Dogs Living the Miami High-Life. Guest Blog by Janet Goodman

True confessions of a dog trainer...

No one would argue that dogs here in the Magic City live differently from the rest of their species on Planet Earth. They are the privileged few. But strip away that Louis Vuitton leash and rhinestone tiara, and you’ll find that deep down in their DNA, they’re still dogs. Like their canine cousins, they have accidents on the dining room carpet, albeit a $40,000 antique Persian rug (true story on Golden Beach). They chew on the corners of the couch, but it’s a priceless Frank Lloyd Wright designed piece of furniture (another true story on Normandy Isle). Sometimes they bark too much like other dogs while being strolled down the cosmetics aisle at Neiman Marcus. Despite all the privilege and posh surroundings, they have your average, run-of-the-mill, unattractive canine behavior. They nip their owners, hump decorative pillows and occasionally eat their own poop. It’s that kind of behavior that keeps me in business. (Hit read more)

In 2001, I moved my dog training company from the sleepy west coastal town of Largo, Florida (near Clearwater) to Miami-Dade County. It didn’t take me long to become aware of the fact that dogs here in Miami live differently from those I had worked with on the other coast.

These new and unfamiliar canines share their owners’ breathtaking penthouse views of Biscayne Bay. They eat food that’s sold at the trendy pet stores on Lincoln Road.  They sleep on chic beds with canopies, and miniature chaise lounges made with animal print material and faux-fur trim. Even perfumes with designer sounding names like Pucci and Timmy Holedigger are part of their daily lives. Miami dogs are well-manicured.; BlackBerry devices all across town have dog grooming appointments scheduled every 2 to 4 weeks. Many of my new clients never take their dogs out to walk on the grass for fear of fleas and ticks, or even rain that could cause hair to mat.

This was a new phenomenon for me, and I can say that now with no prejudgment, no snicker in my voice. This new breed of dog customer has made me a better trainer. I’ve had to hone my wee-wee pad skills to help that Bal Harbor client living in a high-rise condo on Collins. I’ve learned what herbal remedies can ease a dog’s anxiety from the sounds of installing Sub-Zero built-in refrigeration on La Gorce Island. Nannies, live-in housekeepers and personal assistants have become the new extended family that I need to coach, sometimes instead of the owner. I had no idea that urine can ruin imported travertine marble floors!  I don’t think I ever heard of travertine marble until I moved here.  

Putting the focus on what customers want out of training has been liberating! Now I tell them to set their own rules for their pets, and that’s how it should be. Who am I to judge? And as I’ve gotten off my high horse, I’ve come to see people who clearly cherish those pets, maybe love them to a fault. They pamper them with baskets overflowing with toys.  At the slightest hint of illness, they rush them to the vet. I’ve never once heard a complaint about the rising costs of owning a dog in Miami from these people, because in their eyes - it is money well spent. Pets are family. Who can fault them for wanting only the best for their pooches? In my 23 years as a trainer, these are the most devoted pet owners I’ve ever come across. © 2009 Janet Goodman

Janet Goodman of Good Dog Bad Dog can be reached at janetgoodman@bellsouth.net