Dog walking and dog parks in Madison, WI.

Dog walking in Madison

You can sign up with Dote today as a dog owner or a walker in Madison, Wisconsin. How many walkers are available near you depends on your area. Every walker completes identity and criminal background screening, and every walk has live GPS tracking.

Get started in Madison

Places your dog can play in Madison

OpenStreetMap, a volunteer-edited map, lists 13 dog parks in or near Madison. Rules, hours, and fencing can change, so check the posted signs or the city website before you go.

Madison at a glance

• Population: about 280,305 (2023 Census estimate)
• Change since 2020: up 2.1%
• Land area: about 84 square miles
• Density: about 3,352 people per square mile
• Rank in Wisconsin: number 2 of 605 places by population

By these numbers, Madison is a medium-density place. In medium-density places, walks are often along residential streets, and parks can be a short walk, a longer walk or a short drive away, depending on the neighborhood.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2023 population estimates and 2024 Gazetteer files.

Before you go

• Bring water and waste bags, and keep your dog's vaccinations up to date.
• Read the posted rules at the entrance. Many parks require current vaccinations, licenses, or leashes at the gate.
• Watch how your dog is getting along with the others, and leave if play gets too rough.

Dog rules in Madison, Wisconsin

Dog rules in the U.S. come from three levels: state law, the county, and the city. Nearly every state requires rabies vaccination for dogs, while leash, license, and waste rules are usually set by the city or county, so they can be different in Madison than in the next town over.

• License and rabies tag: most cities require a dog license and current rabies vaccination. Keep the tags on your dog's collar.
• Leash rules: many cities require dogs to be leashed in public, with off-leash allowed only in posted dog areas. Check the leash length limit too.
• Waste: picking up after your dog is required almost everywhere, and fines apply.
• Limits: ordinances often cover barking, the number of dogs per home, and dogs left in hot cars or tied up outdoors.

For the exact rules in Madison, read the city's animal ordinance or ask local animal control: municipal code library · search the Madison dog ordinance · Madison on the map. Dote does not give legal advice, and rules change, so confirm with the city.

Frequently asked questions

Nearby places in Wisconsin

Shorewood Hills · Maple Bluff · Middleton · Monona · Waunakee · Fitchburg

Dog park data © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). See all of Wisconsin.