Where dogs and their humans go to walk, socialize or be alone in Wellesley and Weston, sought after suburbs west of Boston.

On every street corner in Wellesley you are apt to see a very happy dog walking a human.   No matter how cold or how steamy the weather, they can be seen strutting along, or sniffing and exploring the pavement..  There are also a number of parks in town that afford a more natural environment for the Wellesley canines and their companions.  Whatever venue is chosen, Wellesley does have a leash law.  For an experience reminiscent of living in the Back Bay or Beacon Hill , there is a gathering of dogs at Perrin Park at roughly 6:30 and 8:30 AM every week day.  Humans stroll along a path that makes a circular loop around the park while chatting and sipping from cups of coffee.  Meanwhile the dogs are busy expressing their personalities: some choose to tag along behind or beside their humans, others gleefully dart back and forth across the park chasing each other, or entreating their human to throw something for them to catch.  Dogs do enjoy freedom from being leashed at Perrin, but make no mistake, if a dog’s behavior is unacceptable to the pack, the offender will be discouraged from returning.  The afternoon groups begin forming at 4:30. 

Lake Waban located on the Wellesley College campus offers a more extended, walking experience for man’s best friend.  Dogs who are hardwired to swim wherever water is available may be frustrated by having the lake right under their nose, but this is off limits (technically).  Another walk with a water view is long the aquaduct by Morses Pond.  Officially named the Cochituate (co-chi-chew-it) Path, the trail along the pond is more removed from the shore than it is at Waban.

For an almost rural experience Wellesley’s conservation land is plentiful.  There is Centennial Park, and Boulder Brook Reservation.  Both afford paths that wind through woods and open fields. Other opportunities for canine and human excersise include areas behind Babson College, and Kelly Memorial Park (which abutts Boulder Brook Reservation), Rockridge Pond, Charles River Path, the Guernsey Path at the Guernsey Sanctuary and the ever popular Brook Path which meanders about 3 miles through the town, in and out of its neighborhoods.

Weston canines are Wellesley dogs’  country cousins.  With almost 70% of the town designated as conservation land, Weston dogs can let the hound in them come to the surface.  They must be under voice control or on a leash, but the areas where they can be released and away from other dogs and people is extensive.  Perhaps the best known of the bucolic areas is the Weston Reservoir.  Over 80 acres of trails criss cross up and down hills and around the reservoir which is separated from the paths by a chain link fence.  The water is an offline, back up water source for Boston, so people and dogs are restricted from jumping in. There are usually a few wading pools along the way and outside of the fence. Cat Rock Park offers everything from an abandoned ski hill, to a marsh and a pond that comes and goes with the rain and snow fall.  A ball field called Campion Field leads to a meadow and pond and a walking trail.  The grounds of the Campion Center which is a Catholic Retreat and Priest retirement home afford an enjoyable dog walk experience. 

In addition to these ”only-12-miles-from-Boston-but-feel-like-you-are-in-Vermont” woodland jewels, Weston has a number of public lands not designated as parks or reservoirs where those in-the-know enjoy private dog walks. 

Some of the described areas in both towns provide clean-up bags, but many do not.  Responsible dog owners never leave the grounds littered with dog poop and are prepared for scoop duty with their own supplies.  The old Native American adage applies in all dog friendly environs:  “take out what you bring in and leave it as you found it”.

If you have suggestions for other or questions about these, please contact me. 

Ann Burford, Accredited Buyer Representative, Pinnacle Realtor

Cell: 781.910.1419

Office: 781.237.5000

aburford@PinnacleHouses.com

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