Do you and your dog love going to the beach? If you’re like us, you probably get a lot of enjoyment from watching your dog play in the water. But you don’t want to be unprepared! Dog beach accessories come in handy for these adventures in the sand and waves. We compiled a list of five must-haves to keep your pup cool, hydrated, and safe at the beach.
Let’s jump in!
Why Do Dogs Like the Beach So Much?
Dogs like the beach for a variety of reasons. Some love to swim, and cooling off in the water refreshes them. Swimming is great exercise and can help strengthen your dog’s heart, lungs, and muscles without harming their joints. The soft sand is great for getting out the zoomies and helping dig motes for sand castles.
The beach is also a favorite place for some dogs because of the vast open space to run and play. If you have a dog beach nearby that doesn’t require a leash, try playing fetch with your dog there and see how much joy it brings the pup. As a bonus for you, they’ll burn off more energy running in the sand than on firmer ground.
Should I Keep My Dog on a Leash at the Beach?
A leash and collar should be your bare minimum beach accessories. Keeping your dog on a leash in public places is always a good idea unless the rules state otherwise. When visiting a beach, you’ll first want to make sure it allows dogs at all. Many public beaches don’t allow dogs, and some do in the off-season only. Bring Fido is a helpful website for finding dog beaches.
On dog beaches, read the signs and get to know the rules. Some allow pets to run off-leash, while others require a six-foot leash. Regardless of the leash policy, always pick up after your dog. So, bring plenty of poop bags and leave no trace.
Depending on your location, you may want to keep your dog on a leash, no matter the rules to keep them out of harm’s way. For example, on northern Michigan beaches, there’s a high probability of eagles flying overhead. Protecting small dogs from potential predators like eagles in open areas should be a priority. Another example is the Atlantic Ocean beaches in the winter and spring tend to have a lot of jellyfish that come close to shore. Having your dog on a leash will help keep them away from jellyfish washed up on the beach or in the water.
What Are the Basic Beach Must-Haves for Dogs?
Whenever you bring your dog to the beach, you’ll want to bring the must-have basic accessories needed for any dog outing. In addition to your leash and collar, make sure to pack some treats and poop bags. Depending on how long you play to be at the beach, bringing something for shade also becomes a must-have for your dog. Even if it’s playing in the water, it could get overheated or sun damage on the skin if out in the elements for too long.
Additionally, take plenty of fresh water along. Don’t rely on there being a bathroom or water fountain to get water from. Those amenities could be closed for the day or out of order, so bring water from home for your pup and yourself. In addition, a towel is a basic accessory to have for cleaning off feet and laying as a barrier on your car seat.
Pro Tip: Get paw-some dog leashes, collars, and harnesses from Max and Neo. For every product bought, they give one to an animal shelter.
5 Pawsitively Essential Accessories for Your Dog’s Beach Day
Now that you have the basics in your beach bag, we’re sharing five additional accessories for your dog. Each is essential, in our opinion, to keep your pup safe, playful, and cool for a day on the beach.
1. Outward Hound Granby Splash Dog Life Jacket
The Outward Hound Granby Splash Dog Life Jacket comes in various colors, sizes, and styles. Even if your dog is a good swimmer, a life jacket is a recommended safety feature for a visit to the beach, particularly if you’re at an ocean with big waves or a fast-flowing river. If you plan on doing any boating or paddling for your beach day, this is an accessory you won’t want to forget.
Your dog will likely love the Outward Hound life jacket because it has adjustable straps, so it can be loosened when out of the water. It also has a front neck float to help keep the canine’s head above water. In addition, it has a top grab handle for you to make it easier to lift your dog out of the water or rescue it gets in trouble.
Not all dogs know how to swim, and even great swimming dogs can get tired. Thousands of dogs drown each year in backyard swimming pools, let alone in rivers, lakes, and oceans. This is a must-have because it could literally mean life or death, and the peace of mind is invaluable.
Are Beagles Good Swimmers? Find out before you take them to the beach.
2. lesotc Dog Water Bottle Foldable, Portable Dog Water Dispenser
Keeping your dog hydrated at the beach is critical. You may be in the cool water often or there may be a breeze keeping you chilled, but that doesn’t mean your dog isn’t hot or getting dehydrated from all the play. The foldable Iesotc Dog Water Bottle and Dispenser is the perfect beach day accessory to keep your pup drinking and keep track of how much they’ve had.
