Dogggg friendly. We were with smokers. No rules. Same Gulf. Clean. No rules. That is Florida life. Love it!

The paw Park is amazing. We've been here many times and never have had a bad experience. Most people are very polite and will clean up any mess Their dog may leave behind. There are a few I've seen that don't pick up their dogs poop. We've always experienced nice kind people and the dogs just seemed to come around you. We have a little Australian Shepherd and she loves the Paw Park. She has never had any issues with any of the dogs, regardless of size? I highly recommend the dog beach as we call it. read more

Brohard Paw Park & Beach - We kept her on a leash until she felt comfortable lots of friendly people - Dog Parks Near Me - Venice, Florida

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Love coming here with my dogs for 20+ years. There is ample parking. Access is through either the large dog gates or the small dog gates. A few picnic benches are available and there is even a dog wash area. To access the beach go down the sidewalk and over the boardwalk to the other side of the dune. There is about a 75 yard wide section of the beach where your dogs can roam. It's tough for large dogs to really get a long run. If you want that this beach is not for you. To do that you have to go to a non-lifeguard beach access in OBX. read more

Brohard Paw Park & Beach - Dog Parks Near Me - Venice, Florida

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We've been coming to the Venice dog beach forever. There have been a lot of improvements over the years. Our only real complaints are the nasty northern carpetbaggers who have moved down here and can't control their dogs, give YOU a dirty look because their precious Fido is jumping all over you and your dog, and can't drag themselves off their backsides until you loudly object. These people have worse manners than their dogs, no surprises there, considering. I won't keep droning on about the loose dogs in the parking lot who knocked me into my car.... read more

Brohard Paw Park & Beach - My pretty baby boy - Dog Parks Near Me - Venice, Florida

Oh man what an awesome place to hang out with your pooch. It was so dang relaxing & the weather was perfect. Highly recommended read more

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We have taken our dogs here twice already during our Sarasota trip to go swimming and run around on the beach to make friends with other dogs. They have had a blast both times and really get a lot of their energy out (being herding breeds, this is phenomenal). We love the rinse station to get all of the sand off of them. Very helpful for keeping our rental car on the cleaner side. All of the other people and dogs we have encountered were very nice. Before going I had read some other reviews about how hot the sand gets during the day and it is no joke! Our first day there we were burning our own feet anytime it got past our sandals. Luckily we brought boots for the dogs when we packed for our trip and they really came in handy- a lot of people were either carrying their dog down to the beach or they were walking unprotected. I don't think we ever saw another dog with boots on (we only had to use them our first time here since we came late afternoon, the second time we came early in the morning before it got hot). We ordered ours off Amazon for $27-28 a "pair" (4 boots) and they are a great investment, so I highly recommend them if you have a bigger dog that you cannot easily carry so they don't burn their paw pads. Paw pad balm only goes so far in that kind of heat and did not help our dogs before we ended up putting on their boots. Definitely recommend if you are in the area traveling with pets! The beach itself is also great for swimming with them, but does contain a lot of what appears to be sargassum. It kept getting tangled up in our legs and swimsuits while we were trying to swim with the dogs, which was a little annoying. read more

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I had really high expectations seeing the reviews about this place, which is probably why I was so disappointed with this place. The park itself is nice and well maintained but there are a few things that newbs to this place should be aware of. 1. Its not really a dog park. the fenced in area where you enter the beach, i would have expected to see dogs running around off leash playing with each other. Not on the day we visited. There were a few older people with small dogs on leashes that did not look interested to see my Labrador puppy off leash. This was quite disappointing because I was hoping to burn some of his energy before going to the beach portion. 2. The Beach portion of this dog park isn't really like a dog park either. its more of a place that pretentious old people bring their dogs to walk on the beach. Again difficult for me to exercise my lab puppy off leash because he just wants to play with other dogs and everyone there seemed to be isolating with their dog. We walked up and down the beach looking for a dog/owner on the same level as ours and when we finally found an off leash dog that was interested in playing with our leashed dog we asked the owner if it was alight to take him off leash so that they could play together and her response was "eh, only if he is going to be calm and behaved" I was baffled by this, never witnessed a reaction like this at a dog park, decided to keep him on leash and continue walking. This place may be ok if your goal is to just go to the beach and bring your dog while not allowing your dog to play with other dogs. read more

