Swimming is great exercise for us and our furry friends. It provides added resistance to muscles without the strain on joints due to weight.

This summer you’ll have several beaches where dogs are allowed. With every privilege comes the responsibility to keep it sustainable. If we go to the beach with our dogs and annoy everyone under the sun, then that privilege will be taken away. A little beach etiquette can go a long way in ensuring dogs are not punished for our negligence.

If you get your dog’s beach bag ready ahead, you have half your work done. Besides poo bags, a leash, collar and ID tag, which are legal requirements, you will want to pack drinking water, a towel and maybe a first aid kit, muzzle, floatation jacket and dog sun screen. It would dampen the experience if you reach for either one and find that you forgot to pack it.

Water can carry diseases and though your dog may be perfectly healthy, the mice that populate the beach at night might not. Some diseases would be hard to transmit to humans but not all.

Leptospirosis can easily be picked up by your dog and brought into your house. Save yourself the worry by making sure your dog has its vaccinations and anti-parasitic treatments up to date. Of course that does not exempt you from checking your dog for ticks and fleas before and after.

Speaking of before, no one wants to step barefoot into dog poo or pee, not even you. Even though you are required by law to clean up after your dog, it is an even better idea to take them to the toilet before going to the beach. It is harder to clean up on sand. If you don’t want a huge mess in that department, just do not allow your dog to drink sea water either. Besides making them violently sick, it also dehydrates them.

We do not want you getting any fines, so respect the swimmer zones marked by red and yellow buoys are that are for humans only. If you respect the laws about dogs that apply everywhere else and avoid Blue Flag sandy beaches, there is no reason why you cannot take your dog to the beach.

Regulations also stipulate that you keep the dog on a leash when you’re out of the water. This is so it does not run off to the next bathers, throwing sand all over the place, stealing their towels or whatever trouble your dog likes to get into.

If your dog really wants to go play with another dog, ask the owner’s permission first. All that said, it would be hard for you to keep up all this good behaviour if you are intoxicated, so save the beer for another day.

Dogs Trust Malta would love to know how much your dog loved the beach and what they get up to when you take them. Find us on Facebook and share your stories or send us your doggy pics at the beach to office@dogstrustmalta.com.

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