
Book a Free Consult
I meet with every new dog before their first hike to see how they handle new people and places and to check vaccination records. Dogs with an AKC Canine Good Citizen certificate can skip the consult.