By Heidi Clayton
With summer approaching, it is almost beach season and with that the desire to take your dog to the beach for a swim or a walk. At the risk of sounding like a “Karen,” I will admit that I do not like loose dogs on the beach. I won’t say that I don’t take my dogs to the beach, but when I do my dogs are always leashed. I suppose there have been times when I will let a dog run loose when there are absolutely no other dogs or humans around. But in this area on the beach in the summer how often does that happen?
Reason number one I respect leash laws is until you have had a dogs temperament ruined as a result of a dog fight started by a loose dog running up on a leashed dog or two loose dogs meeting when overstimulated where one is the equivalent of a schoolyard bully, you do not know the risks you are taking and the damage that can be done to your dog. I have had clients find out the hard way that their dogs either couldn’t handle the freedom of being off leash on the beach, or were attacked by another dog that resulted in punctures, gauges, and sadly a broken leg. In each scenario the owner of the offending dog claimed that they don’t know what went wrong, and that their dog was usually dog friendly. Even a dog fight that doesn’t result in a broken bone can traumatize a dog and human alike.
When letting your dog run off leash you also assume that everyone else on the beach likes dogs. As strange as it is to me, there are actually people who do not like dogs. Can you guarantee that when loose on the beach your dog will ignore people, not jump on them, or try to interact with people who might not care for dogs? Does your dog have a 100% reliable recall and will come to you no matter what the distraction? If not keep your dog on a leash.
Distracted owners are another reason dogs should remain on leash. I watched a man trying to walk his Afghan Hound puppy onto the beach only to be pummeled by two loose dogs. The loose dogs owner was chatting away oblivious to the havoc her dogs were causing. The man had to pick up his large puppy and leave the beach because the loose dogs were scaring his puppy. Bottom line is your dog is most likely by local ordinance not permitted on the beach and while most beach towns tolerate it, leash laws should be followed as to not abuse the privilege. The loose dog is always wrong. Owners on cell phones who pay more attention to the phone than the dog are another issue. If your dog is off leash your phone should be away.
The city of Wildwood has designated an area of beach that actually welcomes dogs. Located at Glenwood Avenue and the Beach, dogs are welcomed to come to the beach for visit the beach dog park with the requirement that your dog be on a leash. This is a lovely idea that I wish more shore towns would embrace. Perhaps more towns would welcome dogs if everyone obeyed leash laws and cleaned up after their dogs without fail.
You can read more about this area at: https://wildwoodsnj.com/attraction/wildwood-dog-park-beach/
Any questions please feel from to email heidi@fouronthefloordogtraining.net
Heidi Clayton started Four On the Floor Dog Training to provide positive, reward-based dog training in South Jersey. She breeds, trains and shows bull terriers under the SoraBully’s Bull Terriers kennel name. Email questions to heidi@fouronthefloordogtraining.net or learn more at https://fouronthefloordogtraining.net
