Germany is known for being incredibly dog friendly, but surprisingly, there aren’t many dog parks like we’re used to in America.
In the U.S., it’s common to find fenced-in dog play areas where owners can let their pets run free and socialize at their own risk. In Germany, people truly love dogs, and I’ve found that walking mine is one of the best ways to strike up a conversation, which isn’t always easy in a country not particularly known for small talk.
Still, despite that love of dogs, there aren’t many places where they can safely run off leash and play. There are parks and hiking trails, and many dogs are well trained enough to stay close to their owners, but there’s not usually a dedicated dog park like back home.
That’s why I was so surprised and delighted when our local public swimming pool, the same one where you can pay a few euros in summer for poolside fun, announced an end-of-season dog swim day. We showed up to find about four dogs, a lifeguard on duty, and plenty of dog poop bags on hand.
Our dog Coconut loves the beach and will happily prance in knee-deep water, only occasionally swimming. I thought she might dive in when she saw the other dogs splashing, but she mostly stuck to the edge for a quick drink. Still, she had the best dog playdate she’s had since moving here, running around the pool area with new friends and even through the playground.
What do you think? Am I missing other opportunities for dogs to play here in Germany?
