Going to the Beach with your Dog

We were at Barcola beach last night when I had a couple of revelations.

1. I live in a city people come to for vacation.
2. You can bring your dog to Barcola now without a BREVETTO.

I want to hit on that second point here. In the old days you used to have to go through a whole PROCESS of becoming, and having your dog become, a lifeguard in order to take your dog to the beach. Now anyone can do it as long as you are entering the water in a relatively dangerous place (read, no spiagietta). You will have to go in using the treacherous stairs of the Pineta (which is the shady part closest to the big parking lot with trees and places for kids to play). For dogs this means scarey see-through stairs. For you it  means CARRYING your adult labrador until she can safely float. We parked our towels near the fountain last night and the night before and it worked out great.

Our dog worked for 6 years as a volunteer at the beach in Sistiana, which had a nice program that gave dogs and their owners a shady place to hang out on Saturdays and Sundays punctuated by 2-hour shifts watching people splash around and hoping you would not have to actually save anyone. It was a great gig. All of the dogs had their names on their harnesses, so little kids could call them by name and get to know them. In Trieste, you make friends through your activities, so hanging out with dog people became our social life for a while, too. Besides the overall positive experience, getting and keeping up the Brevetto gave us a chance to take our dogs to the beach, do some community service, and make friends at the same time.

When we put Luna into retirement (which coincided with my getting pregnant) the law had changed, allowing you to bring pets to the beach before 7am and after 7pm. That worked out as those were the hours dogs like best.

This year they changed things completely and have designated certain parts of Barcola for dogs. That being said, I would like to extend a little advice to other pet owners who are thinking of bringing their dogs with them.

1. Dogs get hot fast. Limit your beach-going hours to early morning and evening.
2. Keep her hydraded. There are lots of fountains around. Bring a bowl.
3. Those extendable leashes are dangerous. Don't use them at the beach. Keep it short so you don't trip anyone. Also, your dog does not need to "Feel Free". If your dog doesn't want to stay near you, cultivate a better relationship with your dog, please. Read anything by Jan Fennell to find out how.
4. Walk her often. There are grassy areas all around and garbage cans to put the poop. It is stressful just sitting there trying to be a good girl all day.
5. If she's a puppy she may drink sea water and get the poops. Just saying. Bring a bottle of water to dump just in case.
6. Don't assume everyone loves YOUR VERY GOOD DOG. They don't. Make sure your dog is the example that convinces the haters that dogs are okay. Leave your stressed out yipper at home or go to an obedience class first (this goes especially for little dogs. Size is no excuse for not training your dog).
7. Go to Max or Ricky for lessons. They will make you and your dog awesome.
8. If you want an easier place to go in the water with your dog, try the Lido Beach in Muggia. It is totally dog-friendly.

Enjoy!

Ps. If you do not have a dog, please do not offer our dogs food.