Satisfied Clients
5/5 stars on Google
Tom Galis2023-06-13Buster & Whiskers are the best trainers and walkers in Astoria. Very professional! Jen, Igor and Ricardo are great people who really care about my dog.Jacob Herter2023-05-02Working with the team at Buster and Whiskers has been an incredible experience. Walks are a night and day difference from where they were when we started. Everyone that we've interacted with has been nothing short of wonderful and most importantly our pup loves them too. Our dog is reactive but not aggressive and Igor was patient with us and our dog and was thorough in explaining what we needed to continue doing and what we needed to work on. Training felt like a true partnership and that isn't always easy to come by. We trust the team implicitly with our dog and would not hesitate to recommend Jen, Igor and team to anyone.Taylor Coundouris2023-04-26Cannot recommend Busters & Whiskers enough! My pup LuLu has a lot of fear and anxiety and their team is patient and kind with her. They are also super professional, knowledgeable, and lovely to speak with. Glad LuLu is in such great hands on her walks!Christina Jeffrey2023-04-20LOVE! Our dog needed the pack to remember how to dog coming out of months of lockdown with us. These folks are dog people (and not in the way I'm a dog person where I talk to the dogs and ignore the humans) they understand dog behavior and pack interactions in a way that communicates confidence and safety to dogs, allowing them to just be a dog.Glenn Completa2023-03-19Excellent service and care!Gabrielle Fishbaine2023-02-28Buster and whiskers has truly been the best for my dog! He gets so excited to go on his group walks and has clearly come such a long way — never would I have imagined that he would be able to walk side by side with another dog without being reactive. Thank you all so much!Joanna Moshman2023-01-16Cannot recommended Buster and Whiskers enough! They have been amazing with our dog Abby who was becoming reactive to other dogs on her walks. We noticed positive changes during her walks just a week after we started working with them. Abby loves her pack and now looks forward to her walks every day! Jennifer, Igor, and all their dog walkers are professional, knowledgeable, communicative and flexible. We are so grateful to have found them!Natalie Strasser2022-12-14At first I was hesitant because of the commitment to daily walks and the price. After speaking with friends who've had their dogs walked by the company, as well as speaking with Igor and Jennifer, I knew this was what I needed for my dog because of her reactivity. I was fed up with doing everything on my own to "fix" what was wrong with my rescue, and it was stressing me out (and my dog!). If you have the extra funds, or can make some improvement in your budget, I highly recommend them. My dog has improved tremendously due to the consistency/patience and they're always there to answer questions, concerns that come up. They tell you up front the hard truths when it comes to your dog, but only because they want you to understand what you may/may not be doing and what will work best for your dog since they really do have their own personalities. As owners, we may not realize we are accidently rewarding bad behavior, so it's great to have an outside view, especially from professionals. They have tremendous patience and love for all the dogs. They also go above/beyond (putting on rain coats, winter jackets, wiping up pee in the house).Ashley Lund-Pearson2022-12-01My dog, Poppy, has been going on pack walks with Buster and Whiskers since September and we've been really happy with the team. I work from home but it gives me peace of mind to know she has a good long walk once a day and structured socialization with other dogs. We adopted her at 8 months after living on the street in Aruba for the first 6 or so months of her life so she came to us with a lot of anxiety to the noises of NYC. Through training paired with daily pack walks, Poppy has become a much happier, less anxious dog.
Discover the Difference
Buster and Whiskers: Making dogs' lives pawsitively wonderful
The Reasons to Choose Buster and Whiskers
- Structured Group Walks
- Personalized Remedial Socialization
- Professional Guidance
- Gradual Acclimation
- Professional Dog Walkers
- Enriched Walks
The Reasons to Choose Buster and Whiskers
- Structured Group Walks
- Personalized Remedial Socialization
- Professional Guidance
- Gradual Acclimation
- Professional Dog Walkers
- Enriched Walks
Steps taken so far
Service Area
Nestled in the heart of the vibrant city of New York, Astoria beckons with its unique charm and diverse offerings. At Buster and Whiskers, we proudly call this dynamic neighborhood our playground for happy pups. Allow us to guide you through the dog-friendly streets, scenic parks, and bustling avenues of Astoria, where tails wag and furry friends thrive.
