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Ocean swims

How to swim with a dog in the ocean

On Cape Ann the ocean belongs to dogs mostly from October to April, which means the swim happens in cold water, usually with no lifeguard in sight. Done carefully, it is one of the best things a water dog can do here. This page covers the line, the cold, the current, the salt and the rinse.

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A long-haired German shepherd bounds through shallow water under a clear blue sky.

Last reviewed October 10, 2026 · by the Dogtown team

Before you start

Before you start, pick a legal day, a gentle beach and a calm sea

The calendar comes first. At the time of writing, Gloucester's public beaches take dogs from October 1 to April 30, with Good Harbor on even-numbered days only and only to March 31, Wingaersheek on odd-numbered days, and Crab Beach open to off-leash dogs all year under the city's conditions. Rockport's beaches reopen to dogs after September 15, Crane Beach in Ipswich takes them from October 1 to March 31, and Singing Beach in Manchester-by-the-Sea from October 15 to April 14.

Those are off-season dates, so expect no lifeguard. Rockport's regulations say that where no lifeguard is on duty, anyone entering the water swims at their own risk, and that holds for a dog too. The AKC's beach advice is to check the conditions first, since rough waves or strong currents can make the sea too dangerous for a dog, and to stay in fairly shallow water. A gently sloping sand beach gives the dog a way in and, more important, an easy way out.

  • A legal dog day on that beach, checked on the town page
  • A calm forecast from NWS Boston, with no big swell
  • A gently sloping sand entry, not a rocky drop
  • A harness, a long line, fresh water and a towel in the bag

The steps

Run the first ocean swims in seven steps

A long line lets the dog swim while you keep the say over where it goes. Use 20 to 30 feet of light line clipped to a harness, never a collar, and let it trail on the sand while you stand at the water's edge. If the dog heads too far out, or the water starts carrying it along the beach, you can guide it back without going in yourself. A few sessions on the line tell you what kind of swimmer you have.

Keep each swim short. A canine hydrotherapist quoted by the AKC estimates that one minute of swimming roughly equals four minutes of running on land, so ten minutes of retrieves is a serious workout, and cold water tires a dog faster still. The AKC also suggests small, flat toys for dogs that swallow a lot of water while carrying something in their mouths.

  1. 01

    Check the town's dog rule for that beach and the NWS Boston forecast, and choose a calm day.

  2. 02

    Clip a 20- to 30-foot long line to a harness, and fit a life jacket on a new or weak swimmer.

  3. 03

    Walk the waterline together first, then let the dog wade in at its own pace without calling or pushing it.

  4. 04

    Throw a flat toy a short way along the shore, parallel to the waves, never straight out to sea.

  5. 05

    Every 15 minutes, bring the dog up the beach for fresh water, a rest and shade if there is any.

  6. 06

    Stop while the dog still wants more, and towel it straight away if the wind is cold.

  7. 07

    At the car, rinse the coat, belly and paws with fresh water, then dry the dog fully at home.

Cold and current

Cold water and currents set the limits, so the swim ends before the dog wants it to

The National Weather Service warns that cold shock can be just as severe in water of 50 to 60 degrees, with gasping and rapid breathing in the first minutes, and advises keeping time in the water to a minimum. That advice is written for people, and it is the reason you do not wade in after a dog in October. For the dog, short swims, a quick towel and a warm car matter more than distance. A shivering dog is finished for the day.

Currents are harder to see than waves. The AKC counts strong currents among the conditions that make the sea too dangerous, and recommends a life jacket for inexperienced swimmers or wherever there are waves or currents. Watch how floating weed moves along the beach before the dog goes in; if it drifts fast, keep the dog to paddling at the edge. If the dog is carried along, walk the shore in the same direction and keep calling, so it can angle back to you.

  • Short swims and a towel at the car from October on
  • A shivering dog is done for the day
  • A life jacket wherever there are waves or currents
  • You stay on the sand; the line and your voice do the work

Mistakes we see

Mistakes we see: fetch until the dog drinks the sea, a waterlogged ball and no rinse

The AKC's article on salt water sets out the risk: a few mouthfuls may cause only diarrhea, drinking a lot typically brings vomiting within a few hours, and large amounts can be fatal. In severe cases it describes weakness, muscle tremors, seizures, confusion or lethargy, and it advises calling your vet for any of those signs, even diarrhea alone. The usual cause is a long game of fetch, where every retrieve brings a gulp of sea along with the ball.