This was a fun beach, and perfect being dog friendly. We decided to make an impromptu trip on New Year's Day with our dog, Nala, and make it her first trip to the beach. The water was cold (not surprising because it's January), but she loves it. The location is set up with bathrooms and showers at the parking lot. They have a dog wash station set up inside the dog park area. There are lots of gates to help secure the area, and a nice walkway from the dog park to the beach. There is some parking available, but it was definitely full when we arrived at 3 pm. We lucked out and got the last spot, but others had to park across the street or in the next parking lot over. What's fun about Venice Beach is that it's known for its shark teeth. We took some sifters and ended up coming home with 6 teeth from this trip! We will definitely be back for some more fun in the sun and sand. read more

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I visited my friend in North Port. She thought it would be fun for a beach day to head to the Brohard Paw Park & Beach. If you're looking for entertainment while you're at the beach or you have a dog that loves the water this is the place for you! There were so many four-legged friends running around and they were having a great time. One thing to keep in mind is dogs like to mark. We witnessed several markings. A few were stopped before the damage was done, however others were not so lucky. And once a dog marks then of course others will follow. We did not bring our dogs and I'm glad LOL! One suggestion is to be sure your dog is properly trained before you take it to the beach and let it off the leash. There were a few dog owners that were constantly chasing after their dogs who were misbehaving. This was a beautiful beach and it was great watching all the dogs play in the water and run after each other. read more

Brohard Paw Park & Beach - The dog days of summer;) Gorgeous dog beach. - Dog Parks Near Me - Venice, Florida

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Love being able to take the dog to the beach however my dog is not a fan of humans not controlling their dogs. It can get a little aggressive during the morning thru the day. We will opt for other alternatives. read more

We wanted to do something new and with our dog this Easter, so drove about an hour north to this dog beach. We got there right before 11:00 and found a parking spot in the neighboring lot. The lot for the dog park is very small and was already full. Our walk to the beach was not really much farther from where we parked. Nice wide and deep beach. Many dogs ran around off-leash, but most were well-behaved. Everyone we saw picked up their dog's waste on the beach, but we saw several piles and diarrhea spots next to the sidewalk that takes you to the beach from the lot and back. One other thing we noticed is that several dogs seemed to have diarrhea on their way out. We speculate it was mostly dogs who spent a lot of time in the salty ocean water. We liked this dog beach much better than the one in Fort Myers. read more

Brohard Paw Park & Beach - Our pup at the dog beach. - Dog Parks Near Me - Venice, Florida

A fabulous way to expand your dogs social network beyond your neighborhood. Entrance to the park costs absolutely nothing. There should be no excuse for not taking your dog to the beach. There are endless opportunities for Fido to have fun. With a beautiful sandy beach and calm Gulf of Mexico waters combined with an adequate supply of dog poop bags when you enter the gate, this is a fun place. The canine recreation opportunities are limitless. A little sunshine, fresh air and water can go along way for your dogs mental health making it a terrific day at the beach for all. Note, offstreet parking is limited so try to arrive at a non-peak time for less stress on your visit. Salute! read more

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My dog had so much fun.. the surf is a little rocky to get in without water shoes and the sand gets super hot on the dogs feet but otherwise everything was well kept and everyone was very friendly . read more

Brohard Paw Park & Beach - Dog Parks Near Me - Venice, Florida

It's a dog park or it's a dog beach...it's actually both. This place makes the the dogs of all sizes and their owners feel happy. It's so fun to see all the friends together and then they get to see or swim at the beach. It's so relaxing and refreshing. This was our dog 's first visit, and she was smiling from ear to ear. She couldn't get enough of the waves and sand in her feet. That's probably because she is a Black Labrador. She was soaking it all in. I highly recommend this outing for all dogs and their faithful owners. read more

Brohard Paw Park & Beach - Beach view - Dog Parks Near Me - Venice, Florida

I had a blast here-- free parking and beach - felt most dog owners to be respectful and kept space -- i felt 95% safe - same as a dog park where the animals are off leash you need an awareness of your surroundings and control over your animal as well as responsibility -- we were there for 2 hrs and i was totally relaxed and enjoyed the experience -- my girls don't like the water but they dipped their toes in , dug holes to lay in to keep cool and seemed to thoroughly enjoy time with their pawrents -- would go again if in the area read more

