Dogs in Bend
Help make Bend a dog-friendly town
News Flash
We now have a dog-friendly groomed ski trail at Wanoga -- and a ton of snow to ski on! Go to Dogs on snow for more info.
Much is happening, so check back for updates. Both the Forest Service and the Bend Metro Parks and Recreation Department have been working with the dog owner community to identify opportunities for additional access.
About this site
After adopting Lani in spring 2006, I found that every park or forest trail I took her to in Central Oregon required that she be on leash. That affects her, but it really affects me -- ultimately this is about dog owners, not about dogs.
I respect community members who do not wish to encounter off-leash dogs, and I do not seek off-leash access in all parks or throughout the forest. But I believe we can find a compromise that provides access to quality recreation opportunities for both dog guardians and those not wishing to encounter off-leash dogs.
When we were kids, our parents told us to get along and share the sandbox. We need to share our public parks and forests, and to respect others in the process.
The current situation
The popularity of the best-selling book Marley and Me attests to the importance dogs play in our lives. This is especially true in Bend. Roughly half the households in Bend have dogs and more than a third of Central Oregonians who hike bring their dog along. See the Dogs in Our Lives page for more info on the role dogs play in our physical, mental, and economic health.
The Bend Bulletin has referred to Central Oregon as the most pet-centric area on Earth. Yet, consider the following:
- In its Sept./Oct. 2006 Best of Bend issue, Bend Living listed favorite places to walk dogs. The Deschutes River Trail won by a landslide, with many readers noting the Upper Deschutes between Benham and Dillon Falls in particular. Shevlin Park was the runner up. It is illegal to walk your dog off-leash in these areas.
- That same issue of Bend Living had an article on J.D. Platt's frisbee dogs, with great photos from Farewell Bend Park. J.D. and the dogs were breaking the law when those photos were taken, as Farewell Bend Park (and every Bend Metro park in Bend) requires dogs to be on leash. The only park that allows off-leash dogs is Big Sky, which is outside the city limits and inconvenient to many Bendites. Even the Bulletin, in its 2006 Christmas wish list, asked for another dog park.
- The most popular hiking trails in the Three Sisters Wilderness on the Deschutes National Forest lay between Broken Top and the South Sister Climbing Trail. Most of these are also ideal trails for dogs, with convenient water access. But you'd be breaking the law if you walk your dog off-leash in these areas during most of the snow-free season. Though it thankfully doesn't happen, you could even be put in jail for this.
For a supposedly dog-friendly town, this situation is absurd.
A key point is that the experience of other communties, in Oregon and around the country, illustrates that Bend can be more dog-friendly.
Info and action
My goal is for dog owners to be treated equally with other recreationists. In practical terms, I seek reasonable off-leash access not in every park or forest, but across all types of park and forest areas in the Bend region — including the popular trails in the Three Sisters Wilderness, along the River Trail off the 41 Road, in Shevlin Park, and in other Bend Metro parks. Learn more about current regulations and how to voice your citizen support for greater access.
Dogs on trails, water, and snow
Check out places to walk or hike or to ski or snowshoe with your dog.
Dog-friendly businesses
Check out places to enjoy a pint outdoors while your pooch enjoys the scenery -- or other types of dog-friendly businesses in Bend. This includes dog friendly hotels for dog-owning visitors to Central Oregon.
Dog etiquette
Every dog owner has a different view on "dos" and "don'ts," but please remember that you are part of a community. Your actions, or inactions, affect all of us -- irresponsible dog guardians reduce access for other dog guardians. So please practice good etiquette. At the least, please "scoop the poop." Here are some guidelines I try to live by.
Dog humor
Lani makes me laugh every day. Here's some dog humor. If you have good dog jokes or cartoons, please email them to me and I'll post them on the site.
About us
My name is Kreg Lindberg. I live in Bend and am a professor of tourism and recreation. Yes, I get paid to teach and study recreation, which is pretty sweet -- but I spend most of my time in front of a class or computer rather than out recreating.
I adopted Lanikai (Lani for short) from the pound; Lanikai means "heavenly ocean" in Hawaiian and is the name of a town near where I grew up. She's only a dog, of course, but I love to see her romp in the forest or dive into the Deschutes after a pinecone.
I'm a total web novice and manage this site in my spare time (Lani's entertaining, but not very good at typing). Nonetheless, I hope this site connects dog owners and helps them become active citizens.
As this site evolves, it reflects input from many other dog guardians in the community. If you have comments or tips, or a dog pic to post on this site, please email me.
