If you have a dog, chances are you’ve taken your four-legged companion to the beach at some point or another. Not all pups love the water, but even if they don’t jump right in they likely love running around on the sand, toying with the idea of getting a paw or two wet. Canada is home to several dog-friendly beaches with off-leash zones or designated pooch-swimming areas and we’re rounding up some of the best.
Before we dive into the best beaches for dogs there are a few things to keep in mind when you’re taking your dog to the beach:
- Make sure to clean up after your pet.
- If you’re not sure whether a beach you’re visiting has an off-leash area, err on the side of caution and keep your pooch leashed until you’re sure.
- Bring fresh water in case there’s nowhere to get any.
- Always carry a leash even if you’re in an off-leash zone because you never know if/when you’ll need one.
- Only bring as many dogs to the beach as you can comfortably handle.
- Have fun!
Cherry Beach, Toronto, Ontario
Cherry Beach in Toronto’s East end is one of the city’s most popular beaches and one of the reasons for this is the large off-leash area for dogs. The pup-friendly area is fenced-in and dogs are free to roam around and swim. Dogs are still welcome on the rest of the beach, but they should have a leash on outside the designated areas.
Spanish Banks Beach, Vancouver, British Columbia
Vancouver’s Spanish Bank’s Beach is another good place to bring your dog for a day on the sand and a favourite dog beach among locals. At Spanish Banks Beach dog park, dogs are allowed off-leash between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m. The beach itself is divided into three areas where you’ll find amenities like picnic areas, barbeques, washrooms and volleyball courts depending on where you’re situated.
MacKenzie Beach, Tofino, British Columbia
Dog owners will definitely want to check out Tofino’s MacKenzie Beach, a beautiful expanse of sand that also happens to be dog friendly. There’s lots of room to run around without a leash, swim and chase a stick or ball. The water here is calm making it ideal for dogs and kids, and there are several spots in the area offering dog friendly accommodation so it’s a good vacation spot for dog owners. MacKenzie Beach is also known as a good spot for SUP and winter surfing.
Sandbanks Provincial Park, Prince Edward County, Ontario
The beaches in Sandbanks Provincial Park are well-known for their quality and for the massive sand dunes you’ll find at Dunes Beach. In addition, this park has off-leash areas for your pup. Sandbanks Park has allocated two dog beaches to choose from where dogs get to roam free and go in and out of the water as they please. One is at the mouth of the Outlet River and the other is at the very south end of Sandbanks Beach.
Canine Cove, Whistler, British Columbia
The aptly named Canine Cove is a dog-friendly beach in Whistler’s Lost Lake Park, located on the east side of the lake. Here, pups can enjoy the water and sand, and make some new dog friends unencumbered by a leash. Just keep in mind that dogs aren’t allowed on Lost Lake Beach – Canine Cove is about 400 metres to the north of Lost Lake Beach.
Winnipeg Beach, Winnipeg Beach, Manitoba
Winnipeg Beach, home to a beach of the same name, is located about 45 minutes from Winnipeg and can be found in Winnipeg Beach Provincial Park. If you happen to be in the area with your furry friends, they are welcome at the designated dog-friendly area of the beach. You’ll find this area south of the water tower, but just keep in mind that your dog should be on a leash in all other areas of the park and beach areas that aren’t zoned for the four-legged set.
Kinlock Beach, Stratford, Prince Edward Island
One of the first things you’ll notice about this beach near Charlottetown is its reddish hue. Secondly, you’re likely to notice the dogs running around. Kinlock Beach is a popular area for dog owners to bring their pooches to roam on the large expanse of sand or jump into the water.
Featured image: bertknot, doggiebeach via Flickr CC BY-SA 2.0
