Tails from the trail and tips on training your human

Beach Day with Your Dog | As summer comes around and more people start taking their beloved dogs to the beach, you definitely wouldn’t want your furry friend to miss out on all the fun. Just like humans, dogs love a good day at the beach as it provides them with plenty of room to run around, cool water to swim in, and lots of cool new pups to meet.

However, to ensure that you, your dog, and everyone else at the beach has a safe and joyous day at the beach, there are some basic dos and don’ts you will have to abide by. The last thing you want is for your dog to cause problems for other people and their pets while they are trying to enjoy their beach day.

This article will provide you with 7 essential aspects of taking your dog to the beach and what you should and should not do in each one. By the end, you will have a much better idea of how to ensure a safe and joyous beach day with your beloved canine companion.

1. Dog Beach Rules

As you probably know, there is no use trying to take your dog to a beach where they aren’t allowed. However, even dog beaches have various rules that you will have to abide by. Some beaches are very strict about leashes, while rules about picking up your dog’s poop are also very common.

You will also need to take your dog’s vaccination documents along with you if the beach authorities ask for them. All in all, when it comes to dog beach rules, we can learn two things:

Do: Carefully read and follow the beach rules

Don’t: Ignore, neglect, or disregard the rules of the dog beach

2. Adequate Training

If your dog is untrained to be in public spaces, you probably should not be considering taking them to the beach in the first place. This could make your dog too excitable and even aggressive, which in turn could cause many problems for other people at the beach.

If you are considering taking your dog to the beach, make sure that they respond and listen to certain commands, and know that it’s not good to disturb others. So when it comes to adequate training, here are the simple dos and don’ts.

Do: Train your dog to understand basic commands and not disturb strangers in public areas

Don’t: Take your dog to the beach without adequate training

3. Sun Protection

If you think dogs don’t get sunburnt at the beach because of their fur coat, you may have to think again. Dogs with thin and light-colored fur can easily get sunburnt, and most dogs will get burnt on their noses and ears if they spent too much time under the sun.

Moreover, on a hot day, your dog could burn the sensitive undersides of its paws against the hot sand. Therefore, making sure you provide your dog with adequate sun protection during your day at the beach is necessary for the safety of your furry friend.

Do: Use sunscreen specially made for dogs

Don’t: Let your dog be exposed to the sun for too long

Do: invest in dog booties to protect your pet’s paws

Don’t: Let your dog walk around on hot sand for too long

4. Dehydration

As you know, the harsh sun at the beach can leave both humans and dogs feeling dehydrated. If your dog has been running around in the sun for some time, it will need a place to cool down and drink clean water (rather than salty water, which will only make it more dehydrated).
Regarding keeping your dog hydrated during your day at the beach, here are the essential dos and don’ts to keep in mind.

Do: Bring your dog’s water bowl along with you, so it knows where to go if it is feeling thirsty.

Don’t: Let your dog drink salty seawater

Do: Let your dog take a break from playing and running

Don’t: Let your dog run around in the sun for too long

5. Shade

When people go to the beach, one of the first things they do is set up a shady spot for themselves. However, since people can sweat when they feel too hot, these shady spots are nothing more than a comfortable luxury.

For dogs, however, who cannot sweat to cool themselves down, a shaded area during a hot day is not a luxury but a necessity. After all that exposure to the sun and running around, your dog will need a place where it can take cover from the sun and cool down. Else, your furry friend may start overheating and could even become ill.

Do: Set up a shaded area where your dog can come and cool off when it needs to

Don’t: Let your dog run around in the sun for too long

6. Dangerous Items

There is no shortage of dangerous items that could be found hidden beneath the sand at the beach. Items including rubbish, pieces of glass, hooks, rocks, and coral all pose a threat to your dog’s safety if it happens to step on them or put one of these items in their mouth.

Hence you will want to make sure of the following:

Do: Watch your dog’s activity, especially if they start digging and putting things in their mouth

Don’t: let your dog run around completely unattended

7. Dog Poop

Most public spaces that allow dogs also enforce poop-picking policies. The beach is no different. Aside from being part of the law, picking up after your dog is public decency and promotes a clean and hygienic environment.

