Dogs onboard

[Lightwave395]

Can't believe it, arrived over the weekend at my boat's new home in Arzal, several pontoons away there's a battered old steel liveaboard yacht maybe 12 metres or so, decks covered in stuff. Walked past this morning on the way back from the boulangerie to see four German shepherd sized dogs running around on deck. How does that work ?

 

[penfold]

With a lot of poop scooping I would think.

 

[veshengro]

Ha! That's just the Dog Watch, wait 'till you see the rest of the Hands..

 

[KeithMD]

four German shepherd sized dogs running around on deck. How does that work ?

Was it a live-aboard? It might depend whether they ever go sailing (or not). Some years ago now, but we did go sailing with two Golden Retrievers. No problem in calm weather, but when the boat started heeling they wanted to sit on our laps and get a reassuring cuddle. Which was alright if we had enough spare hands on deck, otherwise it could become a blooming nuisance!

 

[Seaway Channel]

We lived aboard for best part of 2 years with 3 dogs. Ok, it was a Labrador and 2 Yorkies, not GSs, but the husbandry is the same - just a matter of scale. Dog owners manage and dogs are very adaptive to lifestyles…

 

[NormanS]

I once had to deliver a yacht on a three day coastal passage, complete with the owner's dog, but without the owner. It was a nightmare. The brute had to be taken ashore in the dinghy, twice a day to be emptied, irrespective of the weather.
The best dog for a boat is a stuffed dog.

 

[Frogmogman]

Can't believe it, arrived over the weekend at my boat's new home in Arzal, several pontoons away there's a battered old steel liveaboard yacht maybe 12 metres or so, decks covered in stuff. Walked past this morning on the way back from the boulangerie to see four German shepherd sized dogs running around on deck. How does that work ?

Could be worse. On a stopover in Gibraltar in 1981 there was a massive motor yacht (IIRC it was called Thirteen, and was a fairly lurid shade of green) which had a tiger on board.

 

[Frogmogman]

While we’re on the subject, any of you have experience of a whippet or Italian greyhound as a seadog ? Considering the acquisition of a new best friend.

 

[Wansworth]

While we’re on the subject, any of you have experience of a whippet or Italian greyhound as a seadog ? Considering the acquisition of a new best friend.

High centre of gravity

 

[capnsensible]

If people truly care about dogs, why would they take them on a boat? Sorry folks I just don't get that.

 

[KevinV]

While we’re on the subject, any of you have experience of a whippet or Italian greyhound as a seadog ? Considering the acquisition of a new best friend.

Our whippets/ lurcher didn't like the water, or travelling by car. As Wansworth points out, they have a high center of gravity and are narrow in the beam too. On the other hand, they need little exercise.
I've sailed with two spaniels, trained to do their business on the foredeck when hove to. Set off again and it washes straight off.
When anchored they give you a good reason to go ashore and have a walk, and of course they are always a conversation starter.

 

[Wansworth]

Worked on a coaster were the skipper took his dog ……occasionally on a dark night one might get a handful of poo instead of a rope

 

[Whaup367]

If people truly care about dogs, why would they take them on a boat? Sorry folks I just don't get that.

Some dogs like boats. We had great danes when I was a kid... they (generally) hate any instability underfoot (underpaw?) and there's no way I would try to get one on board, even in harbour.
Most Portuguese water dogs and even Newfoundlands are happy enough on board. Spaniels vary, it seems. Our previous labrador didn't mind being afloat but was extremely stressed by the oil pressure warning buzzer...
Water dogs with low CoG more likely to be happy than leggy chasers...
Cruising with a happy dog is fine, if that's your sort of cruising... a delivery is a different story: we kenneled ours when delivering our boat.

 

[ashtead]

This all depends I guess on set up and training of the dog plus length of passage and what you prefer by way of destination. You might find on a battered old steel yacht when at the sea the owner simply onrolls a strip of astroturf on the stern deck. In the med I have seen a number of Amel types with a stern platform fitted out this way. 4 GS might overwhelm the facilities I guess on passage but a seawater wash down might avoid the issues mentioned above on a coaster - I guess if the owner is a single liveabord he might have plenty of time on his hands . Hopefully Arzal has a plentiful supply of buckets and brooms on the pontoons to deal with any accidents . If I was a neighbour I would be more concerned about barking etc but I guess it might help local security having such neighbours.

 

[KeithMD]

While we’re on the subject, any of you have experience of a whippet or Italian greyhound as a seadog ? Considering the acquisition of a new best friend.

With those breeds, you might need an extra-long deck, to give them enough space to get enough exercise. Have you considered a smaller breed?

 

[Concerto]

Worked on a coaster were the skipper took his dog ……occasionally on a dark night one might get a handful of poo instead of a rope

I bet you said, "Oh, sh*t."

 

[Wansworth]

I bet you said, "Oh, sh*t."

Something a bit stronger

 

[jamie N]

I don't like dogs, and cannot understand any sane person, particularly yotties, wanting the burden of something that smells, shits, bites & kills children at its own convenience and adds to the complication of life. If I'm on my boat, I don't want to factor in a visit, or any action actually, that requires thinking "Oh, but the dogs got to shit/eat/walk/sleep".
At our marina I've twice been told that when a dog has growled at me that "It's OK!"
No it's not, I don't like dogs and don't see why I should have to tolerate someone else's toy in a non dog specific communal place. I expect to see dogs when I'm out walking, when I'm at the beach where the b'stards are encouraged to shit in the same area that kids play, I do expect them there, but on a pontoon in a marina; bugger off.
Korean & Viet restaurants have a good policy with them, as well as a variety of sauces.

 

[Irish Rover]

I don't like dogs, and cannot understand any sane person, particularly yotties, wanting the burden of something that smells, shits, bites & kills children at its own convenience and adds to the complication of life. If I'm on my boat, I don't want to factor in a visit, or any action actually, that requires thinking "Oh, but the dogs got to shit/eat/walk/sleep".
At our marina I've twice been told that when a dog has growled at me that "It's OK!"
No it's not, I don't like dogs and don't see why I should have to tolerate someone else's toy in a non dog specific communal place. I expect to see dogs when I'm out walking, when I'm at the beach where the b'stards are encouraged to shit in the same area that kids play, I do expect them there, but on a pontoon in a marina; bugger off.
Korean & Viet restaurants have a good policy with them, as well as a variety of sauces.

Down Boy.

 

[Frogmogman]

I don't like dogs, and cannot understand any sane person, particularly yotties, wanting the burden of something that smells, shits, bites & kills children at its own convenience and adds to the complication of life. If I'm on my boat, I don't want to factor in a visit, or any action actually, that requires thinking "Oh, but the dogs got to shit/eat/walk/sleep".
At our marina I've twice been told that when a dog has growled at me that "It's OK!"
No it's not, I don't like dogs and don't see why I should have to tolerate someone else's toy in a non dog specific communal place. I expect to see dogs when I'm out walking, when I'm at the beach where the b'stards are encouraged to shit in the same area that kids play, I do expect them there, but on a pontoon in a marina; bugger off.
Korean & Viet restaurants have a good policy with them, as well as a variety of sauces.

You said it yourself. You really don’t get dogs.