Explore our blog, a treasure trove of dog-related articles, expert advice, and tales of canine companionship
Autumn Tips for Dog Owners
Click here to check out some tips to help keep your dog safe and healthy this Autumn!
How to enjoy nature with your dog in spring?
Click here to check out 3 important tips to enjoy a safe and stress free spring walk or hike with your pup!
3 Great Dog Exercises for Busy Dog Owners
Regular exercise plays a crucial role in the development of every dog. The more physically active you keep your dog, the healthier he will be. Yet, it can be difficult to maintain a dog exercises routine if you do not have the time. It is especially difficult to carve out time with the busy life style here in NYC.
Proper Dog Socialization: The Benefits of Group Walks
Group Walks are a natural and non-confrontational way of socialization. Learn more about the benefits of Group Socialization Walks for your dog.
Why do My Dogs Follow me Into the Bathroom?
Why does my dog follow me into the bathroom? Click here to check out the reasons why, and to learn if it is becoming a problematic behavior.
7 Dog Training Tips for New Puppy Owners
Here are some helpful tips to have a healthy and well-trained dog.
Do you have questions?
We have answers for frequently asked questions
Our Group Socialization Walks involve walking a group of dogs together to improve their social skills, impulse control, and leash manners. These walks help dogs become more comfortable in urban environments and teach them to cooperate with other dogs and humans. We tailor groups based on energy levels, age, size, and temperament to ensure a safe and enriching experience for all participants (B&W – Dog Walker Astoria) (LocalPetCare).
Most dogs show positive changes within a week of starting our walks, with significant improvements typically seen after 3 months of consistent participation. Sustained improvements can take 4-8 months or longer, depending on factors like the dog’s starting skill level, motivation, and age (B&W – Dog Walker Astoria).
A commitment to daily walks from Monday to Friday is required to ensure consistency and steady progress in your dog’s behavior. Walks are prepaid and non-refundable to secure your spot in our program (B&W – Dog Walker Astoria) (B&W – Dog Walker Astoria).
During a Meet and Greet, we assess your dog’s walking skills and behavior with a quick 5-minute walk without the owner present. This is followed by a discussion about the onboarding process and your dog’s specific needs to ensure a good fit for our group walks (B&W – Dog Walker Astoria) (LocalPetCare).
Walks scheduled as part of our Monthly Package are non-refundable and cannot be switched to different days. We ask for at least two weeks’ notice if you decide not to renew the package for the next month. Cancellation fees are waived only for Federal Holidays or with sufficient notice for vacations after two months of walking with us (B&W – Dog Walker Astoria) (B&W – Dog Walker Astoria).
The Monthly Package must be prepaid before the first date of service. Walks are scheduled consecutively from Monday to Friday and are non-refundable. Cancellation fees are waived for Federal Holidays or with at least two weeks’ notice for vacations after two months of walking with us (B&W – Dog Walker Astoria).
If your dog has significant behavioral issues, we recommend scheduling one-on-one sessions with a Balanced Trainer first. This approach can provide focused training to address specific problems before joining our Group Walks (B&W – Dog Walker Astoria) (LocalPetCare).
We do not offer sporadic or non-recurrent walks. Our services require a commitment to recurrent walks with a minimum of three walks per week to maintain consistency and availability for all clients (B&W – Dog Walker Astoria) (LocalPetCare).
We require dogs to use a backup safety clip during walks. Harnesses and retractable leashes are not allowed for safety reasons. We will assess your dog’s walking gear during the Meet and Greet and may recommend changes if needed (B&W – Dog Walker Astoria) (B&W – Dog Walker Astoria).
To get started, schedule a Meet and Greet by confirming a date and time. Provide two copies of your keys if you won’t be home for the first walk. After the Meet and Greet, you’ll need to fill out the Client Agreement, set up the online portal, and upload your dog’s vaccination certificates. Once this is complete, we will schedule your dog’s walks and send you the first invoice (B&W – Dog Walker Astoria) (B&W – Dog Walker Astoria) (LocalPetCare).
