Canova Beach Park: Dog-friendly Florida beach review

From the perspective of a reactive dog owner

A few months after we moved to Florida, we went on a camping trip about an hour south of our apartment in the Viera area and found ourselves near Canova Dog Beach. We regularly take our Australian cattle dog, Scout, to Cocoa Beach’s dog-friendly stretch — so we were excited to try out another area!

We didn’t like it quite as much as our usual spot, but it still has its merits as one of the only dog-friendly beaches in Brevard County.

Here’s our complete review of what it’s like to take our blue heeler to Canova Beach Park.

Canova Beach Park at a glance

We truthfully aren’t the biggest fans of Canova beach’s dog-friendly area. It’s quite small, which often means it’s crowded — and therefore not ideal for dogs who aren’t very comfortable with strange people and dogs in their space.

We’ve also seen at least one off-leash dog every time we’ve gone, despite posted leash laws.

Our favorite things about Canova Beach Park’s dog-friendly area:

• Dogs are allowed throughout the entire day

• Leashes are required at all times

• The parking lot is large and easily accessible

• There is a rinsing station and restroom facilities

• The entire park is gorgeous!

Our least favorite things:

• It’s a very small stretch of beach, making it hard to get space from others

• Many owners violate leash laws — we need to be vigilant and ready to advocate for our dog

• The waves are usually too big for dogs to properly swim in

If you go, make sure you bring:

• A waterproof collar (or one you don’t mind getting dirty)

• A sturdy leash

• A towel or two

• Drinking water

• Extra waste disposal bags

• Food or a toy to reward good behavior

• An attitude ready to be approached by others in close proximity

• Pet corrector, citronella spray, pepper gel, or another deterrent for off-leash dogs

The details of Canova Beach Park

Where are dogs allowed? The entire park is 9.1 acres, but dogs are only allowed on a stretch that’s maybe 100 yards long. There’s a separate staircase to get down to the sand, and it’s clearly labeled.

When are dogs allowed? Dogs are allowed all times the park is open, from dawn to dusk.

What restrictions are there for dogs? Dogs must be leashed, and owners must clean up after their pets.

More information, including any timely updates, can be found on Brevard County’s website!

Getting to Canova Beach Park

Canova Beach Park is in Brevard County on Florida’s Space Coast. It’s north of Melbourne Beach, south of Satellite Beach, and southeast of Orlando.

The park has a sizeable parking lot complete with restrooms and, best of all, a rinsing station for dogs and their gear.

Take a short walk to the sand

A short path goes from the parking lot to the actual beach. There is a grassy area off to the left (facing the beach) where your dog can use the bathroom. A cute little picnic table sits under a pavilion here, as well — if you need to take a quick breather out of the sun, it’s the perfect place!

Be prepared to be approached by other dogs

There are a lot of things we like about Canova Beach Park. Unfortunately, this one is a bit of a deal-breaker for our fear reactive blue heeler: The beach is often crowded with other dogs… some of them not on a leash or even under verbal control.

If you get there early, you’ll definitely be able to set up camp with a few towels or chairs. Just know that other people and dogs will be passing in close proximity, and there’s a chance one of them might approach all the way into your space.

When we’ve gone, we’ve thankfully been able to avoid any direct contact by being vigilant and frequently moving around. Despite our best efforts, though, we’ve still had other dogs get within a few feet of us every time.

All in all, a decent option for confident, neutral dogs

We don’t plan to return to Canova dog beach very often. There are other places to explore that better suit all of our needs!

With that said, I believe the park can be a perfectly decent option for confident, neutral dogs — especially if you want to get some good distraction training in. Know your dog before you go, be prepared to advocate for them if the need arises, and have some fun in the sun.