So end fetch early, offer fresh water before the dog goes looking for it, and swap the tennis ball for a flat toy that holds less water. Skipping the rinse is the other mistake: salt and sand dry into the coat, and our how-to on drying a dog after the beach explains why a thick coat should never stay damp. Finally, do not send a hot, panting dog into the sea to cool off after a long run; let it cool down on the sand first.

  • Fresh water offered before the dog goes looking
  • Fetch stopped after a handful of retrieves
  • A flat toy instead of a soaking ball
  • Vomiting, wobbling or diarrhea after a swim: call the vet

When to call us

Call us in summer, when the sea is closed to dogs, and after the swim, for the salt

From May to September most Cape Ann beaches are closed to dogs, so the swimming moves to the splash pools on the turf yard at 210 Eastern Ave, in a playgroup of 7 to 10 dogs with handlers watching. A daycare day there runs $42, or $33 for a half day. On days you are out, our dog walking team can give a water dog a solo 30- or 60-minute walk from home for $35 or $55; ask whether we cover your address.

Dogs new to us start with the free evaluation on a weekday morning between 6:30 and 9:30 AM, with Rabies, DHPP and Bordetella on file and a city license. After an off-season swim, a bath in the grooming studio is priced by size from $55, includes the blow-dry and needs no evaluation. Anything that looks like salt poisoning or a near-drowning goes to your vet or to the Massachusetts Veterinary Referral Hospital in Woburn, open 24 hours.

At Dogtown

Water when the beach says no

Splash pools on the daycare turf in summer, solo walks from home, and a bath after the salt.

Dogtown walker and dog on a coastal trail at sunrise in Gloucester Dog WalkingNewFrom $25 · Explore Husky standing on the turf play yard at Dogtown, looking at the camera Dog DaycareFrom $33 · Explore Groomer blow-drying a red goldendoodle in front of the Dogtown Grooming sign Dog GroomingFrom $55 · Explore

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Asked and answered

Questions people ask about this

Short, complete answers you can act on today. More in the full FAQ.

Is it safe for my dog to swim in the ocean?
For a healthy dog that swims well, on a calm day and in short spells, it usually is. The risks are cold water, currents, swallowed salt water and swimming too far out. Start on a long line, add a life jacket for a weak swimmer, stay in shallow water and take a fresh-water break away from the sea every 15 minutes, as the AKC suggests.
How much salt water is too much for a dog?
There is no safe amount to aim for. The AKC says a few mouthfuls may cause only diarrhea, while large amounts can be fatal, and that vomiting usually shows within a few hours of drinking too much. Offer fresh water often, end fetch early, and call your vet for vomiting, weakness, tremors, confusion or even diarrhea after a swim.
Where can my dog swim in the ocean on Cape Ann in summer?
Hardly anywhere on public sand. At the time of writing Gloucester closes its beaches to dogs from May 1, and Good Harbor from April 1, through September 30, with Crab Beach the one city beach open to off-leash dogs all year under its conditions, and Rockport closes its beaches from June 1 to September 15. Check the city and town pages before you go.
Should my dog wear a life jacket at the beach?
If it is new to swimming, a weak swimmer, or the sea has waves or a current, yes; the AKC recommends one in exactly those cases. Fit it snug at the neck, check the straps before each trip and keep using the long line for the first few swims, because a jacket keeps a dog afloat but does not bring it back.
Do I need to rinse my dog after swimming in the sea?
Yes, for most coats. Salt and sand dry into the coat, so rinse the legs, belly and coat with fresh water at the car and towel well before the drive. Long and double coats need drying right down to the skin at home, and our how-to on drying a dog after the beach walks through the method.

More questions? Read the full FAQ

Sources

Rules and dates change. We re-check every beach, licensing and ordinance page each spring and fall; the source above is the current word.

Keep reading

At-home dog walkingHow to read tides and beach flagsHow to dry a dog after the beachBeach hazards for dogs How-to guides All guides

Next step

Short swims, fresh water, a good rinse.

Book the free weekday-morning evaluation for the months the sea is closed to dogs, and add a bath after the next off-season swim.

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