Taxi My Pet

Loubie the Hugging Pooch While I was going through Instagram after a great Christmas day with my family, I came across the cutes golden retriever who gives hugs to strangers. This little New Yorker sits on the street corner of 5th and 17th in Manhattan’s Chelsea neighborhood waiting for anyone in need of a huge. 5-year-old Louboutina or Loubie, named after famous shoe designer Christian Louboutin, started her tradition around Valentine's Day in 2014, but it wasn’t hugging. Owner Cesar Fernandez-Chavez, 47, took Loubie on walks and within minutes she was giving had shakes, and a couple of years later it turned into loving hugs. Cesar never trained her into giving hugs, he claims it is all her. She is a friend to all, human and canine. The duo goes for walks, but they don’t get far. Loubie is excited for strangers to come up to her, but she doesn’t hug just anyone. While she is generous with her cuddles, she hugs those she has a connection with. If she ‘feels’ you, she will wrap...

Do You Have a Scared, Timid Dog Who Needs Some Socialization?   If you have a dog that is scared, timid or sometimes antisocial around other dogs and people, it could be that they may need to be socialized a little more. This does not mean that you have a dog with behavioral issues or that there’s something wrong with them. It just means that they need a little extra love and care when it comes to socialization outside of their own family and home. Many dogs can be trained to be kind, considerate, and sweet as long as they are given a chance by being around other people and other animals. Many people try to take their dogs to the dog park which sometimes ends in utter failure because the dogs are being pushed and forced into an atmosphere that they are uncomfortable with. A dog park can be very scary and intimidating for a dog that already suffers from social anxiety issues. The best thing to do is to slowly immerse your dog into socializing with other people and dogs. Dog...