Elena and her team are fantastic. When I first spoke to Elena after picking up my puppy she was incredibly helpful and offered a lot of tips and advice. Following our conversation, I scheduled a training session. Elena has an amazing way with dogs. After a few private sessions with Elena, my 3 month puppy old puppy is completely housetrained and knows how to sit, lie down, stay and come. Elena uses positive reinforcement and has a depth of knowledge and research around the philosophy of her training style, which has proved to be incredibly effective. She does more than just train Lyla in our sessions... she teaches me what to do, addresses all of my questions and concerns with thoughtful answers and advice and discusses all of the things that a dog owner in the city should know. She is really passionate about what she does and it shows. On the walks, Patrick (the walker) practices Lyla's commands and feeds her. One of my favorite aspects of the walking service are the daily reports. Following the walk, I get an email with a detailed report on how Lyla did and a picture. As I am sitting in a meeting or at my desk, I smile with pride as I read how she did and see her sweet face. Elena has also been very accomodating. There have been a number of times when I needed a walk at the last minute and everytime Elena reponded promptly and was able to work something out for me. Elena's prices are a little higher than average, but the level of service warrants a higher price. If you are looking for the best service for your dog, I highly recommend Elena and her team. read more

The only reason why I wouldn't given them five stars is that the prices for dog walking etc, are about 20 bucks over the price i would like to pay for the job, but none the less, i have relied on It's a Dog's Life to make sure my dog is never overlooked. I know that no matter how busy I get, my neapolitan mastiff puppy (yes 10 months and 115 lbs), will have her teeth brushed every week, and a bath every other week. Payment is easy-online. I think one of the best qualities of It's A Dog's Life is its owner, Elena Gretch. I agree with Renee (the other yelp reviewer), she is just so knowledgeable and understands what the best care for your dog means. I have found myself going to her for advice when it comes to finding the best care for my dog in my area. she knows my standards and i have relied on her a few times and i came out happy always. She does her best to synchronize the walks and dog washes to fit in with my schedule so that they take my puppy when i go to class and when I come home she is happy, and healthy. Its a SERIOUS price tab, but I know how busy it is new york, and I have a WAY less serious schedule than 90% of the new yorkers out here, so i can see how It's A Dog Life can be very helpful to alot of people who dont want to sacrifice their dog for other priorities. p.s. my dog walker mike is good. Id rather have him walk my dog than some other dog walkers i see walking dogs around the area. read more

since getting our pup 8 months ago, we've gone through 4 different dog care options, including independent walkers and doggie daycare. i took a friend's recommendation and used an independent walker for the first 5 1/2 months. i started getting a bit suspicious of our walker when our pup would have accidents during the day and feared putting on his harnass. i called elena, the owner of it's a dog's life, and she discussed various options with me without pushing her services at all. she really just cares for the well being of city pups. i decided that i wanted to give our walker a last shot and if i still wasn't comfortable than i'd switch over to it's a dog's life. i came home early from work one day to test our walker and when he didn't show up, i called to check on him. he said that he'd come at 2:30. i'd been home as of 1:30 so i knew this wasn't true. this was the last straw. i began using it's a dog's life the next day and haven't looked back since. my pup, volk, gets so excited for nikki and heather's arrival twice a day! he's worn out after his walks and the report cards they leave couldn't be more helpful. another nice little bonus is that they send you picture texts of your dog throughout the day. most dog owners are obsessed with their little guys and this helps the pain of being away from them during the day. i highly recommend elena and her wonderful team. read more

I moved from California to New York City in December 2007. It was a rough transition for me and my little Yorkie, Augustus. I am so grateful that we found Elena and her team. I thought it would be almost impossible to find someone here in this big city that I would trust with him, especially in such a different environment and climate. Elena instantly put me at ease. I appreciated the very thorough interview process because I knew she was really getting to know my dog and his unique personality. Elena was very patient with me in the early days, when I would call or email her panicked about the snow or the freezing rain and how Augie would hold up in weather he had never experienced before. Over the past year and a half we have had a wonderful experience with It's a Dog's Life. I loved coming home from work to the informative, sweet reports from the day's walk and play. (They were such cute notes that I would even read them to Augie's grandparents.) Augie completely bonded with the It's a Dog's Life staff and he truly looked forward to seeing them every day. He had so much fun with them that I continued to use It's a Dog's Life even when I was unemployed this year and didn't need the service. Elena has always been extremely professional, responsive and understanding, and Augie and I wouldn't have survived our New York experience without her and her team! read more

We have been with IADL for over two years now and have been so happy with the care that our finicky Shiba gets. The team genuinely cares about what they do and are very professional. It's honestly nerve-wracking to hand they keys of your home to a stranger but when we met Elena (owner) and the person who would be walking our dog our mind was at ease because we had a lengthy discussion and even went on a walk together. They even have overnight care where someone stays with your pet in your home--and as a NY skeptic we are very comfortable having a IADL our walker stay in our home because we trust them. Why do we trust them? Read on... Here are just a few things I love. IADL: 1) Is really on-top of schedule changes and last minute requests 2) Offers advice on what to do when your finicky dog runs away (quite the nerve-wracking experience!) 3) Leaves a daily report card letting you know how the walk went and what happened 4) Paws are wiped! 5) Consistency with who walks your dog (LOVE THIS) 6) Friendly, professional staff I can go on but I think you get the idea. IADL is made up of a team of friendly, caring people who love what they do and know how to do it, which builds trust (not easy to find in NYC). read more

