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Taking your dog to the beach
A trip to the beach can be a very rewarding way to spend quality time with your dog. It is important to remember, however, that the beach is shared with other people, pets, and wildlife.
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A trip to the beach can be a very rewarding way to spend quality time with your dog. It is important to remember, however, that the beach is shared with other people, pets, and wildlife.
Observe local leash laws
Ordinances regarding dogs on the beach vary widely. Most municipalities require that dogs be kept off the beach during certain hours of the day and/or certain times of the year. Some only allow dogs on specific beaches and others have banned dogs altogether. Almost all require that your dog remain on a leash. Violators risk being fined, so it is best to check local laws before bringing along your canine companion.
Shorebirds
If you are going to a remote beach, leave your dog at home. Dogs are effective predators and often disturb shorebirds that are nesting in the sand. Dogs can crush or eat young chicks or flush the parents off nests allowing other predators easy access to them. To minimize interactions with nesting birds keep your dog at home.
Do not allow your dog to chase birds on the beach. Several species of birds use our beaches as critical stopovers during their long migrations. When forced to flee from dogs, birds expend extra calories and dip into their fat reserves. Chronic disturbance of resting birds can compromise their health and burns valuable energy needed for migration.
Encountering other dogs
While we all like to think that our dogs are well mannered, it is important to remember that the canine social structure is quite different from that of humans. Anywhere that large numbers of dogs congregate the occasional fight is inevitable. Keeping your dog on a leash will minimize negative encounters with other dogs and give you better control of your pet if they are involved in a scuffle. Dogs with a history of aggression are best left at home.
Cleaning up after your dog
Dog owners often ask the question: "Why do I need to pick up my dog's waste...won't the tide wash it away?" The tide will wash it away...and that's the problem. Recently, dog waste on the beach has received a lot of attention. Not only is it unpleasant for other beachgoers, but it also poses a very real health threat to swimmers, surfers and other dogs. Fecal coliform bacteria in seawater, tied to dog waste on the beach, can make people and animals very ill. To ensure that your dog is not contributing to this problem, always clean up after your dog and deposit waste in an appropriate trash receptacle. And remember: keeping our beaches free of waste will help ensure that these areas continue to allow dogs.
The American Kennel Club has provided the following guidelines to help you make your dogs trip to the beach an enjoyable one:
1) Make sure there is access to plenty of fresh water and shade.
2) Be careful not to let your dog spend too much time on hot sand or asphalt. Dogs can burn their feet just as easily as we can.
3) Don't allow your dog to drink too much seawater. This can cause diarrhea or vomiting and quickly dehydrate them.
4) Swimming is a great form of exercise for dogs, but don't let them overdo it. If using new muscles they may tire quickly.
5) Remember that running on a beach is strenuous exercise and a dog that is out of shape can easily pull a tendon or ligament.
6) The beach can present many hazards for your dog. Watch out for boats, fishhooks, dead fish, garbage, and broken glass.
7) Salt and other minerals in ocean water can damage your dog's coat, so rinse him off at the end of the day.
RIK9.com © 2004. May be reprinted with permission.
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