If you love dogs, you will be pleasantly surprised when you come to Barcelona. You will see a lot of people walking dogs at all hours of the day and the most responsible ones will always be carrying little bags to pick up after their furry friends. In fact, Barcelona is so cool about dogs, you will even run into people who have brought them along for a shopping session at the mall.
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Can I take my dog with me anywhere?
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Unfortunately, no. While Barcelona is very dog-friendly, not all establishments allow the presence of dogs. There are many cafes and restaurants that don’t mind if you bring your dog along, as long as you sit at one of the tables outside. Some food venues will even be so considerate as to have a water dish outside for your friend to quench its thirst when you arrive.
What about supermarkets?
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Your dog may be the cutest, most well-behaved animal on the planet and they will still bar it from entering a supermarket. This is not only because of the pee or poop incidents that may take place but also because your dog will naturally be tempted by all of the food smells and may end up damaging some of the products on sale.
Some supermarkets have “dog parking” outside, which is actually a sort of hook to which you can tie your dog‘s collar so that he stays outside while you shop. We advise that you do not take your dog with you when you have plans to go to the supermarket but if you find yourself in a situation where you are walking you dog and suddenly remember you are in dire need of a certain supermarket item, make sure you go in and out in a second, not only to diminish your dog‘s anxiety of being left alone but to reduce the risk of someone else untying his collar and taking him away. It is not something that happens often but what good dog owner would like to take the risk?
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Dogs in public transports
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Dogs are allowed on the metro system outside of busy periods, unless they are very small dogs, which should be carried in a transportin. Dogs should always be on a leash and wear a muzzle to guarantee there will be no biting incidents, no matter the breed of the dog.
Dogs are still not allowed on buses, except if they are guide dogs or dogs of a very small breed, which again should be carried appropriately.
Dogs are allowed in the tramvias with the same rules as the ones in the metro system, with the added advantage that you can take the dog in your arms or lap instead of having to use a carrier for it.
Dogs are allowed on short-distance train rides, always with a leash and muzzle.
Beaches
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There are certain aspects you should take into account if you are planning on bringing your furry friend to the sand. Taking your dog for a walk on the beach can be a very nice experience for the both of you, particularly if your dog likes to take a dip now and then (don’t let dogs that are too small go into the sea, they might not be strong enough to fight the current). Spending a day or an afternoon at the beach is a bit trickier. While you may want to sit under the sun for hours to get your tan on, dogs need a relief from the heat from time to time, which is why you must bring a beach umbrella to provide it with shade, and water to make sure he is hydrated, or risk common fatal consequences due to heat stroke. Don’t put your enjoyment ahead of your dog‘s well-being. Be a responsible owner.
That being said, dogs are only allowed on the main beaches of Barcelona from the end of September to the beginning of May. Despite that, there are people who still walk their dogs on the beach very early in the morning or late at night, when there are no people to be bothered and no policemen around to issue a fine.
There is a beach, though, which welcomes dogs in the summer and that is Playa de Llevant in the Diagonal Mar I El Front Maritim del Poblenou neighborhood in the Sant Martí district. There are also other beaches that allow dogs, outside the city, which include Sant Pol de Mar, Sant Pere Pescador, Port Ginesta, and Los Filipinos.
If you want to know about all of the places that welcome dogs in Barcelona, we suggest you visit the Sr. Perro website, where a friendly pup with a fancy red bowtie will guide you through the top places to go with four-legged friends in Barcelona.
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Warning: dogs and fireworks
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Be aware that Barcelona is a city where a lot of annual celebrations take place, most of which include fireworks. You may not know this yet but all dogs are absolutely terrified of firekworks, which will have them running away from the park where you are walking them with no leash, into the streets, to escape the danger, which often results in fatal car accidents. Avoid taking your dog off the leash when walking outside close to major holidays because people will be using firecrackers even during the day and those are the ones that usually catch dog owners off guard.
Also, do not leave your dog on a balcony while you are away during celebrations as they will attempt to jump to escape the danger. Dogs don’t understand what is going on when fireworks and firecrackers go off. They only know they need to escape the danger immediately, even if that endangers them even more.
Main events in the city which include fireworks and firecrackers are Sant Joan, celebrated on the night of the 23rd of June, La Mercé, celebrated on the 24th of September, and the Festes Majores, which usually take place in August, in different neighborhoods. Don’t forget: you will hear fireworks and firecrackers the days before and after these celebrations have taken place, as people will be testing them and using the remainder of them during the day.
Keep your dog safe during the local celebrations.
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