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This is so far my favorite dog park/beach in Florida, I like it for many reasons, because it's leash free, the dog side has plenty of space, dogs can run and play freely for a big area on shore, and also there is the actual park. It's free, with plenty of parking. I love it, I have been there, three times and always we go we have a great time, and it's almost three hours from where I live but it's so worth it, we usually go and stay all day, and wait to see the sunset. read more

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This is such a great place to take Trooper - our older chocolate lab. Although there isn't a huge expanse for the doggies to play on, it didn't pose a problem at all. All the dogs and their owners were so friendly and just happy to be able to bring their pet to the beach and play in the water. We spotted a few dolphins saying hello while we were there too. Can't wait to come back. *Do be aware that Brohard Paw Park is further on down past the "humans only" beach. Luckily our Apple maps had it clearly listed otherwise we'd have been super confused by all of the "No Dogs" signs posted.* read more

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I can't believe how well kept this dog park/beach is. I'm from Fort Myers so we have a good amount of dog parks and one dog beach in Bonita Springs, FL. However, this dog park is super clean and everyone takes pride in actually picking up their dog's discharge. It's nicely manicured and you can tell city workers take pride in keeping it garbage-free. The beach is an actual beach and I say this with excitement because Bonita Beach Dog Beach is in the bay water whereas this is an ACTUAL BEACH! Everyone is reserved, there are no fraternity parties going on, it is quiet and enjoyable. When we went to the beach, it was pretty clear but overtime the fog came over us and it was a sight to see. The water was freezing but I didn't care. I went in anyway. If you're planning to go around November/December please expect the water to be cold for you and your dog unless, of course, you don't mind it which we did not. read more

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Terrific well kept dog beach. Generally the Dow owners are well behaved and control their dog. The protected area is plenty big for dogs to get some fun in the sun. Unfortunately there are always "those" dog owners to fail to pick up after their dog so walk with you head down as you take the path from the parking lot to the beach. Parking is easy, facilities including toilets and showers for people to rinse off and hoses to rinse off the dogs are at the parking lot. There is also a great walking/jogging path around the pond. read more

Dreamy. Beautiful beach. Beautiful dogs. Convenient free parking. Beautoful dog park area with large and small dog areas. A pair of hoses to wash off after. What more cpuld you ask for? Popular so you might have to use the bigger lot across the street. Lots of peeps and dogs. But it's a good sized beach area so you can claim a more isolates spot if you and your pooch prefer a little space. Everyone we've met here is friendly and loves dogs. Heaven on Earth. North Clearwater Beach (metered parking) and Fort Desoto (entrance and parking fees) also have nice beach areas where dogs can do their thing. But this is the nices. And nearby Venice is nice too. Has an ice cream shop. And a small Detweilers country market with grrrrreat produce at grrrrreat prices. Wonderful. read more

Brohard Paw Park & Beach - Dog Parks Near Me - Venice, Florida

Best dog beach... no... BEST BEACH. Soft sand, blue waves, and puppers everywhere - off-leash! It's Heaven on earth. My baby learned how to swim at Brohard. Dare I say, he became a 'bro' at Brohard. Parking is free, but the sand can be HOT, HOT, HOT... I totally recommend some kind of paw protector like a paw balm or booties on those extra hot days. read more

There is a leashless park is at the entrance walkway to the leashless dog beach. The small park is,shaded and a fun place for your dogs to play. They have two self dog wash stations The leashless dog beach is an excellent spot to being your dogs to socialize and have endless fun. There are always hundreds of dogs running free. Owners do an excellent job cleaning up after their dogs. They do have public bathrooms in the parking lot. They also have shower stations so people can rinse off sand from themselves and their items. This location is secluded from other public beaches. It is a perfect place for dogs to run free and have fun. read more

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Amazing expierence for my family and our fur baby. So many precious puppies. It is a little challenging figuring out how to get in at first but you just follow the path through the actual dog park and it brings you to the beach. Only thing I wish was different was the size of the beach- I think they need to think about expanding it.! read more

Brohard Paw Park & Beach - Dog Parks Near Me - Venice, Florida

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We had a lovely Saturday at this beach with our little dog. It was not very crowded in the morning, but by lunch it was packed. The path to get to the beach is paved most of the way and is an easy walk from the parking lot. It was nice to see so many happy dogs of all sizes playing together and enjoying the day with their people. read more

Brohard Paw Park & Beach - 9am Saturday morning - Dog Parks Near Me - Venice, Florida

This is a beautiful dog beach! It's extremely clean with tons of space. We didn't see any dog poop or garbage anywhere on the beach. The parking lot is a bit small, tbh, but I saw a lot of cars parked on the other side of the road. I think you can also park at the park next door and go through the gate into the dog park. The dog park itself is nice and shaded but not terribly clean or spacious. Just a heads up that no one keeps their dog on a leash on the beach. It was an issue with my little schnauzer, he's very afraid of other dogs and he was not pleased having a dozen different dogs approach him. My mini Australian Shepherd didn't care at all so we returned the next day and left my little boy at home. Poor Jake :( Anyway, the other dog owners were super friendly and most of the dogs were well behaved. Sunday night it was PACKED and smelled weird, like a groomer or pet store. Monday night it was fine, way less crowded and no smells. Wish we lived closer so we could go more often! read more

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Upon my most recent visit I realized that I hadn't given this place Yelp love! How have I not reviewed this place yet? Maybe I subconsciously didn't want the secret to get out. ;) This is one of my favorite places in Florida. With pristine coastline, crystal clear water and fur friends abound, this Nick S. and I's happy place with our little Sophia. There is a decent amount of parking for Brohard adjacent to the entrance, Additional parking can be found across the street or directly next to Brohard next door at Maxine Barrit Park (I believe). This park has a dog run area and gates for both small and large dogs in addition to a picnic shelter area and two hoses to wash off your dogs. On the other side of the small dog entrance/area there is a bathhouse with some pretty clean public restrooms and a shower station for humans. On the occasions I have been here the patrons have been nice and friendly and all the dogs have been well behaved. Sophia loves swimming and zipping around to interact with others of her kind. I have met people from all over the county (snowbirds, transplants and vacationers) that flock here to have a relaxing experience with their dog(s) at the beach. There are doggie bag stations (well stocked) in several places so there's no excuse to be an irresponsible dog owner. I am not kidding when I state that the water is beautiful here-it really is clear and clean. I love this park and will return again and again. Thanks, Sarasota county. read more

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Best and first stop with dogs and after a long drive to our VRBO rental the night before. Lovely spot with extra parking in adjacent lot. Plenty of park cover and shells along path. Puppy bags too. Beach is off leash for well behaved and socialized visitors. Beach is graded and has a public bench to rest on at end of ramp. read more

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After learning of Brohard Beach last year, we decided to bring our 2 boxers with us this year for a true family vacation. They love it! So wonderful to see people & their pets enjoying a beach day together. Magical place for your puppers. read more

Brohard Paw Park & Beach - Our 2 boxers making new friends at Brohard Beach. - Dog Parks Near Me - Venice, Florida

I've been coming to Brohard Paw Park & Beach for years. There aren't many leash-less dog beaches in Florida.[I only know of one other one in St. Pete. Vilano Beach in St. Augustine or Atlantic Beach in Jax are lovely, but the gulf beaches are much rougher for little pooches to swim in. Plus they have to stay on a leash. I'm not even a local, but I was asked about dog friendly beaches while I was jogging at Bird Key Park. I was happy to get the word out to other visitors about this treasure. There is a small dog park and a big dog park you have to go through to get to the beach. I saw an alligator last year in the pond so be on the look-out. read more

