By A. Campbell

Name: Hmm? *Sniff, sniff, sniff* Oh, there you are! Sorry. Sometimes it’s hard for me to see past my fluff. My name is Shoshana.

Age: 4 years old.

Breed: Mini Goldendoodle.

Profile/History: Mom and Dad found me while they were living in Washington, D.C. when I was just a young pup, but these days we’re all loyal Upper West Siders.

Daily routine: The day begins with cuddles during my designated cuddle window which begins at 7:00am and ends around 9:00am. After that, I’ll decline cuddles. The window has closed. Mom and Dad trade off walking me in the mornings before they head to work. Later, I’ll hang out with my good friend and dog-walker from Bark Ave and we’ll head to Riverside Park together. I’ll spend time chasing pigeons, rolling around in leaves, catching up on all the local dog news by sniffing around. When my parents come home, we’ll take another walk in which I always try to find a way to maneuver us toward Pet Central. I just love it there! On the weekends, we’ll meet up with my best friend, Fiona, and we’ll walk down to Bouchon Bakery in Columbus Circle. They make a special foie gras dog biscuit that is to die for. I understand how spoiled I might sound, but you must try this biscuit. It’s marvelous! Sometimes we’ll get there in the late morning and they’ll be all sold out already! Gah! Honestly, how is a pup expected to go through life without foie gras biscuits?

Loves: Cheese. I love all the different types – mozzarella, cream cheese, brie, Swiss. Trader Joe’s makes some nice cheddar varieties – English Coastal cheddar and Dubliner cheddar. Perhaps I could interest you in some warm camembert with a funky rind that pairs nicely with a glass of earthy red wine? Pretty tempting, huh? I’ve noticed I spend a significant amount of time daydreaming about chasing giant cheese wheels…

Does not love: Well, this raincoat I’m currently wearing tops the list. I’m taking it off when we get to the photo session, by the way. Please take note, I shan’t be photographed in this thing. File it under “things that Mom thought looked adorable.” Hmmph. Also baths.

Favorite store/business on the UWS: Pet Central!

Favorite treat: Well, cheese, naturally, and my foie gras dog biscuits from Bouchon Bakery. Don’t judge before you’ve tried them!

Favorite park spot: I’m partial to Riverside Park, especially the 105th Street entrance near the dog run. That spot is a family favorite. The park is just gorgeous and my parents enjoy eating at a restaurant nearby, so it’s a place where we can all spend a leisurely day.

Tell me about your favorite restaurants in the neighborhood. Which local spots would you recommend to out-of-towners? Hmmm, for something flavorful, I’d recommend Malaysia Grill on West 104th Street. For something exotic, try the Beef Rendang and Nasi Lemak, and tell them Shoshana sent you! I love Fred’s on West 83rd and Amsterdam Avenue for brunch. It’s consistent and they’re also very dog-friendly. You know, the restaurant is named after a female black Labrador Retriever who was meant to be a seeing eye dog at Guiding Eyes for the Blind, in Yorktown, NY. While Fred may not have had a stellar performance on her aptitude test for seeing eye dog work, she had a very happy ending, finding a loving home here on the Upper West Side. Isn’t that a nice story? Oh, and finally, I’d recommend a morning jaunt to Absolute Bagels. What a popular spot! Part of our weekend routine is to walk to Absolute Bagels on Broadway and 108th Street and pick up some delicious, fresh bagels in the morning. There’s always a line, so Mom and I wait outside while Dad goes in to order. That’s one of my favorite activities because everyone is friendly and happy to shower me with pats and smiles while I wait patiently for breakfast to arrive. Maybe I’ll get recognized this Saturday morning!

Read all our Pupper West Side interviews here!

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 sheltersand 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; and Animal Haven.