Must love dogs: The 20 most dog-friendly cities of 2019

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