Pet’s Place: Tater Tot Lives an Organized Life in NYC
A professional organizer makes her job and her home work for her friendly English bulldog
Photos from Jeanie Engelbach unless otherwise noted
Namesake: Engelbach started a list of dog names before this pup entered her life. The name Tater Tot was inspired by a Brooklyn bar that served the potato puffs instead of peanuts. “I was watching my friends devour them and thought Tater Tot would be a really cute name,” Engelbach says.
When she brought home this roly-poly puppy (shown here), she pulled out her list of names, and “my friend saw Tater Tot and declared that this puppy was absolutely a Tater Tot.”
Namesake: Engelbach started a list of dog names before this pup entered her life. The name Tater Tot was inspired by a Brooklyn bar that served the potato puffs instead of peanuts. “I was watching my friends devour them and thought Tater Tot would be a really cute name,” Engelbach says.
When she brought home this roly-poly puppy (shown here), she pulled out her list of names, and “my friend saw Tater Tot and declared that this puppy was absolutely a Tater Tot.”
Photo by Rikki Snyder
City life: Sure, living in a brownstone with a backyard would make bathroom breaks a lot easier, Engelbach says, but the benefits of living in the city far outweigh any inconveniences. No backyard means the duo explore the city together more often.
City life: Sure, living in a brownstone with a backyard would make bathroom breaks a lot easier, Engelbach says, but the benefits of living in the city far outweigh any inconveniences. No backyard means the duo explore the city together more often.
Tater Tot isn’t bother by much after years of living around foot and street traffic. He’s not territorial, and he could care less if another dog barks at him from across the street.
He goes just about everywhere with Engelbach, especially because many businesses are dog-friendly, or at least dog-tolerant. All this city walking also keeps his nails filed, Engelbach says, and he “can navigate crowds and traffic better than a tourist.”
He goes just about everywhere with Engelbach, especially because many businesses are dog-friendly, or at least dog-tolerant. All this city walking also keeps his nails filed, Engelbach says, and he “can navigate crowds and traffic better than a tourist.”
Photo by Rikki Snyder
Apartment living: Back inside, Engelbach, who is a professional organizer and decorator, has carved out spaces just for Tater Tot, such as his vintage bucket full of toys in the living room. He’ll often snag a toy and head for his second bed, which is also in the living room.
Entry organization: Everything needed for an outing is organized at the entry. Engelbach keeps Tater Tot’s collar, leash, wipes and dog waste bags there. She also hangs his rain jacket and wool sweater in the closet so she can quickly grab them if needed.
Tip: If your dog needs some walk-in motivation or reward, keep a small jar of treats in the entry area.
Apartment living: Back inside, Engelbach, who is a professional organizer and decorator, has carved out spaces just for Tater Tot, such as his vintage bucket full of toys in the living room. He’ll often snag a toy and head for his second bed, which is also in the living room.
Entry organization: Everything needed for an outing is organized at the entry. Engelbach keeps Tater Tot’s collar, leash, wipes and dog waste bags there. She also hangs his rain jacket and wool sweater in the closet so she can quickly grab them if needed.
Tip: If your dog needs some walk-in motivation or reward, keep a small jar of treats in the entry area.
During the day, Engelbach finds Tater Tot sitting in the sun on his bed. Here, he’s decided to sit on his favorite toy: a stuffed dog from Ikea.
Photo by Rikki Snyder
Pet organization: Engelbach has a place for everything, including Tater Tot’s food and treats. “When I organize a client’s kitchen, “ she says, “I try to eliminate as much external packaging as possible, and that goes for the dogs’ food and treats too.” She keeps Tater Tot’s supplements and treats in vintage mason jars on the counter and stores his food under the sink in a galvanized metal trash can with a lid.
Tip: After Engelbach washes Tater Tot’s food bowl, she places it in the dishwasher rack to dry, which avoids countertop clutter.
Pet organization: Engelbach has a place for everything, including Tater Tot’s food and treats. “When I organize a client’s kitchen, “ she says, “I try to eliminate as much external packaging as possible, and that goes for the dogs’ food and treats too.” She keeps Tater Tot’s supplements and treats in vintage mason jars on the counter and stores his food under the sink in a galvanized metal trash can with a lid.
