<aside> <img src="/icons/info-alternate_gray.svg" alt="/icons/info-alternate_gray.svg" width="40px" /> A hike consists of:

1. Picking up 4 dogs from their homes;
2. Hiking with them off-leash, for at least 3 hours, at one of our hiking locations;
3. Taking videos of their hike, with the provided camera;
4. Binging them back home, safe, tired, and happy. </aside>

The preparation

There are a few things one needs to prepare/verify before each hike.

The day before the hike

• Find out which car you should be using;
• Figure out what keys you’ll need using the PPC app;
• Plan your pick-ups to see the fastest way to do it; this can save you lots of time and anguish;
• Choose a hiking location.

On the day of the hike

• Visually check the car for new dents/scratches;
• Make sure you have towels, leashes, and a first aid kit;
• Ensure the GoPro handle/battery, and the 4 GPS collars and 1 receiver are plugged in so they can charge while driving;
• Make sure the dashcam is functioning.

The driving

Two of our hiking cars are parked in a garage in Manhattan, and the other usually stays with Krista.

Pick up the car around 7:30 AM ~ 8:30 AM and do a thorough inspection.

Please try your best to always park in legal spots and use the PARK NYC app to pay the meters. Ask our teammates for advice on finding parking spots.

If you get a ticket, please let Ovidiu know immediately and send him a photo of the ticket.

It should go without saying that you should always drive safely, and be mindful of the fact that you have 4 dogs in the back, without a seatbelt. If for whatever reason you don’t feel capable to drive safely, don’t do it. Just let Ovidiu know so he can find a different solution. Safety first!

The pick-ups

Plan ahead the order in which you should pick up the dogs. That can save you a lot of time.

Always send the “On the way” notification, through the PPC app, 10~15 min before pick-up. For clients who require it, text/call them 10~15 min before pick-up.

The hike

The hike itself should be for at least 3 hours, at a hiking location that we are familiar with, and where we can assist you in case of need; If you’d like to explore a different location, please let Ovidiu know in advance so you can discuss it.

Make sure all your dogs wear a  GPS collar during the hike and that they are working and connected to the GPS receiver;

If you run into a bear or some other dangerous animal, please leash your dogs and move away as fast as possible; If a dog engages a bear, please leash all the other dogs and move them and yourself to a safe location. Keep calling the troublemaking dog to follow you, but do not try to fight the bear. Your life is important to us!!

Always carry with you 4 leashes; Use them in case you are passing by other people on the trail; Please use our leashes instead of the clients’ so as to not lose them, or get them dirty;

If a dog is new (to you), use one of the 20ft leashes found in each car, and let the dog drag it during the hike, until you feel comfortable that the dog is responsive to you. The purpose of the long leash is to make it easy for you to catch the dog if need be. That leash will also get tangled up on rocks/tree stumps, reducing the chances that the dog gets away. Use the GPS to track wandering dogs;