The Villages is probably the most Dog Friendly Comunity there is. Lots of dogs, lots of places to walk them.

Some walking paths (conservation areas) do not allow dogs, signage will advise you. Squares (especially Festivals in The Squares) and the crowds can be a bit much for dogs. About 30% in our neighborhood have dogs. Dog owners, including former, keep dog treats in their garage for those that walk by and say hello.

TOO FRIENDLY. Dogs RULE here !

Dog parks here are NOT well maintained and aggressive dogs have not been banned. Our greyhound recently broke a toe running in the mud. You can not add a fence around a property so make sure you look at homes with fenced in yards to keep yours in and others out. Good luck with your search

It is reasonably dog friendly, meaning that if you intend to bring them everywhere forget it. walks sure, squares ok, stores & restaurants no way.

i dont hate dogs just the owners let dogs poop on my grass and tell me to get over it i put pepper now

That is not true. Florida has no law against leaving a dog in an automobile.

Florida has animal cruelty laws, like most every state in the union, but nothing special about dogs and it is not illegal to leave them in a car, unless it presents some sort of danger.

*Some* counties might have specific regulations. Sumter County specifically allows you to leave a dog in a vehicle, provide there's sufficient ventilation, etc.

http://sumtercounty-fl.elaws.us/code/coor_ch4_sec4-14

Folks should check the FACTS, before posting.

Dog friendly
 

TV is very dog friendly. There will always be dog haters but I don’t know any. My dog thinks everyone he sees is coming to see him and have had no unpleasant experiences in the almost 2 years he’s lived here. I too don’t like dog parks. I walk my dog in the neighborhood and around a couple of local lakes (not too close to the shore because of crocs) including the multimodal paths. You do have to be careful on the mm paths as golf carts use them as well. I’ve brought my do to the squares, not often, and I see other dogs there regularly. So they are allowed in the squares. Sounds like you are great and responsible dog owners and I think you will be happy in TV!

There may be a County ordinance but I'll bet there is no Florida Statute that makes it illegal to leave a pet in a car.

Thank you

Walking on the sidewalks that are raised and above traffic is good. Multimodel paths are definitely not good. The many paths that are just walking paths are good, but you might meet bicycles. There are tons of dogs here. Many people here will see your dogs would like to meet them. They will respond and ask to meet your dogs and it normally works. Town Squares not closed to them, many dogs there but keep in mind there are lots of people, other dogs, and golf carts driven mixed with cars. Can be hectic.

Don’t understand your concerns. I walk my dog around my neighborhood twice a day. No issues, neighbors love him and stop to greet him. I’m known not by my name but as Louie’s owner. We walk along Fenney way, greet other dogs, other walkers and move to the right for bikers. No issues. I do not like the dog parks. Some dog owners do not watch them as they should and I’m not willing to risk our dog getting kennel cough or other afflictions. Don’t trust that they have their shots.

I’m not a dog person but I certainly have no problem with the dogs and owners I’ve encountered here. Aside from the occasional ax-grinder you will find that most Villagers are the live-and-let-live variety. As long as Rover minds his P’s and Q’s he is welcome pretty much everywhere and very few folks will say anything. Some stores have banned dogs (Publix, a hardware store I’ve been to) from their premises except for boba ride service dogs but it isn’t uncommon at all to see dogs at Wal-Mart, Lowe’s, etc. either in a cart or on a leash. In our going-on-four-years now I’ve seen precisely ONE dog that was disruptive, and that was at some town square festival or other with the dog in question yapping at people and other dogs. Noisy and disruptive, but the dog wasn’t aggressive. He didn’t stay there long…I think someone talked to the owner about it.

Owners too seem pretty amenable to suggestions if their dog is causing a problem. A few years back a neighbor (lady across the street) was letting her dog whiz on my grass. I spoke good-naturedly to her about it and she had no problem keeping her dog off my grass. I imagine the majority of owners would be as open to something like that. Keep things civil and friendly and a lot of problems can be nipped in the bud.

On the plus side, they’re great conversation-starters.

Be sure and add your pets names to your sign out front. I no longer have the health to care for a dog, but I love my neighbors dogs and recognize they are an important part of thefamily.
When you hear “No dogs allowed on this path”, that’s referencing very few paths here in TV.
The one by Lake Miona Regional Cener has that designation. But it is beside a nature preserve and there are all kinds of critters in there. So this is really for your dogs safety.
All of the other Multimodal Paths are at your discretion.

Have a wonderful, sunny day in The Friendliest Hometown…TV 🌞

I think the Villages is VERY pet friendly!! We only take our fur baby where I know she's welcome!! However, I can speak to the predator issue though, firsthand. We have a 7 lb schnoodle and I let her out on our fenced patio one afternoon and turned to come back in the house when I heard a whooshing sound. I turned around in time to see a huge hawk swooping in to grab her, talons bared. Gilly was going in the other direction, but cowered, trying to get away. Fortunately, the wingspan on this bird was wide enough that it got caught up between the side of the house and the privacy fence, so it corrected itself and flew away. Lesson learned!! Even in a fenced yard, your fur baby isn't safe!! Now, we don't let her out without one of us being with her at all times. Coyotes are all over down here and can jump the privacy fences easily. We've had a bobcat nearby as well. We even had a gator wander into our villa community, into one of the back yards......and there isn't even a pond nearby!! So, predators definitely!!! Be VERY careful!!

Good dogs are good pets. If I see them in the town square, I'll ask the owner if I can give them a dog treat and pet them. I always carry a bag of doggie treats. However, to see a dog in a restaurant or supermarket is annoying. IMHO they don't belong there. So bring your dogs ...... I'll have a treat for them.

:bigbow:

Dog walking tips for renters and snowbirds....

