@ Lower Washington Park 1300 8th St Alameda, CA Okay, I fixed this Yelp listing! The Alameda Dog Park is in Lower Washington Park, near the small parking lot and tennis courts. Looking on a map, it would be near 8th St & Portola Ave. Exact address is 1300 8th St. I haven't seen other dog parks, so I don't how this one compares. I've been here a few times with a friend with a small dog. Also, I walk by alot as it's near the sidewalk. The Dog Park is one huge fenced in area, and a separate smaller area for small dogs. It's sand, grassy areas with some trees. There's water and some places to sit. I think it's cool that ARPD set up this dog park. (ARPD- Alameda Recreation And Park Department) read more

We went to the Alameda art and wine festival. So afterwards we needed a place to let the dogs loose, before the long ride home. This place didn't really have any new reviews,so I reluctantly decided to try it. First the good. There's plenty of parking, they have a big and small dog side. We decided to try the small dog side. There were people trying to separate some large dogs on the big dog side. Not a good sign. The small dog side has sand. Which personally I hate, because it gets in the dogs ears and eyes. Both causing irritation. We stayed for just a little bit. I had to be careful because I noticed people ignoreing their dogs and not picking up after their dogs. Won't be coming back read more

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This dog park is nice! There is beach sand, water bowls, a few benches and few areas of shade which is nice. It's separated into small and large dogs and plenty of space for both sizes to run and play. It was also really clean and no annoying foxtails, yay! We liked it a lot. We also liked that we were able to walk over to the beach for an extra stroll! read more

Alameda Small Dog Park - Dog Parks Near Me - Alameda, California

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This park is fantastic! There's plenty of space for little dogs to run around and play with each other, or go sniff in the corners and have some space to themselves if your dog is more independent. The space is taken care of reasonably well. Best of all there have always been 5-20 other dogs when I've gone, even on off hours during the weekdays. People are friendly, one gentleman told me he's been going there for 20 years and another gave me a chicken foot to help my dog's separation anxiety. The bathroom has been unusable once when I went, but it was cleaned up and looked great the next day, so it seems like the park is being maintained. Really grateful the bathroom is there-- thank you to whoever is maintaining it! It does sometimes get windy since it's close to the beach, so if you get cold easily like me, bring layers in case. I have also been on gorgeous sunny days and watching the dogs is very relaxing/a treat. I wish we had something as nice in Oakland where I live. read more

This is such a cute park! It is a gated dog park with sand. There's a lot of space for the dogs to roam around. There are two sides for big and small dogs. There are also benches for owners to sit. A nice place with a good cool wind. read more

Great dog park in Alameda! They have both a small dog park and large dog park right next to each other. Our dog is medium sized and she prefers the small dog park. Owners that come are friendly and there is plenty of space to wander around. Shovels for scooping their messes and water bowls are available. Easy parking right in front. I love that you can also come out and walk along the park and waters! read more

Alameda Small Dog Park - Walking along the park and waters - Dog Parks Near Me - Alameda, California

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Great dog park with large and small dog areas. Steps from parking lot, bathrooms. The park is fenced, spacious and has shaded seatings.

This review is based purely on my observations over a sporadic period of 8 years. The park is dirty. An amazing amount of feces scattered throughout. Why aren't owners being more responsible? read more

In my quest to find the best dog park (recent move to Oakland) - Alameda Dog park is pretty nice. Parking was easy and we lucked out and found a parking near the front entrance. Note that there are two dog parks (small and large dog). The small dog area I noticed had more dog benches? The larger dog area had tons of room for your dogs to run around in, but didn't see as many areas for us human to sit on. I also didn't see a ton of shade as we came here when the weather was in the 90s. It was hot. Also, might be a good idea to bring sandals, or come prepared to take the sands off your shoes before getting into your car. The ground are sands like at the beach. I do like the garbage cans scattered throughout and I even saw a pooper scooper. I did not see any free poop bags so make sure to bring some. Dogs here I found were friendly and so were their humans. There is a nice view of the waterfront from the large dog area, and we decided to check it out towards the Alameda Beach. All in all, great park to exercise your dog, and don't forget to bring a water bottle for you and for your dog as the water fountain wasn't working when we were there. Cheers! read more

