You've heard it hundreds of times: People who live in cities shouldn't have dogs, ever. We say: rubbish! San Francisco and the Bay Area offer plenty of room for hound play.

Even though off-leash recreation may have become more restricted in recent years, San Francisco remains an urban paradise for dogs. Most neighborhoods have at least one place where dogs can play off leash.

If it's water your dog craves, see our picks for San Francisco's and the Bay Area’s best canine swimming spots. If you're dying to get out of town, check out urbanhound's favorite ways to escape the city with a dog.

Of course, to get away you'll need more information still: Can you take your dog on BART? The Alameda/Oakland ferry? Amtrak? We've got the answers. As for flying with dogs, get the lowdown at our airline travel page.