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    The Urban Paw

    5.0 (105 reviews)

    Services - The Urban Paw

    Dog walking

    The Urban Paw Photos

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    Maggie S.

    We loved working with Emy and team! It was clear from the pictures and videos that our dog loved being able to escape the noisy city and run around with the pack. We have a very anxious rescue, and after a few weeks going to the ranch his confidence increased immensely. He's still afraid of the world, but he gets to run around with his friends for a few hours of fun everyday. The pick up / drop off option is also a game changer!

    a picture I received from Emy of my boy and his friends!

    Can't say enough good things about Emy and the Urban Paw! I've been sending my dog on outings with Emy for almost a year now, and there are few people who I'd trust with my dog who I trust like Emy. Emy is excellent at communicating--she never fails to pick up Bilbo during his pick up window, and notifies well in advance if she has an absence. Plus, she's offered to arrange back up care with great walkers. She's been incredible with my slightly tricky, reactive dog. He's sensitive to strangers and gets motion sickness when driving, but Emy has been wonderful working with and communicating about his quirks. She also sends the most adorable photo and video updates--I can tell my little dude loves his adventures out with the pack. Lastly--I think Emy's rates are really reasonable for the time and quality of excursions. I've seen other walkers in the city stand with large groups of dogs on leash, and it brings me a lot of joy to know that my dog is roaming around off leash in a secure area.

    Happy doggos
    Hana H.

    The Urban Paw is the absolute best! Emy is so wonderful with our boy (and all the other doggos!) and he loves her so much. We are so fortunate to have found such an amazing company that we know will take care of our boy and bring him home happy and tired! There is no one we trust more :)

    We are so grateful to be part of the Urban Paw pack! From our initial meeting, we knew we could trust Ryan full heartedly with our four legged family member. It gives us great peace of mind to know that our guy Rocky is running around, playing with other dogs, and under Ryan and Emy's supervision. The photo and video updates are great! When Rocky is with Urban Paw, we are confident he gets to explore his wild side away from the city, and with some amazing dog whisperers!

    Charley on the right running at the ranch with another doodle from the pack
    Mary K.

    My husband and I adopted a sweet, gorgeous Goldendoodle puppy in March 2020. Charley has been a delight and a joy! He's also very high energy and could play all day every day. Since things were pretty weird in the city in 2020, it became clear that we'd need to find support around making sure Charley would get that super-important socialization with other good dogs. I had done puppy classes with him but this boy clearly needed more: more dog time, more play. While researching options, I saw The Urban Paw and Emy mentioned as an exceptional dog resource. I reached out to her. We were super lucky! Ordinarily she has a long waiting list but because of pandemic-related displacement she had a spot available. She first vetted us as dog parents and then we arranged to have Charley join her pack for a trial period to ensure it was a good fit. It was not just a good fit, it was a GREAT fit! Charley was just 9 months old at the time and I truly think we never had a difficult teenager period during his puppyhood because of his being part of Emy's pack. I have found Emy to be flexible, communicative, and extremely responsive. She clearly has the dogs' best interests at heart. Together we worked through some issues (ball hoarding, and embarrassingly that pre-neuter time when Charley started humping the puppies). When needing to take time off, Emy has handled finding a replacement walker for us and helped us with the arrangements. She even helped us find a great sitter for him to stay with when I needed to be out of town for several days. Bonus: she shares cute and funny photos and videos of Charley and the pack. Charley is now a happy, healthy three year old. He's very much a Good Boy. Charley loves his pack time and adores both Emy and Ryan as well as his favorite dog friends. He plays his heart out and comes home happy and tired after time with the pack. I believe he's dreaming about playing with his friends in Montara; his tail wags while he's sleeping. When we are out together, people often compliment us on his good manners and calmness. Being part of Emy's pack is a huge part of what's helped him grow up to be such a good dog. So you are probably wondering if there are any negatives to our experience. There is one, but to me it is minor, although it might not be okay with other people. Since Charley is so playful and high energy, if there is a mess to get into, he will do it. About twice yearly he comes home with mud from nose to tail. I'm able to work from home so I just pop him in the tub and give him a wash, but this can be so messy that the whole bathroom needs cleaning again afterwards. He often returns home with lots of twigs, leaves, and burrs on his legs, as well, and during muddy periods can need to have his paws rinsed daily when he returns. That said, a lot of this is unique to Charley: he is probably the largest dog in the pack at 50 pounds and so he can bring home relatively more mess than a smaller pup. It's also caused by my choice in grooming (he looks soooo cute with that teddy bear cut so I don't keep his fur super short). If you're particular about your furniture and rugs, though, keep in mind that Emy's pack has an actual legit outdoor experience daily and WILL return home with the outdoors attached. My pre-pandemic white flokati rug was a casualty, replaced by washable ones that I keep on rotation (I do still miss that rug...). Otherwise, our experience is a 12/10. I wholeheartedly recommend The Urban Paw.

