Blog
It’s nearly Beach time!
Helping your dog cope with all the excitement
Published on Thursday 17 September 2026
For those of us who have’t ventured to Jacob’s beach or the slipway this summer, it’s nearly time that our four-legged friends can access the beaches here in Sidmouth. As of October first, dogs are allowed onto the main beach, I’m expecting a furry 'charge of the light brigade'!
Before we all go mad and let our dogs lose on the beach for the first time in five months, there is something that’s worth bearing in mind: does your dog like the beach a bit too much?
That might sound a bit mad, how can any dog like the beach too much? It’s all about their ‘arousal level’ (that doesn't mean what you think!). Arousal in dogs refers to excitement, does your dog get the ‘zoomies’? That’s ‘over aroused’, or ‘over threshold’, threshold being the level at which we can communicate with our dogs and they don’t ignore us and start eating the furniture.
While some small bouts of over excitement can be OK, for some dogs it’s good to limit their time ‘over arousal’ to a minimum. If you’re struggling with behaviours such as excessive barking, leash pulling or recall, it’s almost certain your dog is over aroused…they’re too excited.
Likewise, if your dog lacks ‘confidence’, hides away, tail tucked between their legs and refuses to walk, guess what…? They’re probably over threshold as well. They can’t cope.
And for puppies, a new space with waves of salty water and those funny little birds with orange legs might be a bit much as well. Dogs have to learn how to navigate our world, it doesn't come naturally to some of them.
Making That First Beach Visit a Calm One
It’s all about keeping our dogs in a nice balance brain state, where they can engage with the environment but not lose the plot. It takes them along time to calm down, much longer than us but once we have their attention, we can start to expand their worlds. By making sure they know we’re there for them and they can check in with us, we can keep our dogs stress-free and safe.
Remember, an over aroused dog isn’t having fun, far from it. It might look like fun but they show stress and anxiety in ways we don’t generally understand. What we’re aiming for is calm and engaged with us, not rolling around where the dead dolphin was earlier this summer, then running up to everyone with some seaweed or a dead cuttle fish in their mouths.
So, if you think your dog might be struggling with their arousal level, keep the beach trips short and preferably go when it’s quiet. Ending a visit five minutes early, while your dog is still doing well is far better than pushing on until things go wrong. Try using a long line instead of going full off-leash, manage interactions with other dogs, rather then letting them interact with all dogs. Try calling their name and giving them some food, if they don't take food, they're over threshold so it's time to back off.
Build their confidence gradually, then let them go have fun. If you’re stuck, lets sort out some training. Let’s get this autumn off to a good start for you and your dog!
