For any dog owner, the perfect day at the beach will include a round of fetch with Fido. Now that summer’s already here, I’ve rounded up Miami’s best dog-friendly beaches for a fun day out with your canine companion.

Hobie Beach/Windsurfer Beach Causeway 
South End (North Side of Rickenbacker Causeway)

Special Features: Windsurfing lessons and rentals

Visit Hobie Beach for a day of bonding with your canine bestie! This is Miami’s all-time favorite beach destination for dogs. Your fuzzy friends are allowed any time, as long as they're on leash. Admire the Miami skyline, while your pup splashes around in shallow, calm waters. Take the opportunity to watch expert windsurfers practice their craft, as your pooch digs into the sand. And, after a tiring run along the beach, you and your fuzzy best friend can simply rest under the shady palm trees.
Hobie Beach is an especially great pick for pet owners residing in the close by Brickell and Key Biscayne neighborhoods, like Brickell Biscayne, Metropolitan at Brickell, Bristol Tower, Skyline on Brickell and Oceana.

Photograph: Hobie Beach

Bark Beach at North Shore Open Space Park
Collins Avenue between 80th and 81st Street, North Beach

Special Features: Bark Park on site

Canines can play here on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Go for a seaside run with your pooch after work on a Friday, or bring along your canine companion when you go sunbathing over the weekend. After a few hours of sun, walk your fuzzy friend over to the Bark Park, which offers doggie-bag dispensers. He or she will have a ball in the two dog run areas. Later, the two of you can walk to one of several local restaurants with outdoor seating.
The North Shore Open Space Park is a convenient walk for pet owners in the nearby Ocean Blue, St. Tropez, Mirage and even the upcoming Eighty Seven Park.

Photograph: Dog playing on beach

Haulover Beach Park 
10800 Collins Avenue, Miami

Special Features: Clothing optional beach (section between lifeguard towers #12 and #16), kite shop, fishing areas,  picnic tables and barbecue grills available with reservation, events in The Bill Bird Marina multi-purpose room, bicycle rentals.

Though Haulover is more popular for its clothing-optional beach, dogs can roam another section of the shoreline where clothing is mandatory (for humans, that is). From 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., visitors can bring their pooches to the area between lifeguard towers #2 and #3. Haulover also has a Bark Park with separate enclosures for small and large dogs, where your canine pal can run around off the leash. The Bark Park also offers drinking fountains and waste bag dispensers.
This dog-friendly shoreline is closer to the pet-friendly One Bal Harbour, Harbour House, Bellini, Kenilworth and the upcoming Ritz-Carlton Residences.

Photograph: Haulover Beach Park

Dog Beach of Hollywood
Between Pershing Street and Custer Street, Hollywood Beach

Let your dog run and swim free at this off-leash beach. He or she can visit Fridays Saturdays and Sundays from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. (Hours for April to October.) Hollywood residents and non-residents may buy passes every day or for six months. Take your well-behaved pooch to the beach for a swim after work, or before you go out for the night. He or she can explore the beach and make new friends.
 
Before you take your fuzzy pal beach-hopping, follow these other tips so you and your pet have a great experience. When you pack food and water to last you through the day, remember to bring enough for your canine companion as well. Owners should keep an eye out for shady spots on the beach, so dogs can take a break from running around in the hot sun. Lastly, carry enough bags to pick up your dog's business. Some beaches provide them, but it’s always better to be safe than sorry.

Photograph: Courtesy of Yelp/Kate M.