You feel the sun shining on your skin as you dig your toes into the soft sand. Your dog runs out of the water and toward where you are sitting under your beach umbrella; you can almost see a smile on their face as their tongue waggles gleefully outside of their lips. When you toss them a frisbee, they run after it, miss it, and then ultimately catch it between their teeth, ready to return it to you for another throw.
Most pawrents’ summertime fantasy, isn’t that?
Family beach days can create some of your most treasured memories. These suggestions for safe dog beach days can help you and your dog make the most of your sun-filled, saltwater afternoons.
Hydration
Beach enjoyment is thirsty work! Running around, the scorching heat, and the salty water can all lead to dehydration. Here are some tips for keeping your dog hydrated at the beach.
- To help your dog stay hydrated, give them a large water before you leave the house.
- To ensure they have plenty to drink on the journey, pack a travel dog bowl and lots of fresh water.
- Pay attention to their dribbling and panting. If your dog is overheated or dehydrated, it may be indicated by excessive panting and drooling. Dogs naturally pant to cool down, but if you notice that they are panting more than usual, take them outside into the shade and give them some water.
How to keep your dog cool at the beach
It’s simple to become overheated in USA’s sun! Here are some tips to help your dog enjoy themselves without overheating.
- Getting their summer coat ready. those with one coat may require shaving, whereas those with two coats may require trimming.
- shaving the hair off of their paw pads. Dogs’ bottom feet are how they naturally expel heat.
- To shield their feet from the hot sand, get them some outdoor dog boots. Their paws will become too hot if the sand is extremely hot against your flesh.
- Provide them with a cooling bandana or vest. Remove the cooling clothing from your dog while they’re swimming to prevent them from being too heavy, but while you’re relaxing on the beach, it can help them stay warm.
- Using a dog life jacket can help keep your dog safe when they swim.
- When taking your dog on leash walks to the dog beach, don’t forget to pack a cozy harness, collar, and leash.
- Use sunmist, sunwipes, or a dog sunscreen stick to shield their skin from UV radiation.
- Bring a shade structure, such as a gazebo, beach tent, or umbrella.
Taking your dog on car rides to the beach
Cars may get dangerously hot very quickly on a hot day. Please turn on the air conditioning or open the windows while driving, and always remember to bring your dog with you when you exit the vehicle.
Everyone can enjoy more comfortable and effortless car rides with a dog hammock, especially when your dog is sandy and you’re driving home! These seat coverings feature mesh sides to allow circulation while your dog dries off on the trip home and shield your car seats from sand and debris.
Play with your dog at the beach
Your four-legged friend may just need to run about freely at a dog-friendly beach occasionally, but playing with them is always fun! You may improve your relationship with your dog and offer them the attention they need by playing with them.
For the dog beach, activities like tug and retrieve are ideal. Not only are the KONG squeakair balls soft on your dog’s teeth, but they also help keep them engaged and active. Check out this post on how to train your dog to retrieve if you and your dog are still working on it.
Why dog recall training is needed for beach outings
When visiting a dog beach that is off-leash, it is crucial that your dog responds to calls. You might have to call your dog away if they start showing interest in other people or objects they see on the beach.
Since recall dog training is best accomplished gradually, having the beach as a target for when your dog can come when called is a smart idea. These are the fundamentals of teaching your dog to come.
- Pick a command that you will use consistently, such as “Come,” “Here,” or your dog’s name spoken in a steady tone and pitch.
- Begin in a quiet, compact space free from distractions. Call your dog to you from a distance of one or two meters. Give them lots of pats or their favorite goodie when they arrive. Starting this workout with a few minutes each day is a smart idea.
- As they improve at answering, urge them to come a greater distance and begin adding other distractions, such as other people.
- So as long as your dog is learning to come when you call, always offer a premium treat. Your dog may begin to stop coming when they get the idea that hearing your call implies leaving the fun area and returning home. To keep recall training positive, you need to offer a reward that diverts their attention from whatever they were already investigating or pursuing after.