Puppies on beaches - what do I need to know?

[Solo2]

We're going away for a week in July to a UK cottage near the coast. I thought I'd 'practice' in advance trying out Rollo (15.5 week golden retriever) on a beach in half-term. Nearest one is a 2 hr drive away.

What should I be thinking about for a day trip to the beach with a pup - still v much 'in training'?

EG Presumably, I should take both a collar and lead and his harness and 30 ft lead but not let him off lead at all - as he's still learning recall? Should I prevent him completely from going in sand dunes, given the spiky grasses you get there? Should I expect to follow him at all times, in case he starts to eat something poisonous on the beach? I assume anyway that I won't want him to rush up to anyone there too without holding onto him and checking if the people/other dogs are OK with this?

In other words, will it be v much a 'test' rather than a fun time and should I warn my DCs that we/I won't be able to do the usual beach stuff, as I'll be supervising the puppy?

What about him going in the sea? Am I right in thinking that salt water needs to be washed off v soon from his coat and how do you do that if there's no fresh water available?

I guess I need to take lots of poop bags, his food (as it'll be a day trip out), his water bowl and plenty of water for him to drink....What about keeping him cool if it's a hot day? How long is reasonable for him to be on an unshaded beach, in that case and how soon might he overheat?

Is there anything else I need to think about? This would be the longest car journey he's done sincecoming home from the breeder's at 7 weeks. So that'll be a bit of a test in itself.

[MmeLindor.]

I would check the beach first to see if they allow dogs. Our local one does in winter but not in summer. The one near my parents only allows dogs on certain areas of the beach.

If you are not sure that he will come back then I would not let him off the lead.

Um, aside from that - give him a bit of shade and some water and he will be fine. You may be slightly overthinking this.

[daisydotandgertie]

Most important thing to do is practice car journeys and his recall! He's got to be used to them and travel well to make the rest of his life easy. Keep on popping him in the back of the car - in his crate if you use a crate in the car and do lots of journeys. Vary the length and what happens when he gets out of the car. Give him treats when he gets in and ignore him for the duration of the journey - no soothing words at all. He might wail to start with but soon will settle down and learn that it is a perfectly normal thing to do.

Take advantage of his age and natural need to be near you and have him off the lead as much as possible - keep calling him to you and treating and his recall will be brilliant before you know it.

Yes - you'll need poo bags, food and water. He can paddle in the sea to cool down - and he might even decide to swim. Has he swum before?

You'll need his collar and lead and towels for a good rub down before you go home. Don't worry about the salt - the water will dry, the salt will form and then drop off. You might want to give him a fresh water rinse when you get home, but the salt water won't harm him.

I don't expect he'll stray far from you tbh - so although of course you'll have to watch him off lead, I don't think you'll have any problems. The dunes will be great fun for him and the grasses will be fine, but keep him in sight.

Honestly, I'd plan to have a pretty normal trip to the beach. If your children want to build sandcastles, let the puppy join in/help. That will be far more interesting for him than being a nuisance to anyone else. If you want to sit and read a book - put him on lead, calm him down and get him to sit with you.

Which beach are you going to? Have you been able to check if it's dog friendly? If it's a whole day out, you'll have to manage him quite carefully at that age. If he belts about all day, he'll do himself no good. Make sure he is on a short lead sitting with you for good long rest periods.

I'd also take some dog shampoo or dog wipes, just incase he finds something dead and stinky to roll in. He won't be too young to do that ......

[Vallhala]

Definitely keep him onlead at ALL times. He's in a totally new environment with huge dangers and is a pup - regardless of what his recall is like at home, the beach is another matter. Buy a training lead which alters from longline to normal short length, DON'T use one of those bloody silly, dangerously breakable extension leads.

Just my opinion, I'm NOT a trainer, merely a cautious ex-pup owner with 3 grown dogs who also fosters so has had some experience of introductions to new things/types of lead etc etc.

My other concern would be distemper on some beaches. In East Anglia there are some beaches which frequently see dead, washed up seals which have succumbed to the disease. Remember that vaccination against disease is NOT 100% reliable and keep pup close to you for that reason.

Ensure too that he has a tag with your HOLIDAY address on him as well as your home one and mobile number/s and is microchipped.

I'm probably over-thinking it too, I've realised that I could go on...!

[Vallhala]

See? Two totally different opinions, mine and Daisy! Told you!

[Lizcat]

Mobile Mop is an experienced beach dog - he is very lucky he has a second home by the beach. As previously said you need to check out very closely where and when the dogs are allowed on the beach we have restrictions between 30th March and 30th September with dogs only allowed in a small section during this time. The fine for dogs on the right part of the beach is £1000 so this is worth checking.
Like Val mobile mop first used a long line on the beach until his recall was good as the beach is about the most exciting place a dog can get so ignoring the owner is very common. Again as Val said about tag etc.
I would not allow swimming at this age as even a light current could carry your pup away this could risk your children wading in after the pup and a terrible disaster.
Take loads of water with you Mop is not very intelligent and drinks the sea water and then is even thristier. Towels for drying. Also some regular lead sand gets in the catch and they stop working so I only use a slip lead on the beach.

