Your Pooch Will Love Rosie’s Dog Beach in Long Beach

traceytlc

22 May, 2023

Your Pooch Will Love Rosie’s Dog Beach in Long Beach

As temperatures rise, thoughts of escaping the heat become more vivid. You and your pup may begin to dream of frolicking on the beach and cooling off in the ocean. Where can one go to make those dreams come true? How about Rosie’s Dog Beach? Read on to find out more.

Picture of sign for Rosie's Dog Beach
Picture Courtesy of Sandy K. on Yelp

Where is Rosie’s Dog Beach?

Rosie’s Dog Beach is located at Belmont Shore Beach along Ocean Avenue in Long Beach. It is situated between Granada Avenue and Roycroft Avenue and covers approximately four acres. It is the only off-leash dog beach in Los Angeles county. Look for the brown sign and colorful metal dog art marking the area.

Rosie the bulldog playing in the ocean waves.
Photo Courtesy of Justin Rudd

Who was Rosie?

Rosie was the beloved English bulldog of Justin Rudd, a native of Alabama who moved to sunny Long Beach in 1997. Dismayed there was no place on the beach for dogs to roam freely, he found a loophole in the city rules that allowed pups on the beach for special events. In 2001, he hosted his first special event with over 400 dogs and their humans attending. This led to 20 more popular events. The city of Long Beach took notice and unanimously approved the “Dog Beach Zone” in 2004 after a successful pilot program.

Rosie was quite the celebrity in her day appearing on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno and Animal Planet. She graced the cover of Westways magazine and several newspapers wrote articles about her. She passed in 2010 after suffering cardiac arrest brought on by pneumonia. In honor of her life, the “Dog Beach Zone” was renamed “Rosie’s Dog Beach” the same year.

Cooper laying in the sand behind a beach chair draped with a beach towel.

Why Does Cooper Love Rosie’s Dog Beach?

Cooper loves Rosie’s Dog Beach because there are so many smells and plenty of friendly dogs to play with. He happily stays on leash until we hit the beach as required. Then, the leash snaps off, and he prances freely across the sand. Cooper is not a big fan of water, but he enjoys running along its edge and dipping his paws in the ocean. Walking along the pedestrian path is another favorite activity of his. He makes sure to stay off the bicycle path for safety and wears his leash when not in the marked dog zone.

Cooper and another dog sniffing a scents near the ocean.

Why is Rosie’s Dog Beach a Top Pick for Me?

First, it’s relatively clean. Dog owners tend to pick up after their pets and plenty of trash cans dot the area. Volunteers led by Justin Rudd meet the third Saturday of every month for an organized 30-minute beach clean up. Plenty of bathrooms are available as well with sinks.

Next, parking is easy! Find free parking along Ocean Boulevard right in front of Rosie’s Dog Beach. If you don’t luck out there, turn into the large parking lot adjacent to the beach. Access it from Granada Avenue. You must pay for parking, but on our last visit, it was only $.50 per 15 minutes. It is worth the convenience. While food is not allowed in the dog beach area, there are food trucks in the parking lot to grab a snack. My recommendation is you eat it before hitting the beach unless you want to fend off a whole lot of new doggy friends.

Finally, Rosie’s Dog Beach is near 2nd Street which features an abundance of restaurants and shopping. Cooper and I like to end our beach day with a bite to eat before heading home. One of our preferred dog-friendly eateries is The Attic on Broadway. Give their tasty Lobster Roll a try.

Coop sunbathing in a beach chair with a turquoise towel.

What Else Should You Know?

  • Only one dog per adult is allowed.
  • Rosie’s Dog Beach is open daily from 6am until 8pm.
  • Vaccinations must be up to date.
  • No puppies under 4 months old.
  • You are legally responsible if your dog causes an injury.
  • No aggressive dogs.
  • No team sports although frisbees and small balls for fetch are acceptable.
  • It is suggested to bring your own bags to remove and dispose of dog waste.
  • Don’t forget fresh drinking water and sunscreen.

For a complete list of rules, click here.

Cooper walking along the sand at Rosie's Dog Beach with a dog running in the background.

Do You Have an English Bulldog?

If so, you might want to enter them into the Annual Bulldog Beauty Contest. This year’s contest has passed, but there is always 2024! To discover other fun events held at Rosie’s Dog Beach, follow their Facebook page here.

For another dog-friendly beach idea, click here.

Cooper and I would love to hear about your beach adventures in the comment section below.