How to Get Connected: Dog-Lovers Edition

From parks and shops to grooming and events, dogs and their owners — that’s you! — can take advantage of regional pet-friendly things to do and amenities across Greater Des Moines (DSM) and get connected with other pup pals.

Did you know you can exhibit your dog here? What pooch wouldn’t love to win Best in Show at the Iowa State Fair? Learn about how your kiddos can show your dog as part of 4-H and also learn to train and act as caretaker for your dog. These and other regional events like the Great Iowa Pet Expo, Winterset Dog Jog, Downtown Farmers’ Market and even the Pride Pet Parade — an invest hosted by Capital City Pride in Downtown DSM — are fun ways to meet other dog owners and interact with other doggo friends in DSM.

Check out the many ways to get connected to the pup community in DSM, including grooming, park locations, shops and puppy boutiques, training and boarding. No matter where you live in the region, you’ll be able to find what you need with ease, and make sure your doggie’s ‘do is stylin’ and their tail is waggin’.

Animal Nonprofits & Service Dog Training in Des Moines

AHeinz57 Pet Rescue & Transport (Located in De Soto)
ARL (Located in Des Moines)
Furry Friends Refuge (Located in West Des Moines)
Iowa Service Dogs (Located in West Des Moines)
Puppy Jake (Located in Urbandale)

Des Moines Dog Grooming

Bark Avenue (Located in Ankeny, Waukee and West Des Moines; find grooming plus lodging, daycamp and training here)
Canine Country Club (Located in West Des Moines)
Dogwoods Lodge (Located in Grimes; find grooming plus lodging, daycamp and training here)
Hair of the Dog (Located in Grinnell)
Handsome Hounds Boarding & Grooming (Located in Adel)
Pampered Pooch (Located in Altoona; find grooming plus salon services, daycare, boarding and training here)
Prancing Paws (Located in Pleasant Hill)
Stylin' Paws (Located in Clive, Des Moines and Urbandale; offers grooming, boarding, an indoor dog park and more)

Dog Parks Around Greater Des Moines

Ankeny Dog Park (1155 SW Ankeny Rd., Ankeny)
Ewing Dog Park (4660 Indianola Ave., Des Moines)
Gray’s Lake Park (Kruidenier Trail in Des Moines)
Paws & Pints (6218 Willowmere Dr., Des Moines)
Kinship Lois Park at Kinship Brewing Co. (255 NW Sunrise Dr., Waukee)
Newton Dog Park (403 W 4th St. North, Ste. 501, Newton)
Oskaloosa Dog Park (1420 11th Ave., Oskaloosa)
Raccoon River Park – Dog Park (2500 Grand Ave., West Des Moines)
Riverwalk Dog Park (111 Illinois St., Des Moines)
Windsor Heights Dog Park (Colby Park, Windsor Heights)
Winterset Dog Park (1800 E. Court Ave., Winterset)

Dog Stores in Greater Des Moines

Amore Pets (Located in Norwalk)
Bone-A-Patreat (Located in Altoona, Des Moines, Urbandale and West Des Moines)
Brown Dog Bakery (Located in Ankeny)
Earthwise Pet (Located in Newton)
Hiking Dog Co. (Located in Clive )
Jax & Josie’s Smoked Jerky (a Downtown Winter Farmers’ Market vendor)
Jett and Monkey’s (Located in the Historic East Village in Downtown DSM; offers a Downtown Des Moines Pet Guide)
Smoosh Pet Bakery (Located in Knoxville)
Watson & Wallie (Located in Waukee and previous vendor at the Downtown Farmers’ Market)

Dog Training and Boarding Around Des Moines

Camp Bow Wow (Located in West Des Moines)
Dog Training Elite* (Located in Des Moines)
Sit Means Sit* (Located in Des Moines)
Zoom Room Dog Training* (Located in West Des Moines)

And while this list is for dog lovers, we just have to mention a few notable cats businesses in the region, including Coffee Cats Café in the Historic Valley Junction area of West Des Moines and Smitten Kitten in Ankeny. Finally, don’t forget to buy for the out-of-town cat lovers you know — or yourself, once you’re calling DSM home! — the “You’ve Cat to be Kitten Me Right Meow” Raygun merchandise!

Greater Des Moines (DSM) is more than just the place to be for dog lovers. It’s consistently named a top place to live and work and has earned bragging rights as the #1 mid-sized city for Millennials and a top spot for families, too. Unleash your potential and do something greater here.