Beaches & Dogs Safety In Kent

Beaches & Dogs Safety In Kent guide to top tips for dogs and beaches in Kent for 2025.

FAMILY SEASIDE FUN
Dogs and beaches go together like sun and ice cream, but Summertime leash laws mean some restrictions for your pooch’s coastal outings. Luckily in Kent, there are plenty of beaches for fur babies to visit that are canine-friendly with the family – see our blog post for Dog-Friendly Beaches in Kent for a full round-up of where they can visit the seaside this Summer.

This Beaches & Dogs Safety In Kent guide helps pawsome pets stay safe on the Kent coastline.

POOCH COOL
Beaches are great for families, but do take care of your dog in the heat. Here are our highlights to keep them safe at the seaside.
Top Tips to keep dogs safe on the beach from the vet charity for pets in need, the PDSA

SHADY SPOTS: Take a parasol or a beach tent so your dog can get out of the sun if it gets too hot.
PAWSOME TOYS: Use toys that pick up less sand, like a frisbee – sand is not great for dogs to ingest.
SAND SAFE: Check for broken glass or sharp objects.
WATER WATER: Don’t forget water and a bowl, and don’t let them drink salt water.
BATH TIME: If they love a dip in the sea, make sure you have fresh water when you get home to prevent them from licking any salt from their fur – and don’t forget to clean their ears, as water in the ear canal can cause infections to develop.
CLOCK IT: In the height of the Summer, keep them out of the sun during the hottest part of the day – it is best to do early mornings and evenings.

SEA SAFETY
⋅ Pay attention to signs or flags – a red flag or a sign showing a white circle with a red line through it means you shouldn’t swim – and neither should your fur baby!
⋅ If the sea looks dangerous, don’t let your dog swim.
⋅ Don’t let your pup swim in the sea if it’s very cold – dogs can struggle when swimming in very cold water!
⋅ If your dog does get into trouble in the water, call 999 immediately and ask for the coastguard.
Beaches & Dogs Safety In Kent.

BEACH BEAUTY
The Beauty of the Beach, supported by Dover District Council #beautyofthebeach
B – Bag It – pick up your dog’s poop and bin it
E – Environment – take away your litter – it can be lethal for wildlife
A – Annoying bird mess – the more you feed them the more they poop – so don’t give them a morsal or leave food behind
U – Unblock drains – don’t block the sewers only throw pee, poop and paper down the toilet
T – Teamwork – join in a litter pick
Y – Your home – keep your systems tip top to help beach beauty.

SUMMER FIREWORKS
While visiting during peak season and for events such as coastal carnivals, Summer fireworks and celebrations, these can startle dogs. To help check out our Dogs & Fireworks – How To Keep Pets Calm feature for advice.

SEA CLEAN
In addition, check the quality of the sea for you and your fur baby if you love to swim. To check the storm overflows, use the Southern Water Beachbouy checker  – click here. Though they advise that they cannot make safety or water quality recommendations, as Beachbuoy is simply a reporting tool. You are advised to use your discretion when entering the water or letting your pooches dive in.

DOGGY DON’TS
Never let your dog chase wildlife. In addition, please note that the Thanet coastline is a Marine Protection Area as it is home to important wildlife.

DOGS SEE KENT
For ideas of where to visit in Kent with dogs – whether for events or attractions, for instance, you can filter by clicking on the dog tag. If you are heading to the beach and want to see what else there is to explore, then our area pages have great ideas and inspiration for your visit. To find things to do that are dog-friendly, then you can filter for things to do in Kent and What’s On in Kent that allow fur babies too.

See our blog post for Dog-Friendly Beaches in Kent for 2025 for a full round-up of where they can visit the seaside this Summer.

PICK IT UP
Don’t forget please remember to clean up after your pooch! If you do not pick up after your dog, you can be fined.

See Kent, Know Kent
Picture Credit: © Fernanda Greppe at unsplash.com

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