Bad Dog! No!

The best thing about being a dog owner in Florida is the "Dog Beach." If you saw "Marley and Me", you have seen the urban beach scene with dogs and owners and all the heirarchy involved.  My dogs LOve the water, and Tampa is surrounded by it - so of course the word "beach" turns into frenzied tail wagging, jumping impatience around here.  But - finding the "right" beach.

Davis Island is close.  Very rocky, sometimes Pebbles comes home with bleeding paws.  Plus the owners drive me crazy, very little control of their dogs, lots of excuses for really poor behaviour, and tons of conversations that go "I just can't seem to make him stop. I don't know why he does that, He really has a mind of his own." OK - sniffing and humping is acceptible.  Agressive humping of my very prudish dog, is not.  Sharing balls is acceptable;  Stealing them, and not dropping even for your owner - bad.  Indiscrimainate fighting and aggression- bad.  Pray these people never have children.

Picnic Island is farther away, still in the Tampa city limits.  Beautiful beach, great dogs and owners.  Nasty water.  The dogs need baths immediately after, and there is no place to hose off.  The girl and I won't even get in the water with them there.

Fort Desoto is beautiful, perfect in every way, except that it is an hour and fifteen minute drive.  Once you are there, with the dogs, it is a dog day.  Roller blading on hot pavement - out.  Exploring the fort ruins - out.  Snorkeling, looking for sea-horses - out.

This weekend we went to a new beach - Honeymoon Island.  Beautiful state park, 45 minutes from home.  We spotted it from the ferry on the way to Caladesi, and were very excited.  Plus, afterwards it's 10 minutes away from Dunedin Brewery - Yay! Dogs and husband are happy.

Accept nothing is as good as it looks.  State parks require leashing at all times.  WHy call it a "pet beach?"  The rules are the same as every other beach.  The dogs had a great day, until we got caught.  Pasha (bad dog) was off leash, walking with his mommy.  This dog is perfect; he heels like he is glued to my ankles, straying to meet other dogs or chase seaguls only after asking permission, then coming right back.

We got the only warning on the beach.  The ranger/cop told me it was because I looked guilty, and put him on leash when I saw him.  This is true, but only because I had not been paying attention to signs, and thought we had strayed onto the people beach.  Even in the water they want dogs on leash.  Apparently the other owners know the rules, and have some sort of alert system, because they all had their dogs on leash before the cop got to them.  Maybe I was their warning sign.  Whatever - we will NOT be going back.