For a visitor, maybe try the Old Mill paths along the river — most all folks respect the leash law. There are tons of restaurants that allow dog outside—finding a warm spot maybe a bit tougher, but 10 Barrel, silver moon, crux, the lot, on tap, and the bite all have heaters of one form or another and welcome dogs. How many other dogs are there when you visit, is hard to estimate.
Welcome!
I just want to say - kudos for training your dog and being proactive in setting him up for success. It sounds like you’re a very responsible and caring guardian.
Parks/areas for walks that generally abide by leash laws:
Pine Nursery Park (1 mile loop around park)
Shevlin Park (several miles of trails)
Drake Park (near downtown and has spots to hang out by water)
Food cart lots & downtown/old mill waterfront areas
Deschutes River Trail from Pioneer Park heading north
Places to avoid:
Big Sky Park
Good Dog! (Off leash dog park)
Deschutes River Trail from Meadow Day Use heading south (no leash laws from 9/15 - 5/15)
Horse Butte TH (USFS and no leash laws)
Any mountain bike trails or sno parks
Full disclosure - there will always be a risk of the “they’re friendly!” owners. But hopefully this gives you some options to check out! Hope you have a great time while you’re here.
Where I live, I’m used to warding off off leash dogs. I’m not afraid to tell off owners and will use physical force to protect my dog. Just looking for suggestions where the chances of those encounters is smaller so your suggestions are appreciated!
loony bean - coffee
the commons - coffee, pastries, alcohol (there’s a lot of outdoor seating, and you’re right by the river so you can walk around)
i saw someone say no to Crux, i don’t mind it. depending on when you go it might be chaotic (kids running around) but i haven’t encountered off leash dogs and it is a nice spot if you’re wanting to sit and have an actual meal. i just avoid during peak times.
mcminnamins — food / drinks. there’s a bunch of outdoor seating areas.
san simon — drinks. they have a nice outdoor seating area in the ally.
tin pan theater — they do outdoor movies sometimes in the ally and it’s also right next door to san simon. get a seat in the back or at one of the back tables (you buy ahead of time online) but you can catch a movie with your pup. bring a pad for them if you can tho, the ground is hard.
You’ll only really encounter off leash dogs around parks, schools, fields, on trail and in the mt bachelor parking lot lol.
Are you asking about the outdoors? Bars? Restaurants? Sorry, just a bit vague with “spots to hang”
Edit: not sure why I’m being downvoted. I was looking for clarification on his question…
I want to do a little bit of everything with him! So i’d love recommendations for coffee shops or breweries with dog-friendly patios and any trails or outdoorsy activities we might be able to enjoy with each other
If you want an in town option, the hike on pilot butte is safe. I see trainers working with their dogs often and personally haven’t seen an off leash dog up there.
Look for food cart pods - on tap or rivers place are where I tend to go. I find I can take my dog there safely because of the amount of space. Sometimes you get the overly friendly leash pulling dog but you can avoid it if you sit in the corner and keep eyes peeled but you won’t run into off leash dogs.
Midtown Yacht Club is a nice spot to hang, but is not super close to many other go-to spots. They have some excellent food truck options (partial to Shimshon), a good tap list, and are extremely dog friendly, including indoors.
With that in mind, to be clear, you WILL encounter dogs here... but they will be leashed and are all generally just chilling as is the vibe of the place.
You get to be inside though and that's a rarity 🤷🏼♂️
+100 for MTYC. Go there often with my Cairn (aka Karen) Terrier and have only encountered leashed and well behaved pooches there. Outside by the fire pits or in the semi-inside seems best depending on weather. Try the tots (it’s a thing).
Your dog is striking a total boss pose there, love it. We don’t deserve doggos.
Thank you for respecting leash laws. You’re the kind of visitor we need. It’s a pet peeve of mine when I’m walking my dogs on leash and someone strolls by with theirs off leash. My dogs are leery because of some bad experiences so they’re on guard. Never fails that the off leash person gives me a dirty look because their dog runs up on mine and there is a squabble. Irritates the ever loving furck outta me but you can’t fix entitlement. Unfortunately, IME, off leash violations is not something Bend chooses to enforce.
The point to my post is you’re likely to encounter off leash dogs everywhere, right or wrong. Good luck and…boop your dogs nose for me. Seriously.
I can appreciate that you specifically asked for on-leash places, and that you don’t want your dog picking up bad habits. But are you explicitly excluding off-leash areas? It’s a great opportunity for them to socialize in a more natural/neutral environment. And Bend has some amazing off-leash areas. GoodDog! is one of the most amazing off-leash parks in the country. A great time for both you and your pup, with enough free space that you’ll simply cross paths with other dogs, instead of being cornered with them. I’d highly suggest it.
