Dogs are family, but when you have one, moving can be, well, ruff. Not only do you need to find the perfect home for you and your family, but you need to ensure there’s plenty of room and nearby green space for your furry family members too.
Rover compiled a list of the most dog-friendly cities by analyzing the number of walks, dog walkers and sitters, along with total hours, minutes and distance per trip by each dog walker.
And because each top city needs the best dog, Rover also uncovered the most popular breed in each area. Why yes, we have noticed a lot of French Bulldogs in New York lately, now that you mention it.
Whether your pup is the top dog or not, you’ll want to make sure your friend is living their best life. That’s why the best cities list also includes each dog-friendly Walk Score®, to highlight how easy it is to treat your dog to his or her favorite activity. Just don’t forget the leash.
We can’t forget that each city includes a beloved dog park — making it easy to play with other furry friends.
Naming top dog-friendly cities
So, which cities are home to the “good-est” boys and girls? Here’s the definitive ranking for the most dog-friendly cities of 2019:
City | Rover Rank | Walk Score | Top Dog | Best Dog Park |
Seattle, WA | 1 | 73 | Labrador Retriever | Woodland Park |
Chicago, IL | 2 | 78 | Mixed Breed | Jackson Bark |
Denver, CO | 3 | 61 | Labrador Retriever | Stapleton Dog Park |
Manhattan, NY | 4 | 89 | French Bulldog | Jemmy’s Dog Run |
Washington, DC | 5 | 77 | Mixed Breed | Shaw Dog Park |
Portland, OR | 6 | 65 | Mixed Breed | Mt. Tabor Dog Park |
Los Angeles, CA | 7 | 67 | Chihuahua | Bluff Creek Dog Park |
Brooklyn, NY | 8 | 89 | Pit Bull Mix | Hillside Dog Park |
San Francisco, CA | 9 | 86 | Mixed Breed | Upper Douglass Dog Play Area |
San Diego, CA | 10 | 51 | Mixed Breed | Grape Street Dog Park |
Philadelphia, PA | 11 | 79 | Pit Bull Mix | Seger Dog Park |
Houston, TX | 12 | 49 | Mixed Breed | Millie Bush Dog Park |
Austin, TX | 13 | 40 | Mixed Breed | Zilker Metropolitan Park |
Arlington, VA | 14 | 37 | Mixed Breed | Tails ‘N Trails Dog Park |
Minneapolis, MN | 15 | 69 | Labrador Retriever | Minnehaha Dog Park |
Alexandria, VA | 16 | 60 | Mixed Breed | Shirlington Dog Park |
Dallas, TX | 17 | 46 | Labrador Retriever | NorthBark Dog Park |
Atlanta, GA | 18 | 49 | Mixed Breed | Piedmont Dog Park |
San Jose, CA | 19 | 51 | Labrador Retriever | Jeffrey Fontana Park |
Nashville, TN | 20 | 28 | Mixed Breed
|
Centennial Dog Park |
Labrador retrievers and mixed breeds rule
When it comes to breeds, well, all dogs are adored equally, but Rover sees the highest intake of mixed and Labrador retrievers nationwide. And ever the cosmopolitan hubs, New York City and Los Angeles stand out with Frenchies and Chihuahuas, respectively. Across the river from Manhattan, Brooklyn marches to its beat and prefers Pit Bull mixes, as does Philly.
No matter where you live, and what type of dog you own, however, if you’ve opened your home to love and care for a dog, we’re guessing it’s as dog-friendly as it gets.
– Courtesy Rover and Redfin