We love them like we love nothing else on this earth. We spend hours on social media whispering, “You are perfect,” to their photos, knowing they can’t hear us. We buy houses for them, make sure they’re always the center of attention and cater to their insane dietary restrictions with no questions.
All of this for the sake of the best boys and girls in the world — dogs.
We’ve all been accused of taking our dog-parent habits to the extreme, but so what? Grab your compostable poo bags and your furry bestie, and tour through these best dog-related things to do in the Bay Area this year.
Golden Gate Kennel Club Dog Show: January / Daly City, CA
Whether you’re trying to re-create your Best in Show fantasies or you’re just really die-hard about purebred boofers, the Golden Gate Kennel Club Dog Show has two separate days of events just for you. Come by on either January 26 or 27 at the Cow Palace for a chance to meet dogs from all breeds, see demonstrations and experience a real-life dog show for yourself.
SF Beer Week Pints for Paws: February / San Francisco, CA
Maybe you’re not much of a Super Bowl tailgater, but what about the Puppy Bowl? It’s the better of the two events anyway, and on February 3, you can enjoy your favorite craft brews with a couple of long-toothed furry friends as you cheer on the sweet floofs on the screen. The event partners with Muttville Senior Dog Rescue to raise funds and help find these oft-overlooked older “MVPs” a home.
Corgi Con: June + October / San Francisco, CA
If Corgi butts make you nuts, then you’ll be thrilled to hear that Corgi Con, a massive gathering of corgis at San Francisco’s Ocean Beach, is a twice-a-year occurrence. In June or October, you can dig your toes in the sand and nuzzle all the corgi ears your heart can stand — with the owners’ permission, of course.
World’s Ugliest Dog Contest: June / Petaluma, CA
This is a contest we can get behind. Dogs that are so ugly they’re cute and a few that are just really ugly compete for the title of World’s Ugliest Dog at the Sonoma-Marin Fair. Strut your pup, or take a seat and applaud the ugly boofers.
Adopt-a-Thon: July / Oakland, CA
The East Bay SPCA gets 30 local shelters all together at Jack London Square to help East Bay residents find their furever friends. And it doesn’t just stop at dogs — those looking to rescue small rodents or even pigeons will have a chance at taking home an animal guest.
World Dog Surfing Championships: August / Pacifica, CA
Every year, Northern California is blessed to receive the gnarliest doggos from all over the world. These ocean-savvy boofers catch the sickest waves at Linda Mar Beach every year, all in the name of charity. You don’t have to surf or have a dog to join the party — it’s a good excuse to walk the beach and dog-spot like no other.
Annual Rescued Dog Pageant: August / Berkeley, CA
Your favorite Midwestern-inspired dive bar, the Missouri Lounge, hosts a rescue-dog pageant once a year on its patio. The pageant is a fundraiser for the Berkeley Humane Society, so buy a brewski, snag a raffle ticket and get ready to vote for Miss (or Mister) Canine-iality.
Dog Days of Summer at AT&T Park: August / San Francisco, CA
Bring your fur baby to enjoy a hot dog in the stands with a bunch of other hot (and probably cute) dogs. There’s nothing more American than baseball, sunshine and dogs staring you down while you try to enjoy your $10 snack. Heads up! This event sells fast, so watch those ticket sales like…well…like your dog watches you eat.
Bring Your Own Dog Comedy Show: Every Other Month / San Francisco, CA
If you and your dog both love comedy, then you’ll be tickled brindle to find out there’s a place for you both. El Rio in the Mission hosts a “BYOD,” or Bring Your Own Dog, comedy night, where for $8 you and your dog bud can laugh at dog-related stand-up comedy. You can find upcoming show dates on the group’s Facebook page.
Bark in the Park: September / San Jose, CA
This is all the best dog-lover activities in one late-summer spot. You can compete in the Dog/Owner Look-alike Contest, take your kids for face painting and get your pooch microchipped for a discounted cost, all in San Jose’s lovely Williams Street Park. Don’t forget to register your fur kid in advance!
DogFest Bay Area: October / Oakland, CA
Celebrate all the hardworking support dogs in the Bay while fundraising for the charities that help make their jobs possible. Once a year at Jack London Square, DogFest puts on service-dog demonstrations, costume contests and a “walk and roll” parade.
Farley’s Pet Parade: October / San Francisco + Oakland, CA
Once a year we are blessed with the appearance of dogs in pumpkin costumes. Farley’s Coffee wants to mark this joyous occasion with their annual pet parade at both their San Francisco and Oakland locations on the Saturday before Halloween. Go for the ghostly boofers; stay for the coffee.
And if nothing on this list sounds appealing, you can always search for the perfect dog meet-up near you.
Hey! The Bold Italic recently launched a podcast, This Is Your Life in Silicon Valley. Check out the full season or listen to the episode below featuring Alexia Tsotsis, former co-editor of TechCrunch. More coming soon, so stay tuned!
