In most places in North America and even in Europe and South America, pets are not going to be welcome on the same beach areas as humans. Although responsible dog owners would never consider allowing their dogs to run and bother others or not clean up any mess the dog made, irresponsible owners in the past have ruined it for everyone. Beach areas that are designated for human use are simply off limits to dogs, regardless of their size, obedience level or their behavior.
With that being said there are still many open areas of beautiful wild beach areas along both the east and west coast of the United States and Canada that are ideal for spending a day or more with your dogs. Many of the national parks have designated swimming beaches that are restricted with regards to dogs, however there are other parts of beaches that may be accessible to dogs. In some cases these dog friendly beach areas may allow the dogs to run free while others will have strict leash laws. In addition these areas often have public camping or lodging that is dog friendly within a very close proximity. It is very important that all dog owners follow the leash laws on public area or private beaches since policies can be changed from dog friendly to dog prohibitive if people don't follow the regulation.
In some areas there are access roads to more remote areas of a coastline that can be ideal for dog owners. Often these parts of the beach or coast are not developed and are not typically used by other vacationers and tourists. This can provide a wonderful and highly secluded place for you and your dog to spend the day without having to worry about other people or other pets. If the land is not in a park or a designated public area be sure to talk to the owner and get permission to use the beach area before planning to spend the day. Always practice good manners and clean up after your dog as well as removing all garbage from the area, even if you didn't leave it behind. If the owner suspects you did you may not be welcome back. If however you keep up the area you may even find that the owner is open to considering setting up a private beach area for dogs if you take the time to talk to the individual.
One of the best ways to find a beach area that is welcoming to dogs is to do some online research. There are several websites that list dog friendly beaches that allow either off-leash or on-leash canines to accompany their owners for a day in the surf and sand. Dog beaches that don't require leashes still typically have expectations that the dogs will be non-aggressive and responsive to their owners. Dogs that are causing problems on these beaches will be asked to leave and in some cases fines may be issued if there are complaints.
Regardless of the location on either the east or west coat, there are always lots of activities that you can do with your dog on a beach holiday or vacation or on a day spent outdoors. Typically dogs are not going to be as interested in sitting and soaking up the sun as people, so plan to break up your day lounging with some play time with your dog. If you are going in a group or with a couple of other owners and their dogs, the dogs on the off leash beaches, can run and play on their own. The owners do however, have to keep a watchful eye on their pets to make sure they don't stray away, become a bother to other visitors to the beach or get to loud with barking and play and disturb others.
A Nerf ball or any other type of floating throw toy is a must at the beach if your dog loves the water. The combination of running and swimming is great exercise for dogs of all ages and even senior dogs will enjoy a dip in the water. It is important to always monitor your dog while he or she is in the water and be aware of high and low tide times and the currents. In addition remember that swimming can be very tiring for dogs and they may not know when to stop, so always watch for signs of fatigue or excessive panting and end the game before the dog is utterly exhausted.
If you have a group of dogs and owners along for the day you may want to consider setting up a fun agility or obstacle course using the natural landscape at the beach. Logs or smaller branches can be used as jumps, you can mark out a weaving pattern with rocks and even use hills as part of the course. Each dog and owner can go through the course and you can either reward for speed through the course, accuracy of completing the course or even just encourage everyone have fun doing the activity.
Scavenger hunts are a great way for dogs and their owners to work together and have a bit of friendly competition. You can pick objects that they have to find that are typical of the beach area you are visiting. Seashells, feathers, colored pebbles or even particular types of plants or flowers can all be added to your list. Of course if you want to get really creative you can hide the objects in advance but you can also allow the dog-owner teams to find the items on the beach in their natural setting.
Be sure to bring food for your dog as well as a dish and some fresh water. Dogs should not be allowed to drink salt water as much as possible. Fresh water lakes and beaches pose less of a problem but it is still better to have the dog drink bottled water or water you bring from home. Some freshwater lakes to contain bacteria that can cause diarrhea and vomiting or more serious health risks. Check with your vet and he or she can usually let you know if there is a risk of contamination at any of the local freshwater lakes and beaches.
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