Despite hundreds of miles of coastline in Southern California, there are a surprisingly small amount of beaches where you can legally take your pup off the leash.

But the good news is there are a handful!  And here is a short list of some of our favorites...

Best Off-The-Leash Dog Beaches - Southern California

1.)  Huntington Dog Beach, Huntington Beach

Dogs and their owners can splash around in the ocean in Orange County at the Huntington Dog Beach, which is run by a non-profit organization founded in 1997.  Their mission is really cool too!  "To protect and preserve access to the beach for dogs and their people, as well as to promote responsible dog ownership in order to make our canine companions welcome members of society."  

Address:  100 Goldenwest St, Huntington Beach, CA 92648

Website:  http://www.dogbeach.org/

2.)  Rosie's Dog Beach, Long Beach

A 4-acre, non fenced in area of the Belmont Shores honoring the life of Rosie the Bulldog, who inspired this pet wonderland, Rosie's Dog Beach is located at the ocean in Long Beach between Roycroft and Granada avenues.  It was started by Justin Rudd and is the only legal, off-the-leash dog beach in LA county.  Which sounds crazy with all the dogs and beaches in Los Angeles, but it's true...If you're in the Long Beach area with your pup, check it out!

Address:  5000 E Ocean Blvd, Long Beach, CA 90803

Website:  http://hautedogs.org/beach.html

3.)  The Original Dog Beach, San Diego

Located on the northern end of Ocean Beach, The Original Dog Beach is known as the most popular dog beach in San Diego county.  It is also one of the oldest active dog beaches in the US, having been recognized as such in 1972.  Here, dogs can roam free off-the-leash any time of day, and you might even see a surfer catching a wave with a pup swimming nearby.  It is a truly a coastline sanctuary where dogs and people can be one with each other!

Address:  W Point Loma Blvd and Voltaire St, San Diego, CA, US 92107

Website:  https://oceanbeachsandiego.com/attractions/beaches/dog-beach

4.)  Arroyo Burro Beach (Hendry's Beach), Santa Barbara

This dog beach is my favorite.  I just wish it was closer than 2 hours away!  It was one of the first beaches that the co-founders of SportLeash ever brought Griffey, the Siberian Husky who inspired the SportLeash dream.  Arroyo is the only dog beach in Santa Barbara where it's ok to be off-the-leash - just make sure you have your dog on the leash in the parking lot, though; and once you get to the beach, have fun roaming free!  It's like heaven on earth...

Oh, and the Boathouse restaurant located right on the sand in front of the dog beach makes for a great place to wind down and watch the sunset...

Address:  Mesa Ln and Edgewater Way, Santa Barbara, CA, US

Web info:  http://www.bringfido.com/attraction/574/

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