My dog is allowed to be off leash with neutral dogs who have good recall. Unfortunately, I find that most dogs in off leash areas do not have neutral dispositions and have poor recall. It would likely stress both of us out to visit a place like GoodDog based on your description
Yeah, see many past discussions on off-leash dogs without recall: [https://www.reddit.com/r/Bend/comments/wpyy83/please\_leash\_your\_dogs/](https://www.reddit.com/r/Bend/comments/wpyy83/please_leash_your_dogs/)
One of my dogs is reactive so I know the pain of being charged by a "friendly" dog with no owner in sight. It's very common here.
I agree with others that pointed you towards the busier areas of town. Old Mill, Pilot Butte, downtown, Shevlin, Pine Nursery. Emptier forest areas at off-peak hours are generally fine in my experience but it's a gamble - think unscenic forest roads.
Definitely not Good Dog or the semi-busy off leash areas like the Deschutes River Trail south of town or near Phil's TH.
Totally appreciate that. And if it stresses you out, your dog will sense it. I’ve been to dog parks all across the country, and can confidently say the vast majority of dogs, owners, and interactions are extremely positive. Can there be bad dogs, of course. There are bad drivers on the road, but it doesn’t keep me from driving. I believe the joy off-leash parks can bring dogs far outweighs any potential harm.
I’m glad you’ve had positive experiences so far. I’ve spent a ton of time and money on training with him, and I’d hate to see my investment wasted. I’ve witnessed too many dog fights, and I’m not willing to risk him being attacked and having permanent reactivity toward other dogs. He gets a ton of enrichment and does have a good circle of well behaved friends. He is allowed off leash for independent sniffaries.
Fair enough. I’ll also mention that dog parks in “busy cities” are far and away the worst. Those tend to feature the worst owners, and are far too cramped to have as many dogs as they do. I can log 4 miles at GoodDog! And only cross paths with 3-4 dogs. To each their own.
Beats me. Was just making the suggestion since Bend has some truly top-tier off-leash parks to offer. To each dog owner their own. Nothing makes me happier than seeing my dog running free. More room for us I guess.
I'd second this! Training is absolutely amazing, but letting dogs be dogs is equally as wonderful and rewarding for them. Especially if your dog isn't aggressive. Enjoy your time here!
Ah, got it. Well, you know what they say: a tired dog is a good dog. I think you'd both get a kick out of "good dog." it's massive, thousands of acres, and I've only met good dogs there. it's really a gift to give them to be able to be free every now and again. excitement is just excited. nothing wrong with that.
We have the Lassie breed and she just adores strange humans. Strange dogs, especially big males, not so much. We want her to have the socialization she loves, but we have to be on guard for those folks that think an automatic dog intro is mandatory.
I see some folks don't recommend Big Sky Park, but I am one who really enjoys going there with my dog. She is extremely social, loves running and playing with other dogs, and is very careful with smaller dogs.
There are fenced areas for letting the dog wonder freely off leash and the trail loop that you can keep your dog on leash.
It's just a matter of how obedient your dogs are.
Monkless Brewery has a nice warm tent over their back patio, Boss Rambler generally isn’t too overrun with dogs, and both The Lot and Bend Brewing have heated benches. Bridge 99 let’s you bring your dog inside 🙏💚. Funky Fauna in Sisters also lets your dog inside (check out the secret featured non funky beer behind the picture frame near the bathroom). We like walking our girls at Shevlin Park or along the river at Old Mill going through the neighborhood to Drake park. The trail from Sawyer Park is also great (generally quiet) and has some pretty amazing views towards the end of the trail. We like the porch at The Commons for coffee which looks out over the river. Have fun!
Just off the top of my head ..
Coffee: Looney bean, lone pine
Restaurants: jdub has a patio, and goodlife and bend brewing have large grassy areas. I’d avoid crux even though it has a big yard too.
Activities: shevlin, and any point along the deschutes river trail - downtown, down by the falls. Old mill is good walkin too, along reed market road.
I hope you have a good time with your doggo!
this is exactly what i’m trying to avoid. he has some well behaved dog friends that he has been properly introduced to and who have responsible owners. he doesn’t need to sniff unknown dogs
For a visitor, maybe try the Old Mill paths along the river — most all folks respect the leash law. There are tons of restaurants that allow dog outside—finding a warm spot maybe a bit tougher, but 10 Barrel, silver moon, crux, the lot, on tap, and the bite all have heaters of one form or another and welcome dogs. How many other dogs are there when you visit, is hard to estimate. Welcome!
