Help your dog “Be a Pup Pro” on East Bay trails

CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CA — The other day we were sitting on a bench eating lunch at Sibley Volcanic Regional Preserve, when another hiker with two big, friendly dogs came past on the trail.

One of the dogs saw us and made a beeline for the food. My reflexes were fast enough that I covered our lunch just in time. Won by a nose.

Its owner called the dog back and all was well. But it did remind us of some dog-related rules of the road.

The park district has a “Be A Pup Pro” campaign under way. You’ve probably seen the posters at trailheads.

Basic themes

The campaign has three basic themes:

• Bag it and bin it. Everyone is supposed to pick up after their pet has done its business. Deposit the waste in a trashcan. Please don’t just leave it trailside for someone else to deal with.
• Leash your dog in designated areas. Such as parking lots, trailheads, picnic areas, paved trails, etc. Note also that dogs are not allowed at swim beaches or in some places that are wildlife sanctuaries. One example is Round Valley south of Brentwood, where dogs are prohibited because the park is habitat for the rare and endangered San Joaquin kit fox. Tilden Nature Area near Berkeley (just the nature area, not the entire park) is off-limits for dogs, too. Elsewhere, watch for signs indicating where dogs are prohibited or must be leashed.
• Keep your dog safe. Leash your dog around cattle and horses. Some horses can be skittish with dogs, resulting in unsafe conditions for everyone.

In general, dogs are allowed off-leash in the regional parks, once you are away from the trailheads, as long as the dog is under voice control, which means it will return to its owner when called.

If a dog starts chasing wildlife or cattle, or has uninvited interactions with other park visitors (see above), the dog has to be put back on leash.

Your pet’s needs

Be considerate of your pet’s needs. As the weather gets warmer, dogs can become overheated. After all, they are wearing permanent fur coats. And their main method of regulating their body temperature is by panting.

So carry enough water for Fido as well as for yourself. There are plenty of lightweight dog water dishes on the market, or you can use a one-gallon plastic zip bag.

Remember, too, that pavement can get very hot in the sun. And sharp, rocky surfaces are hard on paws.

There are special rules for dogs at Point Isabel Regional Shoreline in Richmond. Dogs are okay off-leash in the park. But carry a six-foot maximum leash and keep your dog on-leash in parking lots and on streets. Dogs must be under voice control and within your sight at all times. Clean up your dog’s waste and put it in the trashcans. Leash your pet if it shows aggressive behavior. Prevent your pet from digging or damaging the landscape.

In all the regional parks, anyone who walks or exercises a dog for a fee, or who walks more than three personal dogs, has to obtain and carry a revocable annual permit. For information on the dog permit program, call 510-690-6508. For more information on dog rules in the regional parks, check out the website, www.ebparks.org.

East Bay Regional Park District is a very dog-friendly agency. And a little common sense and common courtesy goes a long way towards assuring a pleasant park experience for dog owners and non-owners alike.

Ned MacKay writes a regular column about East Bay Regional Park District sites and activities. Email him at nedmackay@comcast.net.