Editor: We received this report on San Diego’s best dog beaches from Wet Nose Guide, a New York City online dog directory that’s expanded to San Diego, and … surprise! Ocean Beach’s Dog Beach made the list! We knew we had the best dog beach, now “everyone” knows.
by Doug Pierce / Wet Nose Guide
With the sun in their face and the sand at their paws, San Diego’s dog beaches provide the perfect controlled environment for your pooch to cast off her leash and enjoy a frisky carefree day at the beach. The list of dog-friendly San Diego beaches is long, but three in particular provide you and your pup a slice of laidback California beach life at its most relaxed. Ocean Beach Dog Beach, Coronado Dog Beach, and Fiesta Island Dog Park are the best for you and your pup to play fetch, doggy-paddle, or simply have a snore-fest on the warm sand.
Coronado Dog Beach – 100 Ocean Blvd. Coronado, CA 92118 – Located on beautiful Coronado Island right off the San Diego coast, drive with your dog over the long Coronado Bay Bridge and let her meet cool new friends on this clean stretch of sand near the naval complex with other respectful owners who clean up after their dogs. Parking may be hard to find but when you’re done the park provides a wash area when you’re furry companion is dirty and drained of energy for the day.
Fiesta Island Dog Park – Fiesta Island Rd. San Diego, CA 92101 – There’s plenty of parking on this island located in San Diego’s Mission Bay. The water is calmer than the ocean and it’s an idyllic place to hang out with your dog. If it’s windy, Fiesta Island is a great place to catch the kite surfers in action as well.
Ocean Beach Dog Beach – Ocean Beach, CA 92107 – Drive to the end of the 8 freeway toward the beach and you will find Ocean Beach Dog Beach, one of the most popular places to take your dog in San Diego. There’s parking at the beach but as it gets filled up quickly, a better bet would be to park in the restaurant/bar/shopping area. Summer weekends can see upward of 100 dogs. Don’t let other dogs mistake your throw toys as theirs. The downside to this dog beach is the lack of showers to wash your dog off. There’s a dog wash company located close by though that is happy to do that for a fee for you.
Dog beaches are a paradise. Unlike dog parks, dog beaches are a place where fences don’t exist, pooping anywhere is ok, and rolling on the ground getting dirty is expected. In San Diego, the beach is a way of life, a source of pride and joy, and a perfect hangout with your four-legged friend.
Go here for San Diego Wet Nose Guide. Go here for a link to the general Wet Nose Guide.
{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
Well, pooping anywhere is NOT ok – but – beaches are better than the dog parks… scents linger long in parks but are quickly erased at the beach. Result, fewer fights. Dogs have gotten killed at parks; I don’t know of even one killed at a dog beach.
Pooping anywhere is ok for the dogs but owners need to be environmentally responsible and clean up after your dog. This requirement should have been included in the article.
Dead fish and wet dog, two odors, one gag reflex.
kudos to Dog Beach Dog Wash for continually providing ample supplies of free doggie bags! their commitment to the community along with all who personally clean up after their pets are the main reasons why OB’s world famous Dog Beach remains a desirable destination.
Way to go OBceans!
I actually heard that a dog was killed at dog beach not to long ago. A Pomeranian killed by a Husky. Husky must have thought it was a snow bunny and instinct kicked in. Was told that it was a grab by the back of the neck and one shake breaking it’s neck so it seems like a hunting instinct to me, and that’s still how sled dogs get their daily meals so it’s not exactly bred out of them.
Today at Coronado dog beach a tiny 7 pound chihuahua on a leash was attacked by a Rottweiler. The dog was rushed to the emergency vet but died shortly after. A half hour earlier the same vicious dog turned a 20 pound dog on it’s back but the owner of the small dog pushed the Rottweiler off of him.
Obviously, this is an aggressive dog who should not be at a dog beach and now a small dog is dead because of this idiotic and thoughtless dog owner. The Rottweiler’s owner left the beach immediately, showing no remorse or regard for the condition of the chiuhuahua. Animal control took statements and I hope they catch him before his dog kills other helpless dogs. It was very upsetting to everyone who witnessed this and heard that the dog died. The Rottweiler’s owner was a young man who had three big dogs with him at the dog beach today.