Sonoma Valley Dog Owners & Guardians 
<---SELECT A LINK FROM THE NAVIGATION COLUMN AT THE LEFT TO LOOK FOR NEARBY DOG-FRIENDLY OUTDOOR PLACES.
The Good News ...
There are many dog friendly places, parks and beaches in the Bay Area. While some require dogs to be on a leash no longer than 6 feet, a number of parks, beaches and trails allow dogs to be off-leash if they are under voice control. Most of these places, including ocean beaches, are within a few minutes to an hour's drive of Sonoma Valley. In addition, Sonoma Valley has a few small dog parks, and a number of excellent doggie camps and kennels where dogs can be left in responsible hands while visitors enjoy their time in Wine Country.
For a quick read, here is a link to a June 2011 issue of the Press Democrat, discussing some of the good places to take your dog, for food and fun: http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20110605/LIFESTYLE/106051051?p=1&tc=pg
The Not-So-Good News ...
Those who treasure the company of their dogs in the great outdoors may find that the amount of public open space in Sonoma Valley accessible to those with dogs is legally limited. We say "legally" because, given the large number of dogs in the Valley and the restrictive no-dog laws and local ordinances, dog-lovers desperate to excercise their dogs have been known to do so in places where dogs are not permitted, in spite of the risk of hefty fines.
Dog-loving Sonoma Valley folks -- and there are thousands of us -- want all dog-loving visitors to be aware of the risks to their pocket books posed by local laws, so as to maximize the joy of their visit for them AND their dogs.
For example, notwithstanding website statements to the contrary, all California State Parks property in the Valley are governed by state and regional regulations hostile to dogs. Dogs are allowed in some state campgrounds and parking lots but are generally banned from all state park buildings, trails, beaches, fields, woods, etc. Check the website for the state park you are planning to visit.
Sonoma County Regional Parks are similarly restrictive, though a few allow leashed dogs on hiking trails and a few have dog parks where dogs can be off-leash.
The Sonoma County Agricultural Preservation and Open Space District is also generally opposed to dogs on District-acquired lands and easements and, with few exceptions (e.g., Tolay Lake Open Space), bans even leashed dogs. While the District has denied maintaining an official no-dogs policy, it is the exception that proves the rule.
With a dog population that exceeds the number of children, the City of Sonoma provides space for only one small dog park (smaller than a tennis court) which is maintained, insured and operated not by the City but by a dedicated band of volunteer dog-lovers. Otherwise, dogs are banned from all City parks, including the historic Plaza in the center of town. Existing and planned hiking trails with breathtaking views of the City are also completely off-limits to dogs. Within the City limits, dogs in public must be leashed and are allowed only on the public streets, sidewalks and bike paths. Vacant land belonging to the Sonoma Valley Unified School District is also off-limits to dogs.
Some Good News Among the Bad? ...
In Sonoma Valley, many of the best off-leash spaces for dogs are on private property such as wineries and vineyards and are not usually accessible to the general public. Fortunately, some of these wineries conduct dog-hikes or events open to the public (often for a fee) in conjuntion with their wine marketing efforts (check the winery you are planning to visit to see if it is dog-friendly). And the polo grounds in Oakmont (in the north end of the Valley) allows off-leashed dogs on the polo field whenever horses are not present.
While hefty fines are specified for taking dogs where they aren't supposed to be, two factors may sometimes operate to avoid a penalty. First is the fact that the City, county and the state have serious budget problems. With limited staff and resources available, enforcing dog laws is far down on the list of "Things to Do." Therefore, often only the most egregious dog complaints will draw public ire or uniformed attention. Second, many if not most of City. county and state staffers, including park rangers and law enforcement, are dog-lovers themselves.
So though it is no guarantee of saving a pleasant day or avoiding a fine, responding with a non-confrontational and cooperative attitude can go a long way to avoid a fine should an unaware visitor happen to be caught in the wrong place with a dog. For those tempted to assume a hostile attitude, be aware that an arresting officer has the power to seize and impound a dog found in a situation that is a violation of the law.