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This is a lovely dog friendly park for all your furry friends. Given the current pandemic situation, it's been tough to socialize our single dog child. We've been visiting dog parks over all over the East Bay and would consider this one of the best parks. There are signs to inform owners to fill dug up holes, water stations, poop bags and even chairs scattered around. It's a vast space for dogs to roam. The small dog section is a combination of sand and dirt while the big brother section is dirt. Both sections are only divided by a fence so both sides can check each other out. All the owners were friendly and we had a blast. Doesn't hurt with a fabulous view for the sunset or walk along the beach in the same park. It is a small parking lot since it's used also for the tennis courts, washington park and the dog parks. Definitely coming back here more often. read more

I'm a big fan of the separate play areas for small and large dogs. I like this dog park because there's a lot of space for parking and there are lots of friendly dogs and people there. It's a great place for my dog to be. But OMG don't mix them up. Don't let your big dogs chasing our small puppies here... I believe owners should mind their dogs instead of talking on the phone or hitting up on girls here. I have to call them out because their dogs were chasing our puppies and barked a lot, and the owner didn't even care or looked at. read more

Dirty ground/yard and seats. It also smelled strongly of dog pee. I won't be going back. I did not enjoy being there.

Review is for the adjoining big dog park. It's very hit and miss depending on dogs and owners. I like the size. The bad, goes for any dog park: clueless owners and aggressive dogs. Some days there's just bad energy in the place and i won't take my Labrador into it. Owners who stare at phones and have no control over dogs. read more

Great place for dogs. Most humans are pretty chill and responsible, but like with any dog park, there are some people who just don't look after their dogs and don't pick up their poop and let them just be jerks. Follow the directions of the signs - follow the weight limit (don't care if your big dog is good with small dogs, there is a reason we seek a small dog haven, some small dogs get extremely anxious around big dogs), no kids under 8 (and don't get mad at the dog or the owner if your young child can't handle being jumped on or barked at. It is a DOG park). Plenty of water, no poop bags but there are pick ups scoopers so if you run out, you'll still be able to pick up your dog's poop if you don't have bags with you. Great group of regulars. Most dogs and humans have a great time! read more