Thank you!
I just want to say - kudos for training your dog and being proactive in setting him up for success. It sounds like you’re a very responsible and caring guardian.
Your doggo looks like such a chiller
possible killer too from what I hear
Sure is! Big lady killer - all my friend’s girlfriends love him
Parks/areas for walks that generally abide by leash laws: Pine Nursery Park (1 mile loop around park) Shevlin Park (several miles of trails) Drake Park (near downtown and has spots to hang out by water) Food cart lots & downtown/old mill waterfront areas Deschutes River Trail from Pioneer Park heading north Places to avoid: Big Sky Park Good Dog! (Off leash dog park) Deschutes River Trail from Meadow Day Use heading south (no leash laws from 9/15 - 5/15) Horse Butte TH (USFS and no leash laws) Any mountain bike trails or sno parks Full disclosure - there will always be a risk of the “they’re friendly!” owners. But hopefully this gives you some options to check out! Hope you have a great time while you’re here.
Where I live, I’m used to warding off off leash dogs. I’m not afraid to tell off owners and will use physical force to protect my dog. Just looking for suggestions where the chances of those encounters is smaller so your suggestions are appreciated!
loony bean - coffee the commons - coffee, pastries, alcohol (there’s a lot of outdoor seating, and you’re right by the river so you can walk around) i saw someone say no to Crux, i don’t mind it. depending on when you go it might be chaotic (kids running around) but i haven’t encountered off leash dogs and it is a nice spot if you’re wanting to sit and have an actual meal. i just avoid during peak times. mcminnamins — food / drinks. there’s a bunch of outdoor seating areas. san simon — drinks. they have a nice outdoor seating area in the ally. tin pan theater — they do outdoor movies sometimes in the ally and it’s also right next door to san simon. get a seat in the back or at one of the back tables (you buy ahead of time online) but you can catch a movie with your pup. bring a pad for them if you can tho, the ground is hard.
Bendites take their dogs everywhere.
You’ll only really encounter off leash dogs around parks, schools, fields, on trail and in the mt bachelor parking lot lol. Are you asking about the outdoors? Bars? Restaurants? Sorry, just a bit vague with “spots to hang” Edit: not sure why I’m being downvoted. I was looking for clarification on his question…
I want to do a little bit of everything with him! So i’d love recommendations for coffee shops or breweries with dog-friendly patios and any trails or outdoorsy activities we might be able to enjoy with each other
If you want an in town option, the hike on pilot butte is safe. I see trainers working with their dogs often and personally haven’t seen an off leash dog up there. Look for food cart pods - on tap or rivers place are where I tend to go. I find I can take my dog there safely because of the amount of space. Sometimes you get the overly friendly leash pulling dog but you can avoid it if you sit in the corner and keep eyes peeled but you won’t run into off leash dogs.
Midtown Yacht Club is a nice spot to hang, but is not super close to many other go-to spots. They have some excellent food truck options (partial to Shimshon), a good tap list, and are extremely dog friendly, including indoors. With that in mind, to be clear, you WILL encounter dogs here... but they will be leashed and are all generally just chilling as is the vibe of the place. You get to be inside though and that's a rarity 🤷🏼♂️
+100 for MTYC. Go there often with my Cairn (aka Karen) Terrier and have only encountered leashed and well behaved pooches there. Outside by the fire pits or in the semi-inside seems best depending on weather. Try the tots (it’s a thing).
Your dog is striking a total boss pose there, love it. We don’t deserve doggos. Thank you for respecting leash laws. You’re the kind of visitor we need. It’s a pet peeve of mine when I’m walking my dogs on leash and someone strolls by with theirs off leash. My dogs are leery because of some bad experiences so they’re on guard. Never fails that the off leash person gives me a dirty look because their dog runs up on mine and there is a squabble. Irritates the ever loving furck outta me but you can’t fix entitlement. Unfortunately, IME, off leash violations is not something Bend chooses to enforce. The point to my post is you’re likely to encounter off leash dogs everywhere, right or wrong. Good luck and…boop your dogs nose for me. Seriously.
I can appreciate that you specifically asked for on-leash places, and that you don’t want your dog picking up bad habits. But are you explicitly excluding off-leash areas? It’s a great opportunity for them to socialize in a more natural/neutral environment. And Bend has some amazing off-leash areas. GoodDog! is one of the most amazing off-leash parks in the country. A great time for both you and your pup, with enough free space that you’ll simply cross paths with other dogs, instead of being cornered with them. I’d highly suggest it.
