Why Our Pet Sitters Love Oakland, CA
There’s a lot to love about Oakland, especially for people with pets. If you’re new to town, or new to owning a pet here, let our experts show you around the neighborhood.
Why We Love Oakland
Oakland is a great place to call home. It’s a neighbor of San Francisco that’s never been in its shadow, with a thriving culture of its own rooted in celebration of the Black community. We’re proud of our history here, and are always working towards a bright future together.
It’s hard not to love living in “The Town.” We’re a hub of flourishing small businesses and communities they support. Whether you’re shopping at Berkeley Bowl, dining at Chez Panisse, or having a fun weekend at Fairland — there’s always something to discover here. This is also a city that takes care of each other; we’re known as an epicenter for social progress and building neighborhoods with love and intention.
And Oakland loves their pets just as much. By the American Veterinary Medical Association’s last count in 2018, there were 373,485 dogs registered as pets in Alameda County, and that number is growing every year. In 2024, Oakland Animal Services alone adopted out 1,773 dogs. That’s almost 5 dogs finding their forever homes every day in just one shelter!
So unsurprisingly, almost every restaurant in the East Bay has a dog-friendly patio, and many shops also love to welcome our favorite neighborhood pups. Oakland encourages you to take the whole family out when you’re spending time together — furry family included!
Petcare Concerns In Oakland, CA
Taking care of pets in Oakland isn’t quite like anywhere else. You're never far from nature, but still in the heart of a busy metropolis. So when it comes to hiring a boarder or pet sitter to care for your pets, you need to know they’re prepared for what pet care in Oakland looks like:
Crowded Neighborhoods | Downtown Oakland is pretty dense, so pet sitters and dog walkers in those neighborhoods need to be extremely comfortable navigating streets with other dogs. Thankfully for nervous dogs, there are plenty of opportunities to drive them to calmer locations.
Outdoor Exploration | Many people in Oakland have dog breeds that need a lot of exercise to stay mentally and physically healthy. Dog caregivers in Oakland need to know where the best dog parks are and how to keep your dog away from common hazards like Foxtail grass.
Warmer Weather | Without the daily grey of San Francisco, Oakland has much sunnier and warmer weather than San Francisco. Pet care professionals need to know how to tell if pavement is too hot for a dog’s paws and what the signs of heat exhaustion in dogs are.
Wildfire Precautions | Fires are becoming an increasingly common part of life in California. Pet sitters and pet boarders need to know how to get themselves and your pets to safety should an evacuation call be given for your neighborhood. Discuss a fire safety plan with your sitter before the booking starts during fire season.
Dog-friendly Activities In Oakland, CA
Everyone knows Oakland has some of the best food in the Bay Area, but did you know that you can usually bring your dog along with you? And there are plenty of other activities as well; let’s look at the best places to take your dog on a little field trip.
Dog-friendly Parks | The City of Oakland maintains 4 off-leash parks and 18 on-leash areas for dog owners to use, free of charge.
According to Yelp, the best dog park in Oakland is Dracaena Quarry Park.
Dog-friendly Hiking | Many of the national and state parks around Oakland allow leashed dogs, and some also have designated off-leash areas.
People come from all over California and the world to see:
Dog-friendly Dining | There are truly too many cafes, restaurants, and breweries to list. As we said, almost anywhere with outdoor seating allows dogs (or cats) as long as they’re well-behaved and leashed. But here are some of the local favorites:
Cafe Xochi (better known as Xochi the Dog Cafe)
Dog-friendly Neighborhoods | If you’re looking to make a whole day of it, there are some entire neighborhoods in Oakland where the shops, restaurants, and streets are especially dog-friendly. We recommend checking out:
Jack London Square (check out our friends at Pawsitively Bay Area!)
The Best Dog and Cat Sitters In Oakland
While Oakland is known for being dog-friendly, unfortunately, you can’t take your dog everywhere with you. Not only because of pesky rules, but also because it’s not always the best thing for them. Even if your dog is allowed in a crowded bar or on an airplane, being there could be stressful for them. So when you need to leave home for long periods of time, professional in-home pet sitters are the best choice to make sure your dog is safe and happy while you’re gone.
If you’re looking for the best in-home pet sitters in Oakland, CA — you’re in luck! At G&G Pets, our professional pet sitters are long-time residents of Oakland, San Rafael, and other neighboring East Bay cities.
But you don’t have to take our word for it. Check out our reviews on Google or learn more about our services here. Then use the button below to view the list of currently available sitters in your area and choose the one that’s right for you and your pets!
The information provided by Grand & Graham Pets (G&G Pets) on https://www.grandgrahampets.com is for general informational purposes only. It does not represent medical or training pet care advice. All information on the blog is provided in good faith; however, we make no representation or warranty of any kind, express or implied, regarding the accuracy, adequacy, validity, reliability, or completeness of any information on the blog. Under no circumstances shall we have any liability to you for any loss or damage of any kind incurred as a result of the use of the blog or reliance on any information provided on the blog. Your use of the blog and your reliance on any information on the blog is undertaken solely at your own risk. All text content of this blog is the property of Grand & Graham Pets and is therefore subject to copyright protection and not for reproduction or reuse. By accessing or using the website, blog, any materials, content, or intellectual property owned by the Owner, you acknowledge and agree to the terms of this Disclaimer. For more information, please see our full Disclaimer.
