A dog owner’s guide to the Wasatch Front

New to being a dog owner on the Wasatch Front? Lucky for you, Utah is a great place to own a dog. With plenty of open space and lot’s of passionate pet owners in residence, the Wasatch Front is a welcoming place for you and your canine. Here’s our need-to-know info on where to take your pet in an emergency or for fun, as well as a few local dog-related rules.  

Medical care 

Hopefully your pup will only need a check-up here and there, but in case of a medical issue, it's nice to have a trusted veterinarian on paw. The Wasatch Front has nationwide animal hospitals like Blue Pearl, VCA and MedVet that you may already be familiar with. Locally owned clinics like Lehi Animal Hospital and University Veterinary Hospital & Diagnostic Center are more common than cute labradors.

For routine medical procedures like vaccinations and microchipping, contact your local county animal services. Some offer free or low-cost spaying and neutering for cats and dogs as a public service. The Humane Society of Utah also offers low-cost preventative procedures as well as adoption and behavior training.

Daycares and boarding

Heading to Arches National Park for the weekend? You might want to leave your furry friend home so you can enjoy Delicate Arch up close (dogs aren’t allowed on most national park trails). Doggy daycares along the Wasatch Front are fully prepared for Georgie the goldendoodle to come stay for a few hours or board for a week. Check out Desert Dog, Ruff House or Idlewire Pet Care. 

FYI, most boarding facilities require dogs to be fully vaccinated and over four months old before they can visit.

Dog friendly restaurants

It’s hard to leave your best friend home alone, but maybe you don’t need to. Many Wasatch Front restaurants allow dogs. Look for eateries with outdoor seating, preferably with shade. Some places like Spitz and The Ridge Market and Cafe will provide your pup a water bowl as well. 

In Utah, restaurants have to have a permit for doggy diners, so call ahead and make sure they can accommodate you and Percy the well-behaved patio poodle.

Dog parks

So there are regular parks (cool) … and then there are dog parks (bark yeah!). Most regular parks require dogs to be on-leash, but there are designated off-leash parks throughout the Wasatch Front. Tanner Park and Dayland Dog Park both have water to splash in and plenty of room to run. Cottonwood Park’s off-leash area has shade from mature trees, lots of other dogs and wide-open space.

Dogs in Wasatch canyons

Part of the Wasatch Range is a protected watershed, which means that snowmelt and runoff are used as municipal drinking water. Dog poop can carry transmittable diseases that can make its way into the water supply. Locals want their water to stay as clean and untreated as possible so dogs (and other domestic animals) gotta stay out. Pets are not allowed in Big Cottonwood Canyon, Little Cottonwood Canyon, Parley’s Canyon, Lamb’s Canyon, Little Dell Canyon or City Creek Canyon. 

Dogs are allowed off-leash in Millcreek Canyon on odd-numbered days, and on-leash on even-numbered days. (Just remember that dog slant rhymes with odd). Watch out for speedy mountain bikers on even-numbered days.

Looking for gently used pet supplies like leashes, kennels and dog beds? Or want to adopt a pet responsibly? Browse the Pets category of KSL Classifieds for all your animal needs.