    Anna A.

    Have to double down on the 5-star reviews - Ryan & Emy are such professionals. Our pup isn't even officially a part of the pack yet (he's still in their 2-week trial period), but regardless of whether they end up accepting him full-time or not, I would recommend The Urban Paw to anyone. They put a huge emphasis on curating the right pack dynamics to guarantee that every pup has a great time but, unlike a lot of other dog walkers in the city where this means only accepting perfectly behaved pups, they also work closely with you to find creative ways to manage behavior quirks. Ryan's been so patient about taking the time to get to know our wily little herding dog, and while he's quick to tell you he's not a trainer, his energy, knowledge of R+ training techniques, and pure love of pups has led to a better-behaved teenage Aussie shepherd in only a week and a half.

    Whitney C.

    Edit August 2020: Because of some COVID related changes, we had to move away from SF, and as such, left the pack. I just wanted to come back and say that moving away from The Urban Paw's service area was honestly one of the hardest parts about leaving SF; Emy has been just that good to Scarlett the last several years. Punctual, reliable, caring, competent, and LOVES her pack; you really can't ask for more. If you're considering dog care for the new pup you adopted during quarantine, do them and yourselves and favor and absolutely give The Urban Paw a try. ------------ My dog has been a regular in Emy's walks for I think just under two years at this point. Scarlett is not an "easy" dog. She doesn't love all people, and can be a total brat sometimes. As such, I'm very picky with her care so that she's set up for success. I can say without reservation I've been so happy with Emy as our walker over these past several years. She has been reliable, affordable, extremely professional, and has a way with the dogs - and most importantly, clearly loves her pack and what she does, and Scarlett has a great time every day. I worry sometimes about if I'd have to move away from SF, mostly because I don't know if I'll be lucky enough to find a walker like Emy elsewhere! Included a few pictures to let Sca fill in any blanks :)

    Milo absolutely loves his days at Urban Paw! He comes back happy and tired, having gotten hours of physical and social stimulation. We really appreciated Emy's thoughtful approach when we first started. She explained everything thoroughly, came over for an introductory visit, and then did a trial period to make sure Milo would gel with the pack. Procedures like having Milo ride up front until he was comfortable with the pack made us feel confident that he was in good hands. Emy is responsive, dependable, and clearly loves what she does. Milo is so excited to see her everyday knowing he's going to have a day of play on the ranch. We highly recommend Emy and Urban Paw to anyone looking for a safe, fun place for their pup!

    Living his best life.
    Austin R.

    My dog LOVES Urban Paw. It's probably the highlight of his day. We get (almost) daily picture/video updates on his day at the ranch (which is fully enclosed and doggy safe). Emy also has been a great communicator, letting us know way ahead of time of any updates to her schedule (days off, later pick up times etc.). She even has accommodated requests on helping us train our dog with separation anxiety. I can't thank Urban Paw enough for letting my dog live his best life and bringing him home exhausted & content!