PRO - I've been coming here for over a year. It has a large park for larger dogs and a separate park for smaller dog. Parking is free. Public restrooms. Lots of tennis balls at the park for the dog as there are tennis courts next to it. Double gated for entering and exiting the dog park. CON - recently in the last 2-3 months I noticed a trend of more dog fights the times I would visit the larger park. At times the owners will encourage their dogs to play aggressively. Also many times owners aren't paying attention to their dog at the park or even at times don't have control of their dogs. I have noticed a trend of this happening and some dogs will get hurt from these incidents. Personally I have witnessed a dog get bit from another dog and was bleeding from their face. Or at times a gang of aggressive dogs will bully one dog while playing. Some owners won't stop these activities at all. So BEWARE Today my dog was attacked by an aggressive dog trying to play with her. The dog came up to my dog and was barking to play with my dog. We were playing catch, so she wasn't interested to play with the other dog. Then the other dog started to nip at my dogs legs. The owner of the other dog even told her dog, "hey you can't bite other dogs legs to play. Not all dogs play like that". Once the other owner tried to stop her dog from doing that. Her dog quickly became aggressive towards my dog. At this moment most reasonable owners will stop the bad behavior. Which I had seen in the past. I'm 6 ft tall and with my larger frame. At times I will step between the dogs if they get aggressive to stop them, so both owners can stop or take their dog away before it gets too aggressive and someone gets hurt. I had heard owners tell their dogs to be "gentle" playing with my dog or "my dogs likes to 'play rough'". These are simple red flags that these dogs can get aggressive when trying to play with other dogs. In the past experiences I didn't think much about these incidents with my dog as both parties would address it or deescalate it quickly. Once I noticed the dog started to get more aggressive and did not back down as my dog didn't want to play with him. I tried to get my dog away, but the aggressive dog started to chase my dog to bite her. I was trying to get between the my dog but the other dog kept attacking my dog. The other owner didn't have control of her dog and didn't even pull him off my dog. I eventually had to lay my body over my dog as a shield to stop the other dog from attacking us. The other owner finally grab her dog and just waved off the incident. She still didn't even take her dog away during the incident and let her dog come up to mine after. She even told me, "I'm sorry your dog got scared". My dog is about 80lbs and yes any dog or even a human would be scared if they are being bit many times by a larger dog. That was very upsetting for me to see and hear... after the incident she still kept her dog in the park while I quickly left the park with mine. After the incident I checked my dogs body really fast for any visible signs of bites or if she is in pain. I didn't notice any at the moment until I got home. My dog had a huge bite mark on her back left upper leg and her fur ripped off her. This made me really frustrated to see other owners letting their aggressive dogs play at the park. Even knowing their dogs have a history of biting other dogs. I was lucky from the incident that I didn't get bit in the process too when protecting my dog. My dog trainer would always warn and tell us about watching out for aggressive dogs. Always be aware of their body languages and having a well trained dog will help keep your dog and you safe. Now I understand why training your dog is very important to avoid these incidents or understand how to deescalate it from happening. However as a responsible dog owner when visiting the park. You can't assume other owners have trained their dogs and have control of their dogs too. From this incident the other owner couldn't stop her dog from attacking us and it became a very dangerous incident very fast. We were lucky to stop it before it got any worse and I was lucky in the process from not getting bit. As the other dog lounged at me when I was blocking it from attacking my dog. Also keep in mind this dog was about 80-100lbs. My recommendation is to be aware of your dog or puppy when interacting with other dogs at the park. Be mindful and tentative to your dog while there. Personally I'm taking a break from bring my dog here, but will come back when I feel more comfortable. I'm not trying to discourage anyone from not bringing their dogs here, but if you do just be aware. I'm looking forward to my next outing there as this dog park is a nice place to have my dog socialize as there are always other dogs here and just let them run around as dogs love to do. read more

Alameda Small Dog Park - Bite mark on my dog - Dog Parks Near Me - Alameda, California

Pros: gated, separated by big and small dogs, usually pretty busy with dogs. Cons: Some owners encourage their dogs to keep pursuing other dogs that are uncomfortable. There is also a regular visitor that free feeds dogs on the small dog side. From my understanding, dogs shouldn't be fed unless given permission by their owners. Many have spoken to him about it but he is unrelenting and keeps causing dog fights. When his small dog attacked my dog, he took my dog by one hand and slammed her roughly against the green metal park bench. Others in the park audibly gasped and afterwards came over to check on me and my dog. They told me that in addition to causing many dog fights, he loudly makes racist and anti-semitic remarks towards other visitors in the park on a regular basis. He also recently got into a screaming match with someone a few weeks ago and screamed anti-semitic slurs at them. Not sure if I feel safe at this park anymore after hearing about all this. read more

Near the bay but not the best place to bring your four legged friend. Upkeep is not what it could be. Baby Wrinkles isn't allowed on the nearby beach so this is designed as an alternative. It has been neglected and the upkeep wasn't a top priority. I prefer to go to the San Leandro Marina for dog walking. Your dog isn't limited to certain areas and can better socialize with humans and other dogs. There is a designated dog park at the San Leandro Marina but I don't like it at all as its next to a golf course with crazy balls flying all over. Your dog doesn't need that and neither do you. read more

Recently moved to the area and was really excited that there was a dog park close by! In San Diego I lived close to a dog park and would go all the time. I take my dog to the large park area and it's very spacious for her to run around. HOWEVER, I have noticed many owners are not aware of their dogs aggressive behaviors. Lots of dog fighting and owners encouraging this behavior! I've had lots of dogs gang up on mine, and she is clearly uncomfortable and showing the signs. And owners will just say, "go get her!" I truly have never seen such behavior at a dog park. I will continue to bring my dog here because I do not have a yard for her to run around. But if I see certain dogs/owners there I will leave and just take her on a walk instead. I'm not saying for you to not come here. But just be aware and watch your dog constantly. read more

