Your First Hike With Gotham Paw
Everything you need to know before your companion's first Catskills mountain expedition with founder and master trainer Christopher Mejo—including our complimentary 30-minute consultation and AKC Canine Good Citizen (CGC) fast-track option.
Executive Welcome & Collection Briefing
A personal audio & video walkthrough by Christopher Mejo (Founder & Master Trainer) detailing morning collection protocols, Sprinter transit suites, and alpine safety standards.
Christopher Mejo
Founder & Master Trainer
Orientation Chapters
Click any chapter to jump directly to that protocol.
How It Works
Four simple steps from your initial consultation (or AKC CGC waiver) to your companion's first expedition.
Schedule Your Intake or Submit CGC
Book a complimentary 30-minute in-person consultation with founder Christopher Mejo—or submit your dog's passed AKC Canine Good Citizen (CGC) certificate in lieu of the consult.
In-Person Consultation (30 Min)
Christopher visits your home or local park to evaluate loose-leash manners, pack temperament, and veterinary vaccination records for everybody's safety and enjoyment.
First Chaperoned Expedition
Once approved, log into your client portal and book your preferred Friday Forest or Saturday Hike seat directly on /book-hike.
Welcome to the Pack
Your companion enjoys full-day Catskills wilderness immersion at a strict 1:4 ratio with live Garmin satellite telemetry and same-day media journals.
Who Can Join Our Pack?
We maintain rigorous standards for everybody's safety and enjoyment—ensuring every 4-dog mountain pack is harmonious, balanced, and stress-free.
What We Review During Your Consultation
Our complimentary 30-minute consultation takes place at your home lobby or local park. Note: If your dog has already passed the official AKC Canine Good Citizen (CGC) test, we accept your CGC certificate in lieu of this consultation!
Sit & Down on Cue
Responds reliably to verbal or hand cues without physical prompting.
Recall & Engagement
Checks in willingly with the handler; dogs start on 30-ft biothane lines until off-leash recall is proofed.
Leash Manners
Walks calmly on a loose leash without lunging or sustained reactive behavior.
Greeting Composure
Approaches handler politely without frantic jumping or mouthing.
Dog-to-Dog Neutrality
Remains calm and non-reactive in the presence of other dogs at a reasonable distance.
Leave It / Drop It
Releases items or disengages from trail temptations on cue (critical around wildlife and brush).
Threshold Wait
Pauses calmly at building doors, curbs, and Sprinter van doors until invited.
Handler Focus
Maintains connection with Christopher in stimulating outdoor environments.
Vehicle Comfort
Enters and settles comfortably inside a crash-tested Variocage travel pod.
Recovery from Startle
Recovers quickly from unexpected urban or woodland noises without prolonged panic.
Dogs do not need to be off-leash prodigies on day one—every new hiker starts on a 30-foot biothane tracking line while learning pack rhythm. Christopher evaluates overall temperament, social neutrality, and safety readiness, and can also administer official AKC CGC prep and testing right in NYC.
A Day on the Trail
Our signature mountain hikes are engineered to provide maximum physical fulfillment, olfactory enrichment, and pure joy.
White-Glove Pickup
Christopher arrives at your building in our custom Mercedes-Benz Sprinter. Your dog is secured in a private, crash-tested, HEPA-filtered Variocage suite with dual climate controls.
Trailhead Arrival
We arrive at our permit-controlled Catskills trailhead. Dogs are fitted with Garmin Alpha satellite GPS collars and given a pre-hike hydration break.
The Alpine Trek
4 to 6 miles of active hiking through diverse Catskills terrain—soft pine loam, hemlock forests, and ridge lines at a strict 1:4 ratio. Weather permitting, dogs splash in pure spring-fed mountain streams.
Trailside Recovery Nutrition
Organic pasture-raised bone broth, single-ingredient freeze-dried proteins, and pure spring water in a shaded glade.
12-Point Tick Sweep & Spa Wipe-Down
Every dog receives a thorough 12-point hands-on tick inspection, warm botanical coat wipe-down, and organic beeswax paw balm before boarding the Sprinter.
Chauffeured Return & Trail Diary
Your peacefully exhausted companion is returned directly to your doorman or residence with a same-day GPS route map, photo gallery, and trainer notes.
Trail Rules & Safety Regulations
These policies exist to protect every dog in our care and ensure the highest standard of safety on every expedition.
✓ Trail Safety
- All dogs wear Garmin Alpha satellite GPS tracking collars at all times on the trail
- Handler-to-dog ratio strictly never exceeds 1:4 with founder Christopher Mejo
- Off-leash privileges are earned after long-line proofing and can be adjusted at Christopher's discretion at any time
- Dogs exhibiting unsafe behavior toward pack mates or wildlife are immediately secured and transitioned to 1-on-1 training if needed
- Christopher carries a comprehensive wilderness canine trauma kit, Garmin InReach satellite SOS, and bear spray on every trek
- All hydration sources are handler-approved; dogs never drink from stagnant puddles
- Hikes are rescheduled in severe weather conditions (lightning, extreme heat index above 85°F, ice storms)
- Veterinary tick and parasite prevention must remain active year-round
✓ Client Policies
- 48-hour cancellation notice required; late cancellations within 48 hours are billed at 50% of the expedition rate
- Owners must provide current vaccination records (Rabies, DHPP, Bordetella) prior to consultation or first hike
- Any changes in health, medication, or behavior must be shared with Christopher before pickup
- Dogs recovering from surgery, illness, or injury require written veterinary clearance before returning to mountain trails
- Gotham Paw reserves the right to pause or decline group trail service if a dog requires private behavioral rehabilitation first
- Approved clients book preferred Friday or Saturday spots directly via /book-hike once signed in
- Photos and videos captured during hikes are shared in your private portal (and used in our journal unless you opt out in writing)
Ready to Schedule Your Free Consult?
Book your complimentary 30-minute in-person consultation with Christopher Mejo—or submit your AKC CGC certificate—to unlock mountain hike reservations.