Dogs on boats

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z1ppy

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Evening,

looking for some advise on dogs on boats.

we have a 9 week old lab and we want to get him used to boats ASAP! he was down with us this weekend with the engines running on the mooring and he was ok but any tips on taking him out for the first time?

would be on our SC 29 to start with then later, on a rib!

thanks
 
We were in the same position in November, first, get him a Lifejacket. We just took em a potter around the marina to get em used to it, then took em out proper. They soon got used to it. But if you don't have an enclosed cab, keep a firm hold!
All the best /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
I also have a lab, and he has been on boats since the day we had him. I would recommend to tie him onto the boat, but give him some freedom but not so much so he can fall/jump overboard. When he has done a few trips, try him unleashed, you'll find that when underway he will lie down most of the time - ours does! Occasionally sniffing the air sitting up, but they wont walk around as they don't like the movement when on their feet.
As for in the RIB, keep him on a tight lead all the time, otherwise they tend to jump out after ducks!! Thats happened a few times! Don't encourage him to jump off either boats.
Oh, and a life jacket is a MUST! Even if he can swim well, a jacket gives you something to grab should (when!) he goes in.
You will be kept amused with a lab on board, all the time! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
keep the dog on lead, fit a lifejacket and don't feed immediatly before a trip!
Our dog still doesn't travel well and prefers to be sick on the skippers feet whilst at the helm! Low dose of human sea sickness pills works well
 
We've got an English bull terrier and he been sailing since he was a pup. Agree with the life jacket certainly makes it easier to man handle onto the boat. He sometimes gets bored with extended cruises so we have plenty of things to keep him occupied. His travel crate goes from the car straight onto the boat which is where he kips for the night. He's good company when I go single handed... just need to teach him to steer.
 
Labs like water as you probably know.
No expert on dogs but I,ve had 2 labs.
And a few boats!
Peeps have said about lifejackets anyway.
Like all dogs and pets, parrots too!
The more you get them used to the boaty bit the better.
I had , well the kids had really, a pet Donkey.
Now She did cause difficulty on Board.
Stocked carrots where the fire extinguishers should a been!

But we made a few Bob on rides when we hit the beach.

Yep, -- pets on board, tiss a Dilemma! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
We never tried to take Dirty Harry aboard. But the black lab was a bugger.He would jump off the boat, then try to swim back. Good job we were on the Broads and only doing 6/7 knots.

Theres many of times we looked back and caught him swimming, 100 yds back.
 
Our dog has always had her lifejacket on on deck since she went for a swim round the marina. At first I made a safety line and she was hooked up to the jackstay when on deck which allowed her to move around but now she is allowed to roam.

The biggest problem is getting the dog to pee on board.
 
We took Jimmy out with us for the first time a couple of weeks ago. He was already on board whilst we were test running the engine. A 'grey haired Welsh gentleman' well known to this forum said 'Let's take Blue Moon out to test her, whilst we have a chance'. Thus Jimmy had no choice in the matter. After a little bit of uncertainty, Jimmy seemed to enjoy the experience. So much so that he spent much of our time pootling up & down the River Conwy leaning out of the boat - not trying to escape, just enjoying the scenery. Admittedly it helped that Jimmy had myself, Mrs Lawsy & kawasaki to reassure him, but we were amazed just how easy it was in the end.
 
We have had 2 large chocolate brown standard poodles, both of which we have successfully taken on boats many times. I have found that tough love works the best. Our dogs never showed an inclination to jump into the water (poodles are quite brainy) and, even when I pushed one in, he scrambled straight back out again. All mouth and no trousers. One of the dogs went through a period of not wanting to get onto the boat but leaving him standing on the pontoon a couple of times whilst we cast off cured that one. Conversely, the same dog went through a period of not wanting to get off the boat but, again, buggering off to the car park and starting the car engine cured that too. As far as woopsies are concerned, they were told in no uncertain terms that doing woopsies on boats was not acceptable and both dogs became adept at crossing their legs for hours. It was worth taking them for a walk ashore after a long passage just to see the look of sheer relief on their faces. Neither of our dogs liked rough weather but there was nothing I could ever do about that so it was tough. I wouldn't bother with lifejackets; our dogs hated them and, in any case, if they fall overboard, it's probably cheaper to buy another dog than buy a lifejacket /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
Labs Ha! Sea fairing Whippet Attack Dogs.... thats whats needed.

