On a cold, wet winter morning, what pet-owning New Yorker hasn’t fantasized about simply opening a back door to a yard and letting the dog out solo? In honor of Pets Week (not to mention all the long, dark days ahead), we dedicate this week’s Covet to homes with private outdoor spaces that provide owners with an alternative to thankless early morning schlepps around the block.

Landscaped by the Highline's own garden designer, Piet Oudolf, the 1,591 square foot terrace of this SoHo Mews penthouse at 311 West Broadway (yours for $15.95 million) boasts a real life lawn that’s practically made for throwing a Frisbee with man’s best friend (just push that outdoor furniture to the side and you're good to go).

Sixteen million and change—$16.5 million to be precise—buys you an Upper East Side townhouse at 18 East 93^rd Street that includes its own verdant, park-like garden ideal for pets who prefer to run, dig and poop in privacy.

The 545-square-foot garden of this four-story Chelsea brownstone at 440 West 22^nd Street (priced at $17.950 million) offers multi-levels to give your pet a little extra exercise.

A custom built sliding barn door and a wall of windows overlooks the oversized garden of this Cobble Hill carriage house at 36 Strong Place (for sale at $6.995 million) and creates a picturesque portal through which to watch Rover frolicking in the great outdoors.

This $10 million, 25-foot-wide Brooklyn Heights brownstone at 32 Livingston Street has a large, brick-walled garden that will keep dogs and cats safely enclosed. Think of it as having your own private dog run in the city!

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