Want to ensure your dog also feels at home in New Orleans? Here's a list of 12 tricks every New Orleans dog owner should know, and any old dog can learn.
They come from experience. They come from veteran owners and dog care specialists alike. There's truly something here for all pups and their humans too!
[My pups, Wren and Maddie, shown with their destroyed Mardi Gras cup, have promised your pups will thank you for reading this].
1. Bug Proof Your Pooch - New Orleans was built on and around swampland. Mosquitos are super common. So are fleas.
Fleas can be tricky, especially when you're underprepared. The medication designed for both fleas and ticks tends to work differently from region to region. What worked in another town or part of the country may not do much here, and that can lead to itchy dogs and flea infestations in your home. You'll want to Louisiana-proof your pup and fast!
Heartworms can kill, and it only takes one mosquito bite. Check with your vet to learn which scripts you've got and whether they work well locally. Go to a vet to treat heartworm. While treatment is necessary, it can kill your dog if it's given when your dog already has heartworm. If remembering a monthly pill is hard for you, ask about an annual shot instead.
While you're there, ask if there are any new vaccines your pet may need to stroll the streets of New Orleans safely.
[My favorite vet? Magazine Animal Clinic (now East Riverside Veterinarian Hospital), they're worth a trip across town].
2. New Orleans is Super Dog-Friendly - There are plenty of places and establishments to enjoy with your pal. There are parks to stroll, dog runs to romp, outdoor cafes to enjoy, and most bars that don't serve food will overlook - or even include - your four-legged companion.
You'll meet lots of other dogs. You'll meet lots of belly rubbers. And it's a great way to make friends of the human variety as well.
Watch out for paws, keep pups hydrated, and have a plan to get home if it gets dark and walking isn't the best idea.
[My favorite pet-friendly, people pub? Pepp's Pub on Franklin, paws down, no contest].
3. Most Parades & Festivals Aren't Great for Dogs - Parades can get crowded and rowdy. The loud instruments and music are louder on our pup's ears than they are on ours. Dancing can mean stomped paws. Add mud, and you've got a festival. Don't get me started on the chicken bones and other choking hazards.
According to Blake Vonder Haar, the owner, and proprietor of Bark Market (a wonderful pet store in Bywater), "it's illegal to bring your pup within 500 feet of many parades, except Barkus, of course!"
Similarly, many festivals don't allow dogs. And, while some smaller walking parades are safe for dogs (one called Barkus even includes them), do your research in advance and double check that your pup is both welcome, legal, comfortable, and safe.
[Side note. If you can find emotional support elsewhere, festivals can be dangerous for dogs. It's a great time to leave your four-legged friend behind, even if they're certified].
4. New Orleans Wildlife Watch - The city has its own form of wildlife. Feral cats and even chickens roam the streets like pigeons. We have pigeons too. Some kitties are friendly to people, some to dogs, and some not. Keep an eye out and be kind to our ferals.
Maddie once got 'doggy pink eye' from a kitty who, up until one morning, loved to have his belly sniffed. Lesson learned.
Opossums, raccoons, and even coyotes roam yards in the evening in many neighborhoods, including those downtown. While most opossums will play dead and freeze, it's unsafe for your pup or the opossum to get into a tussle. Plus - as it turns out - opossums are beneficial to the local environment when left alone. Raccoons and coyotes can be far more dangerous when cornered. So, make sure to check out your backyard before allowing your pup to relieve themselves once the sun goes down.
5. New Orleans Wildlife Watch Part 2 - You may not have considered what lies beneath our waterways. They include both reptiles and rip currents. Be cautious when letting your friend swim or sip.
Please ensure you're in a safe spot to play so they won't be swept away. Make sure the water is safe to drink. Spoiler alert the river has heavy metals in its water supply. Yuck!
Alligators have been known to surface around levees during warmer months. They can also be found in waterways like Bayou St John and City Park!
[Pro tip. The Mississippi coast has shallow beaches less than a one-hour drive away! Consider a doggy life vest to protect your pup and extend playtime at the beach or in a pool].
6. Speaking of Water - It gets hot here! Doggies get thirsty. Don't let them drink standing water; it can be a host to Giardia which is miserable and highly contagious.
Make sure the water is flowing and clear before your pet takes a sip.
While you're enjoying that to-go drink in your geaux cup, make sure you fill one up for Fido too. Many bars have free plastic cups and Igloo coolers for people to enjoy. They won't mind if you grab a little extra for your best pal. Promise.
Lots of servers are dog lovers too. Ask and receive a take-out container or cup at local bars. Or pick up a cool water bottle/dish combo at your local pet store.
