Great Activities for Dogs That Love the Water in San Diego

While not all dogs like water, some are bred for swimming and love playing alongside the beach. If this sounds like your dog, San Diego is a great, canine-friendly city that offers many activities that you and your pet can enjoy together. Playing on the beach, sailing, and even San Diego whale watching are all examples of activities available to you and your pooch. Here are some more details to help you plan your pet-friendly excursion.

Boat Ride on Mission Bay

Sailing with a dog can be a rewarding experience, especially with a dog that loves the water but hasn’t had much opportunity to sail, or at least hasn’t been on a boat on the ocean. You start to see the experience through your dog’s eyes and share his excitement for the experience, even if it isn’t new to you.

If you don’t have a boat of your own, there are many opportunities available on Mission Bay to rent powerboats, sailboats, or fishing boats. If your dog has the stamina, you can rent a boat for all day, but if not, there are also rentals available for a matter of hours. For an extra adventure, you can take your pooch to the dog park on Fiesta Island where she can run around off-leash or even swim in the calm waters of the bay.

Always be sure to maintain safety when sailing with your dog. Your pet should always wear a canine life jacket, preferably one with a handle to make it easier for you to rescue him if he falls in the water.

Play at Pacific Beach

There are many dog-friendly beaches available around San Diego, and Pacific Beach is one of them. If you want your dog to be able to play off-leash on the beach, this is not the place to take her as leashes are required here, as they are on most San Diego beaches. However, there is plenty of fun to be had even on-leash at Pacific Beach, especially for a dog that has never seen the ocean before. Crashing waves and tide pools are exciting new things for your dogs to discover, but the real fun of Pacific Beach is watching the spectacular sunset over the ocean with your furry friend.

Book a Whale Watching Tour

Finding dog-friendly activities in the winter can be a bit of a challenge, but whale watching San Diego December is considered the best time because of the migration of 20,000 gray whales off the coast. Just being out on the water with your dog is a treat for both of you, but seeing whales, some of the largest animals on Earth, is an unforgettable experience, and sharing it with your dog makes it all the more memorable. If you can’t make it during the gray whale migration, don’t worry; multiple species make migrations at various times of the year, so chances are excellent that you and your dog will see at least one whale during your excursion.

Dog-friendly whale watching is a relatively new innovation and not all tour companies are offering it yet. Ask specifically when making your reservations whether your pet is welcome to come along, and be prepared to follow any rules related to keeping your dog under control.