By Director of Philanthropy and Marketing Sean Hawkins
Summer is in full swing and with two dog-friendly beaches close to Orlando there is no reason not to take Fido with you on your trip to the beach. While dogs are not allowed on most Florida beaches, there are exceptions and here is information on two that stand out on Florida’s east coast.
Canova Beach Park – Indian Harbour Beach, Florida
This is one of the newest places to bring your dogs to the beach! Canova Park Beach is located at the intersection of Highway A1A and Eau Gallie Parkway and spans more than 9 acres of beach in the city of Indian Harbor Beach. The official address is 3299 Florida A1A Indian Harbour Beach, FL 32903.
This official “On leash” dog beach is the only place in Brevard County where you can bring your dogs to the beach to play in the sun and hit the surf. There are regulars who are here every day. With pet friendly hotels nearby, this beach even attracts out-of-town visitors.
A volunteer organization, Sandy Paws Brevard, helps to enforce the dog beach rules and organizes monthly beach clean-ups to keep the park enjoyable for all. In addition to ample parking and a designated dog beach entrance, the park supplies waste bags to pick up after your pets and there is a fresh water rinsing station for dogs and a shower for humans. At low-tide, the shallow reefs along the shore can create a buffer zone where the waves are small and forgiving for dogs who are not yet ready to body surf.
After the beach, head to Coaster’s Pub across the street. The Biergarten patio is Dog Friendly! Just bring your well-mannered, leashed pooch in through the back gate. Coaster’s even has a dog food menu. If you want to spend the night, Comfort Inn at Port Canaveral and the Vero Beach Hotel are both pet-friendly properties that are about 20 minutes away.
Walton Rocks Park – Jensen Beach, Florida
This is a dog beach with a completely different vibe. Walton Rocks Park is located just south of Fort Pierce on South Hutchison Island, and it’s a great place to bring your entire family. Just a two hour drive south of Orlando, the shallow water reefs a few steps off shore are great for humans to snorkel with sea turtles and for dogs to swim in calm waters at low tide.
This is an official “off leash” dog beach. The white sand beach and dunes are well maintained and there are showers for both humans and dogs. There is plenty of parking and the park provides dog waste bags.
Locals come here to walk their dogs almost on a daily basis. Visitors come here because it has a great reputation for being a place where you and your dogs have a great time. Again, tide makes a difference.
Low tide exposes the shallow reefs, but it also creates tidal pools with no ocean waves that are perfect for little dogs or dogs who are not confident swimmers. High tide makes big surf for big dogs to swim and play fetch in with water toys. The affordable Sea Horse Beach Bungalows, 2502 Tamarind Dr., Fort Pierce, FL 34949, are charming and completely pet friendly for dogs of all sizes.
The Sea Horse Bungalows, on North Hutchison Island, are about 25 minutes from the dog beach. Every restaurant with a patio that we found was dog friendly. Both the Manatee and Hurricane are right on the ocean and are favorites.
Whether you’re heading to these two beaches or one of the other dog-friendly beaches in Florida, here are a few tips to make sure that you and Fido stay safe and have a good time.
10 Dog Beach Helpful Tips
- Carry ID. Even if your dog has a microchip, make sure he is wearing easily readable and non-fading identification on his waterproof collar. Take the extra precaution of adding the mobile phone number for a device that you have with you at the beach to a personalized ID tag on his collar.
- Obey. Before you head to the sand, perfect the “come when called” command with your dog. Always reward your dog for a swift return when called with a happy greeting and a treat. Take his favorite treats with you to the beach in a water proof baggie or plastic container. Remember that you will have lots of new dog friends when treating at the beach. The smell of wonderful treats travels. Dogs at beach.
- Refresh. Take lots of cool fresh water with you and take a collapsible water bowl for your dog. I always stop at a convenience store near the beach and buy a gallon of chilled drinking water out of the cooler. That saves the hassle of carting water from home. Dogs can overheat quickly in the sun. Know the signs of a dog overheating which include heavy panting or open mouth breathing, coordination problems or collapse. If your dog experiences any of these symptoms, cool your dog with fresh water and seek veterinary help immediately. (Know the number of the animal emergency clinic closest to the beach.)
- Swim. Teach your dog to swim. Dogs who are natural swimmers will learn to handle the wave action quickly but it’s best to introduce ocean swimming on a calm day. Waves are unsettling at first and can knock dogs off their feet. Even though both of my labs leap without any fear into the surf, I am always in the water with my dogs. I like to be close by in case of rip tides or sharks. Brachycephalic dogs (dogs with short muzzles) like bulldogs, boxers and pugs struggle more when water covers their face or when they accidentally inhale even a small amount of water. Consider life vests for these animals and for older pets who could panic or struggle in the ocean with a rogue wave.
- Cut back on the salt. Discourage your dog from drinking seawater by offering lots of fresh, cool, clean water, and by removing him from the ocean if you see him drink a lot. Salt water can cause vomiting or diarrhea which usually resolves quickly.
- Stay off the dunes. Dunes are protected in some states, including Florida. Dogs can be very destructive to wildlife. A dog on a mission can wipe out a shore bird or sea turtle nest in seconds. City dogs will be attracted to the smells and movement of wildlife in tall sea grasses.
- Supervise. Always, every minute, watch your dog. While your dog may enjoy wandering and playing it is your job to always monitor his behavior. Don’t let him bother other people or antagonize other dogs. Behaviors that you think are cute, like jumping on people or running over beach blankets, may be annoying to other people. Everyone should have the opportunity to enjoy their time at the beach with their families.
- Stay cool. Hot sand can scorch a dog’s sensitive feet. (Your dog is not wearing flip-flops!) Make sure to have a beach blanket or towel available for your dog’s comfort when he is not running in the waves.
- Clean up after your dog. Always carry waste bags and watch your dog in case he takes a potty break.
- Wash. Rinse your dog with fresh water when you leave the beach. Sand and salt from the ocean are drying to a dog’s skin and a quick rinse with fresh water will help prevent irritation. Keep old towels in the car to dry-off your dog after his big adventure.
