Human—Dog’s Best Friend

Official Visitor Guide of Bend Human — Dog’s Best Friend

In 2012, Dog Fancy magazine named Bend the nation’s dog-friendliest city. It came as a shock to precisely none of the thousands of four-legged souls who live and play here every day.

If you’re planning a Bend vacation with your favorite canine pal, start things off on the right paw by booking a room at one of dozens of dog-friendly hotels and vacation rentals around the area. Some will even roll out the red carpet for Rover, like the upscale Oxford Hotel, which offers homemade dog biscuits, travel bowls, and a dog bed sized just for your pooch.

If bringing your dog to his own pet-loving resort is more your kind of vacation, Bend offers a number of doggie hotels and daycare options to pamper even the pickiest puppy.

Ready to play? Bend boasts eight off-leash parks where Fido can run free. The largest is the Bob Wenger Memorial Off-Leash Area, which offers 17 fenced acres of trails, natural terrain, grass, and even a spray park.

For on-leash walking, both the Shevlin Park Loop and the Deschutes River Trail near Farewell Bend Park have paths that wind along the river, offering plenty of opportunities for your pup to cool off in the water.

The adventures for your canine companion don’t stop with trips to the woods. Rent a canoe at Tumalo Creek Kayak & Canoe, then pick up a flotation device made especially for your dog by the Bend-based animal outfitter, Ruffwear. If you’re here in the winter, Wanoga, Edison, and Kapka Sno-Parks have dog-friendly cross-country ski and snowshoe trails, and Wanoga is often groomed for skate skiing. The 2 ½ mile stretch of dirt road up to Tumalo Falls after the bridge (on Skyliners Rd) is also left unplowed during winter months, and dogs are welcome to frolic along beside the trails.

When it’s time to dine, you’ll find a surprising number of local restaurants to welcome your pup with open arms and a cozy spot at your table on their outdoor patios. Dogs are also allowed in the outdoor dining areas at many spots along the Bend Ale Trail, so belly up to the bar with Rover.

Need info on off-leash trail laws or the best spots to take your pooch to play? Check out dogpac.org, a non-profit dog advocacy group. If you and Fido get separated while exploring Bend, don’t panic! But do contact the Humane Society of Central Oregon so they can help reunite you with your furry pal.

And don’t miss some of Bend’s special events celebrating man’s best friend. Check out the annual Bend Pet Parade every July 4th and the wiener dog racing during Bend’s Oktoberfest.