Fido-Friendly Long Beach

Long Beach, California is an appropriate host for this weekend’s AKC/Eukanuba National Championship – billed as the “planet’s greatest dog show” – since it is widely recognized as one of the nation’s most dog-friendly cities. Its nearly half-million residents enjoy an off-leash dog beach, four dog parks, and plenty of pet-friendly and petcentric businesses. Visitors to the city can choose from a variety of hotels and motels that welcome people and their pooches.

“I love Long Beach,” said Eva Kuncewiki, owner of Chewsy Dog, a boutique that sells “accessories and necessities” for your pooch. “I know that every dog owner in Long Beach takes their pawrenthood very seriously. Dogs in Long Beach are not just pets, they truly are part of the family. We treat them, raise them and educate them just like we treat, raise and educate our children.”

Chewsy Dog offers unique services such as doga (yoga for dogs), canine massages and anesthesia-free dental exams. The services are provided by professionals in each field.

Pussy & Pooch is another pet-friendly store that opened recently. In addition to its Pawbar that serves dogs (and brave cats) delectable entrees like raw meat burgers, stews and bones, the store hosts events like the Mutt Mingle and Paws on the Patio, a monthly pet adoption fair.

Pussy & Pooch is located on trendy and super dog-friendly 2nd Street in the Belmont Shore neighborhood, where shopkeepers provide bowls of water for thirsty, four-legged passersby.

For pooch activities besides shopping, two off-leash dog parks opened earlier this year, bringing the city total to four. One more is in the planning stages. The newest, called K-9 Corner, is dubbed “the greenest dog park in Long Beach.” Its features include lighting powered by solar panels and water-saving faux grass.

Water-loving pups can run and swim leash-free along the 3-acre Dog Beach Zone in Belmont Shore. Surprisingly, it is the only off-leash dog beach in the county of Los Angeles – which has 10 million residents. Justin Rudd, a community activist who was instrumental in its creation, said people have driven two hours from the desert or valleys for the dog beach.

If you’re planning on staying in Long Beach with your furiend in tow, Hotel Maya, Hotel CURRENT and Residence Inn Long Beach Downtown are exceptionally pooch friendly.

Hotel Maya is an official host hotel for the AKC/Eukanuba National Championship.  According to Leah Corrodino, director of marketing at Joie de Vivre Hospitality, “Hotel Maya is an 11-acre resort property on the waterfront with a lot of grassy areas, which is great for dogs.”  She said that unlike many other hotels, Hotel Maya has no breed or size restrictions, and no extra fee is charged.

Long Beach is also the home of dog-friendly community events throughout the year. The most popular is the annual Haute Dog Howl’oween Parade, which draws thousands of spectators. In addition to the hundreds of costumed canines on parade, the festivities include  a pet adoption fair, Bulldog kissing booth (the $1-per-smooch proceeds go to charity) and “Bobbing for Howl’oweinies” – the dog version of bobbing for apples.

“We have parks, parades, boutiques, clubs and more,” Kuncewicki said, “all dedicated specifically for dogs and the dogs’ well beings.  I have two dogs – Lola and Mandy – and I could not think of a better place to raise them but in Long Beach.”

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