8 Dog-Friendly Cities for Active Dog Owners

many health benefits to both man and beast, we hope you'll check out our list of eight of the friendliest cities when it comes to accommodating our four-legged friends: See more about her story here.

#1 - San Diego, California

There’s plenty of sand and surf for people and their pups to enjoy in San Diego. The city is home to 16 off-leash dog parks where Rover can run and stretch his legs. With pleasant temperatures year-round, you and your dog can enjoy the beach, hit the hiking trails, go shopping in tandem, and dine out at many dog-friendly locations.

#2 - Portland, Oregon

33 of these green areas This eclectic city has the most dog parks per capita of any town, for a whopping While most are fenced, others may not be, but they’re all off-leash places for your dog to roam free. There are also a number of different licensed dog massage therapists and social networks specifically designed for pet lovers.

#3 - Seattle, Washington

Home of the iconic Space Needle, Seattle is also host to eleven off-leash dog parks, outdoor shopping venues that allow pets, and other dog-friendly environments disperse throughout the city. There are even a couple of ferry services that allow well-behaved, leashed dogs on board.

#4 - Chicago, Illinois

The Windy City has an enviable 18 dog parks that don’t require pets to wear a leash. Dogs also are permitted without a lead at Montrose Beach. At the Navy Pier, one of the city’s biggest attractions, leashed dogs are allowed to wander about the outdoor common areas with their humans in tow.

#5 - Austin, Texas

This capital city also has 18 parks for dogs where pooches don’t need to be confined to their leash. If you’re from out of town and want to see the sights, you can also take your leashed dog along on a tour of the city.  Or try “Austin Doga,” yoga for dogs for a relaxing exercise routine to enjoy with your pet in Texas.

#6 - Las Vegas, Nevada

Who would have thought that Sin City is also crawling with off-leash dog parks? With 25 of them located around the famous Las Vegas strip, there are also Dock Dogs competitions, Learn the basics of DockDogs^® competitions by reviewing the DockDogs^® 101! If your dog loves to run, jump and swim then DockDogs is definitely the right place for you!where your pet can beat the heat of this desert oasis. If you're lucky, you might happen on something like Nelson, the skateboarding dog, in San Francisco. Photo credit: CC by CarbonNYC on Flickr.

#8 - Orlando, Florida

While dogs aren’t allowed at the many theme parks located in this sunny city, they’re welcome at seven different off-leash dog parks. At the downtown farmer’s market, they’re welcome to shop with their owners while leashed.   With plenty of parks and other pet perks, these towns have really gone out of their way to offer the best environment for our dogs. Did your city make the list?

Editor's Note:

Vet Organics would like to thank Amber Kingsley for sharing this post with our readers. Amber is a freelance writer who writes on pet topics, health, and personal training. When she's not writing or traveling, she volunteers at local shelters in Santa Monica.