Do: Bring a waste bag with you and pick up your dog’s poop

Don’t: Leave your dog’s poop lying around for someone else to pick up

Conclusion

The beach is the perfect place for your dog to have the time of their life running around, swimming, and meeting other dogs. While beach day with your dog does come with some potential dangers, these can easily be avoided if you keep them in mind.
During your next beach day with your dog, make sure you are mindful of the public space, environment, and doggy’s health and safety. By doing so, we are sure you and your dog will have a great trip on your next beach day.

by Bobby J Davidson

We are in business to provide great products for the outdoorsy hikers, campers and their dogs; and to help clean our parks, rivers and oceans for a better planet earth for hikers and their dogs.

Parks Clean

Parks are high-traffic areas in most cities. This means that trash is bound to show up in and around your park and playground.

When discussing ways your family can help clean your local park, don’t overlook a literal cleanup! Picking up trash will make a huge difference in the appearance and vibe of your park. A clean area will encourage others to keep the park pristine. When picking up trash and debris, make sure to wear gloves to protect yourself, and put trash in appropriate receptacles or lawn bags. You can also contact your local trash company to schedule a pickup when you are finished.

Rivers Clean

The storm drain on your street collects the water from your roof, driveway, and sidewalk and funnels it directly in your local lake or river. Nutrients from grass and leaves, pet waste, and fertilizers “enrich” our lakes and streams — feeding algae blooms and harming fish. Chemicals from washing your car in the drive and household chemical spills add up, taking a nasty toll on our favorite swimming areas and fishing spots. Soil can also be picked up by runoff, reducing the clarity of water and hurting fish.

So as you prepare your lawn and garden, here are a few helpful tips to keep our lakes and rivers beautiful and safe for all of us.

Use mulch and vegetation to keep soil from washing away.
Sweep or rake grass and leaves away from street curbs.
Mulch and compost grass clippings and leaves.
Keep paved surfaces to a minimum.
Capture water runoff with a rain garden and rain barrels.
Wash your car on the grass, where the water will get filtered.
Keep chemicals away from storm drains.
Collect your pet’s waste.
Aim your rain-gutter downspouts onto grass.

Beaches Clean (do it for the ocean)

In 2007, the United States Senate and House of Representatives passed the National Clean Beaches Week Resolution to recognize the value of beaches to the American way of life and the important contributions of beaches to the economy, recreation, and natural environment of the United States.

Clean Beaches Week, celebrated annually July 1-7, offers the perfect opportunity to encourage stewardship and volunteerism along our coastlines. But where do you even begin? Follow these tips to get started.

Identify a clean-up site. Choose a place that needs some TLC, making sure that volunteers can safely access the site. Get permission, if needed, for your clean-up event, perhaps from the local parks agency.
Choose a site coordinator. (That might be you!) A beach clean-up takes a lot of work and needs an organized person to keep everything on track before, during, and after the event.
Visit the site in advance. The coordinator will need to know where to set up a volunteer check-in station, where to leave trash and recyclables, and what area(s) volunteers will clean.
Gather supplies. Depending on your location, you’ll need supplies such as trash bags, a first aid kit, hand sanitizer, wipes, and large coolers of water. You should also provide (or ask volunteers to bring) items such as reusable work/garden gloves, reusable water bottles, sunscreen, and bug spray.
Plan how to handle the recyclables. Reach out to recyclers in your area (and perhaps your community’s solid waste departments) to make arrangements for accepting any glass, plastic, and aluminum that you collect.
Line up event partners. Contact local businesses for donations of drinks, food, and supplies. Ask a local solid waste hauler to donate their services for trash removal.
Plan for handling hazardous waste. Determine how you’ll dispose of any medical and sewage waste you might find. One solution: A wide-mouth container with a tight-fitting lid, such as an empty laundry detergent bottle. Clearly label that it contains hazardous waste.
Get volunteers to help. Recruit friends, family, co-workers, and neighbors. Create an event on Facebook and ask volunteers to sign up online. This will give you an idea of how many people to expect and will help communicate event details.
Stay safe. Be prepared for a variety of health emergencies, from minor cuts and scrapes to heat stroke.
Take photos! Post pics online to share the success of your event and recognize volunteers for their hard work.