Mexico City is one of my favorite places in the world. The food is to die for, the people are friendly, and there are dogs everywhere. When I visited last month, I couldn’t help but notice the incredible relationship the people of CDMX (Ciudad de México) have with their pets. Below is a compilation of some observations, anecdotes from locals, and all the best dog content from my camera roll.

  • There are a lot of dogs

My tour guide said there were more dogs than children in CDMX, and, honestly, I wouldn’t be surprised. I definitely saw more dogs in strollers than babies in strollers.

  • There are a lot of dog walkers

A lot of dogs means a lot of dog walkers. But what was particularly striking about the dog walkers in CDMX was the ratio of dogs per human. I saw groups with upward of seven dogs! A friend I made in a coffee shop told me that dog walking has become a legitimate profession because there has been such an influx of pets in recent years. 

And there is a lot of space to walk these dogs. The Condesa and Roma neighborhoods have beautiful tree-lined streets with a tree-lined boulevard-turned-walking path running down the center. Parque España and Parque Mexico are two huge, beautiful parks filled with more dogs than humans. While the dogs make the entire park their own, a fenced area is dedicated to dogs running around and hanging out with each other. And if I understood some of the signs correctly, the area is also used for training.

  • CDMX is a pet’s world; we’re all just living in it

For a while, it seemed as if every other establishment in the city was a pet shop, daycare, groomer, or veterinary practice. But even non-pet establishments were filled with pets. CDMX cafes and restaurants were often set up as indoor/outdoor areas, making them more conducive to welcoming pets. 

But I learned about my favorite non-pet-but-pet-friendly establishment from our tour guide, who walked us by a beautiful church with pet-friendly services. Personally, I am so here for abolishing the separation of church and pet.

Just like the “city people” stereotype, these city dogs kept to themselves and minded their own business. They paid little attention to other dogs unless they were in a dog park. And they also seemed relatively uninterested in other humans, even if I tried to pet them (and I did try)—which segues into my next observation. 

  • The dogs all seem exceptionally well-trained

I don’t know if it’s because the city has so many hazards that the dogs are so well-trained. Or perhaps there is a mandatory training standard. Whatever the reason, good canine behavior was consistent across the city, whether in a park or a cafe. 

There were also designated dog waiting areas outside stores or in the park that were just a row of “spots” for dogs to wait (sometimes not even tied up). And the dogs patiently waited, often next to stranger dogs, with no problems. 

One of the most astonishing things I saw was a person walking six dogs through a park tell one of the dogs to “Hacer pee pee y caca,” and that dog went into the bushes and did his business. On command! 

The most interesting (and stressful) thing to see was how common it was for pets to be off-leash. I also noticed a similar attitude toward leashes in London (or, as they’re called, leads), with dogs often being off leash in parks and sometimes on a quiet street. In Mexico City I saw some dogs on and others off-leash, even within the same group. Off-leash dogs would wander off and explore on their own but always make their way back to their owners. Personally, I kept panicking because I thought the dogs were lost, and I would look around frantically for the owner. One time, I realized the owner of a dog sniffing near me was actually several benches away, taking selfies. 

I also saw dogs cross streets that I was too scared to cross on my own. But the owners told them to wait, and they did. 

Perhaps the most terrifying but impressive thing I saw was an owner riding his bike down the busiest street in Mexico City, with his dog running right next to him with no leash. The dog stopped at a red light and waited for his owner to start moving again before he moved. It was incredible.

So there you have it, just some of my observations about the vibrant dog culture in CDMX. Next time I visit, I’d love to learn more about how dog owners there train their dogs and why it differs from our approach here in the States. And if you’re looking for a place to visit that’s brimming with incredible food, vibrant culture, and endless doggie content, add CDMX to your list of destinations.