Licensed ● Bonded ● Fully Insured ● 4.8 ★ on Google ● 5.0 ★ on Yelp ● 30+ Years of Experience ● +1 914-755-7478
Dog Walking in New York
Reliable daily dog walking from someone who has walked Hudson Valley dogs for over 25 years, not an app, not a stranger, not a rotating roster of carers. Don and Mia Henderson. Licensed, bonded, and insured. Available mornings, middays, evenings, and most weekends.
We service Pawling, Holmes, Patterson, Brewster, and the surrounding Hudson Valley. Tailored to your dog's pace, schedule, and needs. All breeds are welcome.
New to The Doggie Tutor? Book 5 dog walking or dog training sessions and get your 6th one free — our way of saying thank you for giving us a try.
Not an App. A Person You've Met Who Knows Your Dog
There's a reason families across the Hudson Valley have kept calling Don and Mia Henderson for years, some for over a decade. It's not just that they show up. It's that they show up reliably, in every season, in all conditions, having taken the time to actually know your dog.
Most dogs will never turn down a walk — that part's easy. What's harder, and what actually makes the difference, is what happens once the leash is on: watching how a dog moves, keeping the pace at a level that's genuinely good exercise for that dog, and adjusting for age or physical limitations rather than just walking them from A to B. That's the difference between someone holding a leash and someone actually walking your dog.
Tom from Pawling put it plainly after the March 2018 snowstorms: Don and Mia were "even more reliable than the USPS." Nora, also from Pawling, has used them for walking, pet sitting, and behaviour training. She's not sure who loves them more, her or her dog Lily. That kind of relationship doesn't come from a booking app. It comes from years of showing up, following through, and genuinely caring about the animals in your care.
If you've been burned by chain dog-walking platforms before — the inconsistency, the strangers who show up with no context about your dog, the impersonal experience — The Dog Tutor is the opposite of that. Every walk is handled personally by Don or Mia. Every dog is treated as an individual. And if anything ever goes wrong, they're not a support ticket; they're a phone call away.
What Clients Say About Our NYC Dog Walking
"Don is super-reliable and, aside from regularly scheduled visits, he is usually able to help us out in a pinch. He even pitched in to help with our foster kittens. We know our 'beloved Abby' loved his visits. Don is our Go-to Dog Walker! The best!"
"We are so lucky to have found Don & Maria to care for our Echo when we are working or have to travel. They give us peace of mind that he is not sitting alone all day! They have been more than reliable & flexible as our schedules constantly change."
Contact Us
New to The Doggie Tutor? Book 5 dog walking or dog training sessions and get your 6th one free — our way of saying thank you for giving us a try.
Read more from clients like these on our
testimonials page.
What's Included: Types of Walks
Daily Dog Walking That Fits Your Dog — Not a Standard Schedule
Just as no two dogs exercise the same way, no two walking arrangements look the same at The Dog Tutor. Don and Mia offer different types of walks, at different paces, at different times of day, tailored to what your dog actually needs.
A good walk, to Don and Mia, means a comfortable, controlled stride — the dog isn't straining against the leash, and they're a step ahead of the dog rather than being pulled along by it.
Length isn't fixed either: hot or cold weather, an existing injury, or an elderly dog's comfort level all shape how long and how far a walk goes on any given day. For an older dog especially, it's not just about slowing down — it's about adjusting the whole walk to match their comfort and range of motion.
Daily Dog Walks & Potty Breaks
If you're at work and your dog needs to get out during the day, Don and Mia can cover morning, midday, and evening visits. Potty breaks, short neighbourhood walks, a check-in and a bit of company, whatever your dog's routine calls for. Available most weekdays and weekends. As many visits as needed.
Nora from Pawling has relied on Don and Mia for exactly this. "Even my neighbours comment on the dedicated 'dog people' who walk Lily while I'm at work," she said. That consistency the same familiar faces, the same calm energy, every time — is something no app can reliably offer.
Park Walks
For higher-energy dogs, a park walk is one of the most effective things you can do to reduce destructive behaviour at home.
Park walks build socialisation naturally with other dogs, other people, and new environments, which pays off in calmer, more confident behaviour overall. With an owner's OK, Don and Mia will sometimes suggest an actual trip to the dog park itself to help a dog build those social skills though for dogs who do best sticking to a familiar route, they'll keep to the walk you've already agreed on instead.
