As summer approaches, visiting the beach with your dog is a great way to take advantage of the warm, sunny weather and spend some quality time together. Did you know that there are many benefits of taking your pet to the beach? We’ve comprised a list of the top reasons why taking your pet to the beach can benefit them, both mentally and physically.
1. Improves your pet’s overall health
Taking your dog out for regular walks in nature provides numerous social and health benefits, as physical exercise helps keep your pet active whilst simultaneously reducing common anxiety-related behaviours. Going to the beach provides those same benefits, while offering a larger area for your pet to run around freely to explore and be more active.
2. Gives your pet an opportunity to socialise
The beach is a great place to develop your pet’s social skills, especially if you visit a beach with many other dogs. It’s important to socialise your dog as much as possible so that they do not develop social anxiety or fear-based aggression, and can be comfortable when interacting with other pets and humans alike.
3. Provides positive effects from being outdoors in the sunshine
Being at the beach with your pet on a sunny day allows your pet to absorb more vitamin D, an essential nutrient for regulating phosphorus and calcium levels in the bones, as well as for helping in the prevention of bone diseases.
The sun also stimulates serotonin production in pets, which is a hormone that acts as an antidepressant and improves mental wellbeing. However, it’s always important that you take care and limit sun exposure to a moderate amount, as it can lead to heat stroke.
With these benefits in mind, it’s important to know what beaches and areas are pet-friendly so that you can visit the beach with peace of mind. See below a list of pet-friendly beaches that you can visit in Spain and Portugal:
Spain:
- Playa de Arroyo Totalán – Málaga, Costa del Sol
- Playa de la Rubina – Empuriabrava, Costa Brava.
- Playa de El Confital – Gran Canaria, Islas Canarias.
- Playa de El Castillo – Fuengirola, Costa del Sol.
- Playa de Levante – Benidorm, Costa Blanca.
- Playa de Aguadulce – Roquetas de Mar, Almería.
- Playa de Punta del Riu – Altafulla, Tarragona.
- Playa de Port Ginesta – Castelldefels, Barcelona.
- Playa de la Riera d’Alforja – Tarragona, Costa Dorada
- Playa de La Puntilla – El Puerto de Santa María, Cádiz
Portugal:
- Playa de Santo Amaro de Oeiras – Oeiras, Costa de Lisboa
- Playa de Vale do Lobo – Loulé, Algarve
- Playa da Cova da Alfarroba – Peniche
- Playa de Matosinhos – Matosinhos, Oporto
- Playa de Rio Alto – Vila do Conde, Oporto
- Playa de Ribeira d’Ilhas – Ericeira, Costa de Lisboa
- Playa de Ofir – Fão, Esposende
- Playa do Amado – Carrapateira, Algarve
- Playa de Samouqueira – Odeceixe, Algarve
- Playa de Albarquel – Setúbal
Most pet-friendly beaches in Spain and Portugal have rules and guidelines you need to adhere to. Some important rules include:
- Leash control: Dogs are often required to be on a leash or under owner control at all times
- Proper waste disposal: You must pick up and properly dispose of your dog’s droppings, using bags to collect the waste and disposing in the appropriate waste bins
- Beach timetables: You must be vigilant in checking timetables for dog access, as some beaches allow dogs only within a specific timeframe
- Sun protection: You must make sure your dog is well hydrated and has plenty of shade available at the beach to reduce the risk of heat stroke. Avoid taking your dog to the beach during the times when the sun is at its highest to avoid paw burns and dehydration
- Behave responsibly: Dog owners must be considerate of other beachgoers to ensure minimal disturbance. Do make sure you have full control of your pet and do refrain from taking your pet to the beach if they’re not yet trained to behave responsibly around strangers
