Surf's Up! Tips for a Fun Time at the Beach With Your Dog!

 Pictured above was my boy Wolfie's first visit to the beach! 

What a fun day that was!

Sum-sum-summertime! Summertime is fun time, especially if you and your pups are headed to the beach, lake, or simply enjoying your own backyard pool.

Before heading off to the shimmery waters with your canine companion, beach blanket, umbrella, and cooler, here are some important things to do ahead of time:

• Confirm that the beach is dog-friendly.
• Always bring fresh water and a portable water dish.
• Check that you have your travel pet First Aid Kit stocked and packed, including any medications and supplements, and don’t forget those doggy-do bags!
• Make sure all tags and microchip info is current and up-to-date with vet office and the microchip company.
• Pack a copy of your dog’s vaccine records.
• Have a photo handy (just in case your dog takes a stroll away from you and you need to create a lost poster).
• Test harnesses, collars, and leads to be sure they are not frayed or breaking and are safe to be used in water.
• Verify the area is designated safe from contaminants, bacteria, and unfriendly critters.
• Be careful of “saltwater poisoning,” even from your dog simply playing with a soaked toy. According to PetMD,“Avoid salt poisoning by taking a break every 15 minutes away from the water to offer fresh water to the dog. If your dog won’t drink willingly, use a bottle with a sports cap and squirt fresh water into the mouth.”
• Have trash bags handy to do some beach clean up!

I loved my summer weekends spent at the boardwalk along the Atlantic Ocean with my mother, grandmother, and cousins. I do recall how hot the sand could be underfoot, and it is something to be cautious of when bringing your dog to the beach.

 

“People don't always think about the danger of their dogs walking on scorching hot sand with bare paws. Sand gets much hotter much faster than the water. The water temperature at the beach may be in the 70’s (F), but the sand can reach 100 degrees or more!”  

~Cathy Armato

Author of Dogs Luv Us and We Luv Them

 

 

 “People don't always think about the danger of their dogs walking on scorching hot sand with bare paws,” forewarns Cathy Armato, an expert canine beach-goer, shelter volunteer, and author of the Dogs Luv Us and We Luv Them, a “Dog Health, Safety, and Happiness” blog. “Sand gets much hotter much faster than the water. The water temperature at the beach may be in the 70’s (F), but the sand can reach 100 degrees or more!”

Armato has visited the shores of many beaches across the country with her Siberian Husky “Icy” and Maltese/Havanese “Phoebe.” In her blog article “Beach Safety Tips for Dogs,”she shares important information, including tips to “prevent scorched paws” listed below:

• Take your dog to the beach before 10am or after 5pm when the sand is cooler. Sand gets hot really fast but it also cools down quickly as the sun sets.
• Sit a little closer to the water where the sand is damp and doesn't get so hot. Both you and your dog can cool off your feet as the surf comes in!
• Just as we wear sandals or shoes to walk down on the sand to the perfect spot we choose on the beach, you may want to put some shoes on your dog's paws just until you get close to the shoreline. If you don't want to put shoes on your dog's feet, you can carry her or put her in a stroller or cart until you get closer to the shoreline.
• Watch out for the concrete or asphalt parking lots and walkways at the beach as well, they can get hot enough to fry an egg!”

 

Armato also advises to keep a watchful out to be sure your dog is not showing signs of heat exhaustion. If you cannot find any shady spots, Armato offers this great tip, “In a pinch, you could make a ‘tent’ with towels and beach chairs to provide some shade for your dog.” 

 

She also notes, “Know whether or not your dog knows how to swim—in beach surf! Not all dogs are born swimmers.” Her recommendation? The use of a dog life vest, especially when first going into the water.

Once you’ve completed your research and packing, be sure to charge up your camera and have a spare memory card ready so you can take some beautiful photographs of your amazing trip to the beach with your furry best friend!

 

 

 

And...did you know that there is an International Beach Day? While we're busy splashing in the our pools and in the surf oceanside, some parents of kids in certain southern areas are planning their back to school shopping. But, while everyone is still enjoying the hot dog days of summer, did you know International Beach Day is held annually in August? Founded by Colleen Paige, a pet and lifestyle expert and self-proclaimed “beach lover,” Beach Day celebrates everything from enjoying the sandy shores with family and friends to hosting a beach clean-up day on August 30th, but I say why not all summer long! Whether you are planning a seaside vacation, or live near on or by the shore, with exercising some safety precautions, a beach is a great place to enjoy romping and splashing with your dog!

