The Most Dog-Friendly Cities in America

While Chesapeake has five dog parks overall, there are actually two in Chesapeake City Park, each of which has separate areas for small and large dogs. Having two dog parks in the same place makes it easier to maintain the grounds. The city also shares its name with a dog breed — the Chesapeake Bay retriever.

Seattle is proud of its status as a dog-friendly city. In fact, in a recent survey from dog care company Rover, it ranked No. 1 out of over 14,000 cities. Seattle has more dogs than children and lots of dog-friendly bars and restaurants. Some years ago, Seattle Magazine even had a feature titled Seattle’s Dog Obsession.

Bakersfield’s dog parks have fenced no-leash areas that are “large enough to tire out the most energetic dog,” according to the city’s site. The city is home to an annual Mega Adoption Event at the Kern County Fairgrounds. The goal is not just to find homes for dogs, but also to encourage people who already have dogs to engage with their pets as much as possible.

Long Beach doesn’t just have 10 dog parks, it boasts the only off-leash beach in Los Angeles County. Long Beach also has huge dog-themed events, including an annual Bulldog Beauty Contest and Rudd’s Haute Dog Howl’oween Parade, which features hundreds of costumed dogs.

Tourism is hugely important to Florida, and the industry caters to dog owners as well. A study by RewardExpert ranked the Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater region as the No. 1 region to travel with pets in the U.S. It can get pretty hot in St. Petersburg, but the city looks out for doggie residents and visitors with an annual dog swim day at Fossil Park Pool. There is even a commercial Dog Bar, a combination of an off-leash dog park and a full-service bar.

Frick Park, Pittsburgh’s largest historic regional park (644 acres), has an off-leash area and a swimming area known as “Hot Dog Dam.” As well as city parks, Pittsburgh also has a number of commercial dog parks and resorts and lots of dog-friendly hotels and restaurants.

Anchorage’s dog parks all have dedicated off-leash areas. One thing to keep in mind — Anchorage is also bear country, and the Parks & Recreation website carries information on bear safety. Anchorage is also home to the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race, one of Alaska’s iconic winter events, which starts on the first Saturday of March each year.

Dog lovers are well provided for in Sacramento, and the city is committed to opening new dog parks. The latest addition is Barandas Dog Park, which opened in July this year. Two years before that, Truitt Bark Park opened in Midtown. All dog parks are fenced, with a double-gate system for safety. Owners can even use tennis ball launchers to play fetch with their dogs.

What makes Albuquerque a great place for dog owners is the city’s great climate and many recreation options. There are plenty of dog parks, dog-friendly restaurants, and even dog-friendly shopping centers. Albuquerque’s Animal Welfare Department offered free microchipping for dogs (and cats) earlier in the summer.

Jersey City is developing fast, due in part to its proximity to New York City, and is keeping the needs of dog owners and their pets in mind. In 2018, a new dog run was added in Jersey City Heights, and a new park that features small and large dog runs opened at Harborside. Liberty State Park offers amenities for dogs and views of the Hudson River for their owners.

One of the dog parks in Fremont is Central Park Dog Park, located near the Fremont Animal Shelter. The park has two areas, one with artificial turf for large dogs and one with natural grass for small dogs. Other amenities include an agility course in the large dog area.

Arlington is one of the wealthiest cities in the country, so even its dog parks are packed with hi-tech and high cost amenities. James Hunter dog park, which cost about $2 million to build, features a fountain/pool for swimming and a sound wall that muffles barking, while Shirlington dog park has access to a stream.

Dogs are allowed on-leash in lots of parks in Oakland, and off-leash in four: Estuary Park, Glenn Daniel/King Estate, Park Boulevard Plaza, and South Prescott Park. Another five have fenced dog play areas: Grove Shafter Park, Hardy Park, Jefferson Park, Joaquin Miller Park, and Mosswood Park. ODOG (the Oakland Dog Owners Group) advocates for more dog parks and off-leash space and to make Oakland and the nearby East Bay/San Francisco area more dog friendly.

Madison ranks high on the list and may be about to become a whole lot more dog friendly. While the city has many dedicated dog parks, it also has an unusual law that prohibits dogs in most of its roughly 270 parks, even if they’re on a leash, licensed, and have had vaccinations. It is starting a review process that could lead to the opening of all parks to dogs. This has been spurred by increases in the human and, presumably, dog populations.

Most people associate Las Vegas solely with gambling, but they may be surprised to know it’s also a dog-friendly place. In fact, it’s an animal-friendly place. One of the most popular destinations, Dog Fancier’s Park, is next to Horseman’s Park. You can park your RV and stay there, too. The Las Vegas economy is driven by tourism, and some hotels on the Strip also tout themselves as dog friendly. One, the Delano Las Vegas, even offers Dog Friendly Welcome package and Doggie Butler Service.

Tampa, like its nearby neighbor St. Petersburg, is proud to be a dog-friendly place — the city’s website has a section called Barks & Recreation. Even the local highway authority, the Tampa Hillsborough Expressway, is dog friendly. It recently opened the Deputy John Kotfila, Jr. Memorial Dog Park under an expressway. A study by RewardExpert ranked the Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater region as the No. 1 region to travel with pets in the U.S.

The San Francisco Recreation and Park Commission has designated specific park areas throughout the city as off-leash areas. There are also dozens of dedicated dog parks and some of them are huge. Built on a former quarry, Bernal Heights Dog Park covers more than 35 acres. Better still, many of these parks offer great views of the city and its landmarks.

Norfolk doesn’t just have lots of dog parks, it also has dog-friendly beaches, hotels, and restaurants. One popular destination is Ocean View Beach, although there are access restrictions during the busy summer season. The Elizabeth River Trail offers almost 10 miles of dog-friendly exercise and sightseeing. And if you want to do something in Norfolk that doesn’t involve your pet, there are lots of doggie day care programs.

Henderson is the second-largest city in Nevada and adjoins Las Vegas, which is also on the list, so Nevada looks like a dog-friendly state all round. What’s more, Henderson is planning to build several more dog parks throughout the city. There’s also a commercial indoor dog park called Barx Parx and several salons and spas where doggies can get facials!

Ranking No. 2 on the list, Portland has many fine dog parks to choose from. One in particular stands out — Sandy River Delta Park. Also known as Thousand Acres, it actually has 1,400

acres of open fields, wetlands, and two rivers, and it has been described as “the off-leash mecca of Portland.” Other options include Sellwood Riverfront Park, Ross Dog Park, and Laurelhurst Park.

Boise is one of the smaller cities on this list, but obviously it has a big place in its heart and lots of parks for dogs. The 6-acre Amity Dog Park has separate fenced areas for large and small dogs, a giant swimming pond, walking trails, and more. The most recent addition is the Together Treasure Valley Dog Island off-leash area inside Ann Morrison Park. In July, the city hosted a dedication ceremony and “unleashing of the dogs.”