    I have nothing but great things to say about this business. When I first reached out to The Urban Paw, I was a bit nervous since I had just gotten my rescue pup a few months earlier. She was fairly shy and a little bit skittish - I had never seen her play with other dogs or even show any interest in doing so. I did a meet and greet with Ryan who met my dog Laika and was a total pro when it came to giving her space to sniff him out and feel at ease. Within a week or so, Laika was already running around with the pack and playing with other dogs, even dogs that were bigger than her. I was absolutely shocked in the best way possible. Two years on, Laika is a totally different pup with so much more confidence and all around happiness. Emy and Ryan really take the time to understand your dog and help them have the best time possible while out with the pack. (They are also amazing photographers and send you the best pictures/videos to update you on your dog's day!) I highly recommend them to anyone who is looking for a dog daycare in SF.

    Rachael S.

    I can't say ENOUGH about how awesome this service is. It's basically like Disney World for doggies. Our mini dachshund (Winnie) was a pretty shy pup, so we wanted to be intentional about getting her exposure with other dogs in a safe setting. We reached out to inquire, and we were quickly connected with Ryan Gannon -- one of the amazing team members who facilitates the dog "field trips." We appreciated not only how attentive Ryan and his team were with Winnie (facilitating the pick-ups/drop-offs, making Winnie feel comfortable and allowing her to go at her own speed with socialization, answering all questions beforehand, being super intentional with making sure the dogs included in the pack were "friendly" and a good fit). But also, the UPDATES were just amazing. An unexpected perk was the pictures and videos and being able to WITNESS our shy little Winnie transform before us. It has been so much fun seeing her come out of her shell and not just hearing about it -- but witnessing it for ourselves! I highly recommend this service to any dog owner out there. The Urban Paw has exceeded my expectations and I am extremely thankful!!!

    Morris in the private 1 acre private field owned by The Urban Paw!
    Sophie S.

    I cannot recommend Emy & Ryan at The Urban Paw enough! They have truly been a godsend for us and Morris during COVID. Let me roll it back a little... My husband and adopted a ~10 month old stray dog found in Fresno at the beginning of quarantine and also lost our jobs due to COVID. First time dog parents + no full time work = helicopter dog mom, SO trust me when I tell you I researched every possible dog walker in SF. We also worked with a trainer (Debbie @ KoruK9, highly recommend as well) on basic training and Morris's leash reactivity towards dogs so it was really important that we found a dog walker who would keep a close eye on his behavior but also have a safe place for Morris to let put all his amazing adolescent dog energy! After many recommendations for The Urban Paw, I reached out to Emy and wrote her a short novel of literally every single thing about Morris - mind you we only had had Morris in our life for 4 months at this point. Emy called me the very next day and we had a great conversation about Morris and exactly what The Urban Paw is! The Urban Paw is not like other dog walking groups, the dogs truly have to become part of the pack and aren't "walked" but instead get to roam free with their new buddies. They get toys and balls and basically 2 hours of playtime. There is a 2 weeks trial period where your dog goes out with them everyday to see if they are a fit for the pack and also get acclimated to Ryan and Emy. Morris now goes out on Tuesdays & Thursdays and is literally a squirmy wormy as soon as he realize why we are going downstairs, pulls me down the stairs, and "Rooos" as soon as he sees Emy, who as far as I am concerned is the only other person we trust Morris with 100%. RUN don't walk to sign up to be part of this pack, you will not regret it. Also you get updates on the daily with amazing pictures of your dog having all of the fun!

    Maisie in the flowers

    Emy and Ryan have taken care of my dogs, Maisie and Goose, with kindness, experience, reliability, and good humor over the last few years. I cannot recommend The Urban Paw more highly. Goose is an extremely high energy dog, and she comes back from walks happy and tuckered out. As a side bonus, the picture and videos I get are top notch (all my friends are jealous!). Additionally, Emy and Ryan are both extremely professional and reliable, and are excellent at communicating about any issues. I will also forever be grateful for the compassion they showed both me and my sweet girl Maisie at the end of her life. Emy and Ryan both truly care very deeply about all of the dogs in their pack.

