Welcome to the desert. Palm Springs is one of the most dog-friendly small cities anywhere — patios, parks, and a community that treats dogs like family. Here's your first-month checklist.
Week 1: The essentials
- Register with a vet before you need one. See our Resources page for member-recommended clinics, including 24/7 emergency options.
- License your dog with Riverside County (required, and it's how a lost dog gets home fast).
- Update microchip and tag info with your new address.
Week 2: Learn the terrain
Walk your neighborhood early and note the hazards that are new here: rattlesnakes in brushy areas (keep dogs leashed on trails), coyotes at dawn and dusk (small dogs stay close), and cholla cactus that seems magnetically attracted to paws. Carry a comb in your car — it's the tool for flicking cholla out.
Week 3: Find your spots
Ruth Hardy Park and Demuth Park have off-leash areas. Tahquitz Creek Trail is the best shaded walk in summer. Half the patios on Palm Canyon Drive welcome dogs — our Resources page lists member favorites.
Week 4: Meet people
Come to a community event. The biweekly morning walk at Ruth Hardy Park is the easiest entry point — show up, say hi, and you'll leave with three new friends and a list of local tips no guide can cover.