You've heard it hundreds of times: People who live in cities shouldn't have dogs, ever. We say: rubbish! Chicago offers plenty of room for hound play.

Many neighborhood parks have dog-friendly areas where dogs can play off leash. Suburban parks and forest preserves often have generous areas set aside for dogs and their people.

If it's water your dog craves, see our picks for Chicago's best canine swimming spots. If you're dying to get out of town, check out urbanhound's favorite ways to escape the city with a dog.

Of course, to get away you'll need more information still: Can you take your dog on the El? Metra? Amtrak? We've got the answers. As for flying with dogs, get the lowdown at our airline travel page.