When the sun is shining, there is no better place to be than the beach. Feeling the sand between your toes, watching your dog enjoy a dip in the ocean, and catching some rays together sounds idyllic.
However, there are a few things to check off your list to ensure your next trip to the beach with your pooch is a success rather than a cause of stress!
Here are our 5 top tips to make the most out of your next beach day out.
1. Hot to trot
With beautiful, sunny days comes an increase in temperature. This can put your pet at risk of heat stroke, burnt paws and dehydration.
A general rule is that if it’s too hot for your feet, we can guarantee it will be too hot for your pup’s paws!
As tempting as it can be to head to the beach when the sun is blazing, it’s usually best to head there solo and instead entertain your pup with some indoor enrichment, pool time or take your pal on an early morning stroll instead to beat the heat. (Check out our blog post on DIY enrichment for ideas!)
2. Don’t forget to hydrate your dog
Keeping our dogs hydrated is a priority on any outing, so make sure you pack a bowl and some water to give your dog frequent drink breaks. There are some awesome products out on the market which double up as both a water bottle and a bowl which make for perfect travel-sized options to slip into your beach bag.
3. No dog recall? No off-leash freedom!
We all have the vision of our dogs frolicking off leash along the beach, not a care in the world, and then coming back to us the first time we call. However, for a lot of us, that simply is not the reality.
If your dog doesn’t have 100% recall away from distractions (yep, that includes other dogs, birds and people), then utilise a long line to give them some extra freedom whilst also keeping them under control. Using the famous line ‘Don’t worry, he’s friendly!” as your dog charges off at full speed towards a young family, trying to enjoy a picnic just isn’t going to cut it!
Bring along your treat pouch and some high-value snacks such as Prime 100, and get in your recall reps and before you know it, your dog will be well on their way to earning off-leash freedom.
4. Don’t forget your dog floaties
If your dog isn’t a strong swimmer, lacks confidence, or if the water is particularly choppy, we recommend using a specially designed life vest for your dog. This helps to give confidence to pups who need that extra bit of help as well as keeping them safe whilst swimming. Many life vests even have a handle situated on the back which you can grab onto to guide your pup through the water.
5. Pup Chill out time
As well as zooming along the beach, digging in the sand and splashing in the waves, teaching your dog to settle at the beach can also be extremely valuable. Teaching a reliable mat stay enables your dog to learn how to relax while you sit and enjoy the view together, read a book, or work on your tan.
Mat stays at the beach also give them an opportunity to rest and catch their breath after vigorous activity whilst also proofing their obedience in distracting environments.
Most importantly, have fun! So often, we can get caught up in training that we forget to go out and put into practice what we’ve been working on in the real world. So go on, get out there and enjoy a day at the beach with your best bud!
