I’ll admit it – I’m one of those crazy people who is obsessed with my dog. I have no children of the human variety, but I like to call Gatsby (our 5 lb. toy fox terrier) my pseudo-child. He pretty much sucks up all the parental instincts my husband and I have, which might explain why we have not yet experienced the desire to have real kids.

Even if you do have human offspring, many people consider their dogs to be bona fide members of the family. They are fun, loving, loyal companions, and have earned the title of “man’s best friend” for a reason.

Lucky for us local dog-lovers, St. Louis is what I like to a call a very “canine-compatible” city. Dogs seem to be the pet of choice for many St. Louisans. Go out on any nice day and you’ll see dogs everywhere – walking in the park, sticking their heads out of car windows, and relaxing underneath a table while their owners enjoy lunch outside.

Once warm weather hits, this city becomes a canine playground. While walking through your neighborhood is the probably the most convenient option when it comes to exercising and enjoying time with your dog, there are many other activities in the St. Louis area that you and your canine pal can take advantage of.

Unleash your beast

Ever feel sorry for Fido because he has to be led around on a leash whenever you take him outside the house? Give him a little freedom by taking him to one of the many dog parks in the St. Louis area. These specially designated parks allow you to bring your dog and set him free to run and romp around with other canine companions. Many of these parks are private and require a fee or membership, but there are six free dog parks in the area: Lucas Garden Park downtown, Paw Park in Arnold, DuSable Dog Park in St. Charles, Joe Glik Park in Edwardsville and Broemmelsiek and Quail Ridge Parks, both in Wentzville.

Dog walking wonderlands

We all fall into ruts sometimes, even when it comes to dog walking. If you and your dog are getting tired of making the usual rounds in the neighborhood, take a drive to one of the more scenic areas in St. Louis and add a little variety to your walking routine. Of course there’s always the great Forest Park, but if you have time to travel a little further, state parks are a great option – great scenery for you and plenty of exciting new places to sniff and do some territory marking for the pup. Nearby state parks include Babler Memorial State Park in Chesterfield, Mastodon State Park in Imperial, Castlewood State Park in Ballwin, and Route 66 State Park in Eureka. Dogs are allowed in all of these parks as long as they are kept on a leash.

Lunching with Lassie

One of my favorite things to do with my dog when the weather is nice is to go out to eat and bring him with us. Of course this means that you have to eat outside, but there’s nothing more relaxing than having a few drinks or a leisurely meal al fresco with your furry pal by your side (or on your lap, as is the case with my dog). Most St. Louis restaurants with outdoor eating areas are happy to see your canine companion, and many will even bring out a complimentary bowl of water or dog biscuit. It’s a win-win situation: you’re happy because you don’t have to feel guilty about leaving your dog cooped up on a nice day, and your dog is happy because where people are eating, there are crumbs…and maybe even some scraps if he’s lucky. My favorite places to bring Gatsby are Sasha’s Wine Bar in Clayton and Wild Flower in the Central West End.

Local events to bark about

Proof that St. Louis is a dog-loving city is the fact that there are many events held here throughout the year that involve and celebrate our furry friends. The most obvious and well-known dog-friendly event is probably the Pet Parade held every year the weekend before Mardi Gras. While that event has already come and gone this year, there are still several other activities planned for dog lovers coming up this spring.

Saturday, May 15 – Human Society’s Bark in the Park walk for animals in Forest Park. Show some pride for your pet and walk your dog alongside other St. Louis canine-lovers and their companions to raise money to help homeless pets. After the walk, check out the dog festival and country fair that follows.

Sunday, May 23 – St. Louis Disc Dog Competition at Deer Creek Park in Maplewood. If your furry friend is a Frisbee-catching fanatic, sign him/her up for this Disc Dog competition. There are “novice” and “pro” divisions, and the event is open to the public. Even if your dog just stares blankly ahead when a disc whizzes by his face, it still might be fun to trek over the park and watch the other dogs in action.

Sunday, June 6 – Pooches in the Ballpark day at Busch Stadium. Put your dog in his Cardinals jersey and bring him to the baseball game with you. Special ticket prices include beer, food, a goodie bag, and a pet bowl.

So this spring, barring inclement weather and natural disasters, you really have no excuse not to take your pooch out for some quality pet-owner bonding time. Grab the leash and get out there!

Carlie is the Food and Drink Editor for Girls Guide, and also blogs at carliecrash.com. By day she is an educational textbook editor, and she moonlights as a foodie and barfly.  You can email her at carlie [at] girlsguidetothegalaxy [dot] com, and you can follow her on Twitter – @carbirwin.

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