by Rhonda Allen

Created on: December 02, 2008   Last Updated: January 08, 2009

The Washington DC metro area is home to many dog owners and their canine companions. Finding a safe and legal area for walking dogs can require research and patience, but is very important since many parks and green spaces are policed against dogs and owners can be fined extensively for being outside of a dog-friendly area.

The District of Columbia opened it's first public off-leash dog park on November 5, 2008. The Shaw Dog Park, located at 11th Street and Rhode Island Ave. NW, gives dogs and their owners 15,000 square feet of running room with separate fenced areas for dogs under 25 pounds and their larger canine counterparts.

If you're looking for run right in the heart of the Capitol, try Marion Park on E and 6th Streets. Available 24 hours per day, Marion is a fenced and well lit park with benches, water fountains, plenty of room to roam around with an energetic dog.

Another great park in the Capitol area is Lincoln Park. Lincoln Park is open from 6am to 10pm each day, and is limited to 25 dogs at a time. Lincoln Park can become quite crowded during prime walking times from 6am-8am and at night from 5pm-8pm. This park is frequently policed, and dogs must be well behaved and able to socialize well with other visiting pets.

If you're looking for a more quiet and natural place to walk dogs, then check out Glover Park at 39th Street and W. Glover Park is open during daylight hours, and offers a rustic, relaxing atmosphere in the middle of the city. Surrounded by woods, Glover Park offers tree-lined trails for walking pets on leashes. Water and resting areas with benches for dog owners are located throughout the park.

Battery Kimble Park offers on-leash trail running. As with nearly other park in the District of Columbia, owners must make sure their dog remains on the leash or face the possibility of an expensive fine from the city's police force.

Dog owners who wish to invest in a safe and leash free place to play with their pet can purchase membership to the Congressional Cemetery walking area. User fees are $200 per year and $20 per dog, and entitle the owner to unlimited use of acres of fenced cemetery trails at any hour of the day. The Congressional Cemetery offers water, lights, and scenic walking trails in a safe and secure environment.

The best places to walk a dog in Washington DC vary according to the needs of both dog and owner. At the present, nearly all parks and green zones required dogs to be leashed and pets are policed strictly in public areas. Washington DC is becoming more open to dogs and their owners recently, though, and the city's animal organizations continue to pursue greater freedom of mobility for pets and owners.

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