Brought my anxiety-ridden rescue to meet other dogs (I think for the first time) and she seemed to enjoy it. Other dog owners were super friendly and could see she was nervous and were very sweet to her. read more

Alameda Small Dog Park - My small dog at the park - Dog Parks Near Me - Alameda, California

This dog park is open, not permanently closed, Yelp! Great small dog park; wind and blowing sand can be challenging sometimes. Parking, water, bathrooms. It's all there! read more

First time here. My family and I took for chihuahua/jack Russell fur child. Pros: Large spaces for dogs to run around. They have the big dog area sectioned offed from the small dog area. Cons: There were dog fights going on on the large dog area. So not sure if that is a regular thing where owners are careless and not as responsible as they should be for their dogs. The big and small dog sections are separate by a gated fence that a large dog could easily jump over. A young pit bull was slightly aggressive as he ran up and down the fence trying to get the attention of the littler dogs. My toddler was looking through the gate when the pit bull bark and snapped at him. The owner then said "oh, be careful". Ummm, no sir, how about you be MINDFUL of your dog's behavior and not condone such behavior. Owners like him are what give pit bulls a bad name. Not sure I'll be back. I can't risk my little protective dog or child getting hurt by an irresponsible pet owner's (large) dog that could easily hop over the fence if it wanted to. . The park should make a bigger gap & higher fence between the two sides. read more

We are visiting from the Midwest and we were hoping to find a dog park nearby that we could take our small pups and it was AMAZING. They have been in the car for countless hours and being able to just run around was worth so much. I was impressed with the others that let their dogs in too... they actually followed the guidelines and had big dogs separate. My pups had so much fun and I was a happy mama. Only thing I would say is that you need to bring your own dog poop bags, they were out. read more

This park's big dog area is a lot bigger than the 1 at the San Leandro Marina. Took my pup there on a Sunday, Mother's day to be exact. It's mostly sand, which can tricky to move around in if you have feet/ankle issues. There are tons of places to sit and 2 huge shaded areas to relax in. There is a ton of dog poop under 1 of the shaded areas so venture in knowing that. read more

There is a brindle Frenchie female dog that ATTACKS other dogs! Her name is Kona. Owner was completely irresponsible and DOES NOT CARE! She actually later PRAISED her dog for attacking mine! Psychotic behavior. When she first brought her dog into the park she did not let it off leash because it was acting aggressively and was clearly hyper-excited. SHE KNEW HER DOG WAS BAD. Kona was looming over my dog (he is only 7lbs, been attacked by 3 dogs and nearly fatally injured before). He didn't like that so he twisted around and gave her a warning growl to back up. I immediately noticed so I took action to separate the two, since a lot of dogs seem to not take the hint and continue to harass mine even after he gives a warning. As soon as I tried to separate the two, Kona got aggressive and gave chase to my dog, ferociously trying to bite him and refusing to let him get away. Her owner stood there and did nothing, my friend had to tackle and grab her dog to get it to stop from viciously attacking my dog. She NEVER APOLOGIZED, and even tried to stay inside the park! Me and 2 other owners left IMMEDIATELY after the appalling incident while she stubbornly lingered. Just moments later, we caught her talking sht about us and blaming us for the situation (foolish lady was standing right in front of our car). My sister got angry and yelled at her, and that's when she praised her dog for its behavior and started screeching like a deranged animal back at us. She was wearing a long black puffy coat and has medium length curly dark brown hair. She has a daughter and came with a big group/family of 8+ people (DURING COVID). They are all big fans of the SF49ers. Ironically, nobody in her family of 10 even tried to defend her, likely because they knew she was wrong. She clearly does not care for the safety and well being of anyone but herself! Selfish witch! If I see her and her dog again I will take a picture and add it. I've come to this park for years and this has never happened to me here before. I refuse to let it happen again and ruin my otherwise good experiences at the park. For now I will add a picture of a dog that looks just like Kona. Beware of her and her owner!! read more

