-
Maintain control of your dog at all times.
-
Under existing city ordinance, dogs must remain leashed. However, for the past several years only unleashed, potentially dangerous dogs have been cited or removed.
-
If your dog is new to Dog Beach, take it slow. Keep them on their leash until you can be sure of how they will react to the sand, sea, and especially other dogs and people.
-
Protect your pet with a license tag on your pet's collar. This is good insurance in helping reunite you with your animal if your pet should become lost. Ninety-eight percent of the dogs impounded wearing a license return home.
-
Owners MUST pick up after their dogs and dispose of used bags in the trash cans. Doggie waste bags are available free of charge for this purpose. Please take only what you need for immediate use. Doggie waste bags are our largest single expense and we rely entirely on donations to provide them.
-
Leaving used bags in the cliffs or on the sand is prohibited; violators will be cited. Properly disposing of dog waste is more than a common courtesy; it is imperative that every Dog Beach visitor follow this rule, or we run the risk of losing the privilege of bringing our dogs to the beach.
-
Not all dogs like the water. Introduce your dog to the water slowly and at his own pace: try coaxing him into the shallow water, or entice him to walk with you so that he is wading in the water. Do NOT pick him up and force him in! This is a cruel and ineffective way to get him to “like” it, and it is unsafe. If, in spite of your best efforts, your dog still does not want to go into the water, then accept that fact and let him play the way he wants to; he can still enjoy the socialization and freedom of Dog Beach without having to be in the water.
-
Many dogs do not automatically know how to swim. Dogs often must be taught how to swim effectively, and this is best done in still water (pools, lakes) rather than at Dog Beach, where the waves and current can be a hazard. The classic “dog paddle” is in fact a sign that the dog is struggling and needs help quickly to get to safety. Also, even strong swimmers should not swim too far away from the shore, so don’t throw your dog’s tennis ball so far out that you would not be able to reach him quickly if he needed help.
-
Do not let your dog drink the ocean water. Most dogs, after a few licks, realize that they do not like the taste of the salty water, or they are too busy playing to stop and drink. However, some dogs ingest large quantities of salt water, and this can be life-threatening. Signs that a dog has ingested too much salt water (water intoxication) include lethargy, abdominal discomfort, abnormal breathing, discomfort walking / lack of coordination, nausea and vomiting, pale gums, etc. If your dog displays these symptoms, seek veterinary help immediately.
