How and when did dogs become domesticated? Scientists agree that dogs are a subspecies of the gray wolf, but there is no consensus on how and exactly when dogs evolved from wolves. According to Live Science writer Olivia Ferrari, one model suggests “dogs may have domesticated themselves because they really liked snacks.” Scientists don't know exactly how wolves were domesticated into early dogs, Ferrari notes, “but it's possible that they domesticated themselves by choosing to coexist with humans so that, a new study finds, they could be fed consistently. Then, these snackish canines likely selected mates that did the same. While the theory is nothing new, the new research shows it's statistically possible for the wolves to have driven their own domestication into dogs through natural selection.”

Pets Offer Benefits

Dog lovers may never know exactly how these cherished pets became so important to humans, but the benefits that come with having a canine companion are increasingly clear. A study published in May 2025 by Scientific Reports says that “people with dogs showed a slower decline in memory–including both immediate and delayed recall–compared with participants who didn’t own pets,” according to Maureen Salamon, Executive Editor of Harvard Women's Health Watch.

An earlier study by researchers at Uppsala University in Sweden “found that dog owners had a lower risk of death due to cardiovascular disease than people who did not report owning a dog, as well as a lower risk of death from other causes,” according to a report in Time magazine. “That was true even after adjusting for factors such as smoking, body mass index and socioeconomic status. The protective effect was especially prominent for people living alone, who have been found to have a higher risk for early death than those who live with other people. People who lived alone with a dog had a 33% reduced risk of death, and an 11% reduced risk of cardiovascular disease, than people who lived alone without a dog.”

Great Region for Furry Friends

Tri-Valley dog lovers are blessed with a variety of parks to take their pooches. The East Bay Regional Park District is a great place to start, and describes itself as “one of the most dog-friendly organizations in the nation.” The 73 regional parks within the district are spread across 122,000 square miles of open space. That makes it the largest park district in the nation, and it offers an astonishing range of natural beauty to explore. Dogs must be leashed in all parking lots, picnic areas, developed areas such as lawns and play fields, and on some trails. Dogs may be off-leash in open space and undeveloped areas of parklands, provided they are under control at all times.

In addition to the many trails and parks that welcome dogs within the East Bay Regional Park District and the vast number of dog-friendly neighborhood and community parks, there are several off-leash dog parks in the region. Livermore has the largest number of offerings, with seven dog parks throughout the city. “Each dog park offers a unique design within an enclosed fenced setting to allow maximum play and off-leash running,” according to officials of the Livermore Area Recreation and Park District.

All Livermore dog parks are open from sunrise to sunset. They include the 14.7-acre Bruno Canziani Park at 5907 Charlotte Way, which was a vineyard for many years before it was developed. Dogs brought here will discover a 49,000-square-foot area divided into two, one for small dogs and one for large dogs. Cayetano Park at 698 Portola Avenue includes many amenities, including a dog park located at the northeast corner of Portola Avenue at Isabel Avenue and Campus Hill Drive. It features a dog drinking fountain and a large dog area of 16,100 square feet and a small dog area of 7,800 square feet. Robertson Park at 3200 Robertson Park Road offers a four-acre fenced dog park meadow known as Livermore Canine Park, which includes two water stations. Max Baer Park, at 1310 Murdell Lane, offers a 28,000-square-foot fenced dog park while Vista Meadows, at 2450 Westminster Way, provides nearly 39,000 square feet of fenced grassy hillside where dogs can play and run off-leash.

The City of Pleasanton has two dedicated outdoor spaces for dogs. Cubby’s, at 3200 West Lagoon Road, is a 1.5-acre dog park that features a fenced dog play area, drinking fountains, shade structures, and agility structures. The other space is located at Muirwood Community Park at 4701 Muirwood Drive. While there is no grass, one visitor calls it the “perfect enclosed park for dogs of all sizes. There are even some benches and a couple picnic tables within the dog park for the humans.” Tall trees provide some shade, and there is a water fountain and waste bags available. Several other Pleasanton parks are dog-friendly, although they do not include areas for off-leash play. They include Alviso Adobe. Amador Valley, and Bernal community parks.

In Danville, the 1.5-acre Canine Corral dog park at 1000 Sherburne Hills Road provides “hours of leash-free fun for Danville dogs,” according to city officials. Canine Corral features benches and water features but minimal shade. The play surface is grass and includes separate play areas for large and small dogs. Other Tri-Valley options include Del Mar Dog Park at 9867 Del Mar Drive in San Ramon, and Dougherty Hills at the intersection of Amador Valley Boulevard and Stagecoach Road in Dublin.

One great resource for owners of purebreds is the Del Valle Dog Club of Livermore, a hub for those who are involved or want to become involved in the Tri-Valley’s only conformation and performance club. Confirmation refers to how dog show judges evaluate a pure-bred dog’s conformation, which means how closely a dog’s physical structure matches its breed’s so-called standard. Performance, in contrast, refers to performance events “that give purebred dogs the opportunity to perform the tasks for which they were originally bred,” according to American Kennel Club (AKC) officials. Del Valle is a member of the AKC and a founding member of the Canine Health Foundation. Club membership is open to “dog fanciers who are in good standing with the AKC,” officials say. One of Del Valle’s primary goals is to help promote the health and welfare of dogs.

Many Tri-Valley shop owners, cafes, restaurants, and wineries go out of their way to make dog lovers and their pets feel welcome, whether they are visiting or live here. “We like to joke around here that in our next life, we’re coming back as a dog-visitor to the Tri-Valley,” according to Robin Fahr, Vice President of Marketing and Communications for Visit Tri-Valley. “Water bowls and biscuit jars line our downtowns, restaurant patios welcome pups with open arms, and our Inspiration Guide, website, and social media channels showcase every pet-friendly stop across the region–from hotels and wineries to dog parks and ice-cream trails. As more travelers bring pets with them, we’ve made it simple to find the places where tails wag and humans feel right at home.”

For more information about enjoying the East Bay Regional Park District with one or more dogs, please visit www.ebparks.org/safety/dogs.

For more information about dog parks in the City of Livermore, please visit www.larpd.org/dog-parks.

For more information about parks and dog parks in the City of Pleasanton, please visit www.cityofpleasantonca.gov/your-community/parks-trails/#community-parks.

For more information about the Del Valle Dog Club of Livermore, please visit www.dvdc.org/index.asp?ID=3.

To find dog-friendly restaurants, wineries, hotels, and shops, please visit www.visittrivalley.com/dog-friendly-locations.