Author: Lindsay Schencker

Shake Shack is a casual food chain that serves American classics like hamburgers, hot dogs and shakes at multiple locations around New York (and the world). Matthews and Cosmo ate at the one in Madison Square Park. She describes the environment as laid back and easygoing. Dogs are welcome in the outdoor seating area, and Shake Shack even has a special dog menu, which includes their “bag o’ bones” biscuits and pooch-ini sundae. Cosmo gives the pooch-ini sundae two paws up! Even though he had his own P.L.A.Y. burger dog toy from home to play with, he tried to sneak a bite of Mom’s real burger. Maybe next time, Cosmo!,Do you decide where to eat based on where your dog is welcome? We can relate. And here’s the good news: If you’re looking for dog-friendly restaurants in NYC, the odds are in your favor. “People in New York City really love their dogs and bring them everywhere,” says Alexa Matthews, dog mom to 5-month-old red toy Poodle, Cosmo, and founder of @eatingNYC, a ​food-focused​ ​brand​ ​that​ ​covers​ ​restaurants,​ ​travel,​ ​fitness​ ​and​ ​luxury​ ​lifestyle around​ ​the​ ​world. “I find it pretty easy to find a place to eat that allows dogs. If I know I’m going to eat outside, I’ll always bring Cosmo with me.” Matthews is a self-proclaimed “professional eater” with over 300,000 followers who depend on her to find good eats in the city. And since she got Cosmo three months ago, he’s adapted well to his dog mom’s lifestyle. He even has his own Instagram (@cuddlemcosmo) filled with pictures of him in front of—you guessed it—food! “He loves eating out with me and seems super content whenever I bring him,” Matthews says. “Plus, it’s fun for me.” Here are Matthews and Cosmo’s favorite dog-friendly restaurants in NYC.

Meditation is known to be beneficial to one’s health and happiness, but fitting it into a busy schedule as a pet parent can be a bit of a challenge. Between early morning walks and preparing your pup’s meals, it can be hard to catch a break. If this sounds like you, try starting your mornings off with canine meditation. This practice creates some new opportunities to spend quality time with your pooch while also working on yourself, which is a win-win. While your pup gets the attention he wants, you get a moment to relax and refresh. So, how can your pup become a meditating dog in no time? Well, you’re in luck—these tips will teach you how to meditate with your dog.

After you come home from a long day, we’re sure your pup’s tail is wagging to go outside with her favorite human. Luckily for your pooch, your one-on-one quality time doesn’t have to end after you walk around the neighborhood together. You can try yoga with your dog—also known as doga. That’s right, you can incorporate your four-legged companion in your daily stretching routine. Your pup may not be able to master the infamous headstand, but we wouldn’t be surprised if your yoga dog shows off her downward dog pose on the mat. We’ve spoken with Suzi Teitelman, a Florida-based doga instructor, to explain why canine yoga is beneficial for you and your pooch.