Dog Days of Summer: Pet-Friendly Places to Savor the Season

PHOTO BY ALEX BYERS/GO LAUREL HIGHLANDS

Outdoor adventures become all the more enjoyable with our four-legged friends in tow. Thankfully, there are many ways to have a pawt-y around the Pittsburgh region, whether it’s exploring local trails or chilling on shaded patios.

If you’re planning an outing with your furbuddy, here are some of our favorite paw-friendly places to visit, plus tips to keep your pets safe in the dog days of summer.

The Laurel Highlands

Ohiopyle provides tons of pet-friendly adventures along the Great Allegheny Passage, Ferncliff Peninsula Trail and Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail. You can even float down the Middle Youghiogheny River with your pup, thanks to Wilderness Voyageurs.

Grab post-adventure refreshments at Twisted Spoke Café in Ohiopyle, which includes a two-item doggie menu, or the Ohiopyle Coffee Company. At Yough River Brewing in Connellsville, pets are welcome on the patio; the brewery’s open garage doors make it feel even more inclusive.

Regional accommodations include Deer Creek Winery at Watson Estate in Uniontown and Benner’s Meadow Run RV Campground in Farmington — one of the most pet-friendly places in the area, according to Tiffany Oden (@gotlost.onpurpose), who regularly documents fun-filled adventures with her pup, Frek.

Pittsburgh Parks + Patios 

Check out Allegheny County’s website to locate designated dog parks around town, among them locations at Hartwood Acres Park, South Park and Settlers Cabin Park.

Once you’re done exercising your pooch, grab a drink at The Dog Penn, a 21-plus venue in the Strip District that owners Alissa and Travis May describe as a private dog park-meets-full-service bar. The 7,000-square-foot, indoor-outdoor space also hosts events that range from drag brunches to bingo and cornhole tournaments. While daily, monthly or annual memberships must be purchased for dogs, humans over 21 can enter for free. (All dogs must be registered in The Dog Penn app, with current vaccination records uploaded.)

Other pup-loving patios around town include Bloomfield’s Trace Brewing, Lawrenceville’s Lolev Beer, Millvale’s Grist House and Homestead’s Golden Age Beer Company. For a cool treat, mosey over to Lawrenceville’s Salty Paws, the area’s first ice cream bar for dogs.

Make a Splash

Throughout the summer, Allegheny County hosts pet-focused events, culminating with Pooches in the Pool, an annual end-of-summer event where dogs are allowed to swim at county parks, including Boyce, North and Settlers Cabin pools.

In any month, dog-friendly water features can be found at spots such as Bellevue Dog Woods (or “The Woods”), a volunteer-run, not-for-profit off-leash space in Ross that is completely fenced in, or Wexford’s Misty Pines Pet Company and Dog Park, where, for $10 per visit, canines can play in a spring-fed pond that has a dock for dog diving. The wooded grounds also feature a pavilion that’s perfect for a picnic with four- and two-legged companions.

Pet Safety Tips

When you’re being accompanied by your pet in warmer months, precautions need to be taken, including limiting activity to the cooler part of the day, says Dr. Jennifer Bruns, DVM, MPVM, of PetSmart Veterinary Services.

•  Wherever you and your dog venture, Bruns suggests bringing along a pet-friendly water bottle or collapsible bowl to keep your furry friend hydrated while making sure they drink at a slow, safe pace. You can also opt for summer-friendly dog products such as cooling vests, cooling beds and splash pads, plus frozen treats.
•  Regularly check for ticks (and keep up on preventative flea and tick treatments).
•   Keep in mind that not all dogs are natural swimmers before you let your pooch plunge in the water.
•   Be on the lookout for yellowjacket activity to prevent both you and your canine from getting stung.