This grassy, 2.5-acre Seal Beach dog park is entirely fenced and includes covered trash cans plus drinking fountains for dogs and humans.

Established in April 1999, this grassy, 5-acre fenced park includes a separate area for small or timid dogs. Open from dawn to dusk.

This San Clemente dog park includes a separate parks for small dogs but not much space that's shaded. There's even a hiking trail behind the park Open from 6 a.m. to sunset, except on Tuesdays when it's closed until 1 p.m. for maintenance.

The 1.5-acre dog park located south of Sunset Boulevard at the Barrington Recreation Center is open daily, dawn to dusk.

The Friends of the Culver City Dog Park raised more than $100,000 to help design, develop and build Culver City's only off-leash park, which opened in April 2006 and is known as The Boneyard. It features separate areas for large and small dogs as well as shade enclosures, canine water fountains and benches.

Brookside also is one of a handful of Pasadena parks open to off-leash dogs. Located adjacent to the Rose Bowl, this 25-acre park features canine-friendly wide open spaces full of lush green grass, trees, a softball field and a small picnic area for accompanying humans. There is a catch to the seemingly liberal Pasadena off-leash law. You must be actively training your dog to heel, come when called or stay--no ear-flapping fun runs here. Please note, the park is open to dogs from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. on weekends.

Opened in 2003 and also known as Corona Dog Park, it is a .8-acre, fenced, off-leash dog area in Butterfield Park that includes shaded areas and a doggie drinking fountain.

Open daily from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m., this park includes a benches, trees, parking, lights, water, trash cans, scoops, a doggie drinking fountain and a fenced children's play area.

Located on the back side of Canada Vista Park, this dog park includes separate areas for small and large dogs. Pet owners can relax on a couple of covered benches.

Located at the foot of Mt. Rubidoux, this dog park is divided into separate sections for small and large dogs.

Located in College Park, this tree-lined Claremont dog park is fully fenced with double-gated entry, ample parking, lots of benches, drinking fountain with attached trough, a dog wash area, disposal bags and trash cans.

Located in TeWinkle Park, this two-acre, fenced, off-leash dog park features a separate area for small, elderly and disabled dogs.

Located near LAX, this 1.44-acre dog park has a separate, enclosed area for small dogs. It also includes fences, benches, trees, doggie bags and trashcans.

Freedom Park offers a small fenced, off-leash dog park with separate areas for small and large dogs. The dog park is open daily from dawn to 11 p.m.

Open daily from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. (except Wednesdays), this dog park is located next to the Hunt Branch Library and includes a separate area for smaller and older dogs.

Located at north end of the John Ferraro Soccer Field on North Zoo Drive, this 1.6-acre dog park includes a separate, fenced area for small or shy dogs.

Formerly Oak Grove Park, 1300-acre Hahamongna Watershed Park includes an athletic field; an extensive network of bridle, bicycle and hiking trails; and a dog park.

The newest dog park in Riverside County was opened in December 2006 and is located just north of Corona in the unincorporated community of Eastvale.

Open daily from dusk to dawn, the Hermon Park Dog Park features 1 1/3 acres of off-leash exercise area with a separate area for small dogs.

Located next to Central Park on Edwards St., Huntington Dog Park is a 1.5-acre park that includes, benches, waste disposal bags and a separate pen for small dogs.

Located next to Central Park on Edwards St., this 1.5-acre, off-leash dog park is beloved by pet owners who want to give their canines a little leash-free exercise.

Opened in 2000, the Central Bark dog park features almost 3 acres of open field for off-leash play with a separate area for small dogs.

Adjacent to the Palm Desert Country Club., this 2.5-acre park includes basketball courts, volleyball courts, a rose garden, a picnic pavilion and a fenced, off-leash dog park that's about 1/3 of an acre and open daily from dawn to 10 p.m.

Santa Monica dog parks are notoriously well-policed. As the only large, fenced, off-leash park west of Laurel Canyon, Joslyn Park is watched with an eagle eye.

Moved from its original location in October 2007, this miniscule, .08-acre dog park offers ground cover that's made up mostly of wood chips.

Open daily from dawn to 10 p.m., this dog park that includes a separate, fenced area for small dogs, is only open to Ladera Ranch residents.

Known to locals as Bark Park, this fenced pooch playground has some picnic tables, benches, trash containers and a doggie water fountain.

Located near Chapparosa Park, this south county canine hang provides 1.1 acres of fenced play area complete with landscaping, wood chips for ground cover, a water fountain with a hose, three picnic tables with shade shelters and a restroom.

Also known as A Place for Paws Park, this off-leash dog park divides its time so that mornings are for small dogs (8 a.m. - 1 p.m.) and afternoons are for big dogs (1-7 p.m.).

