Ralph Waldo Emerson said, "There are two companions with one or other of whom ‘tis desirable to go out on a tramp. One is an artist. . . the other is a naturalist. . ."

But Emerson cautioned that "Good observers have the manners of trees and animals (their patient good sense), and if they add words, it is only when words are better than silence. But a loud singer or a storyteller or a vain talker profanes the river and forest. . ." And according to Emerson, there is ". . .nothing like so good company as a dog. . ." (from Country Life and Concord Walks).

Dogs, like small children, seem to know when it’s time for a walk. Our family dog for 14 memorable years was a Dalmatian named Abby. She was a reasonable dog around the house who seemed to tolerate the day-by-day tedium in exchange for the occasional magic word: "Walk?" We lived in the East Bay during her early years and soon developed the practice of a romp in Redwood Regional Park in the East Bay Hills.

By some uncanny sense, she knew when it was 6 a.m. Saturday, and I was compelled to go walking with her regardless of how I felt about the early hours, my weekend plans, or the weather outdoors. Three hours later, I had covered a vigorous 10 miles, but Abby had run four or five times that amount. I enjoyed watching her fly up and down the trail, sometimes behind, usually ahead, but never out of eyesight. I sensed that when walking, Abby assumed the role of my protector. She would run ahead over the crest of a hill or around a curve on the trail, then return, acknowledge my progress, then race ahead knowing that I was safe and proceeding on schedule.

Twenty years ago we moved to San Carlos. I soon discovered free-for-all runs with Abby were a thing of the past. For good reasons, most parks and open space districts in San Mateo County are off limits to dogs. Flora and fauna and equestrians and other hikers should not be unnecessarily endangered or inconvenienced by man’s best friend, but I will never forget those Saturday mornings of ". . .nothing like so good company as a dog. . ."

Despite the general "no dogs" policy for state and county parks and open space preserves, the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District allows dogs on designated trails at Windy Hill Open Space Preserve and on all trails at Coal Creek, Foothills, Fremont Older, Pulgas Ridge, St. Joseph’s Hill, the Kennedy-Limekiln Area of Sierra Azul, and Thornewood Open Space Preserves. A real bonus is the 16 acres of oak woodland and grassland at Pulgas Ridge where dogs may run off-leash, while under voice control. These dog-friendly parks—located between San Carlos and Los Gatos—offer many miles of good dog walking trails, but be sure to follow the rules: