10 Dog-friendly Places to Bring Your Dog in Singapore

I will always try my best to guilt-trip mama into bringing me out. As she steps out of the house, I’d either sit a distance away and look at her with my signature puppy eyes or dash out of the door. Sometimes I strike jackpot, and mama will let out a sigh of resignation and grab the leash. But most times, she simply leaves me behind! She blames it on the fact that dogs aren’t allowed at most places in Singapore. Supermarket? No. Hawker Centres? No. Public transportation? No. On the brighter side, there are some places that welcome pups like me, and they are pretty fun!

Here are what I think are the top 10 dog-friendly places to bring your dog in Singapore:

1. Tanjong Beach, Sentosa

My favourite place in the world is Tanjong Beach! A long stretch of sandy beach to run on and dig in. What else can a pup ask for? During weekends, you will spot many dog owners with their beautiful furkids frolicking in the sun. It’s definitely a great place to play a round or two of chase with my furry friends. Even though I’m not a fan of swimming, I’ve done pretty well recently – jumping into the water myself, and swimming a few rounds without being forced by mama! It’s really hard to describe the amount of joy and fun I enjoy every time mama and papa bring me to Tanjong Beach. Let’s just say, I’m willing to trade one beef cube for a day there (and that means a lot).

Leash off? Most of the time! There was a period of time when the guards would tell humans to leash their dogs up. They don’t seem to do it anymore. So please play by ear and make sure your pup isn’t going to hijack other people’s picnic mats – stealing food or licking faces!

Doggy-safe? Monitor your dog when it is in the water. A floatation vest is recommended. Both ends of the beach have the mildest waves.

Butt-sniffing? There are lots of strangers waiting to become friends!

Hungry? See dog-friendly eateries in Sentosa.

Parking? It should be easy to get a lot at the beach’s designated carpark.

Tanjong Beach, Sentosa | Website | Membership | Directions

2. Sengkang Riverside Park

Another place I love is Sengkang Riverside Park! When we visited on a weekend, it was pretty empty, which is great for furkids who don’t do well in crowded places. The park is pretty big so I had lots to explore! When it got too hot, I dipped myself into the nearby pond. While the water looked decently clean, I came out one muddy pup! Hehehe. I loved it even though mama might not have felt the same way!

Leash off? It should be safe to let your dog off leash when you are deeper into the park.

Doggy-safe? Yes. Leash up when you are near the roads.

Butt-sniffing? The place was pretty quiet. I didn’t see any other furkid while we were there.

Hungry? Nothing much there. Bring your own food and water.

Parking? Many parking lots are available where Mushroom Cafe is located.

See more of my photos here.

Sengkang Riverside Park | Website | Directions

3. Punggol Point Park

My future neighbourhood! When I first visited, there was nothing much going on but now it’s so vibrant and alive in the evening! Eateries and shops have popped up, and families are heading down not only to dine in restaurants but to cycle or have a little picnic.

Leash off? It’s safe to let your dog off leash when you are deeper into the park. However, if there are many people cycling, skateboarding and rollerblading, it may not be such a good idea.

Doggy-safe? Yes. Leash up when you are near the main road.

Butt-sniffing? The place was pretty quiet the first time we were there, but when we visited in an evening recently, it was crowded! There was quite a number of fellow furkids, and it will definitely grow as more couples with their pups move into the Punggol neighbourhood.

Hungry? Many eateries here, but I don’t know of any that allows dogs.

Parking? A good number of parking lots is available.

Read more about my experience here.

Punggol Point Park | Website | Directions

4. Sunny Heights

I’m not a fan of swimming pools so mama probably won’t be bringing me to one often. But if your pup loves swimming, this outdoor pool is highly recommended! There are two pools – one shallow and one deep with water features. The place looks just like a doggy water theme park! They have floatation vests that are freely available, and also a water hose to wash your dog down.

Leash off? Yes. The two pools are enclosed in a spacious area, with benches and deck chairs for the humans.

Doggy-safe? Yes. Monitor your dog when it is in the water and beware of slippery tiles in the shallow pool. Use the free floatation vests available.

Butt-sniffing? A popular doggy pool, where your pup is sure to meet some new friends. Head down slightly before 1pm to avoid the crowd.

Hungry? Ah B Cafe.

Parking? You can park just about anywhere inside for free.

Price – $14-$19/hour per dog, depending on the size of your dog. They are not strict on the time restriction though!