Up North, many areas have sidewalks. The "treelawn" or whatever you call it, gets used by dog walkers (just always pick up poop).

But there are no sidewalks in The Villages, so we forget that fact, and dogs may pee on the street edge of a neighboring yard....don't know what else to do?

My mission in life is to pet your Golden, and every other dog.

You asked about walking paths. If you are talking about the walkways for exercise that are located near some rec centers - I believe there are signs up that says "no dogs allowed" or something to that effect. These paths are narrow and don't allow room for walkers and dogs on leashes passing one another.

Good grief, do you feel better now after that silly rant? Remember that's your opinion, I would rather be with 20 dogs, than one of you. I find dogs are much easier to get along with and much more tolerant that some people.

There are a few folks who don't like dogs. You will see plenty of "dog poop" complaints on this site. Based on my experience with a well-behaved elderly dog nearly every person I walked past with him, wanted to pet him or chat.
You will likely find the same. You are allowed, but please - don't take your pups to the squares. The squares are loud, congested, have hot pavement and cannot be enjoyable for any dog.

As long as they are not on the grass itself … all is good. I think it is unfair to mislead snowbirds.

Dog Friendly? Mostly!!!
 

Dogs are not banned from Squares, but they are banned from indoor dining places (and some outdoor places.)

If your dogs are well-behaved and social? People who like dogs will ask to say hello and engage.

There will always be people who find something to dislike or complain about... I try to avoid the negativity.

I take my two chihuahua's to the squares and they are incredibly loving and social because they interact so much.

Pro Tip: Consider a stroller or wagon? The sidewalks are hot enough to cook on in the summer and it is terribly painful on their pads to walk on the sidewalks/asphalt.

Friendly
 

Of course tv is dog friendly..............so many people think its okay to let their dog pee in your yard as long as they don't poop. Pee is just as damaging if not more but it seems to be an accepted practice, just watch the dog walkers as they wave at you while their dog is peeing in your yard. And you wave back. Signaling it is okay. The reality is, where else are they going to pee!!!!!!!!! I have yet to see a dog pee in the streets!

However, I did spot on lanai with a grass portion inside for the dog. Now, they are very considerate.

Please understand that dogs are all over TV and well behaved dogs are welcomed by most people everywhere. The exceptions are supermarkets unless they are true service dogs. That excludes emotional support animals. True service dogs are admitted everywhere by law. Unless I’ve missed something, all well behaved dogs may dine outdoors with you. When I bought my courtyard villa my realtor told me that the best way to get to know your neighbors is to get a dog. If I took a pole of people in my development, the people who know their neighbors by name are those who walk their dogs. Keep them off of people’s lawns and pick up after them…which you’ve made clear that you do…or expect disapproval. And in my opinion, that is understandable. Welcome to you and your 4-legged friends!

Neighbors lawn
 

If you stay off your neighbors lawn, where is your dog going to pee! There is only a small amount of room by the post office boxes.chilout

You will find that some walking paths forbid dogs. These paths are usually near a wildlife/natural area. It will be posted at the trailhead.

You better figure that out first, before you get a dog. Mine went in my yard before we went for a walk.

Love Animals, don’t care much for Pet Owners

Anywhere, not just TV, be aware there are people who are severely allergic to dogs or have had a traumatic experience with a dog, or for some reason do not love dogs. They do not want to pet your dog much less be near them. It does not mean they hate dogs.
I believe leashes should be six feet in length. Those that let out leashes 30ft so that the dog walks across the entire 30ft of common grass to come up to my property are rude. Also with the leash out that long, it is a safety hazard. My friend lost her thumb using one of those leashes.

I think there's a proposal on the agenda at the CDD's to adopt a maximum leash length of 22'. I think they cancelled last month's meeting for lack of business and apparently they've now got their priorities in place and scheduled a meeting to regulate the length of dog leashes.

Does anyone think the "Maximum Leash Length" law, should also apply to cats?

No - Stay Off of Private Property
 

Keep your dog off of private property. It is not acceptable to let your dog pee or poop on private property. Picking up afterwards is not good enough.

Only saw a cat on a leash once here in the Villages in the past 18.5 years. It quickly went all the way up the nearby tree. She, the owner, had it on a very long leash.

Many people do not understand the connection people have with their dogs, or cats for that matter. There are so many people here who have lost their spouse and live alone. Their pets are their salvation. If I am guilty of treating my dog as my child that is because she is much like my children when they lived at home. The difference is that my dog never talks back, she is grateful when I prepare her meals and she is never asks for gas money! I love my dog with all of my heart and wonder if I would have gotten through the pandemic lockdown without her. Dogs are man’s and woman’s best friend for sure. And just as with my children, I do not permit bad behavior. In return I get unconditional love. Who could ask for more?

Where
 

Nice consideration, BUT, a dog doesn't pee just once..........he or she marks their spot everywhere...............and you must have a lot of burn marks in your lawn.....but, it is a great consideration

When my grand cat lost his tail and he was with me for recovery, I bought a bunny harness and a leash. This cat is a jumper and within days he was trying to jump my 6 foot fence up north. So the leash had to be long enough to get him to accept it (that took time) and for me to carefully maneuver him (he wasn’t allowed to jump at all after surgery). Between 8 to 12 feet seemed to work. If he goes up you reel him in gently bit by bit like a heavy fish.

Why not limit the leash to under 6 feet and not risk harming the recovering cat? Or keep it away from the fence if you use a longer leash?

He would not walk if leash was under 8 feet. He’d lie down and protest. I am not sure why. He used to be an outdoor cat previous to his surgery and roamed free in a rural setting. My house, up north, is in an urban setting. Never had a recuperating cat before but I believe that a happy cat gets better faster. So we were both learning.