1:4 Pack Composure Overlook Mountain Summit • 3,140 ft
Pack companionship at Overlook Mountain Summit • 3,140 ft. 6 hours of soft mountain loam and spring water exploration.
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
✓ Strict 1:4 Pack Ratio
✓ Garmin Alpha GPS Telemetry
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
Garmin Alpha satellite tracking collars monitored continuously throughout the hike.
NYC
Door to door
Morning pickup and return anywhere in Manhattan and Brooklyn in crash-tested crates.
See pickup neighborhoods → $2M
Fully Insured
$2,000,000 commercial animal care liability and bonding policy through our carrier.
Review operating terms → Practice Overview
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 with zero 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.
Daily Protocol
What happens on a hike day
A predictable, gentle routine designed to keep dogs calm, safe, and fulfilled.
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 Swedish Variocage inside our 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. You get photos and the day's satellite GPS track sent directly to your phone by text.
Christopher Mejo • Founder & Solo Handler
Single-Handler Practice
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
Swipe through moments from our weekly Friday Forest and Saturday Mountain Hikes. Optimized and hosted directly for instant loading—follow @gothampaw for weekly field notes.
Creek Hydrotherapy Giant Ledge Balsam Spruce Ridge • 3,200 ft
Pack companionship at Giant Ledge Balsam Spruce Ridge • 3,200 ft. 6 hours of soft mountain loam and spring water exploration.
Saturday Peak Hike Instagram
Summit Ascent Stony Clove Spring-Fed Creek • 2,140 ft
Pack companionship at Stony Clove Spring-Fed Creek • 2,140 ft. 6 hours of soft mountain loam and spring water exploration.
Friday Forest Hike Instagram
Master Trainer Recall Slide Mountain Wilderness • 3,600 ft
Pack companionship at Slide Mountain Wilderness • 3,600 ft. 6 hours of soft mountain loam and spring water exploration.
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—Barnaby 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
Private Roster Inquiries
Book a Free Consult
I meet with every new dog before their first hike to verify temperament and review vaccination records. Dogs with an AKC Canine Good Citizen certificate can skip the consult.