[My go-to for all things pets is Bark Market in Bywater].
7. Watch That Sidewalk - Did we mention it gets hot here?! Dog paws may be tough, but they're not New Orleans summer sidewalk tough. That beautiful grey slate downtown gets even hotter than concrete.
If your K9 starts tugging you toward some sublime shade or up every stoop they come across, take note; they're telling you their feet are on fire.
Take special care of young pups. Their paws are more sensitive. And, you may want to check with your vet about allowing puppies without their boosters on city streets at all. They can be susceptible to diseases other dogs, cats, and wildlife leave behind on city sidewalks, streets, and grassy patches too!
Early morning and late evening walks on grass are a good plan in hotter months. Check out Nola Bark in City Park. It's a reasonably priced membership-only dog run with doggy pools, fountains, and lots of grass for romping.
[Fun fact! Pups regulate temp through their paws. When you get your dog some cold water, have them walk through some, too! Can you believe how cute baby Wren was?! Shown above].
8. Hot continued - A parked car can get up to 130 degrees (enough to majorly harm your doggo) in under 20 minutes in 90+ degree heat. Turns out that cracking the windows only improves the situation by a negligible amount. it's sort of like how it takes a while for toast to cool when left in the toaster, even though it's got vents). While it can be fun to keep your pooch with you on your adventures, make sure to include dog-friendly spots on your travel plans or leave your pup at home when the temps climb high.
9. To Pee or Not to Pee - City slickers squat and lift on curbs and trees. Suburban pups tend to be more used to yards and may take some practice before they're regularly relieving themselves in public.
So if your pup is new to NOLA or urban living in general, they'll need to adapt.
Start by identifying grassy patches, neutral grounds, and other areas that provide both grass and privacy nearby, and use patience.
Training pups to use smaller and smaller bits of green will help them adapt fast. They'll be 'curbed' in no time if you make the lesson a part of a regular walk routine. Bring bags!.
[This adorable pup shown hiding under the corn hole game is Leo the Blind Pom, our neighbor and a recent New Orleans transplant with a growing Instagram following].
10. Home Sweet Home? - There's no place quite like home, and when you're staying in a new home, even the best-trained doggies can have bad behaviors from separation anxiety.
Have a plan. Crating may be a good idea, at least until you know how they'll adjust and react.
My parents' prized pup went from couch potato to Tasmanian devil, tearing down all the shades in a vacation home once. No lie.
[Maddie's rescue sister, Wren shown here cuddling with Maddie and in sooo many of my Instagram stories. Follow us here].
Vonder Haar also shares that "natural calming aids like Pheromone diffusers and collars, the essence of lavender, or supplements like CBD and valerian to help during that first month."
11. Pretty but Poisonous - Did you know that pretty purple ground cover is like poison ivy and causes bellies and paws to itch? It's called purple heart or wandering Jew (no lie). We have a number of poisonous plants in New Orleans that are commonplace and pretty. Watch out for sago palms; any part can kill a dog in hours. Tall reddish spikey-leafed castor plants drop spikey balls that are super deadly when chewed on and opened. Make sure to take into consideration a full list when landscaping your yard and letting pups loose.
12. Speaking of loose - Get your dog microchipped and pick up ID tags just in case! That way theyll not only be at home, they'll be able to find it again if they get lost.
There you have it. 12 ways to make sure your pup feels at home sweet home here in New Orleans. And while it may seem like a lot to consider, your pup is 100% worth it. Take care to review and prepare, and your pup's new home experience will be just as good as yours is!
Looking for fun things to do with your pups? The video below highlights some of our favorite spots and recaps the most important info above. It also includes some tips for helping your dog adjust to a move.
Plus, it's fun to share with family, guests, and friends so they can be as excited about your dog in New Orleans as you are.
Need help listing your current home or finding yourself and your furkid a new home in New Orleans? We can help with that too. Team Cool Murphy is fido-friendly- promise!
Elisa Cool Murphy lives in Faubourg Marigny and is dog mom to Maddie and Wren. She is passionate about helping bring awareness and funds to Take Paws Rescue.
She is the leader of Team Cool Murphy and an experienced Realtor in Louisiana. Her brokerage, Cool Murphy LLC, is based in New Orleans and works in real estate in the Greater New Orleans Metro Area.
Her specialties include listing homes in historic neighborhoods. You can learn more about her here.
Cell: (504) 321-3194
Email: cool@coolmurphy.com
Instagram + Facebook: @coolmurphynola
Youtube: @homeinneworleans
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