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Gone to the dogs

By Julia McHugh/Contributor

Woof! Santa Barbara goes to the dogs this weekend with the annual Big Dog Parade. In honor of the event, this week’s column is dedicated to outings for our canine companions.

STRUT YOUR STUFF

Saturday’s Big Dog Parade features more than 1,200 dogs (and their humans), all dressed up or simply wagging their tails. If you want to join the parade, check in between 8 and 9 a.m. at De La Guerra Plaza ($15 per pooch, www.bigdogs.com).

“The Dog Whisperer” Cesar Millan is the Grand Marshall of the parade, which starts at 9:30 a.m. and trots its way down State Street. Get there early to watch the pooches pass by, then visit the Canine Festival at Chase Palm Park. There are all sorts of items for dogs, food for humans, and hilarious contests for dogs — my favorite: the dog/owner look-alike contest.

TAKE A WALK

Thanks to donations by thousands of Santa Barbara residents and an eleventh-hour donation by some big movie stars, the open space above Hendry’s Beach has been preserved. The Douglas Family (as in Kirk and Michael) Preserve is a wonderful place to let dogs off-leash, but they must wear their licenses and respond to voice control.

Take the Las Positas exit off 101, and follow it toward the ocean until the dead end at Cliff Drive. Turn left (right takes you to Hendry’s Beach, see below) on Cliff and turn right on Mesa Lane. Follow it to Medcliff, take a right and drive to the Preserve entrance.

Note: Elings Park, off Las Pasitas Road, has an off-leash program that costs $67.50 per dog per year. Visit www.elingspark.org and see “Activities” for more information.

HIT THE BEACH

The only legal beach for off-leash use in Santa Barbara is below the Douglas Family Preserve on what locals continue to call Hendry’s Beach, though the city has dubbed it Arroyo Burro.

From the parking lot, walk to the beach, turn left and cross the slough to enter the off-leash area. Beware: Masters who their dogs run free to the right of the slough risk being cited by City Parks enforcers — who patrol often, especially on weekends.

GO SHOPPING

Feel free to bring little Fifi into Nordstrom in Paseo Nuevo — and you may find other stores in this upscale mall are dog-friendly. Three Dog Bakery has unfortunately closed, but two blocks up State Street is Offleash, a chic pet boutique with apparel, accessories, fashion, toys, food and treats (1103 State St.; 957-4500; www.offleashstyle.com).

LEARN NEW TRICKS

Put your pooch through its paces at a free Flyball session held at 12:45 p.m. each Sunday at MacKenzie Park. Santa Barbara Flyers also runs agility training starting at 7:45 a.m. It’s fun to watch and to participate (3101 State St.; www.santabarbaraflyers.com).

Feeling hungry after all this? Visit Mad Dogs, Santa Barbara’s hot-dog eatery at 505 State St. (963-4233).

For more lowdown about all things dog in Santa Barbara, visit www.dogpacsb.org.

Julia McHugh can be reached at southon101column@yahoo.com.