    My pup with one of his friends. The spot they go to is so pretty. I get jealous sometimes

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    Page 1 of 3

    Ask the Community - The Urban Paw

    Review Highlights - The Urban Paw

    Emy and Ryan really take the time to understand your dog and help them have the best time possible while out with the pack.

    Mentioned in 99 reviews

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    Citizen Hound - Toby's pack with Shannon!

    Citizen Hound

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    Marina/Cow Hollow

    This is a bitter sweet review as we are moving and are outside of the coverage area. There are not…read moreenough superlatives to describe the Citizen Hound experience. Every dog walker and employee is exceptional, treating our dog as their own. Special shout out to the amazing Wes (our first walker), Alex our interim and finally Grace (gonna miss your beautiful face and great commentary on the daily recaps). Hopefully with little Niko leaving it frees up a spot for some other lucky dog to have the best experience. Love you guys, forever thankful.

    Citizen Hound has been an absolute gift to our family for over 7 years. From the moment David came…read moreto meet our tiny 9-week-old puppy, we knew they would be in the best hands -- and we were right. The entire team has shown incredible love, care, and professionalism every step of the way. They've not only given our dog years of fun, exercise, and socialization, but they've also helped us learn so much as dog owners. Every walker we've met has been warm, reliable, and clearly passionate about what they do. Our dog absolutely adored their time with Citizen Hound -- the excitement when they arrived said it all. Knowing they were with people who treated them like family gave us complete peace of mind. They're more than just a dog walking service; they're a community of people who genuinely care. We'll always be grateful for the joy they brought to our dog's life, and to ours. If you're lucky enough to live in their service area, don't think twice -- your dog will thank you every single day.

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    Lower Haight

    I can't say enough good things about Ruff Paws and Michael! He's been walking my dogs for a while…read morenow, and he's absolutely fantastic -- reliable, consistent, and always on time. I never have to worry because he always picks up and drops off right on schedule. My dogs adore him and gets so excited every time Michael shows up. You can tell he genuinely loves dogs and treats them like his own. He's friendly, easy to communicate with, and very dependable -- which gives me total peace of mind. If you're looking for someone trustworthy who truly cares about your pet, I highly recommend Michael and Ruff Paws. They've been amazing from day one!

    5 stars is not enough for Ruff Paws. I truly don't know where to start or what we would have done…read moremoving to this city with out Mike! When we met Mike we were entirely new to dog walkers, pack walks and the city. Mike made the transition so smooth, put us at ease with his kind presence and indulged every question we had from the get go. Our pup Rei has the most sensitive stomach and had recently healed from a torn CCL that would act up from time to time. He was always so gentle and loving with her and would be so flexible and accommodate her needs. Rei also had intense separation anxiety that not even anxiety meds would fix and since she started pack walks with Mike that has eased tremendously, she's gained so much confidence because of it. As a pup parent it's hard to leave them with someone new but you can feel the love Mike has for his packs and we felt like she was with family. He has become one of her favorite people, she absolutely adores him! He is friendly, kind, reliable, consistent, and fully the best! Rei is a happier pup since meeting Mike! Thank you forever.

    Howl 'n' Woof

    Howl 'n' Woof

    (3 reviews)

    NoPa

    It's been over a year now, so thought I'd do a quick update: we still use Jill & in that time, have…read morebumped Smokey up to 4 walks/week. He always comes home happy & EXHAUSTED! Sometimes he even falls asleep in the hall by my feet when I'm chatting with Jill for a few minutes before she leaves. And of course, when we go on vacation, there's only one person Smokey stays with & that's Jill! As others have noted, Jill is super knowledgeable when it comes to providing advice or ideas on behavior. She also can be super flexible if you need her to take your pup for a full day or add him to a different day. But best of all: we just love how much she loves our Smokey. If you're an owner that loves your pup & wants him in the very best of hands when you're at work or on vacation, then call Jill!

