Pamper Your Pooch in Chesapeake

Wishing you could take your pampered pooch on every trip? Chesapeake, Virginia offers a variety of pet-friendly hotels ready to welcome your entire family - including Fido!

Located in the heart of the Hampton Roads region, Chesapeake is only a short drive away from many popular vacation destinations, including Virginia Beach and the Outer Banks of North Carolina.

Click here to see pet-friendly hotels and accommodations in Chesapeake.

Both you and your pet can socialize and enjoy a breath of fresh air at one of Chesapeake's spacious outdoor attractions. Chesapeake boasts two dog parks, one for all dogs and one for petite pets that are 25 lbs. or less. Click here for dog park guidelines, which include reminders for every good pet owner.

The puppy love doesn't stop there. Chesapeake annually hosts two premier dog events: the annual Dog Fancier's Dog Show (held this year from May 1 - 2) and the DockDogs® National Sportsmen's Series Tour.

Dog Fancier's Dog Show

The Chesapeake Dog Fanciers Association hosts the American Kennel Club (AKC) licensed, all-breed dog show at the Chesapeake City Park. Approximately 800 dogs compete each day representing over 100 AKC registered breeds. Pooches can compete in categories including Best Puppy in Show and Best Bred by Exhibitor Entry in Show. Championship dog shows are great opportunities to see many favorite AKC registered breeds. It is also a fun, educational opportunity for the little ones, especially to become a responsible dog owner. Don't worry about missing the festivities because of lunch; food is available on-site! The entry cost is a minimal $3 for adults and children under 12 years are free.

DockDogs® National Sportsmen's Series Tour

The National Sportsmen's Series Tour is made possible by DockDogs®, an independent governing and sanctioning body for regional, national and international dock jumping performance sports. DockDogs® establishes the rules and regulations of the sport, tracks results and records and supports and promotes the growth of its athletes, events, spectators and sponsors. Brought to Chesapeake by Parks and Recreation and the Chesapeake Humane Society, this event features both Big Air and Extreme Vertical competitions.

DockDogs® Big Air competition features K-9's leaping off of a 40' dock into a 50 ft. pool of water. The Extreme Vertical competition consists of up to 20 dogs jumping for height. Preliminary competition is held Saturday, with final on Sunday in conjunction with the popular Bark in the Park. The competitions are open to all dogs.

For other family and pooch-friendly events in Chesapeake, check out our events calendar. 

For more information on the dog parks, contact Chesapeake's Parks and Recreation Department at 757-382-6411.