Bark In the Park

What a great venue. This is my first time at bark in the park this year (2015). I came a little late so I didn’t pay or wasn’t charged. As soon as I got there I see a big circle full of venues and vendors.
As I make my round I get to the vaccinations. Which is why I wanted to go there in the first place to get my dogs last shots, rabies shots. I got it for five dollars what a deal! And then I see my veterinarians booth, what a surprise! Dr. Tama vet hospital!
It was fun. I got to see all kinds of dogs, some dogs be looking like aliens. It was like I was on a different plant with that crazy heat blazing down that Saturday.
They had plenty of water For the dogs every 50ft or so. I would definitely go there again! Gotta bring the wifey and familia.

First time here for my dog and myself. We both loved it despite the crazy hot weather.
PARKING SUCKS! Oh and bring $ 5 cash because they basically make you pay an entrance fee even though they call it a «donation.» It’s not really optional, just pay it.
Vendors provide water dishes all around and poop bags. I recommend bringing your own water dish if you’re concerned about what your dog consumes. The dishes set out can get pretty nasty since they don’t change the water out.
Bunch of freebies/​samples, wheel spins, and food trucks (for the humans). Super spread out so even if it was crowded, there’s still plenty of space for your four legged friends to run around.

I’m always searching for dog events and I have to admit, Bark in the Park will always be my favorite! My puppies and I look forward to it every year. :)
TIP: GO EARLY. AVOID THE HECTIC PARKING SPACES! The event started at 10AM and I arrived at 11am… I was surprised that most of the streets were already filled up the max. (Literally, bumper to bumper). My puppies and I had to walk a few streets to get to the event. However, I did appreciate that the city hired police officers to patrol the parking spaces though.
Vendors: TONS AND TONS OF VENDORS. Most of the time, they will offer free treats/​doggy bags! How awesome is that? :3 I ended up bringing a bag home, filled with treats, flyers, bandannas, and awesome discounts!
BRING CASH. You never know what you may end up buying because so many vendors offers awesome stuff! :D Some vendors will sell jerseys, Halloween costumes, collars, etc. It’s worth going to be exposed to all the different type of vendors who can offer awesome benefits for you & your pup! One of the vendors that I am looking into offers hiking for your dogs. Definitely gonna write a review if I go through with it.

Two of my favorite things combined into one event: city festivals + dogs! ‘Bark in the Park’ is the largest dog event I’ve been to and it was a lot of fun for hoomins and pups alike :) It was so cute seeing so many dogs there, too! *eye candy x1000*
There were a lot of different vendors at the event: for-​profit (e.g. dog boutique shops, animal hospitals, etc) and non-​profit organizations — and many had freebies to give out. Everyone we met were friendly; all dogs (on leashes) were well behaved (no dog fights broke out); and there were a lot to see, buy and learn.
It’s an event worthy to bring your pooch to. All you have to do upon entry is to «register» your dog (so they can get a head count) and pay $ 5 (optional). Such a small price to pay for a good cause. Definitely coming back next year!

«In a dog-​eat-​dog world what a better way for a doggone good time.» — No better place to be than with my four legged friends. Be sure to check out all my event photos here while you’re at it to see what you are missing.

I’m so glad my friend told me about this event. I had the best time ever! Maybe even possibly more than my dog, Karma. Lol. I’ve never seen so many cute dogs at once. And you know I tried to pet and talk to every single one that came close to me. I’m obsessed, obviously. Haha. There were plenty of booths, shows and free treats! I will definitely go back next year. Paws up to the organizers of this event ;)

Parking was a challenge. Street parking in the residential it is. There’s a registration they ask you to sign in and nicely ask for $ 5 donation, but I only had $ 3 cash but they take whatever they can get. Lots of tables from vet hospitals, boutiques, daycare, dog food, etc. Free tote bags and goodies from many tables. Free wheel spins for goodies but some charge you to spin. A few food trucks. Some shade but still a hot sunny day, too hot for most dogs. 80’s temperature in late Sept. Stage with activities but I didn’t watch it. Too busy walking around the tables and meeting new doggy friends. Overall a great event and fun. Nice park and nice neighborhood, not ghetto. Although the residential area there was a lot of poop not picked up so beware.

This is a wonderful event. I would highly recommend it to everyone with a pet. We did not get to attend in 2013 due to the weather. We look forward to attending in 2014!

We love coming to this event. There are so many vendors and pooches to keep you and your fur baby entertained! We like to come early as parking can be a bit of a bear (street parking or paid parking in the school next door). $ 5 donation gets your puppy inside and goes to a good cause. There are so many vendors there: free food samples, discounted clothing, leashes, pet goodies, your dog needs it? They will have a booth for it! Such a fun place especially for kids (even if you don’t have a puppy!).

