Here are some fun places we like to go for "outings" in the Greater Metropolitan Birmingham area as well as some fun destinations further away. Hopefully, it will give you inspiration for ideas in your area! You can always look at bringfido.com "activities" or "events" for suggestions in your area! (this page is currently being updated ..... more to come soon)
Local - Greater Birmingham Area
A little drive . . .
Stores:
Home Depot
3670 Galleria Cir, Birmingham, AL 35244
3670 Galleria Cir, Birmingham, AL 35244
|
|
|
At Home
5501 Grove Blvd, Hoover, AL 35226
Here is Doyle (kennel name Theophilus) visiting this store:
5501 Grove Blvd, Hoover, AL 35226
Here is Doyle (kennel name Theophilus) visiting this store:
Petco
5631 Grove Blvd Birmingham, AL 35226
5631 Grove Blvd
Birmingham, AL 35226
5631 Grove Blvd Birmingham, AL 35226
5631 Grove Blvd
Birmingham, AL 35226
PetSmart
3780 Riverchase Village Ste 3 Hoover, AL 3524
3780 Riverchase Village Ste 3 Hoover, AL 3524
Restaurants:
There are lots of restaurants with patio seating that allow "friendly" well behaved dogs. We love The District, Casual Pint, Pita Cafe, and more! Here is Sebastian at Ole Heidelberg in Huntsville.
Starbucks Puppaccinos ROCK!! Thank you, Starbucks!
3032 John Hawkins Pkwy, Birmingham, AL 35244
3032 John Hawkins Pkwy, Birmingham, AL 35244
Brewpubs (Cahaba Brewery, Avondale, Oak Mountain Brewery etc.) - Our favorite ones:
Rojo
There is even a "Dogs of Rojo" instagram page! Here are photos of Cindy and Lola visiting Rojo Fall, 2024, and Iona visiting Rojo 2023.
There is even a "Dogs of Rojo" instagram page! Here are photos of Cindy and Lola visiting Rojo Fall, 2024, and Iona visiting Rojo 2023.
Beef O' Brady's
ROUGAROUX817 39th St S | @therougarouxbhm | Rougaroux is a quirky casual eatery that’s the real New Orleans deal. Enjoy Cajun classics including po’boys, gumbo, and more. Opt for the patio to bring your pooch.
Misc. - Parks (dog parks, and state/national parks, other):
When it's not hot, (because hot pavement can burn their paws badly --in seconds!), a great place to practice loose leash walking is parking lots. A new mall, where a business has not been developed yet (so no traffic at that spot of the mall etc.) or any number of places. We used to train at the parking lot outside of Field and Stream. Also, we love Hoover Met! Here's Robert working on some lead work before a show.
Moss Rock Preserve is our favorite for hiking!
This park was at a KOA. Campgrounds often have some super nice small dog parks.
Cahaba Beach Dog Park (private - membership only)
Petro Travel Center
22526 AL-216, McCalla, AL, US, 35111
22526 AL-216, McCalla, AL, US, 35111
Tannehill Ironworks Historical State Park
12632 Confederate Pkwy, McCalla, AL, US, 35111
12632 Confederate Pkwy, McCalla, AL, US, 35111
Jemison Park
2615 Mountain Brook Pkwy, Mountain Brook, AL, US, 35226
2615 Mountain Brook Pkwy, Mountain Brook, AL, US, 35226
Events
Barktoberfest (October) at Cahaba Brewery
Mutt Strut (Homewood, April) - benefiting Hand in Paw Therapy Dog
Paws in the Garden - (Aldridge Botanical Gardens) - March event: 3530 Lorna Road, Hoover, AL, US
Carnegie Canine Parade (Decatur, AL) - We had a blast participating in this parade! Tory, and the Southern Belle pups . . .
Road Trip!! It really is fun traveling with your pug! There are so many dog friendly hotels.
We do a lot of traveling with our show pugs as they work to obtain their AKC championships. We try to keep it rather close to home (Montgomery, Atlanta, Perry, GA etc.) but, sometimes, we've had to head pretty far away in order to find "majors" (where there are enough pugs entered) and specific dates that cooperate with our work schedules. One of the most favorite adventures was up through Virginia, Maryland, New York, Vermont -- with Parker and some others. (Buttercup came along for Rally Obedience, and Scarlett and Bridget for Beginner Puppy). It was in the summer and hot, so we brought along extra fans (battery operated) and cooling pads. And we always travel with a cooler with ice when it's hot weather. I think Parker's favorite part was the dog beach (Downs Park) outside of Baltimore, Maryland!
