The Joys of Walking Your Dog Off-Leash in the Woods

There’s something special about letting your dog roam free in the woods, off-leash, exploring the natural world with unleashed curiosity. Ron and I are fortunate in that we have dogs that we trust and can safely allow to be off-leash and that we live in an area where there are several dog-friendly off-leash dog trails and parks that we can take Mo and Lewie to visit.

Being able to walk with your dog off-leash is an experience that offers a sense of freedom and connection to nature that’s hard to replicate on a normal walk around the neighborhood. We live on a busy street, where there are always cars and bikes zipping past, people squeezing by on the sidewalk with their dogs and us trying to keep our dogs from doing their business on people’s lawns.

If you are lucky enough to have a dog you trust off-leash, walking your dog off-leash in the safety of designated off-leash trails and parks can be a transformative experience for both of you.

Of course, before you head out, it’s important to ensure that off-leash walking is allowed in the area you’re visiting and that your dog is well-trained and responsive to your voice and commands. Your dog must be non-aggressive towards other dogs as it’s very common for off-leash dogs to run up to each other to *sniff* hello.

If you are able to offer your dog the gift of freedom in the woods, you can enhance their quality of life—and your own in the process. These moments of adventure will deepen your bond, making your time together even more meaningful.

If you are looking for places to experience off-leash walking with your dog, you can find a list of places around the country here https://www.bringfido.com/attraction/trails . Make sure to check each park’s listing to see if it allows off-leash walks.

Happy trails!