Hot summer days are meant for packing your car and taking a drive to the beach! But what if you don’t want to leave your four-legged companion at home? Before you take your dog to the beach, there are a few things you need to do to ensure your dog will be allowed on the beach.
Dogs are allowed on beaches! However, some behaviors could get you and your pup in trouble at the beach. If your dog does not enjoy the water, does not get along with other dogs, or has a temper, you may unfortunately not be allowed to bring your furry friend to the beach.
Let’s take a look at when your dog will be allowed at the beach and when you should try to hold off taking your furry friend to the beach and instead leave them at home!
Know Your Dog’s Personality
Not every dog is a good fit for taking to the beach. For example, it is never a good idea to take a puppy under the age of four months to the beach because they haven’t been vaccinated yet, and dogs in heat can cause problems with other dogs.
Some breeds, such as Labradors, love the water, but it actually comes down to your dog. Each dog has its own personality. If your furry friend dislikes crowds or water or gets overheated easily, it would be best to keep them at home. If you are unsure, you can try taking them to a nearby river or late before you decide to take them to the beach.
Additionally, you need to ensure that your dog will behave well in a big public space with many distractions. This means they will need to get along well with other people as well as other dogs. You need to trust in your dog to come when you command, even if they are off a leash.
It is crucial to know your dog’s temperament. You may think your dog is the best, but maybe they don’t behave well amongst other dogs or big groups of people. They might get offensive and impossible to handle, especially if they are not used to the beach.
You may get asked to leave or be liable to pay for damages, and you and your dog may even get banned from going to that beach entirely.
If You Take Your Dog To The Beach, Follow The Rules
Usually, your local beach will have some core rules you should follow as a dog owner to be allowed on the beach. If you can not comply with these rules, you may be asked to leave or be liable for a fine.
Below are some of the essentials before you decide to go on your beach trip with your furry friend:
Make sure that you choose a dog-friendly beach
Before you choose a specific beach to take your furry friend to, you need to do some research. Ensure that the beach you want to go to welcomes dogs and knows where and when your dog can play and run.
Many dog-friendly beaches have specific off-leash hours, usually in the early morning and late afternoon. It is crucial that you take these tules seriously because authorities do. And remember, there is a reason why most of the rules were instituted, and it is usually because there was a problem in the past.
Know what to bring, and ensure you bring it!
You will definitely need to bring a long leash, ideally 20 to 30 feet line. And on top of this, only allow your dog to go off-leash if they are trained to return when you command them to.
You have to be sure that you are in complete control of your dog if you plan on unleashing them. It would help to have plenty of tasty treats on hand to reward good behavior, such as coming when you command.
An ample fresh water supply is necessary, except for a steady line. A gallon would be enough, and you will be able to supply your pup with water and rinse off any sand and seawater!
Lastly, one of the crucial things is also sunscreen. Just like humans, dogs can also suffer from sunburn, incredibly light-colored, short-coated, and hairless breeds. Any dog can get burned on its paw pads and nose.
Fortunately, many sunscreen brands are specially made for dogs, and they are readily available online or at your local pet store!
If you are going with a sunscreen manufactured for humans, ensure that it is a broad-spectrum sunscreen for children with an SPF of 15 or higher. Also, make sure the sunscreen is free of PABA, zinc oxide, or any other toxic ingredients to dogs.
Clean up after your dog
You might think that because the beach is basically one huge litterbox, that you can let your dog do their “business” everywhere. However, not cleaning up after your pooch may get you banned from the beach, and you certainly don’t want that! Always bring bags to pick up after your dog.
You wouldn’t want to step into a dog’s business, and neither does anyone else. If there are facilities at the beach, rinse off your dogs’ paws along with any exposed skin. It would be best to wash them well with shampoo to get off any sand or salt when you get back home. Excess sand or salt can irritate your dog’s skin and cause rashes.
Know what to do in an emergency
Always know what the signs are and how to handle certain situations when it comes to your bellowed pooch. Know the signs of heatstroke in dogs, and understand that some dog breeds tend to overheat more quickly.
Also, be mindful of giving your dog ice cold water to drink, as it can shock their systems and cause complications, such as cramps. If you think your dog is at the start of overheating, try cooling them down by holding a cold, wet cloth down their head, neck and at the areas below their front and back legs.
Remember, anything that can harm humans at the beach can also hurt your dog! This includes sharp glass, riptides, and jellyfish. This is why it is essential to be vigilant for both you and your dog, which can be a big responsibility.
Conclusion
By understanding and following the rules above, as well as knowing your dog’s personality and temperament, you will be ready to be allowed on all dog-friendly beaches! If the responsibility seems like a bit much for you initially, it will benefit you and your dog to take a friend, which means two extra eyes and ears!
When you take your dog out, your dog will require your constant and full attention regardless of where. They are very social creatures, and they need interaction!
Resources
- https://www.pdsa.org.uk/what-we-do/blog/5-ways-to-keep-your-dog-safe-at-the-beach
- https://www.newsweek.com/can-i-take-my-dog-beach-1439547
- https://www.hillspet.com/dog-care/play-exercise/taking-dogs-to-the-beach
- https://www.rover.com/blog/9-hot-tips-taking-dog-beach/
