Top 10 dog-friendly beaches

Nothing beats a trip to the beach on a hot summer's day! Dogs (and their owners) can get some great exercise running along the shoreline and then cool off with a romp in the waves at these top dog-friendly beaches.

Safety Tip: Drinking salt water can make your dog ill or even prove fatal if large quantities are consumed, so bring along plenty of fresh water to keep your companion hydrated.

Massachusetts

Cape Cod National Seashore - Point Reyes

Nantucket Beaches (the shuttle permits you to bring your clean, dry dog along, too)

South Carolina

Huntington Island State Park

Florida

Fort Desoto Park - Dog Beach and Paw Playground

Jupiter Beach

Gulf County Florida Beaches

California

Ocean Beach Dog Beach in San Diego, Laguna and Newport Beach beaches

Stinson Beach

Carmel City Beach

Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park

In order to keep the dog-friendly beaches friendly, please keep these basic rules of dog-beach etiquette in mind:

• Leave nothing behind - always scoop your dog's poop (See our product reviews on poop bags)
• Obey beach and park leash laws
• Always keep your dog under control
• Know when your dog has had enough fun-in-the sun and is ready to head home

Do you have a favorite dog beach? Post a comment and share your top dog beaches.

Related articles:

Keeping your dog cool

Top 10 dog friendly hiking trails

Dog Leash Training

Traveling with your dog

How much exercise does your dog need?