DMVPaws & Parks

Washington, DC

Small Dog Parks in Washington, DC

Dock 79 & The Maren Dog Park and Shaw Dog Park: the small dog parks in Washington, DC — separate small-dog areas for pups under 25 lb. Checked and reviewed by local dog owners, with live mud reports and who's showing up today.

Matching dog parks

2 parks

  • Dock 79 & The Maren Dog Park
    PrivateNot open to the public
    Dry & Firm

    Dock 79 & The Maren Dog Park

    Also known as Capitol Riverfront Resident Dog Run

    79 Potomac Ave SE, Washington, DC 20003

    A tidy turf dog run tucked into the Dock 79 and The Maren riverfront apartment community along the Anacostia. Artificial turf, rinse station and separate small-dog space make it a favorite for residents, and it stays usable right after rain.

    • Fully Fenced
    • Small Dog Area
    • Water Access
    Off-leash dog park
    Google rating 4.4 out of 5(19 reviews)
  • Shaw Dog Park
    Some Mud

    Shaw Dog Park

    1673 11th St NW, Washington, DC 20001

    A compact but beloved fenced dog park at 11th and Rhode Island Ave NW, run by DC Parks & Recreation in partnership with the volunteer Shaw Dog Park Association. Two separate enclosures mean small dogs get their own space away from the big-dog scrum. It sits right in the middle of Shaw, so it doubles as the neighborhood's unofficial front porch.

    • Fully Fenced
    • Small Dog Area
    • Double Gate Entry
    • Benches
    Off-leash dog park
    Google rating 4.2 out of 5(251 reviews)

These parks serve 20001, 20003 and the neighborhoods around them.

Good to know

Local questions, answered

Which Washington dog parks are small?
Dock 79 & The Maren Dog Park, Shaw Dog Park — 2 of 25 parks tracked in Washington, DC match separate small-dog areas for pups under 25 lb.
Are these Washington dog parks open to the public?
Most are public off-leash areas, but Dock 79 & The Maren Dog Park has restricted access (private, membership or military) — check the access notice on the park page before you go. Public Washington parks need no membership; some jurisdictions ask for an inexpensive annual permit.
When is the best time to visit a Washington dog park?
Weekday mornings and the hour before sunset are the calmest windows. Weekend mornings are the busiest and the most social — check the "right now" activity on each park page before you go.