Grab a beach umbrella, your pet’s food bowl, and a pet leash it is time to go out and enjoy the sun with your dog! Nothing beats that needless to say, watching your dog has its pleasures as well, especially when there is sand to play in and water to cool off with. Be safe and help yourself and other beachgoers by bringing plenty of water with you and being considerate of other people.
Dogs at the beach
Summer has set in, and as the seasons are changing, it is that time again. Another season of packed cars heading to the warming beaches of the USA is here. Hold up, however, do not forget your four-legged friend! This is because a new good friend addition to the family, who is also an animal, is very happy to go wherever the family goes. While some areas on the East Coast have dog-friendly beaches for dogs to sunbathe, the West Coast has some for a relaxing beach vacation with your furry friend.
You should pay attention to any restrictions and be prepared with all the obligatory items such as a leash, water bowl, and even a beach umbrella for the dog. When it comes to looking for accommodation, it is worth considering renting a dog-friendly beach house as they give the means and the room for everyone to relax after a day spent at the beach.
Fort De Soto Park, St. Petersburg, Florida
Do you want to take a trip to Florida? Do not forget to bring your four-legged companion! As per a survey conducted by Invitation Homes’ Top 10 Dog Beaches, Fort De Soto State Park is one of the most important places to take your dog on vacation. Spanning over 3,000 acres, it has pet-inclusive sections such as Paw Playgrounds.
They will surely love running on the beach, playing in the water with other dogs, and interacting with other pets. Dogs have playtime in the sand and water’ be it in dog-friendly areas or restrictions.
According to Marnie Vaughn who is vice president of operations of a pet-friendly hospitality chain, “One of the best sights for me at the end of a day at the beach is watching pets being welcomed back with open arms by their families”, and I agree. However, be sure to take with you a leash, clean water, and poop bags.
North Beach, Del Mar, California
North Beach is also known as Dog Beach to the residents of Del Mar, San Diego, as this area provides a safe and enjoyable place for dogs as well as their owners. This beach two miles two-mile-long stretch of sand gives that freedom most of the year where your pet brings voice control and runs off the tallest of the leashes. From Labor Day to Memorial Day, any four-legged friend will have unlimited access to the beach. At the same time, during summer months, when most people go to the beach, it is from the period of Memorial Day to Labour Day, Ppple-leashed pets are not permitted at the beach.
Still, the very happy atmosphere combined with the desire and devoted place to dogs, makes it good for the rest of the nine months in the year as well. For me, a frequent visitor to dog beaches with my own dog Scooter, it is a pleasure to watch him run across the sandy beach with the winds blowing from the sea. He has made a lot of quite a number of friends on the same beaches and it has become a ritual habit for the two of us. You can find this dog-friendly place on the North end of 29th Street and walk north where the beach is situated and marks the southern border of Solana Beach.
Wildwood, New Jersey
Apart from the sizeable and free beaches, and the boardwalk packed with attractions, one can get more than just heat and a saltwater taffy in this Jersey Shore seaside town. Wildwood has a dog-friendly beach with a special area for dogs and their owners, complete with a dog fairy.
This playful monument, presented to the city by Morey’s Piers, is quite vividly decorated with bone, paws, and even a squirrel sitting on top of it. However this destination offers comparatively warm days, do make sure to keep your furry friend hydrated and use a portable bowl and some water a tip that makes me think of Kurt Venator Chief Veterinary Officer of the company Purina.
Nags Head, North Carolina
Owing to the casual character of this place, be it a long weekend or any one of the 365 days a year, it is a pro-dog resort city welcoming dogs on its beaches. More crucially, the city permits leashed pets on the beach all year long however the length of the leash should be no more than 10 feet long.
I cannot also fail to mention that since I am a beach lover who has her dog as well, seeing so many happy and playing pets on the beach is one of the most delightful scenes and even the pull-up ice cream booth inside the local mall has some frozen treats meant for the dogs.
Jekyll Island, Georgia
One of Georgia’s hidden treasures is Jekyll Island’s dog-friendly coastline. Though beaches are the preferred area for families, in this case, we only talk about one exception – Great Dunes Beach, which spans 20 acres. Welcome all dogs to this beautiful stretch of sand, any day of the week with only one restriction, they have to be on continuous leashes that are not more than ten feet long.