    Jill came on good recommendation from a friend, but even though I was in over my head with a newly…read moreadopted dog, I interviewed a few dog walkers. Jill impressed me at the first meeting by being very professional, knowledgeable and flexible. I adopted Mabel on a Friday, Jill was over to meet her by Sunday, and was walking her on Monday. Jill knew that Mabel had little training, but was willing to supplement the obedience lessons we were working on. She was also a great resource for me as a new dog owner; providing tips, answers to my silly questions, and suggestions for additional training. Having someone come into my home and take the dog I so quickly fell in love with while I was at work all day was so hard the first couple of weeks! Having someone I trusted made all the difference in getting through the day. I also quickly learned how important it is to have a well exercised dog. I walk Mabel in the morning and evening, but she has a ton of energy and I credit her daily walks with Jill for keeping her early obedience and routine on track. And a tired dog, is a good dog! Jill encouraged me to come along with the pack a couple of times, and it was so fun to see her and all of the other dog walkers at Fort Funston in action. She clearly has a deep love for dogs, is responsible, and well respected amongst her dog walking colleagues. Jill has been walking and dog sitting for us for just over a year and I don't know what we'd do without her!

    It's a Dog's World

    It's a Dog's World

    (39 reviews)

    The Haight

    Aimee is the best dog trainer in SF! I got my puppy during the pandemic and having Aimee help me…read morenavigate new dog dad doodies was a life saver! I started off by doing Puppy 101 with Aimee where I learned so many of the fundamentals that I still practice today. She provides amazing guidance on all potential scenarios that crop up when your pup is 8-20 weeks old. The absolute hardest time period! I also did puppy socials that Aimee managed at the Noe Jeffreys. These were great because you get to learn how to interact with pups while they play, when to step in, when to let them do their thing, etc. Even though puppy socials are meant for the pup - I found them incredibly educational as well. I still remember Aimee telling me to stop calling for my pup while it was trying to play. My pup is over 2 years old now and its been a while since our last class with Aimee but she truly cares and constantly keeps in touch with us making sure Mumble grows up to be a gentleman... except for his jumping.... that I will blame SF for...

    Zak George ain't got sh%t on Aimee Porter. She is THE dog whisperer of San Francisco. If you have a…read morenew fur baby, do yourself a favor and sign up for Aimee's Puppy Love class and Social at Jeffreys. She's great at explaining the science behind your puppy's behavior and why they do the things they do. I'm going to take all of the knowledge that Aimee shared with me and pass it along. P.S. Aimee is hillarious, be prepared to do a lot of laughing during your time with her.

    Janell's Happy Dogs - Janell's Happy Dogs in the Bow Wow Bus

    Janell's Happy Dogs

    (56 reviews)

    SoMa

    After just two months of training, the difference in our dog Spoon has been incredible. We can't…read morerecommend her highly enough. When we started, Spoon could be unpredictable and we weren't always sure how to help him succeed. Through her guidance, patience, and consistency, he's become a much more confident and well-behaved dog. He now follows a routine, responds to commands, and has successfully transitioned into her group walks twice a week. What impressed us most is how in tune she is with dogs and their behavior. She has a natural ability to understand what they need while also teaching owners how to communicate with them effectively. As first-time dog owners, that support was invaluable. We're so grateful for everything she's done for Spoon and would highly recommend her to anyone looking for a knowledgeable and caring trainer.

    We worked with Janelle to help our three-year-old rescue who was showing some reactivity with other…read moredogs, and to reinforce basic commands like sit, down, and leave it. She brought a few dogs from her pack to one of our training sessions and walked us through a structured desensitization exercise, which was incredibly effective. After just one session, we saw a clear improvement and have had very few issues with our dog outside since. Janelle is straightforward, knowledgeable, and clearly understands dog behavior. We appreciated her practical approach and the results we saw so quickly. We'd absolutely recommend her if you're looking for real progress.

    The Urban Paw - dogwalkers - Updated July 2026

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