(Jarrod Valliere/San Diego Union-Tribune)
San Diego: In the city of San Diego, you have two options for taking your four-legged friend to the beach without a leash. The first is Dog Beach, the city’s only 24-hour dog beach, just north of Ocean Beach at the confluence with the San Diego River. The second is on Carnival Island, outside the fenced area. At other city beaches, dogs are allowed on a leash after 6 p.m. from April 1 to October 31 and after 4 p.m. from November 1 to March 31.
Coronation: There is a dog beach at the northern end of Coronado Beach. This 24-hour, off-leash beach has a dog wash-off area and trash bags at the entrance. Street parking only, next to Dog Beach in a residential area, so be patient and be prepared to walk to the beach.
From sea: Dogs are allowed on the beach in Del Mar, but the hours vary depending on the area and time of year. In the Far North, dogs are allowed off leash from after Labor Day until June 15; from June 16 to Labor Day, dogs must be on leash from 8 a.m. to sunrise. From 29th Street to Powerhouse Park, dogs are not allowed June 16th through Labor Day, and no dogs are allowed on a leash from Labor Day through June 15th. At the South End, between Power Park and Sixth Street, dogs are allowed year-round but must be kept on a leash at all times.