000_0024.jpg


Sleep for hours they do no trouble at all. Honest!

Tom

/forums/images/graemlins/ooo.gif
 
We have a border terrier who has slowly got used to being on the boat. What he doesn't like is the pontoon with the gaps between the boards!
When the boat is moving around they like somewhere to lie where they can feel "wedged in" so a basket or box a bit smaller than they are used to seems to do the trick. As others have said a life-jacket with a strap on top (so you can hook it with a boat hook in case they fall in) is a necessity, but avoid a cheap one that doesn't fit properly as otherwise it will just fall off.

Jon.
 
[ QUOTE ]
We have had 2 large chocolate brown standard poodles, both of which we have successfully taken on boats many times. I have found that tough love works the best. Our dogs never showed an inclination to jump into the water (poodles are quite brainy) and, even when I pushed one in, he scrambled straight back out again. All mouth and no trousers. One of the dogs went through a period of not wanting to get onto the boat but leaving him standing on the pontoon a couple of times whilst we cast off cured that one. Conversely, the same dog went through a period of not wanting to get off the boat but, again, buggering off to the car park and starting the car engine cured that too. As far as woopsies are concerned, they were told in no uncertain terms that doing woopsies on boats was not acceptable and both dogs became adept at crossing their legs for hours. It was worth taking them for a walk ashore after a long passage just to see the look of sheer relief on their faces. Neither of our dogs liked rough weather but there was nothing I could ever do about that so it was tough. I wouldn't bother with lifejackets; our dogs hated them and, in any case, if they fall overboard, it's probably cheaper to buy another dog than buy a lifejacket /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

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Don't know the cost of a chocolate brown standard poodle but at nearly a grand for a good quality Bull Terrier pup, I thought a 30 quid lifejacket wasn't a bad investment. As you said, if they don't like them, tough! They soon get used to it.
 
[ QUOTE ]
Don't know the cost of a chocolate brown standard poodle

[/ QUOTE ]

No idea, SWMBO refuses to tell me. They just appear in the house one day. A bag of sand seems an awful lot of money to blow on a poxy dog. Just think how much beer that could buy
 
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Don't know the cost of a chocolate brown standard poodle

[/ QUOTE ]

[ QUOTE ]
A bag of sand seems an awful lot of money to blow on a poxy dog. Just think how much beer that could buy

[/ QUOTE ]

True, but he pays his way in stud fees and bought me a new Tender and Outboard for Xmas...he's such a good boy he's gonna get me a new liferaft for Easter.
 
[ QUOTE ]
Peeps have said about lifejackets anyway.
Like all dogs and pets, parrots too!

[/ QUOTE ]

Yea, haven't been able to get an LJ for the parrot yet. Any one know where we can get one? If so, any tips on fitting it /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
 
We've got a black lab and 2 collies. The collies are always interested in what going on, usually outside the boat so locks are interesting and we usually keep them in cages when travelling (they've been in cages all their lives from before we had them and prefer them even if the doors are left open).
The Labrador on the other hand is very good, always sits quietly but interested in whats going on. She loves going out with the kids in the dinghy and swimming back to the boat. She just loves the water. Get yours used to the water now and I suspect you will not have any problems. IMHO good choice for a boating companion!
The only thing I'm disappointed in she's not worked out yet how to pour and deliver me a GnT. Trying to train the wife to do it so she can teach the dog. ......Ouch - didn't realise she was standing behind me.....!!!!
 
definately easier to get a dog back on board with a lifejacket on, we simply could not reach the dog from the decks, or even from the cockpit.

Ours (westie) mostly loves boating, not keen on engines roaring, but then we had a bit of a sinking doo, so it could be that. Loves being up on the flybridge, and simply LOOOVVVVES the dinghy. Mind jumping off from the dinghy on a crowded beach and peeing of the kids clothes lying on the beach was not a winner. The mother took it very well considering.
 
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