The Ruff Guide: Sniffing Out Local Parks

Griffith Park

The end of Zoo Drive, west of the Ferraro Soccer Fields, (323) 913-7390 or (888) LA-PARKS

Nearly deserted, even on weekends, possibly because area signs don’t do a good job of pointing out this otherwise decent dog park.

Large shade trees. Running water. Drinking bowls. Lidded trash cans. Scoopers. Free poop bags. Separate area for timid or small dogs. Bulletin board. Double-gated entry.

Ex-cons may get flashbacks after entering the parking lot, which looks a lot like a prison yard. The nearby power lines don’t add any ambience, either.

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Laurel Canyon

Off-Leash Dog Park

8260 Mulholland Drive,

Studio City, (818) 756-8060

High ratio of designer dogs and cell phones. Hard-core volunteers trade treats for donations, and don’t hesitate to use the P.A. system when a dog loses its owner.

Nearly everything listed above, plus nighttime security guard, wading pool, hot dog stand for humans and play area for kids.

The Big Mamou of dog parks, but a low creativity quotient among the humans. Must you name your dog Elvis?

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Runyon Canyon Dog Park

2001 N. Fuller Ave.,

Hollywood, (888) LA-PARKS

The steep hiking path makes the place popular with joggers and industry types with very expensive sunglasses and very tiny buttocks.

Running water, drinking bowls, trash cans, poop bags.

Stinkiest of all the area dog parks. Don’t take dogs that are old or have bad hips up the path unless they’re small enough to carry back down.

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Sepulveda Basin

Off-Leash Dog Park

17550 Victory Blvd.,

Encino, (818) 756-8190

A good sense of fun here. One owner used a remote-control toy jeep to prove that as long as it’s got wheels, dogs will chase it.

Large park with the works: real fire hydrants (ostensibly for the fire department) and a separate area for small dogs.

Kudos to whoever scored the dog food sponsorship deal.

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Silver Lake Dog Park

Silver Lake Boulevard at Duane Street, Los Angeles, (888) LA-PARKS

Friendly, laid-back humans who insist that their pit bulls are just as nice, once you get to know them. Mostly larger dogs.

Double-gated entry. Separate area for small dogs. Covered trash cans. Running water. Drinking bowls. Scoopers.

The talk among the humans is that a pit bull recently attacked a poodle here. Did we mention the pit bulls?

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Westminster Senior

Citizens Center

1234 Pacific Ave., Venice,

(888) LA-PARKS

Quiet, less than a dozen dogs, even on a sunny Sunday afternoon.

Open trash cans. Scoopers. Separate area for small or timid dogs. Bulletin board.

Creepy bulletin board that reminds us that “All Dogs Go to Heaven.”

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Chart Research: LESLIE GORNSTEIN