Your dog will thank you for the freshwater, and you’ll be happy with the non-spill product. It’s a water bottle and a bowl in one. The fold cap is a dog bowl. You squeeze the bottle and the water flows into the bowl. In addition, the dog water bottle comes in various colors and four different sizes.
While dogs can drink out of some freshwater sources like lakes and rivers, if you’re at the seashore, you definitely don’t want your pup to drink the water when they get thirsty. Watch for excessive panting, thick drool, or exhaustion. Some dogs love the beach so much they’ll play until they literally drop. You may have to literally force them to take a break.
3. ChuckIt! Amphibious Bumper Fetch and Float Dog Toy
Playtime is what the beach is all about for our fur babies. The ChuckIt! Amphibious Bumper Fetch and Float Dog Toy is a fun way to get some exercise in. It’s a soft, durable chew toy designed with lightweight memory foam and a knotted rope on the end. Made of nylon, rubber, and EVA foam, it’s soft on dogs’ gums and teeth and is suitable for aggressive or light chewers.
Dogs of any size love chasing toys across the sand and into the water. But some easily get lost or sink in water. The ChuckIt! floats and is bright orange, so it’s easy to find. Let’s face it; if your dog is anything like ours, it won’t want you to stop throwing it. Our dogs love all the ChuckIt! products, and they hold up incredibly well to their obsessive chewing and playing.
4. TUKELER Elevated Dog Bed with Canopy
Doesn’t it always seem like your dog just wants to steal your beach towel all the time? Then your towel is all wet and sandy, and you’re no longer seated in the shade. This accessory, the Tukeler Elevated Dog Bed with Canopy, solves this problem. It is an excellent way to provide your pet with shade on its own elevated bed with its own shade.
It’s important to keep our pups cool in the sun, and this product does just that. The bed is breathable and the canopy is wind-resistant, so it won’t easily blow over. It’s also lightweight, so adding it to other accessories you’re carrying to the beach is not a burden.
The bed has a durable steel structure that can hold a dog up to 88 pounds. It’s elevated to keep your pup about seven inches off the ground. The clearance underneath also allows for ventilation on hot beach days as well as drying on all sides. In addition, the entire product is easy to set up and take down.
Pro Tip: A hat is another way to shade your dog’s face and eyes from the sun. Check out our favorite cool dog hats.
5. Dexas MudBuster Portable Dog Paw Cleaner
What’s the worst thing about bringing your dog to the beach? Those wet, sandy paws that track sand into your car or house that you won’t get out for weeks. Thankfully, we found the perfect accessory for cleaning those paws before heading home.
The Dexas MudBuster Portable Dog Paw Cleaner has gentle BPA-free silicone bristles that remove sand and dirt from your dog’s paws. You simply put water into the small cup and then insert one paw at a time. The bristles serve as a brush to remove any remnants of the beach. Use a towel to dry the paw off once you pull it out. It comes in three sizes and a variety of colors.
Do I Need to Give My Dog a Bath After a Beach Day?
Interestingly, there are some conflicting answers to the question of whether a dog needs a bath after a beach day. However, it’s good practice to give your dog a bath after a beach day, depending on your location and how much time spent in the water. It also depends on the type of water.
Dogs can get swimmer’s itch from too much sand and salt getting into your pup’s fur and keeping their skin wet. This is more common in salt water as the salt and other minerals can be more abrasive when they dry. Rinse them thoroughly with clean water and dry them with towels to reduce the chance of irritation or skin infections.
If your dog was playing in clear freshwater, you probably don’t need to bathe it. However, it’s still a good idea to at least rinse off sand and dirt from the fur, then dry them off thoroughly. Leaving wet fur for hours only increases the chance of dry, itchy skin. If this happens, you can use an anti-itch shampoo to calm any irritations and make sure to dry them completely.
Enjoy a Beach Day With Your Dog’s Favorite Accessories
Beach days with our dogs are memorable. Taking along accessories that will enhance their experience is all the better. We hope you get as much enjoyment out of the beach as your dog does.
Do you take your dog to play at the beach? Share your experience and which accessories you pack in the comments below.
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