Northwest, DC
I moved to Washington, DC in 2015 at the age of 26. Having spent the previous 3 years studying and working overseas, this move marked the beginning of my first professional endeavor in the United States since finishing school. Excited and nervous, I needed to figure out living with a dog in Washington, DC.
With no car, little savings and a high energy young dog I needed to find an affordable, metro- accessible, dog-friendly apartment in the city. I was desperate to live alone after several years of living with roommates. Milo was the only company I wanted and needed, so I began the search for dog-friendly apartments all around the city. I was very tempted by a studio apartment on Mass Ave that overlooked the Tunisian Embassy (ironic I know), but while it was close to my office there were no decent parks within walking distance for Milo.
Connecticut Avenue
I settled for a studio in the Connecticut Heights apartment complex at 4850 Connecticut Ave in Northwest DC, near the Maryland border. Not only was it walking distance to both the Metro at Van Ness and Rock Creek Park, but more importantly was surrounded by residential neighborhoods lined with sidewalks. For a young working professional with an active dog it was the perfect location. Here are my recommendations for all things dog related when living with a dog in Washington, DC.
DOG WALKING SERVICES
Wagamuffin Pet Care
Since I was working a 9-to-5 job that was too far to come home during my lunch break, I needed to make a plan for Milo during the day. Without a car, it wasn’t realistic to put him in doggy day care, so I looked for a dog walking alternative. A friend of mine recommended Wagamuffin and I was lucky enough that they were accepting new clients.
The Wagamuffin team are very professional and accommodating. I love that Carla, the owner, takes the time to get to know you and your dog to figure out the best possible schedule and program. Once you are introduced to the person who will be walking your dog, you are given a little notebook that the walker will fill out everyday when they come for your dog. This way, they can inform you of any issues or health concerns and vice versa. For example, if Milo had un upset stomach in the morning, I would leave a message in the notebook and the walker would note down if the upset stomach continued during their walk or not. These sorts of things are really helpful above all if you’re an overbearing and emotional dog owner.
After Hours Services
I also loved how they provided after hours and weekend services. If I knew I had to stay late for an event at work, I could ask them for an evening walk as well. This of course comes at an extra cost, but when your dog lives in an apartment it’s perfect that they can organize someone on short notice if needed. Overall, I was very impressed and pleased with Wagamuffin’s services and I highly recommend them.
Milo was often walked with best friend and neighbor Piper.
VETERINARY CARE
Friendship Hospital For Animals
Located on 4105 Brandywine Street in Tenleytown, Friendship Hospital for Animals is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. A convenient 20 min walk southwest from my apartment, I obviously chose this clinic because I could walk to it, but their 24/7 schedule proved to be immensely helpful. It was so nice to be able to schedule routine appointments on weekends since during the week it was complicated with my work schedule. They are also very good at accommodating last minute appointments and even walk-ins. The staff are very friendly and the lobby has coffee, tea and water for humans and biscuits for the dogs and cats. A very warm and welcoming environment considering many animals hate the vet.
MOIBILE DOG GROOMING
Pooches, Kitties and Kisses Mobile Grooming Salon
For whatever reason, Milo refused to get into the bath tub for a wash. He made it so difficult that I gave up pretty quickly and would just hose him down at the dog park. However, every dog needs a proper clean and nail clip, so a mobile grooming service was perfect since I couldn’t drive to a grooming salon.
I found Pooches, Kitties and Kisses through Yelp and was really happy with their services. They come to your house or apartment and provide a full spa treatment of washing, cleaning ears, clipping nails and brushing teeth. Prices vary on the type of dog you have and whether they need a more detailed cut, but for Milo who is Labrador sized it cost me $85.00. The staff are friendly and I was always happy with their work. They also offer weekend appointments and service almost all of the DC Metro area.
RECREATION
Rock Creek Park
Being within walking distance of Rock Creek Park was the primary reason I chose to live in this particular area. At around 1,700 acres in size, there are plenty of trails looping around the park that are perfect for walking or running with your dog.
Rock Creek Trail
My favorite entrance to the park is where Nebraska Ave meets Oregon Ave. Being just under a 2-mile walk from my apartment, it’s an entrance I only used when I had ample time. We went mostly on weekends since these walks would take anywhere from 2-4 hours. This area of the park was always less crowded and seemed to have a greater variety of trails. I felt comfortable letting Milo off leash as we tended to veer off on the side trails that not many people used. This is the perfect place if you like trail running and the feeling of being completely immersed in the woods.
