Dogs on a long trip

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cmedsailor

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OK it's probably a crazy question but here it goes.
I have taken my dog sailing lots of time (8 months old Beagle) and although when he was younger he couldn't "hold it" lately (say the last 2-3 months) he seems to "behave". I have taken him even for a 5 hours trip and was OK. Neither number 1, nor number 2!
Summer is coming soon and I am planning to so some longer trips of 12+ hours non stop. What am I going to do with the poor thing? Is there a way to educate him to use a specific place as...toilet (probably below the helm seat so it's easy to clean it)? How do you cope with this?
 
I'm no expert, but...

it's my understanding that all animals (humans included) have a natural instinct to vacate their bowels in moments of stree/fear; I believe its part of the 'fight or flight' response.

In which case I don't understand why folks don't just throw their dogs over the side every 6 - 8 hours, whereupon it will immediately **** itself; do attach it to a long painter for recovery though, otherwise it would smack of cruelty.

I was put off shipping a dog (not that I ever had much inclination to do so) during the first season we went cruising: We hung off a bouy at Craighouse on Jura, whilst it blew S/SE F5-8 and the rain lashed sideways for five staight days; despite being low on food and completely out of beer - have you ever drunk gin & water? its not good - we deemed it unsafe to get into the dinghy and venture ashore. Throughout that period, we watched a chap load himself and dog into a wooden dingy and row ashore four times a day; the trip to shore took about five minutes, he then spent twenty minutes dragging the dinghy 1/2M upwind and still took another half an hour to row back; it looked along way from being fun.

Alternatively, go for the option of a couple whom we met in NW Spain; they had a cat, but the principal's the same: Their ships cat was old and fading, so they got a kitten to replace it, the kitten clearly didn't like the sea-life and promptly legged-it, a second kitten then did the same. Rather than try for a third time, they awaited the original cats final demise and then got it stuffed. I realise that at 8 months old you'd have a while to wait, but I'm sure that a vet could accellerate matters if needs be.
 
I've heard of people training their dogs to use a square of astro-turf, which can then be trailed overboard to clean it. I think someone with a smaller dog mentioned using a cat litter tray.

Essentially you need to train him to go in a particular place that you're able to easily clean/empty/etc. I guess some dogs will take to it and some won't.

Pete
 
cmedsailor said:
OK it's probably a crazy question but here it goes.
I have taken my dog sailing lots of time (8 months old Beagle) and although when he was younger he couldn't "hold it" lately (say the last 2-3 months) he seems to "behave". I have taken him even for a 5 hours trip and was OK. Neither number 1, nor number 2!
Summer is coming soon and I am planning to so some longer trips of 12+ hours non stop. What am I going to do with the poor thing? Is there a way to educate him to use a specific place as...toilet (probably below the helm seat so it's easy to clean it)? How do you cope with this?
Click to expand...

We only ever port/anchorage hop with our two jacks, they have been known to do their business on the foredeck but only if they have to (flat calm) otherwise they seem to prefer to wait until they get ashore, cant think why. if thye stay still and dont drink too much it seems they can last for about 8 hours though the older one has actually managed 12 hours. he is lazy though.
 
We have assumed that, as our trips became longer, we would eventually get to the point where the dogs would be unable to hold it in any longer, in which case they would be directed to the foredeck (or, in extremis, the cockpit floor).

Unfortunately our last passage was 28 hours non-stop and they both managed to hold it in. Surely that can't be good for them! Maybe we need to slip a bit of dulco-ease into their food...
 
We've found as our dog has got older, that she can wait for ages. You might want to PM ZigmundoVanDog, as she knows a lot about dogs onboard and is really helpful.
 
dogs

cmedsailor said:
OK it's probably a crazy question but here it goes.
I have taken my dog sailing lots of time (8 months old Beagle) and although when he was younger he couldn't "hold it" lately (say the last 2-3 months) he seems to "behave". I have taken him even for a 5 hours trip and was OK. Neither number 1, nor number 2!
Summer is coming soon and I am planning to so some longer trips of 12+ hours non stop. What am I going to do with the poor thing? Is there a way to educate him to use a specific place as...toilet (probably below the helm seat so it's easy to clean it)? How do you cope with this?
Click to expand...

