A guide to enjoying the dog days of summer with your four-legged friend!
By Kellie Speed
Take a Hike
With high heat temperatures soaring in the afternoon, it’s best to head out for some exercise with your furry friend at dawn or dusk for a hike to ensure they don’t overheat.
Webb Memorial State Park
This peninsula of land extends into Hingham Bay and is a great place to walk your dog. The only mainland portion of the Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area, the state park treats visitors to scenic views of the Boston skyline.
371 River St., North Weymouth
Bare Cove Park
This local park features 484 acres to explore along the Back River and its miles of paved roadways and woodland trails attract many dog lovers. Be sure to leash or control your dog. This means your dog should respond immediately to your commands. Also keep in mind fines will be imposed if you do not clean up after your pet.
Fort Hill Street, Hingham
Blue Hills Reservation
Boasting more than 7,000 acres and 125 miles of trails designed for adventuring, Blue Hills Reservation is a great place to hike with your dog. Be sure to leash your dog and bring a trail map.
695 Hillside Street, Milton
Eleanor Cabot Bradley Estate
The grounds of this historic estate is one of the prettiest spots to enjoy the outdoors with your pup. The Eleanor Cabot Bradley Estate has 90 acres of elegant gardens and fields to explore.
2468B Washington Street, Canton
World’s End A beloved Hingham preserve managed by The Trustees, World’s End features 251-acres of rolling hills and rocky shoreline. Bordering Weir River and Hingham Harbor, this coastal gem offers plenty of spots to cool off after a long hike.
Martins Lane, Hingham
There is nothing quite like summertime on the South Shore and the warm summer days seem even better when spent with a traveling tailwagger. From dog-friendly beaches and breweries to hiking trails and specialty treats, we have created the ultimate guide featuring the most pawsome ways to enjoy the dog days of summer with your favorite four-legged friend by your side. So, grab a leash, an extra bottle of water to keep your pet hydrated, and get ready for a doggone good time!
Hit the Beach
While many beaches do not permit dogs seasonally from May 1 to September 15, there are some spots that welcome leashed dogs all year round.
Rexhame Beach in Marshfield is surrounded by miles of hiking trails and offers a nice spot for pets to cool off along the South River. There is a snack bar and restrooms are also available.
870 Moraine Street, Marshfield
The only restriction at Plymouth Beach is that leashed dogs must be kept “under control at all times.” A bathhouse is available when Sandy’s Restaurant is open.
1 Ryder Way, Plymouth
Plan a Day Trip
Captain John Boats operates a fast ferry from Plymouth to Provincetown that permits leashed dogs for no extra charge.
10 Town Wharf, Plymouth, captjohn.com
CapeFLYER
If you are looking to head to the Cape for the weekend, one of the easiest ways to get there is aboard the CapeFLYER, a passenger train that just so happens to be dog friendly. The train departs from Braintree and offers several stops along the way, including Wareham Village, Buzzards Bay, Bourne, and Hyannis.
capeflyer.com
Off-Leash Dog Parks
There is nothing quite like the feeling of enjoying a freedom run with your well-behaved dog off leash.
Stodder’s Neck & Abigail Adams Park
Located at the mouth of the Back River, Stodder’s Neck is a grassy park that has trails to explore, woods to romp in and river access for water-loving pups. Well behaved dogs under voice control are permitted off leash in designated areas. Waste stations can be found throughout the park, as well as benches and picnic tables.
457 Lincoln St., Hingham
Rainy days begone! JB’s Indoor Dog Park comes to the rescue with its enormous inside space that allows pets to enjoy year-round exercise in a climate-controlled environment.
106 Longwater Drive, Norwell
Camp With Your Canine
You don’t have to go far from home to sleep under the stars and enjoy a relaxing escape surrounded by nature. A staycation at a local pet-friendly campground is a fun and affordable summer vacation activity.
Wompatuck State Park has 3,526 acres of hiking trails, streams, and ponds to explore along with a 250-site campground.
204 Union Street, Hingham
Overlooking Ponkapoag Pond, AMC Ponkapoag Camp is nestled in the 7,000-acre DCR Blue Hills Reservation and offers rustic pet-friendly cabins available for nightly or weekly stays.
Randolph Street, Randolph
Pitch a tent and bring up to two furry friends with you to Pinewood Lodge Campground. There is more than 3,000 feet of lake frontage along with a six-acre island to explore. Dogs are welcome in marked areas of the park.