There's a high ratio of designer dogs and cell phones at Laurel Canyon Dog Park, but there's also a large swath of green grass -- 3 acres of off-leash glory, to be precise -- for the pooches to romp on.

Located off Ocean Blvd. between Argonne and Roycroft, Long Beach's 3-acre, off-leash dog zone is open daily from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.

This 2-acre, off-leash dog park offers benches, tables, disposal bags, trees, parking, lights, water, trash cans, nightime lighting and a separate fenced area for small dogs.

Off-leash hours: daily, 6-9 a.m. and 6-10 p.m. Dogs must be licensed in Santa Monica. Violators risk fines of $50 and up.Non-residents can get a license by calling (310) 450-6179.

Open daily from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m., Memorial Park includes a small dog run. Dogs must be licensed in Santa Monica. Violators risk fines of $50 and up.Non-residents can get a license by calling (310) 450-6179.

Located in Yorba Park, this dog park is open from 7 a.m. to sunset (closed Wednesdays for maintenance) and features separate areas for small and large dogs.

Open weekdays 7:30 a.m. - 8:30 p.m. and weekends 8:30 a.m. - 8:30 p.m., this park includes a .42-acre dedicated off-leash area.

One of the largest parks in Palm Desert, this 70-acre span includes four baseball fields, six tennis courts, four volleyball courts, three basketball courts, a picnic area, an amphitheater, a skate park, a children's play area and a dog park.

This relatively small, 1.6-acre park is fenced in with benches, tables, disposal bags, trees, parking, phones, lights, water, trash cans and shelter.

The Alice Frost Kennedy off-leash dog area at Vina Vieja Park offers 2.5 grassy acres, separate areas for small and large dogs, a water station, benches and parking. Open daily from dawn to dusk.

Located near the Jurupa Hills area, this dog park is divided into separate areas for small and large dogs. It also boasts a nice view of the Santa Ana River.

Located in Etiwanda Creek Community Park, this fenced-in dog area, complete with shady trees and a wonderful view of the mountains, offers water, shovels and a dog rinse-off area.

This small neighborhood park (1.3 acres) includes a basketball court, a playground area, a covered picnic area and a very small off-leash dog area.

This large, grassy, off-leash dog park (part of Dominguez Park) features benches, water fountains, trash cans, poop bags and nearby restrooms. Open from dawn until dusk.

Separate areas for small and large dogs, benches, pooper scoopers and plastic bags. Open daily from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Nestled in the Hollywood foothills, this 160-acre park finds bicyclists, runners, hikers, casual walkers and dogs peacefully coexisting on the moderately steep trails. For dog owners, this place is a bonanza, with 90 acres of off-leash area, rnning water, drinking bowls, trash cans and poop bags. The downside is that Runyon is by far the 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. And for dogs that have dark fur or get easily overheated, avoid coming in the middle of the day during the summer months as there's not much shade.

Officially, access to this hike is private property, but the locals happen to be dog lovers and take every opportunity to make the place canine-friendly, from a conveniently located plastic bag bin on your way in, to a free-for-all watering fountain on your way out -- with a refillable doggie bowl at its base. There is an identifying sign at the entrance, which asks you to be respectful of others and pick up after your dog. At this point, you can let your dogs off their leashes to trot their way down the steps and into the lush haven of eucalyptus trees, running streams (depending on the season) and eerily abandoned houses.

Located in Horsethief Canyon Park, an all-grass acre is divided into two separately fenced areas for large and small dogs. Shade structures, doggy drinking fountains, scoopers and poop bags provided.

A large dog park with 5 acres of off-leash area, real fire hydrants and a separate area for small dogs.

Located inside Sierra Vista Park, this dog park features separate fenced-off areas for large/active dogs and small/special needs dogs.

This fenced-in grassy knoll of a park, just a little more than half the size of a football field, is an oasis for pet owners. Plastic bag in hand, dog lovers usually show up in the early evening, just after work, or early in the morning, just before. The leashes come off and the dogs are free to roam, run, sniff around and play with wild abandon. It's actually a joy to watch, and the dog chat with other pooch parents is honestly, endlessly fascinating.

When it's completed in October 2008, Palm Desert’s fourth gated dog park will have 2.4 acres (with separate areas for small and large dogs) of off-leash play area. Other amenities include a picnic area and restrooms.

This miniscule dog park offers just under an acre of off-leash area (that's 50' x 25') and stays open from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., daily.

Big pooches have 50,000 square feet of romping room at this 3-acre off-leash haven. The little ones can play, too — in their own 22,000-square-foot space. Open daily from dawn to dusk.

Open daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., this park includes a trail with an off-leash dog area that's available at specific hours for dogs of varying sizes.