So your pooch has brought you along on his smashing holiday to southern France's French Riviera? A true friend.

Now comes the hard part: finding a beach you can both enjoy.

While many dogs live in the French Riviera, few go to the beach. They may stroll along many promenades, ramble in the country side, play in a number of open parks, but not often go to the beach.

There are a handful of beaches where dogs are "tolerated" while on leash. In peak summer season, the tolerance dims. But July and August are not ideal months for a dog on a beach, especially during the day - it's hot and dogs are constrained in a small area between howling humans. 

Here are a few French Riviera beaches which currently tolerate dogs, on a leash and accompanied by a human carrying a poop-loving plastic bag:

• Cagnes-sur-Mer -- from the hippodrome to Villeneuve Loubet.
• Menton -  Only on the Reine Astride promenade to the left of port de Garavan; on the promenade du soleil in front of the casino and at the mouth of the Gorbio river.
• Roquebrune-Cap-Martin - Only on the beach between Roquebrune and Menton.
• Villefranche-sur-Mer - On the Marinières beach.
• Fréjus - On the Esclamandes beach.
• Sainte-Maxime - Plage de la Garonnette and Plage des éléphants, on leash