Best Dog Walker

The dog-walking industry seemed to explode over the last several years, perhaps because of the dot-com boom, which brought new pet-owning tech employees to town who worked long hours and could afford some hired help for their animals. We've met plenty of capable dog walkers on our jaunts to parks and beaches. But for us, Canine in the City proprietor Scott Malvestiti is the leader of the pack, and the dogs in his care agree. They adore him, sure, but more important, they respect him. His pups don't give him any guff, we think for two reasons: 1) Malvestiti doesn't take any guff, and 2) he accepts dogs for what they are -- dogs. He recognizes the difference between normal dog behavior and dog aggression. So pooches who might be labeled "problem" animals by some folks -- for example, males who have occasional issues with their unneutered counterparts -- flourish under Malvestiti's steady, relaxed guidance. He teaches them the ground rules but then lets the dogs take it from there. And everyone gets along, from the smallest bichon frisé to the largest malamute. Frankly, we wish the two-legged members of San Francisco society got on as well. Daily walks at Fort Funston are $15 each, and CITC is in the process of expanding, so call soon for an interview.