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This review is not only for the Paw Park, but for the entire Venice Beach Park that's connected (depending on where you park to access the beach), as it's really one long beach area that can go from somewhat crowded to the dog park to absolutely desolate. Of all of the beaches that I have walked along on the Southwest Florida coast (and trust me, I've hit more than just a few), this is by far my favorite. There is something about Venice Beach that lures me back year after year. I just can't get enough of it. When you first enter the complex, there's a restaurant and gathering area that's near the pier section. Parking is ample there (and all parking is free!), but get there early if you want a spot in the very first bay. The further south you go along the beach complex, you'll get to the dog park area, then a more frequented "umbrella" area and then ultimately a "wild" area where the hard-core boogie-boarders and walkers are, as the dunes and the surf almost become one, intermingled with rocks along the way. I've hit up every area of this beach. The sand is different than other SW Florida beaches: it's almost volcanic in that it's black and white and gets extraordinarily hot as the day progresses. Shells are abundant and diverse, and if you're looking for sharks' teeth, this is a great place to find them. There are pretty decent waves here, unlike other southern FL beaches, but much will be dependent on weather and tidal conditions. Remember, it's the Gulf, so don't expect it to get the wave heights that you'd see if you were in the Atlantic or the Pacific. Why do I love this beach so much? So easy to answer: because it hasn't succumbed to the commercialism that is so prevalent in Southwest Florida. This is how a beach SHOULD look. I don't see hi-rises in the distance; parking is free; the beach itself isn't packed so that you're tripping over blankets and umbrellas; wildlife (birds and water) are easily observed. Areas are roped off for turtle nesting. It's absolutely gorgeous. You can lose yourself in it and forget the outside world when you're here. But, alas, this is the beach where I have encountered my worst cases of sunburn. Despite slathering myself with sunblock, there is something about the sand and the surf here, along with the sun, that lends itself to deep-frying everyone. Be aware. Despite this one drawback, I keep coming back here every time I'm in the area. I can't stay away, for Venice Beach is just too beautiful to pass by, whether you're going with your two-legged friends or your four-legged friends for a fun day in the surf. read more

Brohard Paw Park & Beach - Dog Parks Near Me - Venice, Florida

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Great beach for dogs! Much bigger than I expected and plenty of space to spread out and run. I was surprised at how clean this beach was, which you never know with dog parks. There's a pretty steep drop off of a couple feet in depth in the water, so beyond splashing higher up on the beach, I would pay attention to your dog if they are not a great swimmer. Over all, had a great time! read more

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Beautiful beach. Have to go through the dog park to get to the beach so that was a little confusing but once you got there it was beautiful. Dogs run free, white sand. Only downside is, no palm trees for shade. read more

We loved coming here with legend! We were a bit worried about letting him off leash in the beach area bc it is not enclosed from what we could tell but he did just fine read more

Wonderful place for dog & their humans! Highly recommend. We loved the beach and our lab/bordercollie love playing with the other puppers. Everyone was very friendly. Loved our time here! read more

Our first big vacation with our lab mix. We are so happy to have found this dog beach. From the minute we arrive, Lucy is off the leash and walking down the walkway to the beach. Dogs investigate and sniff one another, then hang by their respective owners for another ball to fetch. They have water bowls and a washing station when you first enter the park which is so convenient to wash the sand off. There's also a clean bathroom area with water & soap. My husband and I hang by our chairs, read our books, play with the dog all in a full day's outing. Our favorite place during this vacation! read more

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We visited this beach while on vacation with our dogs and fell in love. It has a great set up, with many fenced areas near the parking lot. The beach is open and everyone was super friendly. We ended up coming back two more times to watch the sunset. read more

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This is a terrific park to take your dog, so that you and your family can spend some time with your furry friend. There is both a small dog fenced area and a medium/large dog fenced area. The small dog area seems to be rarely used, at least what I've observed in past visits with man's best friend. It has a dog washing station too, that comes in handy after a day at the beach with your tail wagger! read more

A little crowded on the weekends but we love taking our pup here. A nice place for our pup to get her exercise in while we relax. There is a nice dog wash too if needed. read more

Brohard Paw Park & Beach - Luna enjoyed her day at the dog park. - Dog Parks Near Me - Venice, Florida

This unique venue for pets and their owners is quite nice and a fun way to enjoy the beach. It's actually a safe place for letting dogs run around and get covered in sand. Our little dog is shy and typically doesn't care about socializing- so, other owners were respectful of that. Only one "land mine" encountered which indicates most owners are considerate enough to keep the area clean. Some online info mentioned parking across the street in the golf course lot is no problem if the small parking area is full - but, there's a sign stating otherwise. read more

Brohard Paw Park & Beach - Dog Parks Near Me - Venice, Florida

Wow what a nice place to bring your doggos! The place is maintained extremely meticulously, it's clean, there are two wash down stations in the grassy area after coming off the beach. The whole layout seems well planned out by dog owners who wanted a perfect dog beach. Worth the ride from Fort Myers anytime. read more

Brohard Paw Park & Beach - Dog Parks Near Me - Venice, Florida