Dog walking in Venice

Oakwood

Oakwood is one of the most historic neighborhoods in all of Venice. It’s located inland from some of the more touristy areas, and it is flush with trendy cafes and restaurants. Oakwood is also home to a large dog park known as Westminster Dog Park. This busy park has a section for large dogs (complete with a hill your pooch can run up and down to tire themselves out!) and a smaller dog section. There are some seating areas, and the area is made up of wood chips, grass, and dirt. Some guests note there isn’t a lot of shade at this park, so you may not want to visit this park in the middle of a hot day. 

Windward Circle

Located just a few blocks from Venice Beach, Windward Circle is a residential neighborhood that was once considered to be "the center" of Venice when it was first established and was home to the first famous Venice rollercoaster. Today, Windward Circle is considered the "East Village" of Venice, as many residents of the neighborhood work in the arts and entertainment industry. Its proximity to the beach is handy, especially if you like to walk your dog there! You will also want to visit Baby Blues BBQ which is a favorite dog-friendly (at the patio tables) restaurant in Windward Circle when you're in the mood for some southern-inspired deliciousness!

Alsace

Alsace is a quiet, residential neighborhood in Playa Vista made up of several new homes and many high-rise apartments. It is also where Oberrieder Dog Park is located, and it has become a favorite spot for dogs and their owners to hang out and enjoy the California weather. The park, like many dog parks, has separate sections for big and small dogs, and it has wood chips instead of grass, which makes cleaning up after your dog a lot easier. The spacious park is the pawfect place to burn off some energy with your dog, and it has a water fountain and some seating for when you both need to take a break, too.

Ocean Park

Just southeast of the legendary Santa Monica Pier lies the neighborhood of Ocean Park. It’s only a 15-minute drive from Venice, and Ocean Park is an artsy and trendy neighborhood with plenty of coffee shops, boutiques, and art galleries to explore. When you are looking to explore Ocean Park with your pup, try out Herb Katz Dog Park, which is located within Joslyn Park in Santa Monica. With over 1.25 acres for Rover to sniff his way around, it’s a fair size for a dog park, and it also has agility equipment for adventurous dogs. There’s a separate, fenced area for little dogs and even a playground and basketball court nearby.

West Los Angeles

West Los Angeles is an eclectic neighborhood known for its plentiful Japanese restaurants within what’s known as “Little, Little Tokyo.” If you are in the area and looking to take your pooch to socialize and exercise, check out Veterans Barrington Park in West Los Angeles. This dog park is broad and flat, which makes it ideal for dogs who like to run! Conveniently, the park has high fences, and each area is double-gated, so your dog is safely contained within the park. Some of this park's other great features are a water fountain, pooper-scoopers and doggie bags, benches, and even free parking!