Taking your dog to the beach for the first time? Wondering how to keep your dog safe at the beach? We’ve got some great tips to make your doggy beach day the best it can be!
Do Dogs Like Beaches?
Thinking about taking your pooch for a day at the beach? Maybe you’re wondering… “Do dogs even like the beach?” Well, the answer is an overwhelming YES!
Of course this varies a bit with each dog—especially if your dog has certain anxieties that pertain to the beach setting. But if your dog likes to run around outside, splash or swim in the water, and spend the day with you… They’ll love the beach!
How Can I Keep My Dog Safe at the Beach?
As it goes with any puppy outing, it’s your job as the pet parent to keep your precious pup safe. If you do, you and your dog will both have a much better time together.
Beach Safety Tips for Dogs:
1) Provide your dog with plenty of water! Since dogs don’t sweat, they can’t cool themselves down as quickly as we do. And dehydration can cause a lot of physical harm. Always bring water and a bowl for your pooch, or even bring a dog water bottle.
2) Know the signs of heat stroke in a dog: excessive panting, dark or bright red tongue and gums, lethargy, stumbling, seizures, bloody diarrhea, and vomiting. If you notice these, immediately get your dog soaking wet, get them lots of water to drink, and call your veterinarian.
3) Make your dog wear a dog life jacket! If your pup is a big swimmer, they may want to swim out a ways into the water. And even if your dog is a strong swimmer, accidents can happen. And ocean waves can get strong—even close to the beach.
4) Use a pet-friendly sunscreen on your dog when spending a lot of time outside. They can get sunburned, and are susceptible to skin cancer too. Especially on their ears and noses.
What Do Dogs Need for a Beach Day?
Let’s talk about some other things you’ll want to bring with you, or think through ahead of time. Before you load up your pup and hit the road, here are some tips that will help make your beach day go smoothly.
Tips for Taking Your Dog to the Beach:
- Choose a dog-friendly beach. Dogs aren’t allowed at every beach. So make sure to do a little research ahead of time to find out which beaches near you are dog-friendly. And which beaches allow dogs to be off-leash.
- Teach your dog to swim. Before jumping into the waters at a beach, try teaching your dog to get used to the water and swim in a friend’s pool, or in a small body of water near home. And remember—it’s always safest to make your dog wear a life jacket.
- Find shade. Even if you brought plenty of drinking water, and your dog is splashing and swimming in the cold lake or ocean, they may need a break from the sun. If there is no natural cover providing, you could bring your own shade umbrella.
- Steer clear of choppy water. No matter how great of a swimmer your pup is, choppy water and strong waves can take any dog under. It’s best to steer clear, and stay safe.
- Watch what they drink. Even though you’re using a natural body of water, salty sea water is very dehydrating so make sure your dog is not slurping it up!
- Look out for dangers in the sand. Depending on the type of beach you’re at, there could be things to watch out for like crabs or jellyfish. And with any public space, watch out for dangerous trash lying around.
- Rinse their fur. After a fun day of swimming, it’s best to rinse off your dog’s fur to help get rid of any irritants that could bother their skin. And it’s even better to give them a bath when you get home.
- Pick up their poop. Let’s be real… We all hate it when someone else leaves their dog’s poop lying around. It’s disgusting and spreads disease. So be the pet parent that you wish everyone else was, and pick up the poop!
- Use a long leash. Some beaches require dogs to remain on leash. If you bring a long retractable leash, your dog will have more room to roam and sniff, while still being close by.
- Beware of hot sand. When it’s hot outside, and the sun is shining, it can cause some pretty severe sand temperatures. Just like when asphalt gets too hot for a dog to walk on, the sand may be too hot. Test it with your own feet, or the back of your hand for 7 seconds. If it’s too hot for you, it’s too hot for your dog.
Preparation is the Key to Success
If you and your dog are looking for a fun, relaxing day at the beach, then make sure you prepare ahead of time, so that you can really soak up those rays!
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