Dogs on Boats

Sheppy

Sheppy

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I know a number of you have dogs......

What sort of dog shoes or paw covers do you use to protect the gel coat and inflatable tenders?
And are they fairly easy to get a dog used to wearing?

Any other prudent advice about dogs on boats would also be very welcome.

No decision made yet but still exploring options....... :)

Oh yes, and a Happy New Year to everyone.
 
None. The poor animal has enough problems sliding around the slippy decks of a heeling yacht without removing her option to dig the claws in. If you are worried about sctratches on the shiny boat, don't get a dog.


In fact I would be worried about you having a boat if stuff like that bothers you . . . :D
 
Sheppy said:
I know a number of you have dogs......

What sort of dog shoes or paw covers do you use to protect the gel coat and inflatable tenders?
And are they fairly easy to get a dog used to wearing?

Any other prudent advice about dogs on boats would also be very welcome.

No decision made yet but still exploring options....... :)

Oh yes, and a Happy New Year to everyone.
Click to expand...

Dog shoes or paw covers ?........ don't think dog onboard is for you . You will be pulling your hair out in no time .
 
Searush said:
None. The poor animal has enough problems sliding around the slippy decks of a heeling yacht without removing her option to dig the claws in. If you are worried about sctratches on the shiny boat, don't get a dog.
Click to expand...

+1 But there again, my dog gets a lot of hard-track walks which keep his claws very well trimmed. Even so, as Searush says, a dog on your boat may not be for you.
Pity, they seem to love it.
 
Just remember that a dog has to be taken ashore twice a day to be emptied, whatever the weather conditions.:eek:
 
Our Westie is the perfect boat dog, he loves it, also good in the tender, no claw marks anywhere yet. Great for keeping seagulls away too.
I made sure from as soon as we got him he was taken on board and he's grown up with boats since, he's even been out on jet ski with me.

7C2758FB-5774-4D25-AB7C-19D29B397592-13461-000012F286E8CBF1.jpg
 
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LOL - yes, perhaps you all might be right!!!

I spoke recently to a long time sailor who's always used dog shoes on an Alsatian which worked perfectly, and his dog got on with them very well, although I do know this isn't any kind of guarantee!

I'm not that concerned about scratches etc but don't want to needlessly accelerate what is already an older boat :)

My parent's old red setter loved their 10' dinghy but it was an old wooden boat so he never seemed to damage anything.

Thanks NormanS but I'm sure I can toilet train him/her to use the sea loo :D:D

Instead of dog shoes, I was also thinking about adding some cheap rubber matting to all the floor areas which would solve the problem while also offering some stability for the poor thing too. A couple of thick blankets on the seats would also help. I very much doubt he/she would ever start running around on the superstructure - just not that sort of boat. The cabin is carpeted so no problems there.

Anyway as I said, just explorer all the bases. I often see dogs on boats and they do see to enjoy it. I don't want to miss out the experience simply because of a few simple ideas that can solves these problems.
 
As has been said already I think you either let the dog on board and acknowledge it will knacker the boat or you keep it away.

A boat is a small area. Dog hair, general muck stuck onto the animal and paws will soon find their way onto your vessel and that's before any accidents happen.

You limit your market when it comes time to re-sell if you have animals on board.

Henry :)
 
Just do what I do, pay a nice man to repair any scratches, never seen one Gizmo could be blamed for though. Now the nice cream carpets inside & nubuck seats are another matter. Still all mint but keep nice man busy lol.
 
I've seen more boats with child inflicted damage than anything else, i have found small dogs are fine, mine doesn't drop hair at all.
 
Interesting, some positive and negative comments to peruse.

But I don't agree one has to accept a dog a will damage a boat or reduce the resale value. I think that some simple planning can solve problems before they arise while making the whole experience great for both.

After all, I'm quite sure 'children' will continue to cause far more damage to a boat that any dog can !!!!

And I hope I don't end up eating humble pie :)
 
I have HR34, teak deck, toe rail and cockpit. Have had dog, Jack Russell, on board since March. No noticable marks on wood or gelcoat so far. He's not allowed on seats or bunks below, generally is in his bed when below.

If you want shoes for dog Princess sell some.
 
i have a dog long haired jack russell we never take her to the boat but only because she would be a nightmare and just want to get off all the time so she could run around

i went to look at a boat once and broker showed me around well what a mess dog had scratched all the inside wall in the saloon by the door and there was black dog hair in all the crevices i doubt they would have sold that boat in the condition it was in as their dog had trashed it

but on the other hand i have been on a boat that has a dog on it regularly and i could not tell the dog had ever been on there

so do dogs damage boats no i dont think they do i think its the owners that damage the boat by taking a dog onboard that is obviously either left for long periods of time alone or just is not cut out to be on a boat like mine isn't

your animal only behaves how you allow it and goes where you allow it, keep the dog under control and i dont think they are a problem
 
Any decent vet can perform a pawectomy. You can then use marine-grade adhesive to attach some rubber suckers to your dogs' legs. This will solve all of your on-board problems. No scratching on the decks; the dogs won't slide around as the boat rocks; and, if you push down hard enough, they won't move at all. You could then glue a Tupperware container or washing up bowl, depending on each dog's size, to the deck beneath it and avoid potentially malodorous drips, drops and stains.
Alternatively, a good paw dicker and a mop might do.
 
DracoP said:
Any decent vet can perform a pawectomy. You can then use marine-grade adhesive to attach some rubber suckers to your dogs' legs. This will solve all of your on-board problems. No scratching on the decks; the dogs won't slide around as the boat rocks; and, if you push down hard enough, they won't move at all. You could then glue a Tupperware container or washing up bowl, depending on each dog's size, to the deck beneath it and avoid potentially malodorous drips, drops and stains.
Alternatively, a good paw dicker and a mop might do.
Click to expand...

:D:D:D The dog would pull like a train on the lead when walking on the beach over wet rocks too!

I'm starting to worry for this dog and you don't have it yet! Seriously, I wouldn't worry about the claw thing - as already said lots of walks will keep the claws down and the chance of puncturing your tender are slim IMHO...

Cheryl suggested these as an alternative:

http://www.softpaws.net/faqs.html

You could even get a colour match to the Gel coat?

Soft+Paws+11-17-10.jpg


Perhaps one of the girls in the spa can sort things out for you? (Can I be a fly on the wall please when you ask? :D)
 
Get a dog which doesn't shed it's hair like a poodle and keep it off the furniture. We've had 2 bloody great big standard poodles and they didn't mess the boat up much. If they've been to the beach or rolling in muddy fields, hose them down on the bathing platform with the transom shower and then ban them from the inside until they dry off. Poodles also seem to have bottomless bladders. One of ours could go 2 or 3 days without lifting his leg
 
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