What Dog-Friendly Really Means in Arizona (And Why Most Places Get It Wrong)

Phoenix has one of the highest dog ownership rates in the U.S.—but that doesn’t mean it’s actually dog-friendly. This post explores the difference between dog-tolerant and truly dog-welcoming spaces, offer a rating system for evaluating businesses, and ask: What would it look like to center dog joy in the places we go?

Dog-Friendly or Just Barely Dog-Tolerant?

It wasn’t that long ago that a “dog-friendly” patio felt novel. Trendy, even. A surefire way to get me to eat or drink at your place. Kimo and I would walk to our table, and I’d set her on the bench beside me. “Oh no, you can’t have him up there,” the host would say. (Kimo always gets misgendered.)

Apologetically—to both the staff and to Kimo—I’d set her on the ground, tie her leash to the leg of a metal chair, and try to rush through my meal, mindful of the sun baking the concrete beneath us. She’d want to play with other dogs, taste my food, be part of the outing. But most of that was off-limits. If she was lucky, the restaurant would offer a water bowl.

This, I told myself, was dog-friendly. And in Phoenix, that felt like a win.

But most places that claim to be dog-friendly are really just dog-tolerant. There’s a difference. You feel it when your dog suffers through your attempt at a relaxing afternoon—and you really feel it when she starts pawing at the leash, begging to leave.

It took me longer than I’d like to admit to realize dog-friendly isn’t about access—it’s about design. It’s about intention. Above all, it’s about joy.

What Dog-Friendly Could Look Like

When I visited a friend in Denver, we went to a coffee shop with a side yard just for dogs. Shaded. Real grass. Water bowls. A chalkboard wall where people wrote their dogs’ names. Staff came out excited to see Kimo (she’s got great energy). A barista even brought her a house-made peanut butter biscuit. It was such a small gesture—but it warmed my heart. Kimo did a happy spin.

That was dog-friendly.

Phoenix isn’t Denver or Portland—or even close to being in the conversation when it comes to dog-friendly cities. We’ve got brutal heat, hostile plants, and pavement that can fry an egg in July. But that doesn’t mean we should settle. It means we need to get more creative. More intentional.

Especially because Phoenix has one of the highest rates of dog ownership in the country. Dogs are everywhere. But most of our city still treats them like an afterthought.

Why Most Dog-Friendly Ratings in Phoenix Fall Short

Sure, there are some efforts to measure dog-friendliness—BringFido offers a 5-bone rating system—but it’s really just an average of user reviews. Hayden Butte (A-Mountain in Tempe), for example, has a 3-bone rating. What does that mean? One person gave it 2 bones. Another gave it 4. What does that tell you about whether your dog will actually enjoy it?

Most dog-friendly ratings focus on human convenience: Was the food good? Did the staff smile? Could I bring my dog without getting kicked out?

They rarely ask: Did my dog enjoy this? Was she safe, enriched, and welcome?

Let’s Flip the Script

If we judged spaces based on what dogs value, we’d look for things like:

• Temperature control, shade, and dog-safe flooring

• Clean water, treats, and dedicated dog menus

• Space to roam or play, and opportunities to socialize

Kimo doesn’t care about brunch the way I do. She wants to play, flirt with strangers, and sniff some stuff. If a place gives her that, it earns our loyalty.

This summer, I’m seeking out spaces where Kimo perks up—not shuts down. Where I’m not apologizing for bringing her—I’m celebrated for it.

The Wag Index

The Wag Index is what I’ll be using to evaluate whether a business is truly dog friendly this summer.

Category	0 Points	1 Point	2 Points
Dog Policy	Dogs not allowed or explicitly unwelcome	Policy unclear or technically restrictive, but unenforced or staff are welcoming	Clear signage, staff encouragement, and a truly dog-welcoming culture
Food & Water	No water or food available for dogs	Basic water option or occasional treat if requested	Clean bowls, treats, or dedicated dog menu thoughtfully offered
Space to Move or Rest	Cramped, restrictive; dogs confined to small areas	Some space to walk or rest, but not designed with dogs in mind	Play zones, turf areas, or open, intentional space for dogs to explore
Enrichment & Socialization	No stimulation or dog interaction possible	Passive interaction with other dogs or friendly staff	Toys, events, intentional layout that supports enrichment and social experience
Comfort & Safety	Hot pavement, slick surfaces, or unsafe environment	Some comfort elements (shade, ventilation) but poorly executed	Air-conditioned or shaded, with dog-safe surfaces and materials throughout

Instead of business identifying as “dog friendly,” the Wag Index tells you a lot more about whether your dog will have a good time. With a total of 10 possible points, businesses will fall into different tiers.

Score	Tier	What It Means
9–10	🏆 Best-in-Class	Built for dogs. A joyful, safe, thoughtfully designed experience.
7–8	✅ Truly Dog-Friendly	Welcoming and enriching. You and your dog will want to come back.
5–6	🤷‍♂️ Dog-Tolerant	Dogs are allowed, but their needs aren’t really considered.
0–4	🚫 Not Dog-Friendly	Unsafe, unwelcoming, or just indifferent to the presence of dogs.

Help Build a Better Arizona —for Dogs

At All Dogs, we believe Arizona can do better. We need to do better. The Wag Index can be part of that.

An indoor dog park can also be part of a friendlier dog community. We’re building a space where dog joy comes first—because that’s what real dog-friendliness looks like. And we hope more places catch on.

You can help. Tell us about the spots your dog loves to go. Let’s start rating joy over tolerance.

📲 Follow us on Instagram @alldogspark or sign up to help build the community our dogs deserve.