If I’m walking my Shepherd/Pit mix, Remi, and she can see even an iota of water in her doggy line of vision, you better believe that girl is whining, pulling, absolutely BESIDE herself trying to get into it so she can swim. This goes for a beautiful spring day AND a freezing January afternoon. Selfishly, I’m much more willing to let her jump in during the spring and summer months, as it’s way less bothersome when she (inevitably) shakes on me…
And while Seattle has tons of water around (ask Remi), we’re surprisingly low on places where your dog is actually allowed to swim. *Note: Peeps and pups get away with some illegal doggy swimming in many pleaces, but for liability reasons we’ll leave that to another article…
Here are 5 places to take dogs swimming in Seattle.
1. Luther Burbank Off-Leash Dog Park
A tad east of Seattle in northern Mercer Island lies a mecca that many Seattleites never take the time to visit! Luther Burbank Park is well known to eastsiders, but why should they have all the fun? This huge open space has many fun activities for leashed dogs and their hoomans, and a special fenced area on the northern tip just for off-leash puppers. And yes, before you ask, there is water access!
2. Magnuson Off-Leash Dog Park
The award for the city’s largest dog park goes to Magnuson Park Off-Leash Area in Sand Point! It spans 8.6 fully fenced acres and opens up to Lake Washington where pooches can frolic through the water to their heart’s content. After, take your drenched doggo to Magnuson Cafe & Brewery, a dog-friendly joint where you can treat yourself for being such a good pawrent.
3. Marymoor Off-Leash Dog Park
If you’re willing to make a bit more of a trek, might we suggest meandering over to Marymoor? Often referred to by locals as “Doggy Disneyland,” there’s no better way to treat your little princess. Why? Think 40 acres, 5 river access points, and 6 whole miles of winding trails. It’s a puppin’ good time for pooches and people alike.
4. Off-Leash Area Edmonds
When there is no off-leash area in your neighborhood, what do you do? Make one! And that’s exactly what a small group of volunteers did in 2005 when they started the non-profit Off-Leash Area Edmonds. 15+ years later, the off-leash park (still fully sustained and run by volunteers) provides a pup ton of tail waggin’ fun! Frolic, run, play, and swim in the expansive fields and water access point this Edmonds off-leash park has to offer.
5. SplashDog Canine Well-Being Center
Let’s be honest, not all dogs are made the same. While yours may naturally take paw-stretching leaps off docks to belly flop into the great blue, that isn’t always the case. For those puppers who need a little extra push, SplashDog Canine Well-Being Center offers swim lessons and assisted pool sessions with professional swim technicians to make pupper feel completely comfortable as she learns to doggy paddle.
What are your favorite places to take dogs swimming in Seattle? Woof at us in the comments or in our Dog-Friendly Seattle Facebook Group.
Featured photo: Martha Childress
Sidewalk Dog’s mission is to help dog parents spend more time with their puppers by discovering and sharing activities they can do and places they can go—together! Sniff out our award-winning newsletter and Instagram, then join our Dog-Friendly Seattle Facebook Group.
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