Planning a fun, exciting, and ultimately memorable getaway that includes your beloved dog is a great idea; why not include the entire family if you’re going away from home for a while?
The first place you might think of when you’re considering where to go with your dog could be the beach, and that makes a lot of sense – it’s the ideal place for a dog to have as much of a fun vacation as their human companions.
Of course, you’ll need to prepare in advance, just as you would any time you want to get away from it all for a while. With that in mind, here are some steps you can take when planning the ultimate dog-friendly beach break.
Choose the Right Destination
Perhaps the most important thing of all when it comes to planning a dog-friendly beach break is to choose the right destination—if you can do that, everything else will fall into place around it. Here are some things you might want to consider when it comes to making sure that you’re choosing wisely:
Dog-Friendly Policies
Before you decide on a destination, do some thorough research on their dog-friendly policies. Some beaches have strict rules about whether dogs are allowed on them or not.
If they are, they may have to be kept on a leash, or you may have to stick to specific dog-friendly areas or perhaps only visit during certain hours. Make sure you find all this out, and if it doesn’t suit you, look for somewhere else to go.
Nearby Amenities
You should also look for beaches that are close to useful amenities like dog-friendly hotels, pet stores, and even veterinary clinics. When you’ve got these things nearby, you can feel much more relaxed about your adventure.
Weather and Season
As with any holiday planning, you should think about the climate and the season when you’re planning your beach break. Just like humans, dogs can dislike high temperatures and even become unwell.
So it’s often best to avoid the hotter areas and times of the year if you want everyone to have a good time. If you are planning a visit to the UK, then these are the top UK dog friendly beaches available to visit all year round.
Pack Well
Once you know where you’re going, you’ll need to pack for your beach break, and that doesn’t just include the things that you’re going to want to wear or have with you; you’ll need to pack for your dog, too.
To start with, you’ll need a leash and collar, especially if your dog doesn’t usually wear one.
If you’ve got these things, you’ll then be able to take them to a beach that requires them, and you’ll know that you’re not going to get into trouble (plus you’ll have control over your dog in a new location that they could easily get lost in). You should also invest in some ID tags and add them to the collar, just in case.
It’s best to pack water and food bowls as well. Not only does this mean that you’re covering all eventualities, just in case the hotel you go to is running short or doesn’t have them at all, but equally, these things from home will be familiar to your dog, meaning they’ll settle in much more easily.
Of course, along with the bowls, you’ll need to pack food and treat—don’t assume you can get the same food at the beach as you can at home, and different food can cause digestive issues, which is why it’s best to bring your own.
Get Insurance
While you’re planning your dog-friendly beach break, something you mustn’t forget is to get dog insurance.
It’s not something you’ll want to think about, but accidents and unexpected illnesses can happen on even the best vacations, and dog insurance means you’ll be protected financially if your dog needs some urgent medical care—you won’t have to worry about it, and can just do what’s best for your pet.
Dog insurance can cover vet bills, medication, and even emergency boarding if need be, but each policy will be different, so it’s wise to take some time thinking about and researching the best type of insurance for you and your dog.
Plan your Activities
Once you’ve covered the essentials and you know where you’re going and what you’re going to take with you, you should start planning out your activities.
Although a human might be quite content to just sit and relax for a week or two, that’s probably not going to be the same for your dog (although if it is, that’s fine—you know your dog best, after all).
In most cases, dogs will want to be active and go exploring and play, so it’s a good idea to think about what you’re going to do while you’re away and plan your activities in advance.
You could go for long walks or runs on the beach, for example, or even go swimming if that’s something your dog enjoys. As long as you’re doing things that you can both have fun with, and you’re obeying all the dog and leash laws of the area, the choice is yours.
The key is to create a vacation that you’ll remember with fondness, and if you can spend time with your dog and achieve that result, you’ve definitely got it right.