Tip: After Engelbach washes Tater Tot’s food bowl, she places it in the dishwasher rack to dry, which avoids countertop clutter.
Photo by Rikki Snyder
Engelbach also has a spot for Tater Tot’s medications, shampoo and other health products. This tin and little tray keep them organized, which ensures nothing goes missing.
Browse storage and organization containers
Engelbach also has a spot for Tater Tot’s medications, shampoo and other health products. This tin and little tray keep them organized, which ensures nothing goes missing.
Browse storage and organization containers
Photo by Rikki Snyder
Take another look at the couch. That’s just a pillow, not Tater Tot sitting there.
Take another look at the couch. That’s just a pillow, not Tater Tot sitting there.
Photo by Nikki Incandela
On the job: Engelbach works from home, and Tater Tot spends almost every minute with her. “He’ll insist on sitting on my lap, forcing me to type around his body,” she says. “Other times, I type one-handed so I can pet him.”
When clients stop by for a meeting, he insists on joining. “He likes to be seated at the table like everyone else,” Engelbach says.
Break time: It’s Tater Tot’s favorite time of the day because it’s food time. He’s highly motivated by food and joins Engelbach for every meal, enjoying any leftovers or pieces she doesn’t want, such as a bread crust or broccoli stalk.
On the job: Engelbach works from home, and Tater Tot spends almost every minute with her. “He’ll insist on sitting on my lap, forcing me to type around his body,” she says. “Other times, I type one-handed so I can pet him.”
When clients stop by for a meeting, he insists on joining. “He likes to be seated at the table like everyone else,” Engelbach says.
Break time: It’s Tater Tot’s favorite time of the day because it’s food time. He’s highly motivated by food and joins Engelbach for every meal, enjoying any leftovers or pieces she doesn’t want, such as a bread crust or broccoli stalk.
Off-site assignments: Years in the city and meetings with clients have made Tater Tot a highly socialized and well-behaved dog. This allows Engelbach to take him along to stores, such as this trip to ABC Carpet & Home to view a client’s carpet pick.
He also accompanies her to clients’ homes. “Ever since Tater was a puppy, clients have requested his presence on the job site,” Engelbach says. “Where I go, he goes.”
He also accompanies her to clients’ homes. “Ever since Tater was a puppy, clients have requested his presence on the job site,” Engelbach says. “Where I go, he goes.”
Tater Tot has taken taxis, trains and planes to get to the final destination. This summer, he even went on vacation to Charleston, South Carolina, with Engelbach.
Life with a professional organizer: Engelbach’s job leads to lots of reorganizing, experimenting and learning. That can mean hours of chaos inside the apartment, and Tater Tot always gets right into the middle of the action. In his defense, Engelbach did set books on his bed while rearranging, so this scene was unavoidable.
Photo by Rikki Snyder
The apartment is small but perfect for its two occupants. You can read more about this space and how Engelbach keeps it so organized here.
The apartment is small but perfect for its two occupants. You can read more about this space and how Engelbach keeps it so organized here.
Photo by Rikki Snyder
Home, sweet home: “Having a dog, especially a puppy who might be prone to making mistakes, allowed me to embrace losing control of my surroundings,” Engelbach says. “Will my new duvet be free of bulldog saliva stains? Nope. Will there be a good chance I might have dog hair on me? Absolutely. My house is a home because I have a pet.”
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Home, sweet home: “Having a dog, especially a puppy who might be prone to making mistakes, allowed me to embrace losing control of my surroundings,” Engelbach says. “Will my new duvet be free of bulldog saliva stains? Nope. Will there be a good chance I might have dog hair on me? Absolutely. My house is a home because I have a pet.”
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Pet at a Glance
Pet: Tater Tot, an English bulldog
Age: 6
Location: East Village neighborhood of New York City
Owner: Jeanie Engelbach, an organizer, interior decorator and color lover
Meet Tater Tot: He’s a curious pup who lives in a colorful 800-square-foot apartment in New York City with Jeanie Engelbach. You may have seen him before, roaming around the apartment during its feature on Houzz TV.
TT’s spot: Tater Tot, also known as TT, Tater or Tatey, has his own special spot amid Engelbach’s colorful collections. His plush, personalized bed sits in her bedroom, in front of his initials in galvanized metal and a small collection of carnival chalkware.
Bed: Stitchta