If you consider your pet a treasured member of your family, you're going to love Elena and her team at It's a Dog's Life. We have two attention needy Persian cats who are quite sure they aren't members of the feline race at all and belong on royal thrones in a palace. They detest to be left alone. Elena's staff have cat-sitted for us on many occasions. Each and every member of her team is responsible, trustworthy, animal loving, and treats our babes with the same tender love and care they are used to getting when we are around. Elena and her team are very knowledgeable in all areas of pet care, diet, grooming and everything in between. I never have to worry about leaving her staff in my apartment while I'm away. I always come home to a clean home in the same condition as when I left and healthy looking happy cats. It is obvious that they have been brushed and nurtured. When I used to leave my cats with other sitters, they're coats looked dull when I returned and I could tell they weren't eating properly. That is not the case with it's a Dog's Life! They are always in tip top shape upon my return. I highly recommend Elena and It's a Dog's Life to anyone who needs someone to look after their pets. read more

I would highly recommend Its a Dog's Life. From the start, Elena Gretch, the owner, was professional, timely and extremely well informed about dogs. She hires great people and doesn't tolerate less-than-stellar performance from them. She would often send an email from my apartment, giving me an update. The walkers were consistent and developed a bond with our Bulldog. Elena says that her philosophy is to treat pets the way she wanted her pet to be treated when she was working and that is true. She often gave helpful advice about strategies we could use without being pushy. And she was reasonable about prices, last minute service, and cancellations if needed. Our pup recently died of respiratory problems. This was the hardest thing we have ever gone through. She helped us greatly. She designed a memorial for us, wrote a letter for us to read at his funeral service, and provided helpful, friendly support when we were distraught. We couldn't have gotten through that experience without her. read more

Elena and her team of pet care specialists are outstanding! I highly recommend them for your personalized pet care and training needs. They were there every step of the way when my eight week old Labrador Retriever puppy came home with us to Manhattan. I initially received essential advice regarding the proper socialization, veterinary care and potty training. It's a Dog's Life (IADL) also did a remarkable job training Siyeh to learn go-potty on command, come, sit, down, up, stand, stay, give-it, bring-it, good-chew, off, take-it, leave-it, touch, go-home, go to your bed, push (to open doors), shake, high-five, wave, bow and numerous other commands like comfortably riding in an elevator with people. Siyeh passed his Canine Good Citizen test when he was six months old - good boy! There is no way to describe the sense of comfort that I have knowing IADL will be there on-time to exercise my dog with a committed team that focuses on my pet in a very safe and professional manner. read more

Having a dog in the city can be rewarding but also difficult. My wife and I travel frequently on business. Without the backup and support of the team at ITSADOGSLIFE it would be almost impossible. I use ITSADOGSLIFE for walking and pet sitting. They are reliable, dependable, and in most cases able to accommodate a last minute request for a pet sit or walk. Without exception Elena's dog walkers have worked well for us and are quite affectionate with our dog, Sam, including training him to obey basic commands. But most importantly, Sam enjoys being with the walkers, and even gets cranky if they are a couple of minutes late. The attention Sam gets allows me to rest assured that the walkers will notice anything noteworthy and report back to Elena. She is always aware of any matters concerning her client's pets, and is always accessible by phone or blackberry. I have used other services before ITSADOGSLIFE, but Sam has been happier under the care of Elena and her team. Woof! read more

I heart It's A Dog's Life! I have avery skittish dog and another very stubborn dog. It takes a patient and professional person to understand each of their quirks and to come into my apartment every day and be greeted with a thunder of barks and sometimes some growls! Elena understood all of this and chose Heather, who has become my savior! My dogs had never been walked by anyone but me, and I was so worried about a stranger coming in to take them out on the bustling shreets of Manhattan. Elena not only reassured me but got me some amazing harnesses and Heather leaves me a lovely note every day to let me know how her time was with The Goodtime Gals, aka my 2 mutts. I would not be able to function without Heather and It's A Dog's Life, I am so thankful I found them. To boot, their rates are extremely reasonable and they use positive-based training methods, so my dogs are even better behaved now than they were a month ago. I cannot recommend them highly enough! read more

I have lived in the city for a long time and used a number of different pet services but this one is far and away the best. I am completely over-protective of my little pup and I struggle to let the little guy be walked by anyone but me...or be watched (when I am away) by anyone except a very close, immediate family member. Well, I will happily recommend IADL to anyone who is a neurotic and loving pet owner like me. Our walker is so good and loving with my dog and she takes amazing care of him. Recently, I went away (reluctantly) and used IADL for a pet-sit in my apartment. Everything was done perfectly...from the dog's care to the way the apartment was maintained...to the daily updates I received. IADL is the best pet service in this city by a considerable margin. Kudos to Elena (the owner) and Sarah (our walker) for their service. I would recommend them to anyone without hesitation. read more