Tom from Pawling uses Don and Mia for his two Labrador Retrievers: "They are fantastic with the 'Boys' and care for them like they were their own." Two Labs are a lot of energy — and they get it out properly.
Trail Walks
The Hudson Valley has some of the best walking terrain in New York. Don and Mia use it. A 30-minute walk three times a week can reduce your dog's weight by up to 15%. Beyond fitness, trail walks give your dog a completely different sensory environment: new smells, new textures underfoot, new sounds. For dogs who are restless or anxious, a proper trail walk is often more effective than twice the distance on the same street.
On any walk, Don and Mia are also reading the environment as much as the dog — noise from a nearby work site, or a dog loose in a yard or on a porch that looks ready to react, will change the route they take that day. Don and Mia walk dogs on some of the best trails in the region at a pace suited to each individual dog, whether that's a leisurely sniff-heavy stroll or a brisk walk.
Tagline
Who Is Walking Your Dog — First-Hand Story
Don Henderson has been caring for dogs in the Hudson Valley for over 30 years. His background is not typical. He managed a full kennel, ran a pet food distributorship, trained alongside K-9 patrol units in the City of Yonkers, and served as sales director for Ed Beckman's School of Dog Training. He is certified in Pet First Aid and Canine CPR. He also started his relationship with animals long before any of that — caring for ducklings, rabbits, and rescue animals as a child, and volunteering at shelters as a teenager after his family's German Shepherd changed the direction of his life.
Mia Henderson has over 25 years in the pet industry. She worked alongside Don at Lone Pine Kennels, holds a degree in Business Administration, and handles the day-to-day running of The Dog Tutor with the same attentiveness she brings to every animal in her care.
That much time around dogs also means Don and Mia can usually read a dog within the first few minutes on a leash — comfort level, pulling, tail position — and shape the walk around what they see rather than a one-size-fits-all routine. They also offer pet sitting and drop-in visits for clients heading out of town, so the same trusted faces are covering your dog whether you're at work or away for the week. You can read more about Don and Mia's full story on our About Us page.
Together, Don and Mia have walked dogs through every season the Hudson Valley throws at them: frigid January mornings, summer heat on the Appalachian Trail, and the kind of March snowstorms that shut everything else down. They leave notes after visits. They send photos. They have driven pets to emergency veterinary clinics at 3 a.m. when it was needed. Their clients know this — which is why so many of them have been calling for years.
Contact Us
New to The Dog Tutor? Book 5 dog walking or dog training sessions and get your 6th one free — our way of saying thank you for giving us a try.
Favourite Walking Spot in The Hudson Valley
Parks and Trails We Know Well
Don and Mia walk dogs regularly at:
- Appalachian Trail — Off Route 55, Pawling, NY
- Cranberry Mountain Preserve — Haviland Hollow Road, Patterson, NY
- Nuclear Lake — Pawling, NY
- Lakeside Park — Pawling, NY
- New Fairfield Dog Park — Gilliotti Road, New Fairfield
These aren't just names on a list. Manola, a long-time client, spent years being walked along the shores of Lake Carmel. Don walked her right up until the end of her life. That's the kind of relationship that forms when someone actually knows the dog — and knows the ground they walk together.
How It Works
Three Steps to Getting Started
Step 1 — Free Consultation
Don or Mia visits your home, meets your dog, and talks through your schedule and your dog's needs — including simple questions like whether you're comfortable with your dog on walks right now, and what you'd like to see change. From there, they'll often walk your dog on their own, without you present, to see firsthand how they move on a leash before settling on an approach. No charge, no commitment.
Step 2 — A Walking Plan That Fits Your Life
Morning drop-ins, midday walks, evening visits, weekends — they'll agree a schedule that works for you and stick to it. Every arrangement is personal.
Step 3 — Consistent, Caring Visits
Don or Mia arrives, walks your dog, and leaves you a note. If anything unusual happens, they call. If there's a medical concern, they act. Your dog is in the hands of the same trusted people every time.
Also Need Training?
The Same Trusted Hands, In and Out of Training
Many of The Dog Tutor's walking clients started as training clients — and vice versa. Owning both services with one trusted local provider means your dog gets consistent handling from someone who knows them across every context.
