My Town Monday: Off-Leash Dog Places
Dogs enjoying the surf on Dog Beach. Our Dorothy is not in this picture.
San Diego has great weather.
A lot of dog lovers live in San Diego.
We have about seven leash-free beaches and nineteen leash-free parks. Here's a good place to check for locations. Some areas are open 24 hours. Many are fenced and divided into small dog and large dog areas. All are free. Here's a good website with all the scoop on leash-free parks/beaches.
Here's the link to Bum the dog, a previous My Town Monday post.
Child #4 is in the hot pink t-shirt. She's on the look-out for dogs to pet. She is seriously the biggest animal lover in our family.
For the first time ever, Child #4 and I took Dorothy the Dog to a fenced-in, leash-free park. We got Dorothy from Craig's List (I'm not even kidding) almost two years ago. Why did it take us so long to venture to a leash-free dog park? Reason #1: Dorothy is very skittish and nervous around other dogs. Reason #2: Dorothy doesn't always come when called.
That said, the three of us had a SUPER time at the dog park. Dorothy actually enticed a Dachshund to play with her! She did come when called. She was somewhat anxious, but got over herself. AND the ice cream truck came by; two of us got treats.
Child #4 and I are thinking of trying a leash-free beach next time. My, my aren't we brave? We will probably not go to the original Dog Beach (which is on Ocean Beach) because it gets very crowded. We're planning a trip with Dorothy to Fiesta Island because it's less crowded and has small waves. Also, the ENTIRE ISLAND is for dogs.
I did not get a good picture of Dorothy. She was far too busy to pose.
I figured no post about leash-free beaches and parks would be complete without a picture like this!
Please trot on over to Travis' blog where he'll have a fun post and links to other participants.
Sources:
http://sandiego.about.com/cs/prosports/a/dogparks_sd.htm
http://www.sandiego.gov/park-and-recreation/general-info/leashfree.shtml
http://www.sandiego.com/regional/beaches/san-diego-dog-beaches-&-parks/
Posts
I love off-leash parks and beaches! It's so nice when space is set aside for our four legged friends :-)
ReplyDeleteLeash-free areas for dogs are wonderful – such freedom to exercise! (For the dogs, that is...)
ReplyDeleteWas Dorothy really too busy or just camera shy? ;)
(That first picture? The big black dog reminds me of our dog Major - we miss that guy.)
What a treat for them.
ReplyDeleteMy mom and her dog are great fans of leash-free beaches, and then they immediately go to the groomers for a bath and hair clip for the dog (my mom still uses a beauty parlor). Prior to this routine of beach and dog beauty salon, my mom said the dog (a labradoodle) was bringing home about a pound of sand in her fur. I doubt your dachsund will pick up that much sand, but it's something to think about.
ReplyDeleteI grew up in Riverside, and am not a fan of SOuthern California. Except for San Diego. I used to have a friend who lived there, so I would come out once or twice a year, but she moved, so I haven't been in some time!
ReplyDeleteThat first picture makes me so happy.
ReplyDeleteI was watching Jurassic park 2 last night and saw a t-rex destroy half of San diego. Did you see any of the damage? lol.
ReplyDeleteThat is so cool! We only have one dog park here in our county, and it's always so freaking muddy!!! I'm so glad you had a great time, but I sure wish I had a picture of Dorothy playing with the weiner dog!
ReplyDeleteI love dog parks! I've almost convinced my husband to let me get a dog so I drive by the parks and try to find a breed I like.
ReplyDeleteDog parks are a great idea, and it's great that Dorothy and your daughter both enjoyed it. The dogs must be in heaven. Sounds like fun. My mom and dad's chihuahua wouldn't have liked it, though. She didn't like other dogs much. I think she thought she was a very small person.
ReplyDeleteDogs are the best companions possible. I've always kept a dog
ReplyDeleteDid you see Dallas had made the news awhile back for its indoor dogpark? I think the big story was its decision to ban pit bulls. Anyhow, Buster Dog hasn't been there, yet (and likely won't since there is a cover charge).
ReplyDeleteI have a dog that *loves* the water. I am sure that she would be in doggy heaven at one of those places.
ReplyDeleteYou've got one up on us there. Toronto doesn't have nearly enough off leash parks, and the ones that exist also have neighbours rallying to get rid of them. Lucky you.
ReplyDeleteThere are plenty of off leash areas around here. Of course we don't have an ocean, so no beaches, just the river banks.
ReplyDeleteinteresting--I grew up in a small rural town where our dogs were never required to be on a leash or even confined. But if they got into the neigbors stock, the neigbor could shoot them. We lost several dogs that way.
ReplyDeleteOur county's dog beach is only for people now. :(
ReplyDeleteSometimes we sneak onto the beach before the lifeguards arrive.
My dog is not very friendly to other pups so I've never been able to visit one of these free range places.
ReplyDeleteAh, dogs and their owners. I suspect Dorothy looks a lot like her human owner.
ReplyDeleteAs I had show poodle dogs before with 'show coat' they weren't allowed to run loose with other dogs. Wrecks the coat and there goes the points.
But, many many moons ago, I visited San Diego, bought a Doberman Pinscher puppy named Bruce and took him home to Alberta.
we do not have a dog (not yet!) but have a few good doggie parks.
ReplyDeleteHope all is well. Looking forward to an update on the cover photo shoots!
I love off-leash parks! Maddie just discovered her first off-leash dog park a few weeks ago and she loved it! She was a little shy at first but she really came out of her shell. Now.. if only Ohio weather will stay consistently nice... then we will have more doggie park days! haha :)
ReplyDeleteThat's so awesome that San Diego has so many leash free parks and beaches. Tulsa has ONE. But...we're getting a second one. And it's close to our house. Mulligan, our dog will be so HAPPY :-)
ReplyDeleteAn ENTIRE ISLAND FOR DOGS?????
ReplyDeleteSan Diego is like a fairytale land of cool things to do! I think I just need to stop reading these My Town Monday posts until I can schedule another trip.
I remember taking my dogs to Dog Beach. I'm not sure who enjoyed it more -- us or them! But it was kinda smelly, all those wet dogs, y'know?
ReplyDeleteOur dog's spoiled 'cuz we live close to some woods & fields - our own off-leash area. Right now it's kind of muddy and soon the wood ticks will start. My youngest is also our family's biggest animal lover - although I've also taken quite a shine to our canine.
ReplyDeleteCharles's comment cracked me up!
ReplyDeleteWe have a Dog Beach in HB, too, and we get a kick watching all the dogs running around in the surf and kicking up sand. But an entire island devoted to dogs? That's really cool! If they run, you know they can't go too far.
Glad you guys had a great time...ice cream and all. :)
My dog Lindsay is friendly and loves to meet other dogs, but is ultimately a loner who prefers to go her own way. We've been to several fenced in leash free areas here in Toronto, but I far prefer to take her out into the woods, or for walks along remote bluffs were we can be alone and she can just run to burn off all that springer energy.
ReplyDeleteLooks like your daughter had a lot of fun!
Sunny days, the ocean, dogs who can run free . . . I'm sure that San Diego has a downside, but I can't think of what that might be!
ReplyDeleteI'm back from Texas. Missed you, and looking forward to Book Reviews soon.
This looks so fun, even for me--a "cat person." It always amazes me how dogs can come together at one of these places and play, not fight! :)
ReplyDeleteIt’s always a challenge finding off leash spots for dogs, luckily we have woods and fields like that behind our house. My dog would love an island devoted to free ranging dogs.
ReplyDeleteLooks like a fun place!
ReplyDeleteReminded me of "Marley and Me!"
ReplyDelete:-)