Socialize your doggie at a local dog friendly park

West Hills Dog Park
Sweet Hollow Road, Huntington
This newly opened dog park is 1.75 acres with a water fountain and bag dispensers.
LI Dog Owners Group, lidog_news@yahoo.com

East Northport Dog Park
Deposit Road
A good-sized space (about 300' by 90'), it has bag stations and a shade/rain pavilion with benches. For Huntington township residents only. Permits are required and free.

Blydenburgh Dog Park
Veterans Highway, Smithtown, 631-854-3713
A grand opening is set for Sept. 7 at 1 p.m. It's fenced and covers 1.8 acres and features an area for small dogs and an area for large dogs; doubled-gated entries; a water fountain for each area; plenty of benches; and waste bag dispensers. The dog park is located within 627-acre Blydenburgh County Park in the southern section of the park. Entrance to the park is on Veterans Memorial Hwy., opposite the H. Lee Dennison Building. The dog park itself is on the activity field, north of the campgrounds. Blydenburgh offers trails to hike, lakes to jump in, picnics to enjoy, and now a place for dogs to play off leash.

Gardiner Country Park
South Country Road, Bay Shore
Home to the PAWS for Remembrance Walk, the trails are well maintained, but doesn't have an actual dog park. An outdoor faucet can help get the dirt off your dog and keep it out of your car.

Southaven Country Park
Victory Avenue, Brookhaven
Much of the terrain here is flat and easy to walk. The lake is pretty cool, too. Park is dog-friendly, but doesn't have an actual dog park.

Dog park etiquette

- Scoop the poop
- Keep your dog on a leash when a leash law is enforced
- For safety reasons, never let your dog greet others unless invited to do so
- Make sure your dog is well behaved and will listen to obedience commands
- Pay attention to your dog and be responsible for their behavior
- Follow the posted rules as they can vary at individual parks

Dog-friendly beaches

Atlantic Beach

Dogs on a leash are allowed on the beach only during the off-season, from Oct. 1 through March 31. Dogs are not permitted on the boardwalk at any time.

Heckscher State Park in East Islip
Dogs on a leash no longer than 6 feet are allowed on the beach, access in undeveloped areas only. Dogs are not permitted in camping, bathing and picnic areas, in buildings or on walkways.

Fire Island National Seashore
Dogs are permitted, but must be kept leashed and are not allowed in public buildings, on lifeguarded beaches or near areas closed for endangered species.

Ocean Beach in Fire Island
Dogs on a leash are allowed on the beach only during the off-season, from September 16 through May 14.

Town-owned beaches in Southampton
Dogs are allowed on all town-owned beaches only between October 1st and April 1st.

From Newsday --Dog-friendly parks and beaches on Long Island BY CORRIS LITTLE