Southern California’s Dog-Friendly Parks & Beaches

Dogs are our best friends. Their owners are responsible for keeping them safe, which also includes keeping the public safe. This is why there are certain laws dog owners must follow, from needing to keep them on a leash in most places, to getting them vaccinated.

Whenever a dog owner takes their dog out, the dog must be kept on a leash. Some communities require leashes to be 6-8 feet long; other communities have no leash length requirement. By keeping a dog on a leash, the owner is taking precaution to keep their dog safe, like avoiding getting hit by a passing car. In addition, they also keep other people safe, like avoiding a dog attack or scaring others who are uncomfortable around dogs. If a dog attack occurs, the owner can be arrested and charged with a crime, even if the owner did not encourage the fight and tried to stop their dog. They would have to pay a fine and possibly spend time in jail. In some situations, they may also lose their dog, or their dog will be put down.

Dog owners who have had time to train their dogs to be obedient and friendly would love to let their best friend off the leash and play with other friendly dogs as well. At most California parks and beaches, this is not allowed. Dogs must remain on their leash. However, there are some dog-friendly parks and beaches, where dogs can run around leash-free. A handful of such welcoming locations can be found throughout Southern California.

DOG-FRIENDLY PARKS

Alice’s Dog Park in Pasadena

The Boneyard in Culver City

Griffith Park Dog Park in Los Feliz

Laurel Canyon Dog Park in Studio City

Silver Lake Off-Leash Dog Park in Silver Lake

Whitnall Off-Leash Dog Park in North Hollywood

DOG-FRIENDLY BEACHES

Arroyo Burro Beach in Santa Barbara

Fiesta Island in San Diego

Huntington Dog Beach in Huntington Beach

Rosie’s Dog Beach in Long Beach

At these dog-friendly beaches and parks, owners are still responsible for their pet, making sure they get along well with the other dogs. Being a dog owner is like being a parent. In fact, many future parents test their parental responsibilities by getting a dog first. So, treat your dog like you would your kid. Raise it, love it, care for it, and keep it (and yourself) out of trouble. Just like you could face legal consequences if your teenage kid broke the law, you could face legal consequences if your dog causes injury to another.