[BitOfFun]

You are excessively conscientious, Solo

I take our pup often, but it's a short walk away, so not a full day job. I don't think I take any special precautions that I wouldn't on a trio to the park. You might want stuff to keep your car clean, but that's all I can think of.

[Slubberdegullion]

Take more poo bags than you think you will need.

Way more.

Like a kilo of poo bags.

I have no idea what was going on when we took our dog to the beach a few months ago, whether she was gulping down the seawater without me noticing, or indulging in free wave created enemas or whether the sheer excitement of sand and seagulls had some drastic expulsiory effect on her bowels.

Anyway, there was quite a lot of liquid shit [joy] made easy to pick up with absorbent sand though.

[Mumswang]

Lots of beaches don't allow dogs between May and October

[emptyshell]

He might not even like the water at all... my dog wasn't best impressed when the blue wet wobbly thing went chasing after HIM (the wave came in) and his face was an utter picture!

[daisydotandgertie]

We're probably not helping very much.

[PurpleFrog]

We have only had short walks along the beach so far. Our main problem is stopping Rory eating everything in sight - dried seaweed, razor shells, dead crabs etc. etc. And he has not yet realised that seawater is not for drinking!

The first or second time we took him to a local beach he threw up overnight and had disgusting poos the next day.....

The last time was much better. He is no longer afraid of small waves, but has not yet gone in for a proper swim.

[Al0uiseG]

Read the chapter in Marley & Me where they visit "dog beach" it's not only hilarious but very educational too :o

[ExitPursuedByAKitten]

When mine was a puppy he used steal children's crocs and think it a fun game to be chased with them so probably better to keep on a lead.

Now he is older the only problem is that he gets quite territorial about our patch of beach and barks at anyone who walks past, as he would at home. Having said that, he bloody loves the beach. He swims, digs, plays with the seaweed, chases the seagulls. Loves it. I am sure your puppy will too.

Enjoy!

[MotherJack]

Warning about the swimming thing... I took my nearly new old lady to the beach on holiday over Easter. She swam, and she drank and she drank as she swam and she chased things thrown into he waves and drank the waves.... seemingly, as when I enquired as to if a particular shop on the way back to the cottage was dog friendly they confirmed and she immediately threw up on their floor. I apologised, they were fine and mopped up. Repeat x 4 in effort to get (ASD) son out of shop which sold teddy bears. I ended up buying son £14 awful teddy to get him out of the shop. Lucky I did. Got around corner into Harbour area with (thankfully) less pedestrians and orange water shot out of her backside in a 4 foot squirt. Surprised by said event, dog span round to see what was causing this strange sensation causing subsequent horrific catherine wheel effect Luckily the extendable lead (hated by Val loved by me.. but rubbish for pups/dogs who pull and people who don't think constantly about it and check the line weekly... ) allowed me to grab son and stand clear. Water ran out of dogs bottom for the rest of the walk home. Did not go out for the rest of the day.

My point? Do not let pup go into sea unattended. Bring out of sea if you see them drinking the sea. Use a lead or training line to allow you to do this. As others have said, the beach is an incredibly exciting place for dogs so you could easily lose control.

[Al0uiseG]

Hahaha, MotherJack, what a fun day out!

[Scuttlebutter]

Loved MotherJack's story about the Catherine Wheel!!

Some Councils do a Holiday Tag scheme where you pay about £3 for an extra tag for a dog collar so if found by dog Warden is returned directly to owner without entering pound. Can be handy in a coastal/beach area.

OP, check tide times and if the beach you've chosen has any dog restrictions. have been caught out several times when getting to beach to find glorious golden sand covered in blue wet stuff as I'd messed up tide times. Safety - if beach shelves steeply, is very rocky/shingly or has strong rips/big waves, may not be suitable.

Also be aware of heat. I'd go for an early morning walk/fun play - fewer people and it's cooler. If it's a hot day in July, i'd be worried about heat for dog all day on beach. Posssibly best to limit visit to a couple of hours to start with.

Oh, and rock pools. Memories of recent fun on Freshwater West in Pembrokeshire, when greyhound no. 3 decided to gallp majestically across the sand and all was going well until he completely misjudged depth of rock pool and only surfaced after a very unexpected salt water bath.

[emptyshell]

We found the dog was much happier doggy paddling in rock pools anyway - the whole sea in its entirety thing was too much for him to cope with.

[karen2010]

how i stop the waterfall poos at the beach and we go fairly offen in winter is a good drink of water then a little walk and then in car
seem to help my dog but then my beach does have fresh water taps

[DooinMeCleanin]

You should take a small, fast child with little fear so if he runs up one of these you have some one who go up after him

You'll be fine. Ours go to the beach all the time. They are fine in the long grass, but watch for bunny rabbits if they like to chase things. Whippy is not fond of the sea at all, nor is the dog in the pic (my sisters Lurcher) Devil Dog loves it with a passion, but must be kept on his longline to prevent him going too far out after the Seagulls.

A longline might be usefull if recall around things that can be chased is not good. Be prepared to be finding sand for days if your dog is long haired.