Top spots for National Dog Day in area
Take your pup for a walk around Central Florida
Every dog has its day — and all canines have theirs on Aug. 26, which is National Dog Day.
The holiday was founded in 2004 to celebrate dogs, recognize working pooches and encourage adoption.
While there are a variety of ways to celebrate — from adopting a furry friend to surprising your pup with a new toy or treat — perhaps one of the best ways to bond with your pooch, especially amid the coronavirus pandemic, is to go for a safe, socially distanced walk.
The Centers for Disease Control offers this advice for walking your dog: Use a leash and keep at least 6 feet away from others; avoid public places where large groups gather; and do not put a mask on your pet. In honor of National Dog Day, a few Central Florida experts shared local, pet-friendly places to walk your pooch.
Park in New Smyrna Beach.
“There’s plenty of space for you spread out, and the dogs have to stay on leash, so you’ll be able to stay socially distanced with your dog,” she said. “It’s just a really good place to take them and relax and let them play in the water.”
Anderson has made visits to all three locations with her dogs and said she has felt safe in each instance.
“There’s a lot of walking space and people are very respectful of staying away, so it definitely was a good place to go,” she said of the beach park. “I have also used the lakefront in downtown Sanford as well and I felt the same way.”
Andrea Nicoara, lead dog trainer at Beyond the Leash Dog Training, recommends taking dogs to less crowded, outdoor areas. A park-like situation is ideal, but keep dogs on leashes, she said.
“It’s a safer environment than being in close places and proximity like PetSmart,” Nicoara said. “Also, some dogs tend to shut down and melt down in an enclosed environment, so keeping them outside kind of opens their eyes to be more submissive in the area and more instinctual.”
Nicoara said there are many great outdoor options in Central Florida, but a few options include Orange County’s Little Econ Greenway, Crystal Lake Park in Orlando and Lake Eola Park in downtown Orlando.
“Lake Eola is a hightraffic area, but it’s still a distanced and safe environment,” she said. “It’s not too overcrowded, there isn’t much traffic as far as cars and trucks and loud noises, so it can still be a calming situation.”
For those looking for a mix of indoor/outdoor areas, Nicoara suggests visiting plazas with larger, pet-friendly stores.
“Home Depot is also another great one, but again, social distancing is always an issue,” she said. “Even going outside in the garden area can definitely get them more instinctual senses, smelling new things, seeing people, hearing noises and the intercom.”
Like Nicoara, Pet Alliance of Greater Orlando volunteer manager Candyce Hatch proposes Lake Eola for a safe, socially distanced outing with your pooch.
“I think people are respecting the mask area, and if you just want a place to chill with your pup, it’s big enough to spread out,” she said.
Both also recommend Little Econ Greenway, though Hatch specifically mentioned exploring Jay Blanchard Park in Orlando.
“You walk along a waterway and there are birds, fish, and turtles,” she said, noting there are also plenty of trees that offer a cool respite from Florida’s heat.
She also suggests exploring the open fields of Bok Tower Gardens in Lake Wales or meandering the West Orange Trail — but be on the lookout for cyclists and rollerbladers, she warned.
“The views are pretty, plus you can grab a drink and a bite to eat at Crooked Can,” she said about the trail.
Mandy Kimmer, public relations information officer at Orange County Parks & Recreation, said Orange County has 10 dog parks — including Independence Dog Park in Winter Garden, Barber Dog Park in Orlando and Summerport Dog Park in Windermere — perfect for celebrating National Dog Day. In addition, most of the county’s parks (with the exception of Kelly Park, Moss Park and Fort Christmas Historical Park) are pet-friendly and there’s plenty of trail space that pups can traverse with their favorite humans. Note: Dogs must be on a leash no greater than 6 feet and owners must clean up after their pets.
For more information about the holiday and other ways to celebrate, go to nationaldogday.com.