Make Your Waterfront Home Perfect for Your Pooch

by Lucy Hudson

There are very few dwellings that can compete with the sheer splendor of a waterfront home. If you own one of the nearly 69 million pet dogs in the USA, a house near the water can be especially appealing as many dogs innately love playing in the water, according to the American Kennel Club.  Even if your dog is not exactly keen on swimming, he or she can benefit from having a large, natural area in which to play. With the enormous joys of living in a beautiful waterfront home comes the responsibility, however, to make it as dog-friendly as possible. Luckily this can be easily achieved by combining a good dose of dog-owner common sense with a few handy additional tips.

Fresh drinking water is a must

Dogs, like humans, are very much dependent on fresh drinking water for their survival. When living near a large body of water many pet owners make the incorrect assumption that their dog can simply drink water from the stream, lake, or ocean when he is thirsty. Although a dog will inadvertently swallow some water while frolicking in the ocean, it is important to remember that salt water can be very dangerous to canines when consumed in large quantities. Always ensure your dog has plenty of fresh drinking water at his disposal, both inside and outside of your house, and take along a bottle of water and a suitable water bowl when planning to spend extended periods of time away from home.

Have a basic first-aid kit on hand

Living in a waterfront home is a true blessing. There are, however, also a number of hazardous situations that can present themselves to a dog owner, making it essential to be able to treat basic illnesses and injuries in an effective and timely manner. A trip down to the beach is a great adventure for just about any dog who loves to dig in the sand and rush into the water. While waterfront homeowners generally have great respect for the environment, not everyone shares the same sentiment. This sometimes results in the area being littered with a range of harmful objects such as broken glass and fishing hooks that can injure an unsuspecting dog. Or, if you live near the ocean, your dog could possibly incur a painful jellyfish sting which will undoubtedly require some medical attention.

Tiles are better than carpets

The flooring inside your home is a very important consideration if you are a pet owner.   If there is one lesson that living in a waterfront home will teach you, it is that a wet dog and carpeted floors are definitely not a match made in heaven.  As much as you undertake to keep your pooch out of your house when wet or dirty, any dog owner can vouch for that it is a lot easier said than done. A tiled floor is, generally speaking, a much better choice for a waterfront home as it is not just dogs that trample in sand and enjoy spending time in the water. It is important to remember that, although tiled floors are definitely a lot more practical, they can be slippery when walked on with wet feet.  Invest in absorbent mats to put outside your doors and keep a couple of towels nearby to dry both yourself and your dog off before entering the home.

Our canine companions are as deserving of safe, comfortable living spaces as we are. When the necessary precaution is taken to make your home as dog-friendly as possible, your entire family, including your beloved pooches can thoroughly enjoy living in a gorgeous waterfront home.

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