Little Dog, Big City - Gizmo Goes Urban

Welcome to the Wednesday Dogs of Dogster! Every Wednesday, we share a story from one of our Dogsters. This week is about Kate & Gizmo, her scruffy Pug mix.

What happens when you bring a small-town dog to the big city? Gizmo and I recently found out!

Gizmo started life somewhere in Texas, but he spent his formative early adult years in a smaller city in Colorado. I could tell pretty early on, though, that he was better suited to something a little more urban…

Gizmo in the Neighborhood

In Colorado, we lived in a pretty neighborhood in a smallish town, and right out the front door were wide, tree-lined streets, sidewalks, and neighborhood parks. This would be the dream for many dogs, but for some reason, Gizmo seemed to feel on duty in the sparsely populated (but very safe) streets. He was constantly on the lookout for people and dogs to bark at.

When we exited the neighborhood and walked down Main Street, though, he was immediately at ease, gamely trotting up to greet everyone sitting at tables along the sidewalk and walking by, peering into every shop doorway, and sitting calmly while we waited for the lights to change. It was mysterious: the busy hum and chaos of cars going by and people chatting was apparently much more relaxing than the quiet calm of the neighborhood.

We did work with a trainer and got the barking under control with clicker training, but this method required me to remain ever-vigilant while out on a walk so I could head off any sudden barking fits with a quick click-and-treat. Not very relaxing for either of us!

Ready for a (Much) Bigger Pond

When it came time for a big cross-country move to San Francisco, I was a little nervous about how Gizmo would cope. Going from a chill town to a major city is a lot for any dog to handle, and I adopted Giz as an adult rescue, so who knows what he’d already seen in his first year or so of life. But one thing that made me feel a whole lot more confident was Gizmo’s already visibly city-friendly attitude: I realized he might actually be better behaved living in an apartment in a city! He’s also a small dog (18 pounds), so he’s allowed in many buildings that would otherwise not be pet-friendly.

We packed everything into a moving van and headed West. On the many-hour drive, Gizmo rode like a king in the middle seat of the van, watching the states go by. On arrival in the city, he was big-eyed and a little unsure. But once he spotted his beloved yellow couch and confirmed that his required one-dog-bed-per-room minimum had been satisfied, he settled right in.

Supersizing Our Walks

Gizmo was used to daily neighborhood walks, but they got a whole lot longer (and steeper!) as soon as we got to San Francisco. He is a very sporty little guy with legs for days, relative to his overall size. And with the many dog-friendly patios, piers, and parks, there’s always somewhere to take a rest.

One of the best things about making such a big move has been the opportunity to reset some bad habits. I’m trying to be a lot more serious about barking (more important now that it’s not just my eardrums being assaulted), and I don’t carry the clicker anymore. He picked up immediately that I didn’t want him barking at anyone on the streets, which I don’t think he fully understood before. There’s plenty left to work on, but it feels amazing making such sudden progress!

It’s Not All Smooth Sniffing

Of course, not everything has been a walk in the park (ha). The hardest things so far have been:

1. Yes, Virginia, there is an upstairs neighbor

Apartment neighbors are just a lot closer. Gizmo is working on understanding that upstairs neighbors are in fact allowed to walk around their own apartments, even when he is enjoying a much-needed nap.

2. Garbage is not food

The streets may be pre-stocked with delicious treats, but for some mysterious reason, we have to eat the snacks we brought from home. Absolutely brutal.

3. Sea lions are not actual lions

Although actual lions might stalk and eat a Gizmo on the open savannah, the sea lions that lounge like big blubbery sacks on the piers are not an actual threat. But one earful of their “roaring” and Gizmo is ready to be anywhere but there!

The Mysterious Mr. Giz

Overall, though, Gizmo is adapting amazingly well to his new urban environment. Which leads me to wonder: did Gizmo actually grow up in a city? How does the math work in his brain if 1-3 people on the streets = dangerous but 4-infinity = no worries? What else has he been subtly trying to tell me over the years?

Have you ever moved a suburban dog to the big city? Tell us about it in the comments! Gizmo and I would love to know how your pup reacted…