Alameda Small Dog Park - What the aggressive dog who tried to attack mine looked like. - Dog Parks Near Me - Alameda, California

The best small dog park I've ever been to! Huge and tons of tiny dogs everywhere! There were quite a few dogs over the size limit though, unfortunately, but that happens since some large some dog owners don't realize or perhaps don't care about the fragility of some smaller dogs, particularly small senior dogs. Because of this, I carried my dog for most of the time, but it was still so much fun to watch all the dogs play. Parking in the lot was non-existent but there were tons of spaces on the street. Will definitely return. read more

There is a lot of space for your dog to run wild and frolic with the other canines. There are a few people to look out for and avoid.... -Lady who's dog rolls around in doggie doo-doo and then tries to play with my dog. " Lady, you're scaring us." -The fool who's aggressive pitbull tries to eat my beloved Aussie. I try to scold him, but he's much bigger than me. If you bust out a " Hey, what is your problem?" a couple times he will finally step in and control his unruly 'bull. -The people who bring their baby who just learned to walk into this park. Obviously , the dogs are going to knock your tyke out. Get with the program, clown. Mostly everyone else is mellow. I got mad love for the Aussie owner clique. A dude who explains to me just how brilliant our dogs are, and the older lady who chats with me, but I'm also so distracted because Stella is usually getting into mischief. I've never been to another dog park in the East Bay, so this review is biased, but all in all there is more good here than bad. read more

Sand. Small dogs. Sometimes empty, sometimes crowded. I love that it's in Alameda, but I only bring my dog here right before she needs a bath. Why? Sand! Sand everywhere! I know this is next to Shoreline, but why use sand??? It gets everywhere (also, I hear that fleas live in sand. Is this truth or myth?). It's not so great during/after rain. I'm sure they don't read these reviews (do they/you? if you do, I'd like to know!), but I am told, and have seen, some of the "clique-y" folks that frequent this dog park. Hey, I'm all for making new friends, but if these are the regulars that sit around and share stories about their dogs, why judge? Now about dog needs fulfilled by this park: -Water for your thirsty pup is usually plentiful here; not sure how clean it is, though. -Most peeps clean up after their dogs' poops. -Random balls left lying around for your dog to discover. -Enough space for your small dog to run around till he/she is dog-tired. It's cute when the big dogs on the other side of the fence try to race with your small dog. Remember: no food/treats inside! read more

Pretty cool dog park... I kinda wish it was a little "nicer" (better maintained perhaps) but its large and well gated/fenced. TONS of fleas here, inevitably. Still, we're fans. Our little Shih-Tzu loves socializing w/ the other doggies here! read more

Alameda Small Dog Park - Dog Parks Near Me - Alameda, California

I have mixed feelings about this place. Likes: large, windy since its close to the water, busy at times, has parking lot. dislikes: my dog has bullied a few times here and the owner did not take responsibility of their dog's behavior. when it rains, the sand part becomes muddy. no doggy bags but scoop stuff instead. People do not pick up their dogs' crap. Twice I had observed dog owners yell and scream at each other.... too much drama. read more

We like going to this dog park occasionally. The small dog park is more spacious than most dog parks. We like that it is full of sand and lots of different seating options for us humans to sit while the pups play. It's a nice block away from the beach (that's not dog friendly). The park has restrooms and water fountains. read more

For people of Alameda with small dogs, this is a nice place. It can get a bit dusty and or muddy, but the regulars here love their dog park. The place for big dogs is just on the other side of fencing and it seems to be in a wee bit better shape. Is this the off-leash dog recreation that the good people from San Francisco want to see... probably not. Is this a place for small dogs and their guardians to hang out.... yes. And they hold events (like the howl-een contest), which is nice. Parking can be a pain, though. read more

Alameda Small Dog Park Lots of shade, a large area to run and play, water for the dogs to drink, lawn chairs people have donated. Their website has more info about it, along with pictures & links with directions on how to get to the park. It's a great park. Hope to see you there too. read more

