We enrolled Sofia in school. Since Sofia had this particular issue, we had private lessons with Pedro – the lead dog trainer.
Pedro taught us how to behave when Sofia lunges at other dogs. He taught us how to correct her when she lunges and how to reward her when she does not lunge.
We had two lessons and then we were on our own to practice with Sofia.
To practice what we learned with Sofia, we went to coffee shops and sat outside, waiting for other dogs to walk by.
When another dog walked by and she started to lunge we said “no” very sternly. When a dog walked by and she did not lunge – we praised her and gave her a treat.
It did not take long for Sofia to catch on.
I am happy to report that Sofia no longer has leash-aggression and is calm around other dogs.
We continue to reinforce and praise her good behavior, especially when meeting new dogs.
We are so happy we found the dog whisperers’ in Parque Mexico! We can breathe easier now.
Update 2021: Have been back in the U.S. since 2020. I am happy to report that we still use the training techniques we learned in Parque Mexico. Sofia is doing a great job of not lunging at other dogs when we are out and about.
Just got back from M city. Was blown away by how well behaved the dogs are. What a great great city! Would go back tomorrow if I could.
Hola Carl!
Thank you so much for dropping this comment! I totally agree with you. Maybe the dogs are so well behaved because there are so many dog trainers (dog whisperers) around town.It’s very easy and convenient to send your dog to one of the trainers while you at work.
=8-)
Hope you make it back to CDMX one day soon!
Love all this info. As of June 2022, Parque Mexico now has a separate fenced section for small and large dogs. They continue to make this spot even more incredibly for dogs!
Hola Robert!
Thank you so much for letting us know about the updated dog park in Parque Mexico! Yes.. such an incredible pet-friendly place that keeps getting better. =8-)
Many thanks for this post, very helpful and interesting! I am looking for one advice, not knowing Mexico City personally: what would be a recommendable neighborhood at the outskirts to rent a house? I have a midsize dog (bordercollie mixture) and would prefer to live a bit outside “in the nature”, even though traffic is a nightmare (my future office would be in Polanco). Grateful for any suggestions, regards, Peter
Hola Peter! Congratulations on moving to CDMX! With regards to your question… first let me say this is only my opinion. =8-) Trust me when I say to you – do not try and commute into Polanco from the outskirts! Depending on your definition of “the outskirts” that could be 1 hour or more away. I used to think traffic in Los Angeles was horrible until we came to CDMX! Look for a place that is close to a subway/metro stop. Their public transportation systems are easy and very efficient. I like the subway in particular. Less stressful. =8-) When… Read more »
Hi, does anyone know if pet dogs are allowed in Teotihuacan? Thanks
Hola Dan!
Unfortunately, no pets are allowed at any of the archaeological sites. (Although I have seen some local street dogs inside Teotihuacan grounds).
It was mentioned to me that you can ask the security guards at the entrance to watch you dog for a nice tip – $20/$30 USD.
Let us know if you decide to try it and how it worked out. I am sure other readers will be curious to find how it went for you and your dog. =8-)
Hello!
Thank you for creating this article, it is been helpful for my husband and I. I born and grew up in Mexico City, but I’ve been living in California for five years already. My husband is American and he has never been in Mexico, so this trip is special for us as we’re going to visit my hometown with our beloved dog.
Do you have more suggestions about places to visit, restaurants, etc. in CDMX dog friendly?
Hola Esther!
How wonderful that you are from my favorite city… CDMX! Your husband is lucky to have a personal tour guide to show him around, =8-)
At the moment I cannot think of any other tourist attractions that are dog friendly. Pretty much anywhere you go in Condesa, Roma Norte, and parts of Chapultepec (on Sundays) you can take your dog with you. If you do find other pet-friendly attractions, please write back to help inform other readers. Gracias!
Ustedes disfruten su viaje a la CDMX!
Hello! Thank you for this article! Can I ask what school Pedro is with? I just left Mexico City in admiration of the trainers in parque Mexico. I am heading back to live in CDMX for a few months this summer with my little dachshund and would love to enroll him!
Hola Mallory!
Honestly, I do not know if Pedro is associated with any formal dog training school (like what we are used to in the US and Canada). He is just one of the many informal dog trainers in Parque Mexico. Once you are back in CDMX feel free to walk up and ask any of the trainers about enrolling your little dachshund. They will most likely want to know what you want to accomplish and then customize training classes accordingly. Have fun!
Safe Travels! =8-)
Hello! Thank you for this post. We are excited to visit Mexico City soon with our doggo. Wondering, were your dogs allowed to come into and dine in restaurants with you?
Hola Michelle! Thank you for the question! The most pet friendly area in CDMX is the Condesa neighborhood. In fact, many restaurants in Condesa have a doggie menu. Those places will let you bring your dog inside. Outside of the Condesa area is a bit different. Restaurants that have a patio will allow dogs. There are a ton of great restaurants in CDMX and many of them have patios. I suspect that the restaurants (w/o patios) and the stores around the Zócalo are not pet friendly. We have never tried taking our dogs there. Too many people and I am… Read more »
Lovely article. I am moving to Mexico in 6 weeks. I am debating between living in Mexico City and the Lake Chapala area. I will be spending time in both areas to explore and make my final decision.
I am happy to read you liked the article on Mexico City. Thank you!
How exciting to be moving to Mexico! We spent time in Ajijic Lake Chapala area. It is a nice town as well. CDMX and Lake Chapala offer different experiences. It all depends on what experiences you are looking for in life at the moment. =8-)
Have fun exploring!