The long, hot, sultry days in late July and August are filled with cicadas, bullfrogs and an occasional humid breeze. You may have gone to the pool or the lake, but man’s best friend remains at home. In some "dog-friendly" parks, dogs are only allowed in the paved area, but not on the beach.
Fairport Harbor Beach changes all that. Fairport has a genuine get-in-the-water and play-with-your-dog beach right on Lake Erie. This is an easy-to-access area located just off Route 2, not more than a 20-minute drive from the Hillcrest area.
Bring your tanning lotion, drinking water for you and your dog, lots of towels (you’ll need some for the drive home), and a fetch toy. You'll also need $2 to $3 to park and a leash for the walk down to the beach. Once there, the sky – or the lake – is the limit.
Just like at dog parks, there are groups of people who visit often. Get to know them and their dogs, and you’ll be a regular, too. This is the place to splash and run in the water. Serious water dogs like retrievers, water spaniels and poodles can play fetch until they are finally tuckered out.
Pinched for time? Then set up a sprinkler, or a small easy-access kiddie pool and have fun in your own yard. Most dogs love water and a chance for interactive play.
If this is your pup's first time in the water, here are some tips.
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- Not all dogs can swim. Pugs, bulldogs and greyhounds are notoriously inept in deep water. If you want to cool them off, let them splash in the shallows and run on the beach.
- If you are boating, be sure your dog has a flotation device. Dog life jackets not only make swimming safer, they have a handle on top if you need to unexpectedly pull your dog out of the water.
- Beach, boat, kiddie pool or full-sized pool all need to have an easy and logical (from the dog's point of view) way to get out of the water. Let your dog enter and exit the water several times before you get carried away playing.
- Know when to stop. Call a timeout and let your dog rest. Swimming and running on the beach take a lot of energy. You don’t want panic to set in in the water.
- Like dealing with small children, never leave a dog unsupervised in the water.
- Unlike swimming pools or the ocean, Lake Erie water is a freshwater lake. However, a thorough rinsing down is a good idea after a wet and sandy day at the beach. Make sure the ears are dry and clean. Ear infection or swimmer's ear can happen if you are not careful.
Take a dip, a splash or a swim. Both you and your dog can have fun together.