North Clearwater’s dog beach is a quiet, friendly beach to bring your dogs. I recently brought my two large dogs, a black lab and a mastiff mix, to this dog beach. It was their first trip to the beach. It was a seven hour drive from Atlanta and my dogs did not mind the car ride at all. We only stopped once at a dog friendly rest stop along the way.
When we finally arrived the dogs got out and we all went into the rental condo located near North Clearwater dog beach. The condo was extremely clean and had no carpet. It was very dog-friendly. There are plenty of places to stay near the dog beach, from high end houses to smaller apartments. I was able to stay in the 3 bedroom condo, two blocks from the dog beach, for $850 for an entire week in February. Although many condos, hotels, and houses are dog friendly but many are not, so be sure to check first before you book a room.
I walked with the dogs, a short distance, to the dog beach that evening. The dog beach is safe night or day, as much as your average suburban street. The first thing you notice is the sign which tells the rules of the dog beach, including common sense rules like picking up after your dog and not allowing mean dogs onto the dog beach unleashed.
Throughout the week I went to the dog beach every day. I knew some friends in the area so they drove over for a visit, and it was nice to have human company along with the dogs. The condo where I was staying had an adjacent unit where a lady lived with her cat. My dogs took great delight in trying to chase this poor cat, as the dogs thought that’s what they were supposed to do. The condo had a small enclosed courtyard where the dogs could be let out to run around a little, and there was also a small patio area for entertaining. I spent most of my time during the week at the dog beach, however.
There were a lot of dogs of all shapes, breeds, and sizes, and their owners on the dog beach. But, there were not so many that the beach felt crowded. In fact, the dog beach had enough dogs to make it interesting but also peaceful and quiet. One person threw a Frisbee back and forth for his dogs. Several jogged or walked with their dogs on the dog beach. I walked way down the dog beach with my dogs, over a mile it seemed, and still did not get to the end of the dog part of the beach.
Then I relaxed on the straw mat and towel I’d brought in my beach bag. My dogs sat right on the towel with me, which was a bit crowded. I’d advise bringing extra towels for your dogs unless you don’t mind sharing.
Be sure to bring water for your dogs, so they don’t get too thirsty and try to drink the saltwater. One of my dogs, the mastiff mix, kept drinking the salty water and throwing up, but my Labrador dog only drank it once before she realized it was not good to drink. The mastiff mix seemed happy nonetheless, and apparently the saltwater did not bother her too much because she was playing and running around.
Dogs at the dog beach are supposed to be on a leash, but if they are under voice command and don’t bother anyone then they seem to be allowed to roam free near their owners. I let my Labrador off the leash, as she is obedient to the “come” command. The younger mastiff mix was learning the “come” command, but was still in training at that time. I had to put a long line (bright orange, 40 foot long, typically used for hunters to train their dogs), on my mastiff mix. She is so friendly she kept going up to strangers on the beach. Many people liked her but I wanted to be able to get her in case she got so excited she ran off too far.
My dogs are both are natural swimmers, and had swam in a lake before. But they would not go out into the ocean unless I went first. When I swam out, the dogs both followed me. I felt like a mama duck with the baby ducks waddling behind. However once I came back to shore, the dogs would not go back out there unless I did first. I tried throwing a tennis ball out into the water but the dogs still would not swim out after it, not unless I went first. Several people walking their dogs passed by and said hello, as we were swimming around in the ocean.
The dogs also had a lot of fun chasing the tennis ball up and down the beach. Once I threw a ball up the dog beach, and my mastiff dog, who was not on the long line I’d gotten for her, got distracted while chasing it and ran up the beach really far. It scared me because the wind was blowing so she could not hear me shout “come”. I walked quickly and frantically up the dog beach, and finally found her. She was just running up to everyone and everything saying hello. Ever since then I made sure to keep the long line on her at all times. The other dog, my Labrador, is so clingy she does not run too far from me, so I did not worry so much about her.
The people for the most part were very laid back and friendly like a lot of places in Florida. Many of the people at this dog beach seemed to be locals, and a lot of them lived right on the dog beach. As I was walking back from the dog beach to the condo one evening, I did see a fellow wearing a pink thong bathing suit. This is not entirely unusual, in the Tampa and Clearwater beach areas. Even though the beach is family oriented, don’t be surprised if you see a guy wearing an outfit such as this on the dog beach.
Also, you have to be careful to stay on the correct part of the beach, which is separated by trash cans from the “no dogs allowed” part of the beach. If you cross over the line, which is not marked by signs, then the people on the “no dogs” side of the beach don’t look too happy, and will glare at you and your dog in a not so friendly way!! Also, you must watch for dog poop even though most of the time people are good about picking it up. Once in a while you see some and have to be careful not to step in it.
There is also a nearby dog park in Tampa which is one of the cleanest public dog parks I’ve visited. If you need a break from the dog beach, it’s a short 30 or so minute drive to the Tampa dog park.
My dogs loved the ocean so much, that we will have to go back one day soon