Alameda Small Dog Park - Dog Parks Near Me - Alameda, California

My favorite things about this place are the open plentiful space, sand, and the fact that there are always several dogs that my pup can be social and play with. Another plus is plenty of parking and a nearby restroom in case you need it. I wish they had bags as some owners don't pick up after their dogs (not sure that's the reason but might be helpful). Otherwise, my dog loves this spot! read more

Nothing but sand, urine, and poop. You literally have to watch your step everywhere you go in the park. The little dog park is slightly better than the big dog side, but only slightly. Lots of very aggressive dog that owners don't seem to pay much attention to until they attack somebody else's dog. Although I live in Alameda, I prefer going to Cesar Chavez Dog Park in Berkeley. And it is a long drive, but it is worth it. Owners are much more responsible at that park. read more

This is no longer the same park that we used to love. We used to really enjoy going to this park. We even met some wonderful dog lovers who are now our friends. But since our very senior dog, a German Shepherd, was attacked by a younger German Shepherd, we hesitate taking her there since she has no defense in case of such attacks. Our younger but very timid Formosan Mountain Dog is speedy and wily enough to stay out of trouble, but he gets traumatized whenever he witnesses roughhousing or fights. Usually, the fights involved un-neutered dogs. So it may make a huge difference to not allow them in the park. We subscribe to the premise that dogs reflect their owners. Some folks are totally clueless, and don't supervise their dogs. The obnoxious owners are the ones with the obnoxious dogs. So our visits are fewer and far in-between. We miss socializing with our dog lover friends...and surely, our dogs also miss socializing with their friends....but our dogs' safety comes first. Sadly, we don't feel they are safe there anymore. read more

There are so many dogs and nice people! Little Sheldon loved it. It's clean and safe.

Let your dog be a dog and sniff everyones butts! This park is excellent especially for the more protective small dog owners who don't want their tiny chihuahuas eaten alive by the 80 pound pitbulls. I heard this place was open because a small dog was attacked in the general dog park area. They spent some time sectioning this part out just for smaller dogs. Its a great place to socialize. I occasionally come here alone with my pug and call my friends over while I'm here. There's a huge park/beach area to walk your dogs before/after too! Not to forget coffee shops around that have outdoor seating to cater to dog owners. This place is a great place to rewind and calm down while playing with your pooch (along with 20 others). read more

My cuddle monster loves this place. No its not anything incredible like Stinson Beach, Fort Mason or that place near the Richmond Costco, but its good place to hang out, sit and talk with other dog owners or read. It is only for small dogs and it is all fenced off complete with double gates. Oh and nearby the beach there is really nice. Lots of beautiful Canadian Geese. read more

Alameda Small Dog Park - My little cuddle monster could hardly wait to get out of the car! - Dog Parks Near Me - Alameda, California

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Always be careful anywhere there are a lot of dogs. Many people are not aware of dog behavior, socialization and how critical it is!!! I have had multiple experiences of aggressive behavior of both dog and owner. Recently I went there and people walked in with out closing the gates, which allowed multiple dogs to run out, this is unacceptable! There is a sign about the gates that is large and easy to read... Always take a good look at who is there and what is happening before you enter. If you do not feel good about if for safety sake do not enter. Best! read more

The Alameda Small Dog Park is A - OK. I have been going on and off to the park for years. The park is essentially a dust bowl during summer and a mud hole in the rainy season because the park has such a high volume of use any turf or grass never gets a chance to truly grow. The same with the trees.. I noted today they had removed one of the larger old growth trees from the small dog park.. replacing it with small saplings - which within the week will be eaten, pooped and urinated on to death. If these trees survive I will be surprised. Some dog parents are very on top of things- watching to make sure they pick up after their dog and that their dog isn't being to mean or aggressive towards other dogs. Other dog parents fall into the other column- allowing their dogs to be aggressive, not following the leave no trace philosophy etc. So beware there is a full gambit of dog parents out there. The dog park provides pooper scoopers and trash bins for the poop as well as hoses and water bowls so dogs can get cleaned up and then taken home. Human bathrooms leave much to be desired so make sure to take care of your business at home before you come out for a day at the dog park. I will definitely be back just not as frequently as Point Isabel. read more

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