Doggy Toilet Matters!

[stubaby]

As we are about to move to North Wales I am seriously thinking about abandoning my trusty narrowboat, and venturing into the Motor Boat world.

No doubt I will miss the cosy multi-fuel stove, the ability to tie up at the pub of your choice, being able to fall in - and then stand up and get out! ... but I need a change.

And as we are used to being cosy, it makes some of the decisions easier as we will need heating and that immediately dictates an inboard diesel engine. With inboards seemingly going out of fashion, with more and more outboard boats appearing, the choice of boats is even fewer.

Anyway – and this is a serious question. (although I am expecting a variety of answers!) If you plan to go out for a good stint, or maybe overnight at anchor, what do you do about doggie toilet matters?

There must be someone out there who has tackled this?

Thanks Stu

 

[superheat6k]

We actively encourage the dogs to use the deck, and they are happy to do so now. Some dogs take a while to get the message this is OK, in which case some tissue soaked in their wee, or an old bit of carpet might help.
If you are at sea or at anchor they will have to go eventually, when they do praise them.

One tip though - if you ever moor against a brand new boat do not allow your doggies do do to wash over the new boats shiny fenders on a Sunday morning wash down - don't ask me how I know this !

A more amusing trick is when a gallant deck hand from another boat leaps aboard uninvited to assist fending off another boat barefoot and treads straight in a freshly laid pile !

 

[Nigelpickin]

Banjo will pee on the foredeck on command but the more substantial business is a morning and midday activity for him so we usually have no problems as we can time runs ashore.

If your pooch isn't as regular then it might be tricky when at anchor....I've met some folk who have AstroTurf on the swim platform; you'd probably be able to get a system sorted....

Good luck

 

[BruceK]

I'm not sure about dogs and boats. Fortunately my two mutts being Staffies hate the boat, too stupid to stay in the boat and too bulky to swim. They do however love the doggy hotel. Go figure. Everytime I take them to the kennel they pull my arm out my socket rushing to get in. Mixed feelings that.

 

[Steve Clayton]

..I've met some folk who have AstroTurf on the swim platform; you'd probably be able to get a system sorted....

Good luck

Reminds me of Del and Rodney when they are out clubbing, on the pull and tell a couple of birds that Del is an airline pilot and Rodney is a top seed tennis player.
One bird asks Rodney "Do you prefer grass or astro-turf?"
Rodders replies "Dunno; I've never smoked astro-turf" ROTFLMHO!

 

[Firefly625]

Get a dog with manners, Our Scottish terrier would prefer to gnaw her own leg off rather than than do any sort of "business" on deck, but she does have a royal constitution and a 8 hr gap between pees is not unusual. Tbh she would not have lasted long if that were not the case.....

 

[Nigelpickin]

Get a dog with manners, Our Scottish terrier would prefer to gnaw her own leg off rather than than do any sort of "business" on deck, but she does have a royal constitution and a 8 hr gap between pees is not unusual. Tbh she would not have lasted long if that were not the case.....

Any chance that you could come down here and train the seagulls?

 

[l'escargot]

You will not fool a dog into thinking that AstroTurf is real grass. House training dogs on boats is no different to house training them at home - you just teach them where they can and can't go.

 

[prv]

You will not fool a dog into thinking that AstroTurf is real grass.

I don't think it's about fooling them, just that a square of AstroTurf is a specific and unusual surface that's unlike anything else on or around boats. So if you can train them that this is the place where it's ok to go, they're less likely to get confused. You can also start them off with it at home during their normal routine, before bringing it to the boat.

After use you can trail it astern on a rope (at displacement speed!) to wash off.

Pete

 

[petem]

Looks like carpet is the way to go...
http://theboatgalley.com/training-dog-boat-dog/
Would dog wee stain teak I wonder?

 

[dj43]

Our old mut is happy to jump in the rib and go ashore, no way could he go on the teak decking,

 

[Colin K]

Same here mutley can last a good 8 hrs which does all of our trips. We have a bathing platform and the idea was that we would teach him to do his stuff there but no go as yet.
We were moored up at Orford last year and junior 8 yr old and myself were knelt on the said platform encouraging mutley to relieve himself taking it in turns to pee. Unknown to us we were overlooked. Eeeek

Happy Summer, Col.

 

[l'escargot]

I don't think it's about fooling them, just that a square of AstroTurf is a specific and unusual surface that's unlike anything else on or around boats. So if you can train them that this is the place where it's ok to go, they're less likely to get confused. You can also start them off with it at home during their normal routine, before bringing it to the boat.

After use you can trail it astern on a rope (at displacement speed!) to wash off.

Pete

A lot of human related palaver that a dog wouldn't understand - people don't generally have a bit of astro turf to hand. Train them to a specific place and wash it down, you don't need astro turf to house train dogs at home or on the boat. If you really want them to go on something, use puppy pads that can just be put in the bin...

 

[LadyJ]

And as we are used to being cosy, it makes some of the decisions easier as we will need heating and that immediately dictates an inboard diesel engine. With inboards seemingly going out of fashion, with more and more outboard boats appearing, the choice of boats is even fewer.

Thanks Stu

Interesting tag and had a laugh at the solutions! Hope you don't mind me commenting on another aspect of your post but I have an outboard and have been looking at a heating solution and have been amazed how many have a diesel heater fitted with ease. Just need a small diesel holding tank and they all say how well it works. Just thought I'd share.