Hotel stays:
With younger pups, we like to bring an xpen for the room, like in this video. (Tips: we tried a canvas "crate" one time with a pug who was decently trained. However, when we left the room for dinner, he chewed his way out and, well. Another time, we left a younger pug in the bathroom thinking that would "contain him". It was a REALLY fancy hotel. He chewed the wood frame and door and Jeff worked for hours to repair it and repaint. Ahem. So, bring a real crate (as in wire) or xpen if you plan on leaving your pup alone at all. Even for an hour. You can bring a sound machine so your pug doesn't notice noises in hallway and outside your door as easily. To help prevent barking ;)
Pack:
*Crate (or xpen)
*Dog bed (or mats or something to sleep on)
*Several 'dog towels' from home so you don't use hotel towels for your pug.
*Baby wipes.
*Enzyme spray (like simple solution).
*Sheets or throws to cover sofas or chairs if you plan on allowing your pug on furniture. (pug hair!)
*dustbuster if you like to leave room spotless without pug hair
*I bring a lightweight vacuum, mop and chemicals for Motel 6 type hotels and I mop floor BEFORE letting my pugs into room.
*With puppies, I bring a litterbox and paper litter so the pug won't have to use the gross grassy area outside hotel, or so he won't have to go out in the middle of the night (especially if in a questionable part of town).
*poop bags (they don't always have them at hotels)
*sound machine (or app on phone)
*chew toys, bully sticks etc.
More TIPS:
*Check under beds for things like sharp things that might poke, or strange items left from previous hotel guests. Proof the room, even if you'll be in the room with your pug. They find stuff! Always contain your pug when leaving him alone in the room. Put a sign up on your door "do not disturb" or "no maid service" etc. You don't want your pug stressed out with a stranger entering the room. You know how pugs love to bark! When you go to small dog parks (at some hotels, or gas stations) check for holes in fence or dangerous things first. Actually, we go around and pickup gallons (it seems) of poop before we let our pugs in. People are so horrible about picking up after their dogs. (With this little park behind a hotel, we literally filled an entire garbage bag picking up other dogs' presents before we let Winston and Mr Drysdale roam around.) ( We'd rather protect our pugs and do some free work for these businesses than risk our pugs' being exposed to something in the feces etc. Yes, the residue and germs are still there, but it's better than the pug stepping in something then tracking it around the hotel room.)
Pack:
*Crate (or xpen)
*Dog bed (or mats or something to sleep on)
*Several 'dog towels' from home so you don't use hotel towels for your pug.
*Baby wipes.
*Enzyme spray (like simple solution).
*Sheets or throws to cover sofas or chairs if you plan on allowing your pug on furniture. (pug hair!)
*dustbuster if you like to leave room spotless without pug hair
*I bring a lightweight vacuum, mop and chemicals for Motel 6 type hotels and I mop floor BEFORE letting my pugs into room.
*With puppies, I bring a litterbox and paper litter so the pug won't have to use the gross grassy area outside hotel, or so he won't have to go out in the middle of the night (especially if in a questionable part of town).
*poop bags (they don't always have them at hotels)
*sound machine (or app on phone)
*chew toys, bully sticks etc.
More TIPS:
*Check under beds for things like sharp things that might poke, or strange items left from previous hotel guests. Proof the room, even if you'll be in the room with your pug. They find stuff! Always contain your pug when leaving him alone in the room. Put a sign up on your door "do not disturb" or "no maid service" etc. You don't want your pug stressed out with a stranger entering the room. You know how pugs love to bark! When you go to small dog parks (at some hotels, or gas stations) check for holes in fence or dangerous things first. Actually, we go around and pickup gallons (it seems) of poop before we let our pugs in. People are so horrible about picking up after their dogs. (With this little park behind a hotel, we literally filled an entire garbage bag picking up other dogs' presents before we let Winston and Mr Drysdale roam around.) ( We'd rather protect our pugs and do some free work for these businesses than risk our pugs' being exposed to something in the feces etc. Yes, the residue and germs are still there, but it's better than the pug stepping in something then tracking it around the hotel room.)
This one was in Hamilton, Alabama, on the way to Tunica, MS . . . .
A lot of Rest Stops do not allow dogs (or at least not in the main area), but sometimes you can find dog-friendly ones!
Destinations - shorter road trips (Montgomery, Canton, Atlanta etc.) - Remember, when traveling with your pug, schedule extra time for frequent stops!
Sweet Creek Farm (south of Montgomery)
https://www.sweetgrownalabama.org/sga-members/843
There are goats and chickens, peacocks, and all sorts of things your pug can experience!
https://www.sweetgrownalabama.org/sga-members/843
There are goats and chickens, peacocks, and all sorts of things your pug can experience!
Stone Mountain near Atlanta, GA was a great trip. The pugs even got to ride in the boat ... FYI, life vests are required!
Further Destinations - longer road trips:
We've loved our trips to Destin, and getting to sit outside at restaurants and walk on some dog-friendly beaches.
Eliza, Drysdale, Beatrix, and Tiggy had fun in Pensacola, FL . . .
New Hampshire, we enjoyed the Robert Frost poetry trail! (Though there were too many pugs, and it really was hot) . . . .
Smoky Mountains is ALWAYS a favorite trip (in the Fall especially)!
