8 ways of celebrating National Dog Day

Dogs, beaches and brews is one of the events we selected to celebrate National Dog Day on Aug. 26.
Barbara Corbellini Duarte
2:35 pm, August 25, 2016
Get ready to let the dogs out on National Dog Day, Aug. 26.

Even though man's best friend should be celebrated every day, we put together a list of events and activities taking place throughout South Florida to celebrate the holiday throughout the weekend.

Some of our favorite pooch-friendly activities include dog yoga, happy hour and paddleboarding.

Take your dog for a swim and a beer

Dogs, Beaches and Brews takes place every last Friday of the month at the Fort Lauderdale dog beach, by Sunrise and A1A and at The World Famous Parrot Lounge, just a few feet away from the beach.

The party begins at the dog beach, when owners let their pups run and swim free. Then people gather at the Parrot Lounge's patio. Fort Lauderdale singer-songwriter Glenn Govot will perform on Friday. The Everglades Angels Dog Rescue will raffle gift baskets, and a $5 donation to the organization includes a free drink

The event is free at the Parrot Lounge, but permits are required for the dog beach. An annual permit for one dog costs $15 for Fort Lauderdale residents and $22.50 for non-residents. To purchase a permit, go to the Parks and Recreation Administration at 1350 W. Broward Boulevard on a weekday between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.

The event will take place Aug. 26 from 5 to 10 p.m. at the Parrot Lounge, 911 Sunrise Lane, Fort Lauderdale. Admission is free. Call 954-563-1493 or go to ParrotLounge.com.

Take your dog to yoga

Yogi Brian Cohen and his two dogs, Lulu, a mutt, and TT, an American Eskimo, will lead an all-levels vinyasa yoga class on Aug. 27 for humans and pups. Dogs of all sizes can participate in the class and they don't need to be fully-trained, just non-aggressive and potty-trained. Cohen says his "Doga" class is like doing yoga in a off-leash dog park.

"Some dogs run and play, some stay by their owners," Cohen says. "We incorporate dogs in to the human poses in some cases."

The class costs $30, for both owner and pooch.

The Doga class will take place at 1:30 p.m. Aug, 28 at Love Life Wellness Center, 584 NW 27th St. in Wynwood. Call 305-456-4148 or go to LoveLifeWellnessCenter.com.

Take your dog paddling

Hobie Island Beach Park is one of the few beaches that allow dogs any day of the week at any time, as long as the pup is on a leash. SoSUP Key Biscayne, located on the sand before the Miami Seaquarium, rents paddleboards ($15-$25), kayaks($12-$25) and paddle boats ($15-$40), as well as beach chairs and umbrellas ($10-$50). Dogs of all sizes are allowed on the kayaks, boats and boards. As a plus, parking by the beach is free.

SoSUP Key Biscayne if located on 4400 Rickenbacker Causeway, Key Biscayne. Call 786-301-3557 or go to SoSupKeyBiscayne.com.

Take your dog swimming

Performance Pups is one of the cleanest dog lakes in South Florida. The crystal-clear blue waters are inviting even to dog owners. The lake's hours of operation may vary, so make sure to check the calendar before heading there. The venue is also available for rent for private parties. On Friday, the lake will be open between 6 and 8 p.m. It costs $5 on weekends and $4 on weekdays. To let your dogs jump off the dock, it costs $7.

Performance Pups is located at the southern-most end of Tigertail Lake, 580 Gulf Stream Way, Dania Beach. Call 954-229-4044 or go to PerformancePupsinc.com.

Take your dog for ice cream

After all that exercise, the pup deserves a treat. Wilton Creamery serves dog-friendly ice cream, sugar and dairy-free. The place features two flavors, coconut vanilla and peanut butter and banana. The latter also has carob as one of the ingredients, instead of chocolate.