He'll sleep well tonight. The dog will be tired, too.
As a dog owner, I always try to include Alphy, my toy poodle, in all our weekend activities.
Here are the places we visit together where Alphy and friends are more than welcome and we can have a meal altogether.
Sentosa Beach
While Sentosa requires dogs to be leashed on most parts of the beach, the payoff is you'll meet many fellow dog owners from all over the world bringing their pooches here for a swim. By the time you are ready to go home, your dog is guaranteed a good night’s sleep.
Tip: Get there early. The best time to swim and relax is by 11 a.m., before the beach gets crowded and the sun blazing hot. Aim to be in the water by 9 a.m. and then spend the rest of the morning relaxing and resting until lunchtime.
Fees: There is a gantry charge for all vehicles to enter Sentosa which ranges from S$2-$7 depending on the time and day you enter.
Tanjong Beach Club
The restaurant/bar which sits on Tanjong beach is dog-friendly and it's not unusual to see dogs and owners sharing beach chairs and enjoying the view together. They have a menu of food and drinks and at times can be pricey, especially if it is a day bed you're after, where there is a minimum charge of S$200.
120 Tanjong Beach Walk; Open Tuesday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-11 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m.-11 p.m.; Sunday, 11 a.m.-midnight; tel +65 6270 1355
Coastes
We usually finish swimming at Tanjong Beach and take our dog for a 15-minute walk to Siloso Beach and stop by Coastes for a break.
Dogs are welcome to sit with their owners and even given comfortable bean bags to rest in as the humans fill their tummies up with hot dogs and nachos and enjoy a beer.
#01-05/06 Sentosa 50 Siloso Beach Walk; tel +65 6274 9668; Open Sunday-Thursday and public holidays, 9 a.m.-11 p.m.; Friday-Saturday and eve of public holidays, 9 a.m.-1 a.m.
Urban Pooch
A dog and human cafe, daycare, grooming center and also a retailer of pet goods, Urban Pooch is popular for dog gatherings and hosts “barkday” parties.
Alphy's pal Mambo recently had his first barkday party at Urban Pooch and both human and doggie guests enjoyed tasty home cooked meals. Main courses for humans are priced under S$15 and doggie meals are under S$5.
A small birthday cake for dogs starts from S$20 and drinks kept reasonably priced. The dogs not only enjoyed their treats, but had a great time playing and working up their appetites in the daycare area before lunch.
#01-07, Monville Mansion, 530 Balestier Road; tel +65 6252 5046; Open Monday-Friday, 2-9 p.m., Saturday-Sunday, 12:30-9:30 p.m.; urbanpooch.com.sg
Bishan Park Dog Park
Alphy loves the freedom to run and sniff as he pleases, so we enjoy taking him to the Bishan Dog Park.
There are two large enclosed fenced areas where dogs of all sizes get to run off leash and play ball. Usually you’ll see the big breeds grouped together in one of the fenced areas and the smaller breeds in the other area (to prevent bullying of the smaller dogs).
Humans have to stay outside the fence while their dogs play. Some bring their own portable chairs and sit inside the enclosed area. Dog owners are also very friendly and happy to exchange stories of their dogs with you.
Hungry? Bishan Park also includes several dog friendly cafes and restaurants which are five minutes walking distance from the Dog Run.
1382 Ang Mo Kio Ave. 1; tel +65 6556 1533
The Canopy @ Aramsa: tapas, wines, brunch, Western dining
The Middle Rock Garden Bar: tapas, wine, cocktails
Green Room Café: vegetarian cafe, smoothies, fresh fruit juices with a wide selection of pizza, pasta and sandwiches
K9 Kulture
This is a dog’s version of a theme park.
K9 Kulture has been around since 2005, but we visited for the first time recently and had a great time with our dog. There is a swimming pool for dogs, a large grassy area for games and dog training classes, a cafe and diner for dogs and humans, plus a grooming and daycare center.
We visited on a Saturday and there were easily 30-plus dogs hanging out and having fun.
We returned this past weekend for the annual Doggy Christmas party. It was a great show for us with multiple activities for the pooches and food from K9 Kafe and their Doggy Diner.
The dog pool was a big hit. If you are interested in a safe and controlled area for your dog to go swimming (you can go in with them, too), the pool at K9 Kulture is open during the weekends from 1:30-5:30 p.m.
110 Turf Club Road, tel +65 6314 9363. Swimming pool rates: small dog S$12/hr or $38/half day; medium dog $14/hr or $44/half day; big dog $16/hr or $54/half day
K9 Kafe (tel. +65 6462 3736) and Doggy Diner (tel. +65 64625756): Tuesday-Friday: 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; Saturday, Sunday and public holidays 9 a.m.-7:30 p.m.
Find out more about dog friendly places
Pet forums such as www.petschannel.com are extremely popular with dog lovers. Activities and get-togethers are formed by forum members and they meet up at one of the many dog friendly cafes.
Singapore Kennel Club: catch the latest dog show or enroll your dog in one.
Facebook: It seems like every pet business out there has a Facebook page and would love to be your Facebook friend. Some of the popular pet companies in Singapore have an active Facebook page and regularly update their status with promotions, activities and also include information on their products and services.
Call and ask: We’ve brought our dog with us to many restaurants that aren’t known to be dog friendly. On many occasions, if they have outdoor seating, they are willing to accommodate.
Shirley submitted this piece as part of CNNGo’s CityPulse section. To find out what other stories we are looking for, go to our CityPulse page.
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