Don Henderson has 30 years of experience in in-home dog training — basic obedience, puppy training, behavioural issues, separation anxiety, and reactive dog work. If walking has revealed something you'd like to address, the training conversation is just a phone call away.
New to The Dog Tutor? Book 5 dog walking or dog training sessions and get your 6th one free — our way of saying thank you for giving us a try.
Service Area
Dog Walking Across the Hudson Valley, New York
The Dog Tutor serves dog owners across:
Pawling ● Patterson ● Holmes ● Brewster ● Stormville ● Poughquag ● Dover Plains ● and parts of Westchester
Don and Mia come to you. All walks start and end at your home. Every visit follows the standards laid out in our Code of Ethics.
Testimonials
Nora, Pawling, NY | Lily
"My Lily loves Don and Maria – even my neighbors comment on the dedicated 'dog people' who walk her while I'm at work, watch her when I have to travel on biz, and help with her feed, training/behavior training. I couldn't do it without them! Not sure who loves them more, Lily or me!?"
Tom, Pawling, NY | Two Labrador Retrievers
"We found Don and Maria through Google search to walk our two energetic Labs when we were not able to let them out during the day. They are fantastic with the 'Boys' and care for them like they were their own. They were even more reliable than the USPS during the recent March 2018 snow storms."
"Don has walked my dog Lola (Siberian Husky) for an entire summer as well as pet sat for Lola and our dog Fitz… He has developed a great relationship with Lola. Lola looks forward to her daily visits from Don and is visibly overjoyed once he arrives to walk her… He treated Lola as if she were his own. I highly recommend Don for any dog walking, training and pet sitting needs."
Randi, Poughquag, NY
"Maria and Don are great caretakers of our dogs. They are dependable, flexible and our dogs enjoy their company."
Frequently Asked Questions
How often can you walk my dog?
As often as you need. Don and Mia offer morning, midday, and evening visits, and are available most weekends. Some clients use them for a single daily walk; others need multiple visits throughout the day.
Do you walk dogs in bad weather?
Yes. Don and Mia walk in all conditions. Tom from Pawling noted they showed up reliably through the heavy snowstorms of March 2018. If your dog needs a walk, they come.
Will the same person walk my dog every time?
Yes. Unlike app-based services, Don or Mia walks your dog personally — not a rotating pool of walkers. Your dog will know and recognise them from the first visit.
How many dogs do you walk at once?
This is discussed during the free consultation based on your dog's temperament and needs. Dogs who are better suited to a solo walk are walked solo.
Can you handle my dog if they're anxious or reactive on a lead?
Yes. Don has over 30 years of experience and has worked with dogs across the full spectrum of behaviours — including reactive and anxious dogs. He understands how to keep a walk calm and constructive.
Do you offer trail walks and park visits?
Yes. Don and Mia walk regularly on the Appalachian Trail in Pawling, Cranberry Mountain Preserve in Patterson, Nuclear Lake, and Lakeside Park, among others. Trail and park walks are available and can be scheduled to match your dog's exercise needs.
What do you notice about my dog in the first few minutes of a walk?
How comfortable they are on the leash right away — pulling, reactivity to other dogs or people, or a dog that's all over the place versus settled and easy. A dog's tail says a lot too: high and stiff usually points to alertness or arousal, loose and wagging usually means happy and relaxed. Reading those signals early shapes the rest of the walk.
What happens if my dog seems stressed or refuses to walk partway through?
Don and Mia stop and check the dog over first — sore paws, overheating, or a reaction to something like thunder or a loud noise. From there, they read the dog's body language and encourage them along calmly rather than push through it.
Are you licensed, bonded, and insured?
Yes. The Dog Tutor is fully licensed, bonded, and insured through Pet Sitters Associates LLC. Don and Mia are also certified in Pet First Aid and Canine CPR.s.
What if my dog needs medication during a visit?
Not a problem. Don and Mia are experienced with oral medications, topical medications, and insulin injections. Let them know during the consultation.
Ready to Book a Dog Walker in New York?
Whether you need a dog walker, a trainer, or someone to look after your pets while you travel, Don and Mia are a phone call away. No pressure, no paperwork just an honest conversation about your pet and what they need.
Don and Mia Henderson. Licensed, bonded, insured. Available 7 days a week, 7 a.m. – 8 p.m.