 

 

Some tips for when you do visit the beach:

• Be sure to clean up after yourself and your dog (have those doggie doo bags handy, please)
• If you see trash along your path, please be sure to dispose of it in proper receptacles to keep our beaches clean! (We advise wearing gloves, or using a gripper tool so as not to touch the trash itself).

 

 

In this article we are discussing Beach visits, namely by the ocean. However, many folks take their dogs to swim and play in freshwater ponds and lakes as well. There can be be hidden dangers in these types of water, as we all have heard on the news, and the results can be tragic. 

 

In an article in Wags, "Blue-green algae, parasites, bacteria, and saltwater toxicity all present dangers to your dog. Each one of these has the potential to make your pet sick: it is best if you check the water wherever you plan to let your dog swim or play. Just swallowing a little bit of blue-green algae can be fatal to your dog." 

 

So, please...always do your. homework and research the area you are planning on visiting to go swimming with your family, including your furry pals, to ensure that the visit to the "beach" is a safe and happy one  for all.

 

 

 

*A form of this article originally appeared in  4Knines August 2018, Updated July 2024

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Dorothy Wills-Raftery is an award-winning photojournalist and author of EPIc Dog Tales: Heartfelt Stories About Amazing Dogs Living & Loving Life With Canine Epilepsy; the FiveSibes™ Tales children’s books: What’s Wrong With Gibson? Learning About K-9 Epilepsy and Getting Healthy With Harley: Learning About Health & Fitness; and Buddy, the Christmas Husky~Based On A True Holiday Miracle books (ArcticHouse Publishing), as well as the FiveSibes.com, an online encyclopedia for the Siberian Husky breed and Canine Epilepsy information, as well as her international award-winning FiveSibes blog, based on the lives of her five Siberian Huskies. Her FiveSibes blog and its companion #LiveGibStrong K-9 Epilepsy Online Resource Library has been awarded the Dog Writers Association of America's prestigious Maxwell Medallion for Excellence.

 

She has been a contributing author to 4Knines.com and AmericanPet Magazine. Her canine work has also appeared in Ruff Drafts, The Sled Dogger, Hudson Valley Paw Print Magazine, and Kings River Life Magazine. Dorothy is the writer and host of "The Sibe Vibe” Dog Works Radio show.

 

Dorothy is a multi-time Dog Writers of America Association “Excellence” nominee, winning the prestigious Maxwell Medallion in 2017 and 2016 for her writing, photography, and design. Her children's book, Getting Healthy With Harley, has been awarded First Place in Exercise/Fitness category of the 2024 Story Monsters worldwide Purple Dragonfly competition for the "best in children's books. 

 

Also award-winning is her EPIC Dog Tales: Heartfelt Stories About Amazing Dogs Living & Loving Life With Canine Epilepsy, which received the Independent Press Award for “Excellence” in the Reference Book category and NYC Big Book Award for “Excellence” in the Animal/Pet book category. 

 

Dorothy was also named “Best Author” in 2015 & 2016 by Hudson Valley Magazine and all four books named “Best in Print” by American Pet Magazine, An official International Purple Day® for Epilepsy Ambassador since 2012 and a volunteer case manager for The Wally Foundation-Canine Epilepsy, Dorothy is the creator of the FiveSibes #LiveGibStrong K-9 Epilepsy Awareness campaign and partnered with The Anita Kaufmann Foundation for #Paws4Purple initiative, both inspired by her own epileptic Husky, Gibson. In addition to her Siberian Huskies, Dorothy shares her home­ with her husband, daughter, and two grandchildren. You can follow Dorothy and her FiveSibes on Facebook at FiveSibes: Siberian Husky K9 News & Reviews, and on X (formerly Twitter) & Instagram under @FiveSibesMom.

   

 Books can be purchased online on her FiveSibes website under the ArcticHouse Books & Gifts Shoppe tab.

 

 

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