Fun Summer Activities for You and Your Dog
Chicago dog owners have to suffer through winter every year – between doggie boots/socks to protect their pets’ precious paws, unrelentingly cold temperatures, and icicles forming on their pets’ fur, it’s no wonder dog parents welcome summer with open arms every year. Chicago pet owners also love taking their dogs along with them to various places, and we thought it’d be beneficial to everyone—dogs and humans alike—to compile a not-quite comprehensive list of some fun activities that both you and your pooch can enjoy. The Dog Beach More of a destination than an event, bringing your dog beach can be a lot of fun. Chicago has many beaches, but three have designated dog-friendly areas – Montrose Dog Beach, Belmont Harbor’s Dog Beach, and Foster Avenue’s Dog Beach. Dogs need a DFA (dog-friendly area) tag, which costs $5 and requires proof of a current rabies vaccination. Pug Party While any human is allowed to attend this event, the organizers request only that the only dogs brought are pugs. This event takes place June 7th, 2014, at Chicago Party Animals in the West Loop, and draws hundreds of pugs and pug owners. Some vendors and artists attend, and food and drink are offered. If you’re a pug owner or a pug lover, this is the place to be. PAWS 8k/4k PAWS Run for Their Lives is an 8k run/4k walk that is dog friendly. This year, a special event will be held in order to attempt to break the Guinness World Record for “most dogs in costumed attire in one location.” A fundraiser—participants can either run or walk without pledging, or pledge $86, which goes toward spaying or neutering one animal. Run the 8k race by yourself, or bring your pooch along for the 4k walk. Windy City Pet Expo Held on July 19 at the Odeum Expo Center, the Windy City Pet Expo encourages bringing your (vaccinated, leashed) dog. The Expo features exhibitors of all kinds – trainers, rescues, photographers, and so much more. Bark-a-Pawlooza A fun-filled event perfect for your entire family, this event includes a pet fashion show, silent auction, shopping, raffle prizes, dog shelters, a Q&A session with a veterinarian, a pet yearbook, a class for new dog owners, a cooking class that teaches how to make both human and canine treats, and lots, lots more. Admission is $30 for each dog + owner, and each additional person is $5. All dogs must be leashed and vaccinated, and tickets are available at barkapawlooza.eventbrite.com. Gimme Shelter! Walk for the Animals Held on Sunday, June 8, this event draws over 300 animal lovers who will participate in a walk that benefits the Red Door Animal Shelter. Registration costs $20 and includes a walk t-shirt, a goodie bag, and a bandana for your dog. The event is open to everyone—if you don’t have a dog, you can still come along for the fun! Are you going to something special this summer with your dog? Let us know about it!
Dog-Friendly Beaches in Chicago
With the temperatures on the up and up in Chicago (finally!), it’s time to start thinking about how to cool down—surprising, isn’t it? With soon-to-be sweltering days on the horizon, it’s time to lock down your dog’s new favorite dog beach. If you’ve never taken your dog to a dog beach, it’s worth trying out. Not every dog will like it, but the ones that do absolutely love it. Playing at the beach can be a special treat for your pet, or if you’re lucky enough to live close to a beach, a regular occurrence. Check out our handy guide for the three best dog beaches across Chicago – while there are other beaches you might be able to get away with bringing your dog to, these are the three that allow dogs. As with any public dog park, it’s important to make sure your dog interacts well with other dogs before bringing it to a public park. If anything happens at these or any other dog park in regards to your dog attacking or getting into a fight, you can be held responsible. If your dog does start acting aggressively while at a park, it’s best to bring the dog home and try another day—sometimes dogs can get over-stimulated and lash out while at dog parks. Belmont Harbor Belmont Harbor’s dog beach, in Lakeview, is popular among Chicago dog owners. Dogs are required to have dog friendly area (DFA) tags, which are $5 and require a current rabies vaccination. Visitors point out that this is a good dog beach for the “skittish” dogs in your life, though all dogs are welcome. Some visitors say that this beach might be best for smaller dogs, since it is smaller than some other dog-friendly beaches in the city. Learn more about Belmont Harbor. Montrose Dog Beach Located in Chicago’s Uptown neighborhood, this is perhaps the biggest and most popular dog beach in the city. It is an off-leash beach located on the corner of Montrose Beach. To get there, follow Wilson Avenue until it curves left at the lake. You’ll see steel walls from the old Boat Launch and you’ll know you’re there. It is open roughly from sun-up to 9 p.m., regular Chicago Park District hours. This dog beach is free, but dogs are required to have DFA tags. Learn more about Montrose Dog Beach. Foster Avenue Beach Allowed in the designated dog area of the beach, Foster dog beach is located on Foster Ave and Lake Shore Drive in Edgewater/Uptown. This clean beach is a bit bigger than Belmont Harbor’s dog beach, and its regular visitors love it. The double-gated entrance helps with security, and while all dogs are welcome here, visitor reviews suggest it might be better for slightly larger dogs. Learn more about Foster Avenue Beach.