Are Border Collies Allowed At Beaches?
It’s a question that many owners have when they envision their BC at the beach.
Border Collies love to swim and play in the water. They love playing fetch in the waves or running on the soft sand.
And guess what?
According to researchers, they are best at chasing gulls off the beach.
The scientists of the Central Michigan University have hired a few border collies to patrol shores to chase off beach-polluting seagulls.
Now comes the bad news. On most of the Spanish and European beaches, you cannot take your dog to the beach. It is prohibited and you have to be careful because the fines are considerable.
However, more and more coastal cities understand the importance of taking a beach walk with your dog. They also understand that dog owners are sensible and will not cause trouble to others.
That’s why out of the beach season, between October and April, you can go to almost any beach since their maintenance does not begin until spring.
What Can They Do There?
Take advantage of the fact that the beach is wide open and you can play a variety of games with your Border Collie. You can play fetch with him or with the ball. A frisbee is also an option. Bring his favorite toys along so that he can enjoy himself more.
More likely, he will be chasing seagulls or digging up shells.
How to Keep Them Safe From General Dangers?
There is no doubt that beaches are fun. Everyone loves a walk along the beach, even your dog. But there are also many potential dangers on the beach. It is your responsibility to protect your Border Collie. If you take care of these things on the beach, then he will be safe from dangers.
Always Carry Water For Your Dog
Border collies can’t stand the water when they go swimming. The salty water of the sea is not good for dogs or humans to hydrate themselves.
Drinking seawater can cause a loose stomach. Usually, the dogs who have experienced it give up on the desire to drink the salty water. However, they can’t help it swallow a little bit while swimming.
It’s a good idea to bring clean water for your Border Collie and keep him hydrated so that he doesn’t drink seawater.
Protect From Sunlight
Even though Border Collies have fur covering most of their body, they can still get sunburned in sensitive areas. Make sure to apply sunscreen on areas like ears and stomach.
If your collie loves to swim, then sunscreen will not work for him. Take an umbrella with you. try to keep him in the shade.
Do Not Let Them Eat Food Scraps
Food scraps are easily found on the beach and almost all of it is human food. The diet of Border Collies is different from that of humans and eating human foods can cause problems.
Not only this, but seagulls can also have carcasses, dead fish, and many rotten food items on the beach that are harmful to them.
True, that Border Collies can eat meat and flesh, but pieces of brittle bones, such as from fishes and birds, can tear splinters into a dog’s throat. In the worst cases, he might end up at the vet for surgery.
Be attentive when you are closer to the fishing area. Sometimes, dumped hooks with baits still attached to them can lead to unfavorable consequences.
Always keep an eye on him and do not let him wander away from you. Do not let him eat food scraps on the beach.
Monitor His Movements and Check The Surroundings
Border Collies do not know when they are tired and go on doing physical activities. They can swim only for 10 to 20 minutes. If they have swum longer than this, call them back. He should not go so far while swimming that he cannot swim back from there.
It is common to find sharp stones, jellyfishes, and coral reefs on the shores of the sea. These things can injure your Border Collie’s feet.
Make sure that the area of the sea in which they are swimming does not have any kind of rock under its surface.
Also, keep watching their body language and movement to notice if they have somehow hurt themselves, or are not feeling well.
Watch Your Collie’s Paw
The hot sand on the beach burns the feet. This is not comfortable for your pet at all. Keep a balm with you, which you should keep applying on his paws again and again.
If you want, you can also buy dog booties for him. Dog booties will not only protect him from the hot sand but also sharp objects on the beach.
Don’t Force Your Collie to Swim
Simply because dogs of the border collie breed are generally fond of water and they like swimming, don’t go assuming that your collie must like it too.
It is not necessary that every Border Collie likes to swim. They can sometimes be afraid of water due to their upbringing. Besides, a few of them do not like to walk on sand.
Let them stay with you under the umbrella and enjoy the sound and scenes.
Take A Break
Border Collies are athletic, full of energy, and playful. This does not mean that they don’t get tired. Beware of their physical limits, take breaks.
Even if they haven’t played as much as they do at home, don’t assume that they’re not tired. Even the heat is enough to drain the energy.
Take a break, rest under an umbrella or shadow. If you haven’t brought one, your AC car is a place you can rest with him.
Make Him Wear A Life Vest
To your surprise, life vests for dogs are available too. Then you can be more assured knowing that even if your Collie gets fatigued, he won’t drown. The life vest will keep him afloat.
Life vests with handles are also available that you can use to drag your Collie when you feel like it.
Beach Etiquettes For You And Your Collie
Before taking your Collie to the beach, give him good recall command training. Train him in such a way that he will listen to you despite the distractions.
Not everyone on the beach will want to hug your wet and sand-stained puppy. Every time he approaches a person, give him a recall. He might not want to listen to you, that’s why you must take a lot of treats with you so that you can control him every time you tempt him with a treat.
Also, pick up after your Collie at the beach. A lot of people leaving their dog’s poop can make the beach very dirty and it may end up being closed for dogs. Carry more poop bags with you than you can need.
Conclusion
Beware of the hidden and known dangers and never let your beloved pooch wander away from you. The slightest negligence can become a nightmare. So always take these precautions on the beach and make the beach trip memorable for you and your collie.