Western Ridge Trail
Another way I used to enter the park was by using Davenport Street. Once Davenport Street meets with Broad Branch Road, it then becomes Grant Road. If you walk up Grant Road for several minutes you will see on the right the entrance to the Western Ridge Trail which takes you into the park. You can then do a quick turn around or walk all through and around the park. I used to follow the trail down to Pierce Mill, then you can walk up Tilden Street to get back to Connecticut Ave and then it’s an easy walk back home. It’s a nice long walk that can take 1-2 hours depending on how often you stop, faster if you run.
Melvin C Hazen Trail
The last entrance I used to frequent was through the Melvin C Hazen Trail just next to 3801 Connecticut Ave Apartments. A short wooded trail with a small stream that takes you right to the open fields of Rock Creek where families often picnic. I found this area to be the most crowded of the three I have just listed, but it’s a nice little jaunt if you don’t’ have so much time.
Soapstone Valley Park
A nice short alternative to Rock Creek Park is the Soapstone Valley Trail. A convenient 8 minute walk from my apartment, the entrance is on Albermarle Street on the opposite side from Bread Furst Bakery. It’s a short 2-mile out and back trail that is wooded and has a small stream that runs through. I found it perfect for walks when I got home from work if I didn’t feel like a long adventure into Rock Creek Park. Also great in winter when it’s cold and you don’t want to go too far.
Fort Reno Park
Conveniently located just a few blocks behind my apartment, Fort Reno Park has some nice open grass fields you can walk through. It’s a great spot if you want to bring a blanket and a book for an afternoon of relaxing. If your dog is well behaved and has good recall, then it’s such a nice spot to let them run around. There is a baseball field, tennis courts and community gardens for you to enjoy.
There are two schools located around the park so there is quite a bit of activity taking place. I enjoyed walking Milo there in the evenings during the summer as it was quieter. However they do sometimes hold summer concerts in the park, so that’s something to keep in mind. A fun fact, it’s the location of the only civil war battle to take place in DC.
Chevy Chase Recreation Center
Situated right on the border with Maryland on Western Ave, Chevy Chase Recreation Center has a baseball field, playground, tennis courts, basketball court and a small dog park. What I loved about this park was that in the mornings from 6:00am to 9:00am the baseball field was open for the dogs. The entire center is fenced, so it’s a great place to let your dog run around and play with other dogs on the baseball field without worrying about them going onto the road.
About a mile walk north from my apartment, I would follow Reno Road until it turned into 41st Street, the recreation center easily visible on your left. A great option for when I had weekend plans but wanted Milo to burn lots of energy before I went out for afternoon or evening. There is also a Starbucks close by on the corner of Connecticut Ave and Livingston Street, making the early wake-ups bearable.
Newark Street Dog Park
Consequently while dog parks in cities can often be quite small, I found the Newark Street Dog Park to be a decent size for a larger dog to run around. Located on 39th and Newark Street in Cathedral Heights, it was a 2-mile walk southwest from my apartment.
What’s nice about this park is they have two separate play areas, the main area and then a smaller one if you have a puppy or smaller dog. The park provides benches and shaded areas, tennis balls to play with, water fountains for humans and dogs as well as poop bags and waste disposal bins. In summer they also put out small pools for the dogs to sit in to cool down. It’s a very well maintained dog park and was my favorite of all the dog parks we visited in DC.
GET INVOLVED!
Lucky Dog Animal Rescue
Most importantly Washington, DC is an incredibly dog friendly city. Most restaurants and cafes that have outdoor seating will allow you to bring your furry companion and there are pet stores all over. One of the best ways to get to know the city and it’s dog friendly places is to get involved in the community.
I joined Lucky Dog as a volunteer at adoption events and quickly fell in love with the organization. They help dogs and cats in need find their forever homes in DC and the surrounding Maryland and Virginia areas. They are unique in the sense that they operate entirely on volunteer support. As a result of not having physical shelter, the dogs are placed in foster homes and boarding facilities. and are brought to outdoor adoption events on the weekends. This way potential adopters can come and interact with the dogs and sometimes take them home on the same day.
Consider Fostering
Seeing some of the dogs struggling in the boarding facilities I decided to become a foster. Fun fact, because I didn’t have a car and some of the events were a bit far from my apartment, I was able to use Uber. As long as you mention it in your request you can find Uber drivers who will allow dogs.
Lucky Dog will also hold fundraising events at different places around the city that are of course dog friendly. Volunteering for them was such a great way to not only help dogs, but meet new people and get to know the dog friendly places in DC. It was such a wonderful experience that I highly recommend to anyone who loves animals and lives in DC.
From left to right: Me and my friend/co-foster mom Colleen driving foster Moe to an event. Moe and Milo playing at the dog park and me with lucky dog Homer at an adoption event.
Washington, DC is a great city to live in if you have a dog. To sum it up while having a car makes life a lot easier, it’s definitely manageable without one. If you want to learn more about dog friendly DC, click here for an updated list of restaurants and hotels that welcome dogs.
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