Dog Friendly Places in Chicago

Going out on the town doesn't necessarily mean you have to leave your beloved Fido at home. There are several dog-friendly places in Chicago where you and your pet can socialize together.

One of the most popular is Wiggly Field at 2645 North Sheffield. Wiggly Field has a double-gated fenced area where you call allow your dog to run off-leash that includes an 18-inch high water fountain and even a fake mailbox. Two other off-leash areas in Chicago are Wicker Park at 1425 N. Damen and Hamlin Park at 3035 N. Hoyne.

If you're more of a beach bum looking for some fun in the sand with your four-legged companion, don't despair. The Montrose Dog Beach, located at the northwestern end of Montrose Beach, has a dog-friendly area that allows dogs to play in the sand, cool off in the shallows, and paddle in the waves. The Belmont Harbor Dog Beach, located at Belmont Harbor Lincoln Park, has been an unofficial dog park since the 1980s. Surrounded by fence and water, it is the perfect place to let your dog frolic in the waves.

For a list of more dog-friendly parks you can call the Chicago Park District at 312-742-PLAY.

After playing in the park, you and your dog will probably get a little hungry. Don't worry, you won't have to go home: a number of Chicago restaurants have dog-friendly terraces and patios.

For example, Brasserie Jo, located at 59 West Hubbard Street, will serve your canine a free plate of steak tartare and a bowl of water to wash it down with why you dine on their exquisite French cuisine. If you're in the mood for Italian, try Cucina Bella Trattoria located at 1612 North Sedgwick Street. While you're trying dining on spinach lasagna, your dog will be enjoying his own complementary bowl of pasta.

Close to Wicker Park is the Gallery Café at 1760 West North Avenue, which offers everything from fruit smoothies to toasted sandwiches. Other restaurants that are reported to have dog friendly areas are Pauline's at 1754 West Balmoral Avenue, Uncommon Ground at 1215 West Grace, and Joey's Brickhouse at 1258 West Balmoral Avenue.

Remember to bring plenty of water for both you and him when taking your dog out in the summer. Be sure to bring the proper equipment to clean up after your dog. Failure to do so can result in a five hundred dollar fine. Also, make sure your dog is fully immunized, de-wormed, licensed, and wearing ID tags. Female dogs in heat and puppies under four-months-old are prohibited in most areas.

See also: Best Dog Breeds for Seniors , Calculating Dog Years , How to Pick a Dog from a Shelter . Treating Aggressive Behavior in Dogs

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Comments Potty Training Hi Darla, I am also potty training my new shih-tzu puppy, who is currently 3 months old and I've had her for a month. I started out with pee pads and an excercise pen attached to her crate but she went everywhere inside and rarely outside. I also bought an astroturf thing that didn't work as well. The only thing that is now working (and hopefully will continue to work..knock on wood) is the crate training. She won't go in her crate and I take her out immediately when I get up, get home & then several times in the evening and before bed. She gets a treat every time she potties outside and I praise her a ton. Also, really helps to take them for a walk - even if just around outside and the excercise helps to eliminate as well. I'm learning as well, but so far really taking her out often and leaving her in her crate at times, helps her to learn to hold it for short periods of time and she also is now associating outside w/potty. Oh and also - I tend to carry her outside and then set her down...she won't pee on me, but if I let her walk on her own, she tends to stop and just let it go. #2 - Julie - 01/10/2008 - 09:34 Potty Training Hey Darla, My husband I have (just about) successfully potty-trained our 6 month beagle mix, so I thought I'd give you a few tips. The puppy pads are fine to start. When you find something that works, stick with it. Just gradually move the pad closer to the door. We keep our puppy near the back door to make for a short distance. You should also look into crate training. The puppy has an instinct that does not allow her to go in her den. The crate becomes her den. She will gradually come to think of the whole house as her den but this takes time. You have to gradually increase her territory, but she starts by thinking small so the bathroom was a great idea. The crate also helps the pup recognize for them self when they need to go. The biggest advice I can give you though is get a big bag of treats and treat and praise whenever she does it right. Don't discipline unless you catch her in the act and then be prompt and loud. We clapped our hands for Lola. Grab her quickly and bring her outside. If she goes praise and treat. It wasn't until Lola reached well over 6 months before she was fully trained. We have not had any accidents in a while...knock on wood...So don't worry if it takes a while. Oh another note about the crate. I put her inside whenever I can't directly supervise her. It helps with all the problem behaviors I would normally worry about. #1 - April - 10/16/2007 - 23:40 Can someone help me out with potty training? We have a four month old half shi-tzu, half Boston that is precious as anything! We just can't get her to stop going #1 and #2 in the house. We were told she was puppy pad trained when we got her, so we bought some of those. When we left for more than an hour, we'd put her in the master bath, to give her more room, with a pad and toys and bones. When we'd come home, she'd have gone on the mat, nowhere else. However, she has ABSOLUTELY NO desire to 'go' outside. We take her out no more than every two hours a day. Shorter if she's eating and drinking. I found she'll go pee within 30 minutes of drinking, so we take her out at 15. She'll go within about 20-25 minutes of eating, so we take her out 10-15 minutes after she's eaten. We stay outside for no less than 20 minutes, I even get up with her every 2 and a half hours during the night, and she WILL NOT go. But within five minutes of coming inside, she'll go on the floor. We only used the pads for a few days, until I read that those actually teach the pups that it's okay to 'go' in the house, not just on the pads. So we stopped and that was over three weeks ago. We've adjusted the times we take her out after eating or drinking to a few more minutes, but every time, she holds it until we get back INSIDE. In the three weeks we've had her, she has gone pee outside ONCE, not poo outside, EVER. I know we just need to be patient, because it HAS only been three weeks, but we've not had a family dog before, I never even had one growing up, and I just wonder if I'm not doing something right. Does anyone have any ideas? This is harder than even potty training, my now six year old, at two! I feel so bad, because when she goes inside, she does get a stern 'no' and gets taken out immediately (she's usually caught in the act). She's strong willed, so when we take her out we have treats, and gave them to her when she did it outside, but like I said, that was only ONE TIME. If you have any suggestions or ideas, please let me know. She's just the sweetest thing, already very protective and will NEVER bite, unless she nibble-plays with my son. She doesn't bark or growl, unless someone comes near 'her' family members. So please help. And don't worry, WE WILL NOT BE GIVING HER UP, even if she NEVER learns to potty outside. She's our baby and we just want to help her learn and teach her. Thanks so much! #0 - Darla - 10/03/2007 - 22:48 Name Title Comment To prevent automated Bots form spamming, please enter the text you see in the image below in the appropriate input box. Your comment will only be submitted if the strings match. Please ensure that your browser supports and accepts cookies, or your comment cannot be verified correctly.