Dogs: Let’s Go to the Beach!
ArticlesPublished June 23, 2010 at 12:35 pm No CommentsDogs: Let’s Go to the Beach!
Is your dog splashing in its water dish? Have afternoon walks past the water retention basin turned into a tug o war match? Is Fido carrying around a towel? Time to head to the dog beach!
Swimming is a great way for dogs to exercise their muscles. With a couple of tennis balls, a towel and a Frisbee, you’re ready to go!
Can all dogs swim? Rumors abound that greyhounds cannot swim because of their low body fat and long lean built. However, greyhound folks disagree. Two other breeds in questions are the Basset Hound and the English Bulldog. Their bulky, low to the floor structure can make swimming challenging, but not impossible.
In general, swimming is not breed specific. Some dogs like to swim; some dogs don’t. Among the diehard swimming fans are retrievers, water dogs, cocker spaniels and poodles.
Ready to give it a try? Great! Now where do you go?
If you don’t live on the east or west coast, own lakefront property or have a pond in your backyard, finding a place for Fido to swim can be challenging. What to do? Find a dog beach online!
Here are three sites that cater to dog friendly travel: GoPetFriendly.com, DogParkUSA.com and PetFriendlyTravel.com. Find dog beaches close to home by entering your city and state. Then relax and enjoy all the fabulous information these sites offer.
My favorite dog beach? Bow Wow Beach in Stow, Ohio. It’s a 7½ acre fenced in, double-gated entry, off-leash dog park. They have a 3 acre lake with sandy beach and grassy knolls, two separate swimming areas for large and small dogs (small dogs = under 35 lbs.), waste deposit stations, dog washing stations, picnic benches and restrooms. New for 2010: dock diving and agility. Park hours are 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. (exception: beach maintenance occurs Thursday mornings–park opens at 11 a.m.) See Bow Wow Beach website for park rules and more information.
Dog beaches are a great way to celebrate your dog. My goldens love it and they snooze all the way home! Worth the drive.
Rating: 5/5!
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Bonnie Sweebe is a dog lover, dog owner, dog advocate, and rescue and service dog volunteer. She is also the owner of WelcomePup.com, an online dog gift delivery company.