The park is also very clean, has enough parking space, has public access, has picnic pavilions, and has more facilitation so it is very easy to go and enjoy a day. Great Dunes is a very well-known and much-populated area, however, it would be a serious mistake to bypass the beach at Glory Beach which is a protected bird area located at one of the picturesque beaches of Jekyll Island but provides a more peaceful and restful getaway.
Being an active beachgoer and an owner of a pet dog makes it fun to see dogs running freely on the white powdered sand throughout the beach.
Long Beach, California
Long Beach’s Rosie’s Dog Beach is a center for dog lovers within the greater Los Angeles area. Most beaches in LA allow dogs only during specific hours, but this particular beach is open for off-leash activities every day from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Located on Ocean Boulevard in Belmont Shore, Belle Pierre is between Roycroft Avenue and Granada Avenue, a pet-friendly beach that allows a dog on a leash or set them free on the beach in any one of the three sections.
Golden Gate Park, San Francisco
It is one of the well-known traits of San Francisco that it is very much known as a dog-friendly city and this is for a reason! The pet owners get to have many trails, beaches, and other open places that are shareable with their canine friends. One such place situated in and around the San Francisco Bay area is the ‘Golden Gate Park’ which is a great respite for the dog owners in San Francisco.
The vastness of the park includes many off-leash areas where dogs are under voice control and can mingle with other dogs which makes it very popular amongst the residents and the followers too.
Warren Dunes State Park, Sawyer Michigan
If your Rover enjoys long beaches, pleasant, freshwater waters, and plenty of room to run about, there is the possibility of taking a vacation to Lake Michigan during the summer. Warren Dunes State Park with its two and half miles shoreline, is a great option if you are in the mood for a day out on a dog beach.
Your pup is happily cavorting in the lake, your pup is happily digging the sand, and your pup is happily running with the wind gusting in his/her fur along the beach. Just remember your leash and maybe consider packing some dog shoes to shield those little cutie’s paws from scorched sand, a little tip from a veteran of taking dogs to the beach!
Hollywood
Among the dog-action-friendly beaches, with an echo of the past, Hollywood Beach in Florida might just be the one you are searching for. Its alluring Broadwalk extends for twenty-five Brunettes thirty minutes along the shores of the Atlantic Ocean covered under the sun.
But that is not any beach because the part sequence of the movie “Marley n Me” has been taken here, so this measures up for all the pooch lovers!
You with your dog are walking on the Broadwalk, feeling the wind from the ocean, even going to one of the many restaurants with tables outside. Alternatively, you could want to be part of the action: picture these men and women riding bikes, walking and sunbathing, other people watching! Whatever the case, here in Hollywood, Florida, you have the perfect mix of cool surfers and easygoing tropical beach fun that guarantees a great holiday.
Provincetown, Massachusetts
Holiday with your four-legged companion and want to know a place where dogs are welcome? Cape Cod, Massachusetts is known all over the USA as being a dog-friendly location and there is no place like Provincetown. Provincetown is popularly referred to as Dogville USA by the Dog Channel, with lots of restaurants with patios, dog parks, and of course leash-free beaches at your disposal.
Be it a ferry ride from Boston to Provincetown or taking it as an extended part of your road trip, there is every reason why Provincetown is an ideal holiday destination for you and your dog.
Kew Balmy Beach, Toronto
Let away the busy atmosphere of Downtown Toronto during this summer and instead make your way East which is still a favorite spot among busy city folks with their dogs Kew Balmay Beach. This beach is rated highly because it has been granted Blue Flag status owing to its efforts in the management of water and the beach.
Located towards the south part of the claimant, is the Silverbirch off-leash enclosure supervised area, where dogs are allowed to run and bathe in the sand and water throughout the year. This is one of the best places for the pet and pet owner to have a bit of fun under the sun, and without leaving the city borders.
Double Bluff Beach, Whidbey Island, Washington
Is it high time you took your furry friend for some beach fun? Well, drive over to Double Bluff Beach on Whidbey Island with your dog since it is one of the dog-friendly beaches in Washington. This beach is Heaven for dogs and their owners with 2 miles of beach to play on which is wide and sandy. If you head south, you will see spectacular views of Mount Rainier, or watch out for bald eagles. With facilities like showers and toilets, it is possible to spend an entire active day with your pet on this off-leash and pet-friendly most-of-the-way beach.