Woof.
It was crowded, sunny, and some people spent way too much time dressing up their dogs. Parking was a little disorganized and expensive but it all went to a good cause. The presence of the SJPD seemed like a waste of money when they complain about cutbacks. The booths were full of great merchandise and friendly dog lovers and everyone seemed to have a bag full of pet goodies.

This is a great event! I have three visit under my belt and hope for many more.
I thought the contests and presentations on the stage were entertaining. I also like the agility contest. It is located in the center of the park.
There is free street parking or a pay parking lot about five minutes away. The cost to park in the lot is a $ 10 donation to a school. I paid, parked, walked over the bridge and entered the park.
There is a $ 5 donation per dog to enter the event. I recommend bringing small bills for sample bags of food. There is lots of shopping and eating too. So plan your spending and bring cash. I pack a lunch and bring a chair and blanket. I also bring my dog stroller for my Yorkie. The park gets really crowded. I have seen many dogs stepped on and do not want that to happen to my dog.
The food area has declined over the years. The selection is ok but the real downer is the no dog policy when ordering your food. The food is being served at a dog event. How does the event expect a dog owner, to leave their dog unattended in a park full of dogs, to buy food? Like I noted earlier, pack your food and eat it there. It will save you money and keep your dog safe.
Check out my Unilocal list for more dog-​centric spots,

I love coming to Bark in the Park! I’ve had my little pup for about 2 years now and I have been lucky enough to have taken her to this event each year I’ve had her.
When you arrive there is a donation per pet, humans get in free. When you get here, there is usually a booth that offers you a tote bag for all the free swag you get while you’re out checking each business out. I feel as though each year gets better. I love the fact that your usual suspects are here each year but what makes it even better are the new businesses that come out. I think this is the best place to find out more about the sort of stores and different things there is to do with your pets in the bay area.
It’s really a great place to come and mingle, spend the day with your friends, families and dogs. Each year is always great fun, it feels like a reunion of sorts. My little pup and I got there first thing in the morning which was about 10am and left just about a little after noon. By then she was poop’d. She was so tired from all the fuss and from the walking. She was definitely ready to go home after the 2^nd hour.
So, I’d say spend 2 hours here. No more than that, I think in about 1 hour you’ll be able to make your rounds. The second hour is just to do the things you missed out on, go back to your favorite booths and to basically mingle with all the other pups and doggy parents.
It’s great fun, I love coming each year. There is also a pet photographer here that comes each year, Photosmith LLC and I’ve gotten photos done of my pup each year by them and have been satisfied with the end result.
Come out one year and if you love it, keep coming back. I think it’s a great event to go to with your pet.

Another good time had by all this year. Auzzy loved it again and we found some awesome new accessories for him and us. :)
The earlier you get here, the better! Less people = better experience.
Lots of free stuff and demonstrations. A must if you have a dog!

Dogs, dogs, dogs! If you’re like me and need to pet any puppy dog that passes on the street, this is the event. Took my new pup, Maia, here to meet new friends, grab some freebies, and doggie accessories. Can be a little overwhelming for owners and dogs as this event is very popular. Canines of all shapes and sizes! Overall, great weekend outing and Maia is pooped on the couch as I write this review.

I came here for the first time ever on Saturday and it was INCREDIBLE!
My friend and I brought our pups and left with a TON of goodies. The vendors were awesome and diverse… almost anything you could think of that was dog related.
Amazing event. the weather was gorgeous. you need a good 2 – 3 hours to get around the entire event. Plus they have shows and contests in the middle too.
I wish I had allocated enough time to stay all day here. bring a blanket and a nice picnic. There is plenty of shade for frequent rest stops so your pups don’t get too worn out.
$ 5 suggested donation per dog. but so incredibly worth it! You have expect me to be here every year for as long as I’m within driving distance! :)

such an awesome event to go with or without your dog! as long as you’re a dog lover, you will love this event!
i brought my dog to this event 2 years ago and she had a GREAT time!
this year my son and i happened to be in the area so we decided to stop by. i was expecting to pay the $ 5 donation, but i guess that donation is $ 5/​dog. my son had a great time going to all the vendors to get different treats and dog food for our dog. we were also able to get a frisbee, water bottles, bags, and various fliers and magnets regarding the different companies in the area. there are tons of vendors that go around the park which is a pretty good size. .. owners can also bring their dog here for rabies shots, get microchipped and some grooming. there are also many activiites and contests for your dogs to join!
for us humans, there are various food vendors, this year we tried the bbq kalbi truck and the hawaiian shaved ice. the 2 times that i have been here it gets SUPER DUPER HOT so if you come, make sure you bring your own cold water bottles. .. for you and your dog
i REALLY wish it was around more than just once a year!
only con to this event is the cleanliness. to the dog owners, please be responsible and pick up after your dog!

