When summer comes around it’s not just people that want to lay on the sand and swim in the waves. Like lots of dogs, your furry friend could have an amazing time at the beach as well. With lots of space to run around, cool water to swim in, and potentially, other dogs to meet, the beach provides the perfect day out for both you and your dog.
However, it is important that before you take your dog to the beach, you know off some of the relevant safety tips that experienced dog owners might already be well aware of. The last thing you want when taking your dog to the beach is to disrupt the environment and disturb other people, or even to make it unsafe for your dog.
In this article I will provide you with 10 pro tips for taking your dog to the beach. These have been tried and tested by experienced dog owners for decades, so that now the novice dog owner can simply learn about them and put them to use. These tips are essential for you, your dog and other people to have a fun and safe time at the beach this summer.
First things first, make sure your furry companion is welcome at the beach to begin with. Further, every dog beach has various rules that you will need to follow. These might be leash-related rules as well as rules about picking up poop.
Importantly, most beaches require your dog to have a collar on at the beach along with adequate identification in case the two of you get separated. You will also need to keep your dog’s rabies vaccination up to date and proof of vaccination at hand.
It is very important that you only consider taking your dog to the beach if they are adequately trained to be in public spaces. This means that your dog should know basic commands and know not to disturb other people. The beach is a place where your dog is likely to get excited and if untrained may start getting hyper and disrupting the environment.
Making sure your dog is adequately trained and well behaved around other people is crucial to having the best beach day with your dog.
Humans aren’t the only ones to get sunburnt at the beach. Dogs do as well, especially those with light or thin fur. Dogs are also likely to get sunburnt on their noses and ears. Use sunscreen that is made especially for dogs and apply it on them before taking your dog to the beach.
It might be even better to plan ahead and take your dog to the beach on a day, or during a time of day, when the sun’s rays are less harsh. Find out how prone your breed of dog is to getting sunburnt and prepare accordingly.
Secondly, if it’s a hot day it’s likely that the sand will also be scorching hot. Make sure you care for your dog’s paws. Either simply avoid taking your dog to the beach when it’s very hot, or invest in dog booties and sunscreen.
The saying among sailors stands just as true for dogs, “Water. Water everywhere. But not a drop to drink.” Make sure you brink plenty of fresh water for your dog to drink when it gets tired from running around in the sun.
More importantly, do not let your doggy drink salt water. This may cause stomach problems the next day but will certainly dehydrate your dog even further. A sure fire way of making sure they do not drink salty sea water is by keeping them well hydrated and bringing along their water bowl. If they know their water bowl is at hand they probably won’t resort to drinking sea water to begin with.
This is another safety tip when taking your dog to the beach that you don’t want to forget about. You probably already know that unlike us, dogs don’t cool themselves off by sweating. Panting and shaded areas are all they depend on to cool down.
So when taking your dog to the beach make sure you bring equipment for making a tent or shaded area for your dog. That way they can run around and enjoy themselves without overheating and getting ill.
Some dogs can swim like a charm the first time you put them in the water. Other dogs, not so much. Unless you have a Labrador, don’t just assume your dog knows how to swim. If you notice your dog tentatively approaching the water, help them ease into it and paddle themselves slowly.
If you are unsure about your dog’s swimming abilities make sure to pack a life jacket when taking your dog to the beach. That way your pup can have fun without you being worried about their safety.
If you’ve been to the beach you’ll know that all sorts of dangerous items can be found hidden within the sand. Small pieces of glass, rubbish, plastic, rocks, hooks and coral all pose a deadly threat to your dog. Watch your dog’s activity to make sure they don’t eat anything that’s dangerous to them.
As noted, there are a few ways for your dog to injure themselves on the beach. Other than ingesting something dangerous or burning their paws on hot sand, they might also step on sandspurs, which could cause bleeding and discomfort.
Having a first-aid kit at hand when taking your dog to the beach will quell any concerns about your dog getting hurt.
As you may know, public spaces often enforce poop-picking laws for dog owners. The beach is no different. Aside from the law, picking up after your dog is basic decency and helps provide a safe and comfortable public space for both humans and dogs.
So make sure you bring some waste bags with you and pick up your doggy’s poop.
A day of rolling around in the sand and swimming in salt water is definitely going to make your dog’s fur dirty and dry. Make sure that you give you dog a nice bath and shampooing when you get back from the beach. Trust us when we say your furry friend will thank you for it.
The beach seems to be the perfect place for your dog to have the time of their life. While it does come with some potential dangers, these are nothing that can’t be avoided if kept in mind.
When taking your dog to the beach it’s important to be mindful about the public space, the environment and your pup’s health and safety. If you do, we are sure you and your dog will have a great trip on your next beach day.
by Bobby J Davidson || You can’t buy love, but you can rescue it™ .
Facts About Animal Homelessness:
Here are a some adoptions for consideration: puccicafe.com/adoptions