Carmel Beach, Carmel-by-the-Sea, California
Where can I find a beach that is dog-friendly? Pup’s holiday destination Carmel Beach in Carmel-by-the-Sea in California is off the hook. Though pets cannot be off-leash at the beach, some benches and shaded areas around the beach are pet-friendly where fast food can be appreciated or spent a few hours basking under the sun. After several days of fun in the sun with your doggy at the beach, take your furry friend to one of the restaurants that serve food and bowls of water to approved pets. Such a stay would enable you to stay in any of the nearby hotels dogs are quite welcome and many services for dogs are provided!
Coligny Beach Park, Hilton Head, South Carolina
You can still come across places, however, even in summer, conveniently located within the moving Hilton Head, South Carolina that cater to one’s canines. Your pup cannot miss the Coligny Beach Park. In summertime, there are certain days of the week by which there are more restrictions, but all in all, your pooch is still able to swim, and feel the wind and the earth with you). Eating and staying nearby will make your trip even better, or the activity even more.
South Padre Island, Texas
The most pleasant part about the beach is there are nearly 300 sunny days a year in South Padre Island, Texas making it a good place to be with your kids and pets. This island offers mesmerizing white beaches where dogs can run about and enjoy the water too.
After the sun gets high, we spend the day at Bogie’s, a pet-friendly cabana, and relax while admiring the views. A word of caution: your dog must be on a leash all the time courtesy of the weather and it is advisable to have pet immunization certificates along. I don’t think there is any other activity that can make one feel as cool as being on the beach with one’s best companion.
Conclusion
Whether lounging on the clear beaches of California or relishing in the cuteness of small coastal towns on the East Coast, the U.S. has more than enough dog-friendly beaches for an enjoyable vacation with your pet. Depending on what motivates your dog, they will find frolicking in the water, running on the sand, or mingling with other dogs especially exciting at any of these places.
Just do not forget to take the basics a sturdy leash, freshwater drinkable, and perhaps a beach shelter, and think of the welfare of the pets while out so everyone enjoys themselves. Round up leashes and go grab a pup as you are headed for fun at one of those pet-friendly beaches.
FAQs
How can I make the most of my time at the beach with my dog?
1. Take a stroll. Walk along the coast and then let your dog enjoy the new activities such as looking at seaweed, and observing crabs that are scurrying and pursuing seagulls.
2. Go to the beach for a good game of fetch using a flying disc or a ball.
3. Go to the water and play fetch.
What activity must dogs do at a beach?
Dogs are fond of a beach since it’s an entirely new location that lets them run. This applies even more to the dogs that are raised in the city or in an apartment in which space is limited. Sand and surf can be enjoyed by both puppies and old dogs as well. Come let us play and splash in the water, walk the beach, and even make some sand castles!
Is it all right to bring dogs to the beach?
The seas can be rough and even dogs who love to swim can be at risk of being swept away by the tides, currents, and rough waves. And so you might be thinking, “When Is it possible for my dog to go with me to the beach?” To minimize risk, it is always better to have your dog go to the beach at low tide or pra as many of the high waves and the strong currents will not be present.
How long should you expect your dog to stay at the beach?
In either case, you need to wash your dog’s hair to clean off all possible salt water, sand, and any beach bacteria before leaving the place. This will not only help avoid a big mess in the car but will also help with eliminating any possible skin irritation due to the sand and salt.
Do dogs enjoy the beach?
A splash, a swim and even just lying in the sand are hard things to understand. Water simply ignites their wild side which is pure fun. Day trips to the ocean not only help the owner to relax, but they are also beneficial for the well-being of the dog. All that running on the beach, diving in the water, and running after the beach balls is more like a giant workout for the dog.
Can dogs ingest seawater?
On the other hand, dogs do enjoy the beach, but activities like playing fetch, running after waves, or going swimming can all do a number on a dog’s throat and lead them to drink seawater. Otherwise, in most instances, several gulps of salt water are likely to lead to diarrhea. However, ingesting high amounts of salt water can be dangerous.