This year’s festival was very disappointing — especially the costume contest.
And no, despite what it might seem, I don’t give a crap that neither of the pooches we entered won anything. (Okay, I care a little, but I would never write a bad review for that reason.)
I was just so frustrated with the poor choice of the ²⁄₃ that did win!
Third place was a fairy made from store-​bought items and a pink knit baby blanket. Seriously?! What happened to the value of originality?! Second place went to a very offensive hobo costume. If I had dressed my dog as someone with down syndrome, or as a prostitute, would I have won too?! First place I didn’t agree with, but I don’t think was a completely retarded choice. At least a dog dressed as Pink took some thought and consideration. Plus he had a bad-​ass wig.
But seriously, there were so many costumes this year that deserved recognition. There was the Chinese Crested Waterdog covered in green balloons and green hair dye — a bunch of grapes! How clever! Then my personal favorite was the bull dog engulfed in foil wrapping with a little checkoff list of ingredients taped on — a very impressive burrito.
The festival itself was too packed just an hour after opening at 10 AM. My little dog was Unilocaling with fear of the feet constantly parading around her. If they don’t find a larger location next year, I probably won’t be going again.

We went to Bark in the Park last year and our dog loved it. This year, she was having a great time until a large Borzoi growled and lunged at her. We didn’t realize that the dog bit her until we saw her ear covered in blood.
We rushed around, trying to find the dog first aid station, to no avail. We went to three different volunteer stations and several vendors asking where it was and were pointed in several different directions. We ended up going to an e-​vet, and she may have to have a good portion of her ear amputated.
If your dog has a tendency to bite or nip, please, please, please, make them wear a muzzle. And everyone else, be very careful and aware of your dog and surroundings. Don’t let your dog get into a situation where they’re crowded by strange dogs with no way out. This has cost us hundreds of dollars (so far) and has traumatized our dog. She is a german shepherd and had beautiful ears until Saturday.
Bark in the Park organizers, PLEASE put the dog first aid station where it can be seen by everyone in the park, with LARGE letters. If we were able to find the first aid station, we might not have gone to the e-​vet, who ended up mangling our dog’s ear so that now it might have be be amputated.
And please think about doing something so that dogs and people who are waiting in a line for vet services, nail clipping, etc., are separated from people just walking through. We were just walking outside the booths when all of a sudden, we were in the midst of a queue of some sort where the dogs were way too close together (with nowhere to turn) and that was when it happened.
This is a great concept, but dogs are unpredictable and so many crowded together is a recipe for disaster. If you do go, please be careful.

The reviews speak for itself. This year was the first time I took Bosley to Bark in the Park and I must say, I cannot believe I didn’t know about this event before. This is such a great place to bring you whole family and pets.
It’s basically like a festival for your dogs. There are tons of vendors where you can see different products and there are many events to spend time with your pet. The park itself is HUGEE and it can easily fit 100s of people and dogs.
To get to the event, you must cross a bridge over a creek and get to the registration tent. You need to register your dog for the event just for precautions. (Just in case you lose your dog etc.) Also, a $ 5 donation is greatly appreciated. Once you’re in, there are countless things to do. You can purchase merchandise for your dogs from accessories to clothing or you can even get a professional portrait of your dog. There are treats, agility courses, contests, even a couple of dog competitions to watch. Also, if you’re hungry, there are a couple of food vendors. (Humans only) But there are plenty of vendors that have samples of dog food and treats if your dog is hungry.
This event was so much fun. Bosley had such a great time meeting new friends and checking out all of the vendors. If you have a dog, you MUST come here next year!

Great doggie fun for dogs, kids, people, and vendors! Semos and Belle (my brother’s dogs) met about 200 dogs today and had plenty of smiles and good sniffing. Also came home with a belly full of free dog cookies, bandanas, balls, and toys.
More fun than expected for me!
Parking is tough, $ 5 for the lot, and $ 5 a dog admission. Inside is live music, a hundred or so tents and booths, food, beer :), and lots of shady places to sit and watch the demonstrations. We saw a sheepdog corral geese, agility playgrounds, and fantastic flyball catchers.
Also booths from pet photography, rescue organizations, pet sitting, pet food (free samples!), and dog social clubs.
One hint, since you may be filling out many raffle cards from each booth, bring address labels to save time!
Big pools set out for frolicking and a big tent with a misting of water for your hot and panting dog. Plus you dog will have a fantastic day of stimulation and one on one time with you, which keeps them healthy and smiling. :)