I've been using It's a Dog's Life's services for 2+ years for my two dogs. I have to say that Elena is extremely professional and knowledgeable. I've asked her for help on various things, whether it's training methods, diet or behavior, and she's always been very forthcoming with her expertise. Her dog walkers are great, always on time and deliver exactly the service you're expecting (I've purposefully run into them on their walks to make sure I'm getting what I'm paying for and my doormen have actually stopped me to tell me how impressed they are with the service). Patrick, specifically, has been a standout and I really appreciate all of his effort. I'm definitely a demanding customer and I expect to get the services and performance I pay for and I am very happy that I choose It's a Dog's Life (I'm pretty sure my dogs are pretty happy with that decision as well). read more

I was very nervous about finding a new dog walker for my dog Wally. He is a bit finicky and I wanted to find someone who really got to know him and love him as much as I do. When Elena, the owner of It's A Dog's Life came over for his consultation I knew that I had found the best in the business. She was both professional and passionate and I knew that Wally would be in good hands. Her and her team are educated, responsible individuals who you can trust coming into your home and caring for your most prize possession. It has been such a relief to me to know that Wally is having a great time with his dog walker and is being cared for in the same way I care for him. Elena goes above and beyond to accommodate your pet and schedule--I could not be happier with the terrific service & would highly recommend this business to any dog lover. read more

I searched and searched and searched for a service for my 2 cats and was never satisfied until I met Elena - It's a Dog's Life ! With the amount of traveling I do for my career, I do not know what I would do without them. I never have to worry. Elena and her team provide a journal of each days activities and even send me pictures while I am overseas! My 2 cats have grown so attached to Emma and the rest of the team who takes care of them and that is the best compliment there is. Of course animals miss their owners but when you have It's A Dogs Life, you never have to worry about their health and happiness becuase Elena and her staff treat them as their own. Henri and Pia thank them for all of their love and feather toys and look forward to many more visits to come!!! read more

If you want the best care for your pet, use It's a Dog's Life. W e have been SO impressed with the care that Elena and her team provide. We use IADL on a weekly basis and they have also been a tremendous help when our dog wasn't feeling well. Elena tries to have the same walker visit your dog each time so that s/he can develop a relationship with your dog, and the walkers always leave very detailed notes and make sure dog is happy and healthy when they leave. Elena and her team always follow up with us on any health or behavioral issues that they notice. We have also used IADL for some training issues and have noticed a definite improvement in our dog's behavior by using the techniques Elena provided. And the best compliment I can give ... our dog loves them! read more

I'm a dog walker at It's A Dog's Life, and from my perspective, IADL is the best dog walking service the city has to offer. I have seen countless dog walking services and know many people in the same business that I am. But I have yet to find a service that has the same level of integrity, training, and dedication that this company has. We don't just walk your dogs, we go above and beyond. They become family to us and we take care of them as if they were our own. Everyone on the team is professional, skilled, and passionate about what they are doing. Everyone has their own specific and unique skill set that not only completes the team, but makes us one of the strongest team of dog walkers in the city. We truly truly love our dogs and we love what we do. read more

We have been working with Elena from It's a Dog's Life, LLC for the past month on training our dog, Pasha, who is a jack russell terrier and we could not be happier with the results so far! The tips and techniques that Elena has taught us range from minor tweaks that we could make to our at-home habits (which yielded some instant results) to daily training exercises to more long-term changes to our habits. The results have been amazing! In just the short time span of a month our ability to interact with and provide our dog with the guidance he needs has increased incredibly, leading to a much happier dog, and happier owners too! We are really looking forward to continuing our training with Elena and could not more highly recommend her services! read more

I have been using "It's A Dog's Life" for about 2 years now and it has been great! It is such a good service and Elena is extremely helpful, nice, and will go to great lengths to make sure your dog is in great hands. Jessica, my walker, is also so good to my dog Teddy (he loves her!) and makes me feel comfortable when I am forced to leave him for the whole day to go to work. It is really comforting to come home to a happy dog with a cute little note chronicling what he did during his walk, especially at the end of a long day. Don't second guess yourself--- I can assure you that you will not be disappointed by Elena and her team! I promise you will come home to a happy, tail wagging, well taken care of dog :) read more

I have used It's a Dog's Life several times and each time I am more and more pleased by the service, the people and the owner's involvement with her team. I found It's a Dog's Life while doing stories on WPIX about Successful Women in the NYC area: Elena was featured as one of them. Elena's staff is caring, provides one-on-one attention and treats my two Chihuahuas, Matsen and Parker, like they are their own. I have recommended It's a Dog's Life to many of the residents in my building as well and am happy to know that I can always count on them! I would highly recommend them if you are looking for someone to love your dogs and take care of them like you do! -Tamsen read more