190 Pinewood Road, Plymouth
Myles Standish State Park
A canopy of tall pine trees shades the quiet camping areas at Myles Standish State Park, which permits up to four leashed dogs at each campsite. There are miles of paved bike paths and sandy walking trails as well as kettle ponds to explore.
194 Cranberry Rd., Carver, mass.gov
Treat Your Pooch
Everyone enjoys a snack now and then and your dog is no exception. Here are a few places to pick up locally made doggie treats.
Polka Dog Bakery makes their all-natural, healthy treats in Boston and sells them locally at their Derby Street shop.
92 Derby Street, Hingham
Bona Fido is a Plymouth-based business that specializes in making wholesome all-natural dog foods and dehydrated dog treats. Products are made by hand and are available at select shops, including Board143 in Scituate and JB’s Indoor Dog Park in Norwell. They also offer local home delivery and pickup and sell at the Rye Tavern Farmers Market once a month. Follow Bona Fido on social media for market dates, or purchase products on their website.bonafidoma.com
JB’s Doggie Delights Frosty Cups by JB’s Indoor Dog Park offers healthy treats in flavors like peanut butter and blueberry. The pup cups are dished out by an ice cream truck (keep an eye out for their schedule) or home delivery by ordering online. www.jbsindoordogpark.com/doggie-delights
In addition to the freshly baked snacks Kupcakes and Kibble sells DIY doggie ice cream mix. Just add water and freeze for the perfect cool-down on a hot summer day.
29 Main Street, Plymouth
Dog-Friendly Patios and Beer Gardens
Nothing says laid back vibes more than sunny patios and lazy dogs.
Overlooking Duxbury Bay, The Raw Bar at Island Creek Oyster Farm welcomes dogs to relax on their outdoor patio while humans can sip on drinks and enjoy ICO’s award-winning bivalves.
403 Washington Street, Duxbury
Paragon Boardwalk has a nice selection of locally crafted beer served up in a fun beer garden with a spectacular oceanfront view of Nantasket Beach.
189 Nantasket Avenue, Hull
Leashed dogs are welcomed on the shaded patios of both Vitamin Sea Brewing and neighboring Barrel House Z with water bowls.
30 Moore Road, Weymouth
Situated at the edge of the Village Green at The Pinehills, The Blueberry Muffin welcomes dog owners and their four-legged friends to enjoy breakfast or lunch on their outdoor patio.
12 Village Green South, Plymouth
For the quintessential summer experience, head with your four-legged friend to Erich’s Clam Shack at Roht Marine to nosh on a basket of golden fried clams or an overstuffed lobster roll.
2205 Main Street, Marshfield
Towne Tavern & Treehouse is a lively waterfront dining spot overlooking Furnace Pond. While dogs aren’t permitted in the treehouse, there are plenty of picnic tables and adirondack chairs by the water’s edge where dogs are welcome to hang with their owners.
242 Mattakeesett Street, Pembroke
Dog-friendly Untold Brewing provides a nice excuse to spend a relaxing afternoon enjoying 13 freshly made taps, snacks, food trucks, and live entertainment in a historic one-room former schoolhouse.
6 Old Country Way, Scituate
Stellwagen Beer Company welcomes well behaved dogs and hosts fun events like trivia on Thursdays, cornhole fundraisers, and even dog bowl paint nights.
100 Enterprise Drive, Marshfield
Local Reads for Dog Lovers
Nala’s Meatball Mission
Inspired by her family’s loveable English Labrador Retriever, Marshfield resident Robyn Avery recently published her first children’s book, “Nala’s Meatball Mission.” Perfect for young readers ages 2-10, the book is a heartwarming story of adventure filled with mischief, friendship, and the magical allure of meatballs. Books can be purchased locally at Storybook Cove in Hanover. For more information, visit nalabooks.com.
Five-Dog Epiphany: How a Quintet of Badass Bichons Retrieved our Joy 
Coming out in September, 2024, from Akashic Books, “Five-Dog Epiphany” is a moving and sometimes funny memoir penned by South Shore author, screenwriter, and actor (The Sopranos) Marianne Leone. She and her husband, actor Chris Cooper, lost their only child suddenly in 2005. This story is about the mutual healing that can occur between rescue dogs and people who have experienced a soul-crushing loss.
For more information, visit marianneleonecooper.com.