Dog walkers in Portsmouth enjoy relatively mild winters with daily highs reaching above freezing. When slippery conditions occur, postpone walking your dog until surfaces thaw later in the day to avoid you or your dog becoming injured by slips and falls. Rain is common in fall, winter, and spring and Portland people and pups will need rain gear to keep dry on daily walks. Summers are usually drier and warm with a few hot spells occurring each year. When uncomfortably hot temperatures occur, walk your dog earlier or later in the day to avoid the heat and pack plenty of water to avoid dehydration.
Residential dwellings in the area vary greatly with different architectural styles, house sizes, and properties. Private properties are heavily landscaped with large trees and lush landscaping due to a large amount of precipitation in the area. Some streets are quiet, suburban, and pleasant for strolls with your dog, while others are more developed and urban with noisier traffic and less landscaping.
The topography is flat and dog walkers have no steep hills to climb in the region. Sidewalks are prevalent along streets, so you and your pup won't have to share the road with local traffic.
Dog walkers and their pets will enjoy the Peninsula Crossing Trail located on the west side along the railway. This trail extends for five miles and is hard surfaced, so it tends to not become treacherous in wet weather.
University Park is an 11-acre greenway park located in Portsmouth with paved trails, restrooms, recreational fields and facilities, and public artworks. This park has large shade trees ringing the border of the park. Columbia Park is a larger 35-acre green space with paved paths and is more heavily treed, providing shelter and shade to dog walkers who enjoy the park. McCoy Park is a smaller community greenway with just under four acres but also has paved walking paths, public art, and some open and treed areas.
Northgate Park is also located in Portsmouth and provides 10.72 acres with trees and open sports fields. This park makes a great walking destination for you and your pet with paved walking paths and lighted facilities.