Beach Behaviour

Taking a trip to the beach this summer and bringing your dog along? Did you know different beaches will have different rules for dogs visiting them? Some beaches only allow dogs at certain times of the year, others at certain times of the day and some require dogs are kept on leads.

Look out for signs advising you of the rules for that specific beach, and stick to them. They have been made for a reason and enable all to enjoy Britain’s beautiful beaches. To ensure your trip runs smoothly take a look at our quick guide to beaches… and remember don’t forget your poo bags!

Extra considerations when on the beach with your dog

• Think about the temperature (see our Tips for a healthy pet this summer), a gentle breeze may help keep us cool, but may not be so effective to a thick coated dog.
• If you feel the weather is cool enough to sit on the beach with your dog, ensure you provide shade and fresh water.
• Keep an eye on your dog, and avoid them from scavenging – sadly litter and food remnants are commonly left on beaches or washed in by the sea; these may be harmful if eaten by dogs.
• Ensure that you pick up dog poo promptly and place it in the appropriate bin.
• If the weather is very hot, ensure that the beach and pavements are not too hot for your dog to comfortably walk on.
• If visiting a pub, bring a collapsible water bowl and fresh water to avoid your dog drinking from a communal bowl.
• Do not allow your dog to get too close to fishermen. It can be very dangerous if they were to eat the fisherman’s bait with a fish-hook attached (this can result in an urgent trip to the vets and sometimes even require major surgery for removal of the hook).
• Try to prevent your dog from drinking salt water – this can cause an upset tummy.
• If your dog is a swimmer then be cautious of rip tides and currents, even the strongest swimmers can come into difficulty with strong currents.

Beware of summer scavengers and explorers

Summertime brings out picnics and barbecues, and with this, plenty of tempting opportunities for our pets to grab themselves what they may think is a tasty treat, but may actually be dangerous to them.

Top tips to avoid unwanted scavenging

• Keep food out of reach and covered, to avoid attracting your pet’s attention
• Do not leave your pet unattended when food is left out and accessible
• Consider putting your pet in a different area at mealtimes, if you have visitors and/or children eating and dropping food, whether accidentally or on purpose!
• Ensure bins are taken out promptly, especially if they contain skewers/ bones, to avoid any unnecessary temptation for your pet to raid the bins.
• Keep an eye out for wrappers/ food remnants when out on walks, as mouldy food can be very toxic to pets

Looking for more Summer Tips?

Read about Looking after your pets skin this summer

Read about Top tips for a healthy summer

Read about Keeping your dog cool and comfortable