Advice needed on Wetline/Plastimo type inflatable and Dogs.

[truscott]

I'm considering a Wetline/Compass/Plastimo inflatable and am worried that it may not stand up against my Dog's claws when he's getting in and out of it. He's 100% mongrel. Mostly Shepard with a hint of retriever, and is about the size of a retriver or lab and probably weighs about 30 or 40Kg (I can pick him up no worries, but my wife struggles a bit). Would be grateful to hear from anyone with a similar setup.

Cheers, PT.

 

[sarabande]

If SWMBO can't lift the dog easily, either change dog or ...

Practically, you might find a bit of netting material, as used by caravanners to protect the ground under the awning, to put over the side tubes. It will protect the inflatable section from dog claws, give the animal a lot mor egrip, and can be used in the bottom of the dinghy as a carpet against sharp objects like anchors.

I have seen some dogs wear a harness with a loop on the back which gives an easy point of lifting.

 

[DinghyMan]

Our Staffie/Alsation mix wears either his Lifejacket with an attachment point on the back or his harness which has both a handle and an attachment point. You could go the whole hog and get him some boots which give more grip but protect everything from his claws but they are expensive.
We got the harness years ago as he's an ex-RSPCA rescue and gets scared at times and is easier to hanlde when you pick him up (30KG).
No connection with shop other than having spent a fortune with them over the years - stuff is also available at less cost these days in the GoOutdoors chain of camping shops although not listed on their website.

 

[truscott]

He's got a PFD from Ruff Wear, and with a lifting keel and warm water, we don't have much of an issue getting him or us ashore. The problem comes in winter when he's quite keen to get ashore, but definitely not keen on getting wet (nor are we for that matter). At 6.6 Mtrs overall, stowing a rigid dinghy aboard the boat is not an option, and towing it drives us all crazy not to mention slows us down heaps. An inflatable seems to be the way to go, but we're worried about the Dog leaping in and having it go pop. They (the dinghies) seem to be fairly hard wearing as far as being able to run them up on beaches and the like, so I'm hoping that his claws aren't going to be too much of an issue. The idea of covering the tube and floor makes sense for sun protection (of which we have a fair amount), so may have to investigate that further.

As far as deck shoes for the dog, we tried some Ruff Wear booties on him a long time ago. He was not impressed with them or us (for laughing at his comical antics). Needless to say the booties have long since been binned, and he gets about fine on deck as well as on the hot desert sands.

PT.