Tennessee Real Estate Tips: Buying & Selling Made Easy

     You've moved to Murfreesboro and updated the utilities, changed your address, met a few neighbors, found a favorite local restaurant, unpacked most of your belongings, maybe even found a way to repurpose all those moving boxes and now you're ready to explore activities to enjoy with your dog.  As a growing city, Murfreesboro offers a range of dog-friendly options for residents and their canine companions.  Here's a guide to help you start to discover enjoyable activities and locations throughout Rutherford County. 

 Parks & Trails:

• Cason Trailhead and Park/Bark Park (Murfreesboro): This park is a favorite among dog owners!  It features a dedicated Bark Park and also a really nice playground for the children with less than four legs :). There are also walking trails where leashed dogs are welcome.
• Barfield Crescent Park (Murfreesboro): This large park has scenic walking trails where leashed dogs can join you. It's a great place for a longer walk or a leisurely stroll.
• Stones River Greenway: This paved multi-use trail stretches for several miles along the Stones River. It's a popular spot for walking, running, and biking, and leashed dogs are welcome to join.
• McKnight Park (Smyrna): This park has open green spaces and walking paths where leashed dogs can enjoy a walk.

Dog-Friendly Businesses:

• Restaurants with Outdoor Patios: Many restaurants in Murfreesboro and Rutherford County welcome dogs on their outdoor patios. Call ahead to confirm their pet policy.

Resources: Websites like BringFido.com can help you find dog-friendly restaurants in the area.  I will also include a list of places that welcome dogs as of the time of this article at the end.   Businesses change their policies all the time so it's best to call ahead before you take your dog someone, especially to a restaurant.

• Breweries: Some local breweries also allow well-behaved dogs on their patios or in designated outdoor areas.

Resource: Rover.com can help you find dog sitters in the area to watch your dog if you want to enjoy something that isn't dog friendly.

Dog Events & Activities:

• Your Dog Can See Santa at Stones River Town Centre and Animal Center in December.
• The Easter Bunny normally hops over to Animal City and the Rutherford Farmers Co-op around Easter.  Call for details.
• Puppy Plunge at SportsCom: In Murfreesboro, dogs normally can go swimming at SportsCom's outdoor pool during a special event called Puppy Plunge! Based on past events, this typically occurs once a year, usually in September, before the pool is prepared for the winter season. Check the City of Murfreesboro Parks and Recreation Department's website for details and scheduling.
• Keep an eye on community event calendars: Check local event listings (such as boropulse.com and mainstreetmurfreesboro.org). The Facebook page "Dog Friendly Rutherford" is also a great resource. Look for other dog-friendly events, such as adoption days, pet expos, and dog walks.
• Lucky Ladd Farms will normally have dog events so you may want to keep an eye on their web site, see below.

Other Considerations:

• Leash Laws: Rutherford County has leash laws, so make sure to keep your dog on a leash in public areas, unless you're in a designated off-leash dog park.
• Pick Up After Your Pet:** Always clean up after your dog, both in parks and on trails.
• Vaccination and Licensing: Ensure your dog is up-to-date on all vaccinations and properly licensed, as required by Rutherford County.
• Check Specific Rules: Before visiting any park or establishment with your dog, check their specific rules and regulations regarding pets.

By taking advantage of these dog-friendly options, you and your canine companion can enjoy an active and fulfilling life in Rutherford County!

Excerpt from Lucky Ladd's website for 2025:

https://luckyladdfarms.com/

ADVANCED TICKET PURCHASE REQUIRED.

Pups in the Park Dates

Tulip Festival Days: April 5-6
Strawberry Festival Days: May 3-4
Summer Fun Days: July 5-6
Pumpkin Patch: September 27-28, October 25-26 
Pup Pics with Santa Claus: December 3 & 20

(LIST UPDATED June 2025)

Eat, shop, and play at these dog-friendly businesses in Rutherford County! Leashed, well-behaved dogs only.

Dog-Friendly Public Parks in Murfreesboro & Smyrna (ON LEASH ONLY):

• All Greenways
• Murfreesboro Parks and Recreation
• Smyrna Parks and Recreation

Off-Leash Dog Parks:

• Bark Park - Murfreesboro, TN, 1526 W College St. (separate small dog/big dog areas)
• Cason Trailhead Dog Park, 1100 Cason Trail
• Bark Springs at Sharp Springs, Smyrna
• Hop Springs Brew Park - 6970 John Bragg Hwy (they have a walking trail, too)

Dog-Friendly Attractions in Murfreesboro:

• Cannonsburgh Village
• Discovery Center (outdoor trails only), 502 SE Broad St.

Dog-Friendly DINING in Rutherford County (ON PATIO ONLY, unless otherwise noted):

• Andy's Frozen Custard (pupcups!)
• Bar Louie
• Boro Bowls (dogs welcome inside!)
• Buster's Place
• Cedar Glade Brews (welcome inside!)
• Culver's (pup cups in drive-thru)
• Dairy Queen (pup cups in drive-thru only)
• Five on Black (has dog menu)
• Hattie Jane's Creamery
• The Hangout Nutrition & Energy (pup cups!)
• Hop Springs (dogs allowed on grounds, patio & in their dog park)
• Jeremiah's Italian Ice (PUP CUPS!)
• Karin's Kustard & Hamburgers, Smyrna - has "pupcones"
• Liquid Smoke (Dogs welcome inside, ask for dog water bowl)
• Middle Ground Brewing Company (patio entrance around back of building)
• Sonic (some location have dog treats, ask when you order)
• Starbucks ("Puppaccino")
• TailGate Brewery, 210 Stones River Mall (heated patio!)
• The Print Shop Restaurant, Smyrna

Dog-Friendly SHOPPING & Businesses  (ON LEASH ONLY!):

• Academy Sports + Outdoors
• City Thrift, Smyrna
• Gunn’s Greenery
• Dick's Sporting Goods
• Doggie's Day Out
• Firestone Complete Auto Care
• Foot Locker
• Harbor Freight
• Hobby Lobby
• Home Depot
• Kelton's Hardware & Pet (treats at the register!) side note - My dog Loves going here!  They are so always so sweet and usually meet us at the door with treats and again at the register. 
• Knick Nash at The Avenue
• Lowe's Home Improvement - side note - several of the employees actually carry dog treats. We go here so often there are people here that know my dog's name and they are so sweet to him. 
• Martin's Home & Garden (gift shop excluded)
• Michael's
• Office Depot
• Petco
• Petsense
• PetSmart
• Pet Supplies Plus
• Rutherford Farmers Cooperative
• Precision Tune, Murfreesboro
• Rock N Pup, Smyrna
• Tire Discounters
• Tractor Supply Co. (Self-service dog wash $10)
• Veda's Flowers & Gifts (Photo op on their door - doggie butterfly wings!)
• VNTG
• Wag It Better Dog Boutique (self-service dog wash) - side note, my dog went to daycare here and we loved it!  He aged out of the program or he'd probably still be going.

Now that you've settled into your new home and explored some of the wonderful dog-friendly activities and places Rutherford County has to offer, you'll quickly see why this growing community is such a great place to live, and a great place to invest in real estate. Whether you're looking to find your next property in Murfreesboro or the surrounding area, I'd be delighted to help you.

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