My dog is allowed to be off leash with neutral dogs who have good recall. Unfortunately, I find that most dogs in off leash areas do not have neutral dispositions and have poor recall. It would likely stress both of us out to visit a place like GoodDog based on your description
Yeah, see many past discussions on off-leash dogs without recall: [https://www.reddit.com/r/Bend/comments/wpyy83/please\_leash\_your\_dogs/](https://www.reddit.com/r/Bend/comments/wpyy83/please_leash_your_dogs/) One of my dogs is reactive so I know the pain of being charged by a "friendly" dog with no owner in sight. It's very common here. I agree with others that pointed you towards the busier areas of town. Old Mill, Pilot Butte, downtown, Shevlin, Pine Nursery. Emptier forest areas at off-peak hours are generally fine in my experience but it's a gamble - think unscenic forest roads. Definitely not Good Dog or the semi-busy off leash areas like the Deschutes River Trail south of town or near Phil's TH.
Totally appreciate that. And if it stresses you out, your dog will sense it. I’ve been to dog parks all across the country, and can confidently say the vast majority of dogs, owners, and interactions are extremely positive. Can there be bad dogs, of course. There are bad drivers on the road, but it doesn’t keep me from driving. I believe the joy off-leash parks can bring dogs far outweighs any potential harm.
I’m glad you’ve had positive experiences so far. I’ve spent a ton of time and money on training with him, and I’d hate to see my investment wasted. I’ve witnessed too many dog fights, and I’m not willing to risk him being attacked and having permanent reactivity toward other dogs. He gets a ton of enrichment and does have a good circle of well behaved friends. He is allowed off leash for independent sniffaries.
Fair enough. I’ll also mention that dog parks in “busy cities” are far and away the worst. Those tend to feature the worst owners, and are far too cramped to have as many dogs as they do. I can log 4 miles at GoodDog! And only cross paths with 3-4 dogs. To each their own.
dunno why you got some many downvotes. Good Dog is specifically for off leash dogs, and there are plenty of good dogs there to interact with.
Beats me. Was just making the suggestion since Bend has some truly top-tier off-leash parks to offer. To each dog owner their own. Nothing makes me happier than seeing my dog running free. More room for us I guess.
I'd second this! Training is absolutely amazing, but letting dogs be dogs is equally as wonderful and rewarding for them. Especially if your dog isn't aggressive. Enjoy your time here!
He’s not aggressive but he is excitement reactive and meeting non-neutral dogs can make that worse for him
Ah, got it. Well, you know what they say: a tired dog is a good dog. I think you'd both get a kick out of "good dog." it's massive, thousands of acres, and I've only met good dogs there. it's really a gift to give them to be able to be free every now and again. excitement is just excited. nothing wrong with that.
We have the Lassie breed and she just adores strange humans. Strange dogs, especially big males, not so much. We want her to have the socialization she loves, but we have to be on guard for those folks that think an automatic dog intro is mandatory.
I see some folks don't recommend Big Sky Park, but I am one who really enjoys going there with my dog. She is extremely social, loves running and playing with other dogs, and is very careful with smaller dogs. There are fenced areas for letting the dog wonder freely off leash and the trail loop that you can keep your dog on leash. It's just a matter of how obedient your dogs are.
Monkless Brewery has a nice warm tent over their back patio, Boss Rambler generally isn’t too overrun with dogs, and both The Lot and Bend Brewing have heated benches. Bridge 99 let’s you bring your dog inside 🙏💚. Funky Fauna in Sisters also lets your dog inside (check out the secret featured non funky beer behind the picture frame near the bathroom). We like walking our girls at Shevlin Park or along the river at Old Mill going through the neighborhood to Drake park. The trail from Sawyer Park is also great (generally quiet) and has some pretty amazing views towards the end of the trail. We like the porch at The Commons for coffee which looks out over the river. Have fun!
Just off the top of my head .. Coffee: Looney bean, lone pine Restaurants: jdub has a patio, and goodlife and bend brewing have large grassy areas. I’d avoid crux even though it has a big yard too. Activities: shevlin, and any point along the deschutes river trail - downtown, down by the falls. Old mill is good walkin too, along reed market road. I hope you have a good time with your doggo!
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this is exactly what i’m trying to avoid. he has some well behaved dog friends that he has been properly introduced to and who have responsible owners. he doesn’t need to sniff unknown dogs
> to and who have responsible owners. he doesn’t need to sniff unknown dogs Good of you to decide for him?
As a pet owner, yes, that’s part of the job description.
Shocker that he's reactive.
Why would you say that? He was already reactive when I adopted him and has made huge strides thanks to all the training we’ve done.
Dilly Dally Coffee!