Sunny Heights | Facebook | Directions

5. Sembawang Park

Sembawang Park is a great cycling place to put your Buddyrider to good use. It’s a huge well-paved park with a beach, a nice playground, BBQ pits, and a large dog run to boot! It’s definitely a nice place to spend a nice day out with your family. However, when we were there, there were many Malay families too, so do leash up your pup when you are not in the dog run.

Leash off? Yes, but only in the dog run. Be sensitive to the needs of other visitors too.

Doggy-safe? A dog run is a safe place for your furkid to run free, but be careful of ants and mosquitoes! I got bitten by a vicious ant 🙁

Butt-sniffing? Maybe because it’s a relatively new dog run, there was only one other dog inside when we arrived on a Sunday.

Hungry? Bring your own food and water.

Parking? There are two carparks, with plenty of parking lots.

Sembawang Park | Website | Directions

6. Marina Barrage

This is a great place for kite-flying and a delightful picnic. Not to mention, the view is awesome pawsome, making it a nice place for photo taking with your furkids!

Leash off? No. The security guard is quite strict about this!

Doggy-safe? Yes, but keep your dog away from the kites.

Butt-sniffing? Quite a popular place for doggies, but they are not always there.

Hungry? Bring your own food and water.

Parking? Many parking lots are available.

Marina Barrage | Website | Directions

7. Botanic Gardens

My first time to Botanic Gardens was with my group of cool westie friends! The area is huge and perfect for a lazy Sunday stroll. We caught some people having a picnic and playing frisbee – a great idea!

Leash off? It’s safe to let your dog off leash when you are deeper into the park.

Doggy-safe? It’s generally safe, but beware of ants.

Butt-sniffing? A popular place to walk dogs, you will definitely catch a few new friends there.

Hungry? Case Verdé

Parking? There is a sheltered car park.

Read more about my experience here.

Botanic Gardens | Website | Directions

8. Bishan Park

Bishan Park sounds like an ideal place to bring your dog for a nice day out. Sporting two dog runs and dog-friendly dining options, it would have been perfect if not for its reputation for fleas. While I never had problems with fleas there, I preferred places like Tanjong Beach and Sengkang Riverside Park much much more.

Leash off? There are two dog runs there. One for big-sized dogs, and another for small- to medium-sized dogs.

Doggy-safe? It’s generally safe, but I’ve heard dogs getting infested by fleas from the dog run. Ensure your dog is protected with flea prevention repellent, and bathe and check your dog thoroughly after a trip there.

Butt-sniffing? A popular dog run. Let your pup make friends in the safety of an enclosed space.

Hungry? The Canopy, Middle Rock Garden Bar

Parking? Turn left into the carpark on the side of the dog run. You will see a McDonald’s sign.

Read more about my experience here.

Bishan Park | Website | Directions

9. Sunday on the Hill

Sunday on the Hill is a family-friendly (furry members included) once-a-month event hosted by Sideshow. Lay your picnic mat, satisfy your tummies with some delicious BBQ food and drinks, and be entertained by a great line-up of music and activities that are suitable for everyone. Head down from 3pm for a couple of hours of fun. After dark, the event turns into a night of partying.

Leash off? Only well-behaved and leashed dogs are allowed.

Doggy-safe? Yes. The event is hosted at Kult Cafe, which is clean with really good vibes!

Butt-sniffing? Not exactly. Even though there may be other dogs there, there won’t be much freedom for them to run about. Instead, invite a few fellow dog-owners friends and their furkids for a relaxing get-together.

Hungry? Food and drinks will be available for purchase. No outside food and drinks allowed.

Parking? Limited parking on the hill. The organiser recommends parking at Little India MRT or Wilkie Edge before walking up the steps.

Sunday on the Hill | Facebook | RSVP

10. Gardens by the Bay

Just for fun, mama and papa brought me to Gardens by the Bay for a weekend stroll. Unfortunately, we visited at noon and it was way too hot for me to walk around. The humans then decided to find a place to rest and have a light lunch. They were so relieved when Bakerzin welcomed us to sit at their outdoor area.

Leash off? No.

Doggy-safe? It’s safe, as long as you keep your dog leashed. Remember to bring water, as it can get really hot there.

Butt-sniffing? Being an uncommon place to bring furkids, you may bump into a dog or two if you are lucky.

Hungry? Bakerzin. The staff there was really dog-friendly! [Update: Got a comment that they no longer allow dogs in the restaurant :(]

Parking? There’s a sheltered carpark at the main entrance, and also open-air carparks around the area.

Gardens by the Bay | Website | Directions

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