Ask any dog owner in Southern California where Dog Beach is, and they will know exactly where it is. At the border of the south end of Solana Beach and the north end of Del Mar, or North Beach is doggy heaven from September 6th through June 14th when dogs are allowed to run free off-leash.  This beach is perfect for the dogs because it has a natural boundary at the south end of dog beach in the San Dieguito Rivermouth which is usually it is anywhere from 25 to 50 feet across making it easy to control the movement of the dogs. There aren't too many places in Southern California where your dog can frolic at the beach with other dogs, so this is particularly a great place to take your dog for a "date". Pet owners looking for parking at Dog Beach Parking can park on the street, but remember that Del Mar likes its parking revenues -- and parking ticket revenues especially. Pay your meter diligently, or buy a $4 all-day pass from the little pay-and-display-your-ticket box at the top of Camino del Mar. The rules at Dog Beach are:

1. Out-of-control doggie behavior is prohibited. Del Mar lifeguards enforce the rules and will write you a ticket.

The crowd at Dog Beach is a very respectable pet-owning group and the beach is low-key with few incidents.  Most owners use the city-supplied clean-up mitts, but it's still a good idea to watch your step. Del Mar is a great community for dog owners and Del Mar real estate is a great purchase for their owners.