Pupper West Side: Augustus Is A Swissy with A Penchant for Hand-Holding

Name: Augustus

Age: 2 years old

Breed: Greater Swiss Mountain Dog

Profile/history: My parents knew they wanted a large dog and they liked that Greater Swiss Mountain Dogs, or “Swissies”, are healthy, friendly, and can adjust to lots of different environments. That’s me in a nutshell! Swissy pups like me take pride in having an important job to do. One of my jobs is doing tricks. I can spin in circles and shake hands. I love shaking and holding hands! Dad says that after I was taught to shake, it was like I never stopped.

Daily routine: We get up around 6 a.m. and take a morning walk along the Riverside Park Waterline Square area. Would you believe it? I have a lovely Swiss walker named Jessica! Jessica stops by occasionally and helps out when my dads are at work. My dads are both frontline healthcare workers. They’ve needed to be away from home a lot recently, working hard to support New Yorkers during the pandemic, and so Jessica has been wonderfully supportive to me. She’s an absolute treasure! My dads have also made it a priority to spend extra time with me when we’re all together at home. We’ll take long walks in Central Park or just relax. They say I keep them sane and for me, spending time with them is my absolute favorite part of any day.

Loves: Holding hands. Sometimes, if you’re sitting there and not paying attention, I’ll just gently place my paw on your hand or knee. Oop! Look at that! Suddenly we’re holding hands.

Does not love: Water features like waterfalls and those terrifying fountains that shoot water up from the ground. Gah!!! Bowowowow!

Favorite store/business on the UWS: My absolute favorite local business is the big purple ice cream truck parked near Waterline Square. I don’t remember the name of it, but the man who works in the truck is so incredibly friendly and kind. When he sees me, he always rushes out with his arms wide open saying, “Auuuugussstttuusssss!!!!”

Favorite treat: Peanut butter.

Favorite park spot: Mount Tom in Riverside Park. It’s a beautiful rocky outcropping in the park that was supposedly a favorite haunt of Edgar Allan Poe.

How do your Swiss roots manifest in every day Upper West Side life? My Swiss heritage shows up in my love of cheese and cold weather. Of course, chocolate is a no go. But every time I climb one of the boulders in Central Park or Riverside Park, I pause and do a 50-yard stare and pretend I’m looking out over the Swiss Alps. My dads spoil me with multiple fancy collars, including one that has a “William” the ornate blue hippo from The Metropolitan Museum design and on it is a Swiss flag charm.

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If West Side Rag readers are interested in becoming pet owners, we encourage you to consider adopting or volunteering to be a foster parent with one of the many shelters and nonprofits based in and around New York City. These include but aren’t limited to: Muddy Paws Rescue; Animal Lighthouse Rescue; Animal Care Centers of NYC; NYC ASPCA; Humane Society of New York; Bideawee; Social Tees; Badass Brooklyn Animal Rescue and Animal Haven.