Hi we've replied to this question many times on here,weve been lving on board now for 9 years, with our collie he's now 13 & our two cats. The cats are no problem as they have a box. The collie goes on the foredeck on a piece of astroturf. Just keep taking your dog foreward even if you think he doesn't want to 'go', keep encouraging him especially when he does go. Our Jake will even go when we are sailing, we put his harness & a lead on so he can feel safe. Keep trying it will work .

good luck
 
Robwhelton said:
Unfortunately our last passage was 28 hours non-stop and they both managed to hold it in. Surely that can't be good for them! Maybe we need to slip a bit of dulco-ease into their food...
Click to expand...

This just sounds like plain cruelty.

Anyway to the main question, I haven't tried this as my dog is way too old. Guide dogs are trained to go on command - I'm sure you can find a book on this. Then when you've trained the dog to go on comand on land, transfer it to the boat, starting it in nice calm weather in a desired location. Simples!
 
This is something we have had to deal with as our nine year old dog had never sailed until last year. The hardest part was getting him to go the first time. We tried a doormat/astroturf without success. In the end we cracked it after a really short sail ironically when he was obviously desperate and put him on the lead and took him round the deck and he just went. Needless to say he got loads of praise as obviously you need to let him know that it is ok for him to do this. We always heave to for lunch and so it is easy now to put him on the lead and take him to the same spot. However he has only ever weed so far.

I know this sounds a bit gross, but as your dog is very young, is there anything you can bring from home that he has had an accident on, as even though you may have cleaned it, he will still be able to smell it and this will encourage him to go if you can lay it down somewhere on deck?

Ironic isn't it, you spend months teaching a dog not to go indoors and then spend ages trying to teach them to go on a boat which they obviously regards as 'indoors'.

Good luck
 
srah1953 said:
This just sounds like plain cruelty.
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I used to throw my dogs in if we where near shore (at anchor 2' draft normally where) if weather none to nice they would walk up and down have a pee and swim back.

It was noted that we never saw them do a number 2, as earlier poster said might be the cold water!

I was also told that when you are training your dog, if they are doing something right tell them they are!

His wording (and subsequently mine) was Busy, OK when dog is young squatting and your saying good boy busy busy good boy busy... You can get some funny looks, but then when you want them to you can say "Good boys go busy". It helps as slowly they learn where it acceptable...

Due to above they never spent more than 6 hours onboard and normally waited except for on who managed 18 hours (before I started doing above). He kept it in till the marina pontoon, he jumped off as soon as he could cocked his leg on nearest electricity box. He did not stop when I picked him up to move him so he did not get electrocuted :eek:..
 
cmedsailor said:
OK it's probably a crazy question but here it goes.
I have taken my dog sailing lots of time (8 months old Beagle) and although when he was younger he couldn't "hold it" lately (say the last 2-3 months) he seems to "behave". I have taken him even for a 5 hours trip and was OK. Neither number 1, nor number 2!
Summer is coming soon and I am planning to so some longer trips of 12+ hours non stop. What am I going to do with the poor thing? Is there a way to educate him to use a specific place as...toilet (probably below the helm seat so it's easy to clean it)? How do you cope with this?
Click to expand...

Some of you may know, I used to live aboard a 37 Chris. What I did not tell you , is that I lived there with my 120 lbs Rottie. No problem. The dog can pee on deck and dump there too. Dogs get used to it, like anything else. Semper Fi. Mike
 
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baggypipes said:
Hi we've replied to this question many times on here,weve been lving on board now for 9 years, with our collie he's now 13 & our two cats. The cats are no problem as they have a box. The collie goes on the foredeck on a piece of astroturf. Just keep taking your dog foreward even if you think he doesn't want to 'go', keep encouraging him especially when he does go. Our Jake will even go when we are sailing, we put his harness & a lead on so he can feel safe. Keep trying it will work .

good luck
Click to expand...


Same here. I had a 120 plus pound Rottie. He pooped on the "Poop Deck" He got his sea legs and ended up liking it. This was aboard my 37 Chris. Cabin cruiser.
 
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