Dogs!

[howardclark]

We moored up at Dartmouth Town Quay for a pleasant easter weekend - just as we have done for every year for who knows how long complete with all the kids (4) and Meg the labrador. All the alongside spots were taken so we rafted up to the only boat available.

The kids raided the shops and took the dog a couple of times. Early next morning the inside boat owner complained that our dog's feet were scratchy and noisy on his deck. According to my wife I answered back that Meg has normal dog feet. He said he had never had a dog across his boat before and suggested that we should carry her around his boat - I said he hasn't sailed much and carrying was impossible because she is a large fat lump but offered to swap onto the inside berth. He wasn't having that so apart from saying he could refer to the harbourmaster to adjudicate it was a standoff!

Am I being unreasonable? In a decade of sailing it was the only doggy negative we've ever had - are there lots of secret canine critics out there?



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[Talbot]

should have persuaded meg that their mast was a new form of lamp post!
12 years of sailing with a dog, and I never had this problem. Mine like yours was a mobile gash disposal unit (labrador type) and not something to be carried unless there was an osteopath nearbye /forums/images/icons/smile.gif - now sadly gone to that great dog run in the sky and greatly missed.

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[boatless]

Trying very hard to stay in context here. Nope, he's a miserable git. Wonder if he complains about paw steps on the pavement outside his house? Next time, pretend Meg is your guide dog.

Can't do it. I've had a few dogs on my boats. One had four legs.

<hr width=100% size=1>my opinion is complete rubbish, probably.

 

[Samphire]

What a pathetic saddo.You are 100% right having done the reasonable thing and offered to swap berths to avoid the problem. Public Quay means public quay.

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[Keith]

sounds like the same type you get rafted down lymington, already four deep and hangs a sign saying "no alongside mooring"...seen it!!!!..........keith

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[longjohnsilver]

Must be a Dartmouth problem! Went ashore last August on Kingswear to take the dog for a walk, when I returned some prat had untied my dinghy and the harbour patrol returned about 10 minutes later with it in tow. He couldn't get to the pontoon so requested that I step across the recently moored RIB (who may have inadvertently untied me!). Dog went across also unfortunately leaving a few muddy footprints. Departed to thank the chap who had found my inflatable and then turned around to go back to my boat where upon the RIB I had crossed roared up with both occupants hurling abuse at me for letting my dog walk across it. Refused to listen to my explanation and apologies and continued to harangue me before disapearing at speed back to their boat.

I suspect it may well have been them who were responsible for my boat being cast adrift and a damp sponge would have cleaned aff all the doggy footprints in less than 30 seconds!!

Unpleasant people!

BTW I was also on the Town Quay pontoon last Thursday night and had a rather pompous raggie tied up behind me. Maybe Dartmouth attracts these type of people.

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[l'escargot]

Never had a problem with dogs at Lymington, we sail with two and use the Town Quay. Actually noticed a marked increase in the number of people there with dogs on boats last year. There's an interesting crowd who regularly come in on a charter boat with two dobermans, they don't get any complaints either.

Usually ignore any signs when less than five deep, that's usually when the harbourmaster stops it to leave room for the fishing boats (although he sometimes goes to six) - he gives out his own signs and ignore his at your peril!

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[Guest]

Dog-owner but not on boats ...

Please don't misunderstand that title ..... I love dogs, but do not take mine away - as I would spend more time 'fishing' them out of the oggin than sailing !! They like water too much.

I can see both sides of the coin - but feel the guy is an unreasonable git. Of course no-one likes the idea of 'claws' on their decks ---- but I feel also sure that the average owner with dog on board takes as much care on others boats as possible - least I hope that most do - anyway thats my experience.

wouldn't be too happy if the traffic was too frequent - but that applies to all human and dog traffic - one instance I had was kids back and forth literally every few minutes ..... I even offered to change places with the boat - but they declined - so I was stuck with it.

The world has to develop more give and take - sadly not too eveident in many cases. It extends to more than just doggie things ....


<hr width=100% size=1>Nigel ... and of course Yahoo groups :
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/gps-navigator/

 

[Sybarite]

Is there something about the English character that wants to complain? In France I have NEVER heard this sort of thing. In fact the only time when a boat complained when I came alongside - in Belle Ile - and under the habourmaster's instructions, it was an English boat. He hadn't left out any fenders and then complained that mine were too small.

In France the usual thing is that the crew come out, help you tie up and very frequently ask you aboard for an apéritif. Or I ask them aboard. I have met a lot of wonderfully friendly people this way. The last time I anchored at the Glénan islands, a nearby boat waved us across to share in drinks and the crabs they had caught.

It makes life so much more pleasant.

John

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[Peppermint]

Re: I wouldn\'t take my present dogs afloat.

In truth they are the dogs thay have cured me of dogs forever, so I wouldn't expose fellow sailors to them.

Had you moored next to me you could troll across if you like or I'd have swopped with you.

My old "sailing" dog was an Irish Water Spaniel called Murphy. In my old dayboat he'd curl up in the anchorwarps coils and only moved if there was a need to abuse seagulls or dogs on other boats. Actually thats not strictly true. On one occassion I was ghosting up Southpool Creek in Salcombe. Being a bit early on the tide I hit a little ridge of sand. No problem, I hop's over the side to push off when "Murphy" decides to go walkies. So now I've got a dog on the beach and a boat trying to float off. A bit of anchor solves the boat problem and I paddle off to get the dog.
He comes back good as gold and now all as I have to do is lift 20 kilo's of wet dog back aboard, recover the anchor, get aboard myself and off we go. It all went pretty well until I needed to climb in. The dog managed to get to the exact spot I required, at the same time, with enough force to send me arse over tip into the harbour. Boat and dog head for Southpool. It amused the fisherman, who brought them back, no end.

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[BlueSkyNick]

Re: I wouldn\'t take my present dogs afloat.

Nice story. We haven't been sufficiently bold to introduce our new dog, a chocolate lab, to the boat yet although I know we should do so sooner rather than later.

BTW, I saw a Peppermint in Yarmouth on Sunday, which I took to be you (?), but nobody on board. Very smart she looked, too.

<hr width=100% size=1>I'm average size, Its just that everybody else is short.

 

[k9todd]

Unfortunately we had to leave our dog behind this Easter as we had intended to sail over to France. Lack of wind put us in Benbridge next to a HR with 3 extremely well behaved spaniels.

We have only had one complaint in our 11 years of sailing with dogs - and that was from someone who complained about life in general. I do hope that your experience was a one off. We would rather be next to a boat packed with kids and dogs than a winger any day of the week

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[tome]

Re: I wouldn\'t take my present dogs afloat.

SWMBO and I were also in Yarmouth Sunday (arrived late pm) on Amaya. Left 11 am Monday and had a lovely sail back.

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[Peppermint]

Re: Not I, I\'m afraid.

I try not to sail on Bank Holidays.

Though I was dying to try out the new cruising shute. Ever since I bought it it's blown like Jimi was going sailing.

Back to the dog. He was a bit of a Salcombe character for a while. I remember meeting a guy down there who had a St Bernard. I was in my inflatable with the kids and he was in his with his kids. Both of us were on full lock trying to keep straight, against the drag of a dog that had gone over the side and was being clutched by the kids. Neither of us could face dragging the wet mutts back onboard. Murphy spent much of his life doggy paddling next to the dinghy.

In the time it took to raise the outboard for beaching he could be halfway up Mill Bay, having sprayed sea water on a granny,scattered sand on a sunbather or two, threatened someones picnic, widdled up someones windbreak and stolen a tennis ball. I never understood why he was so popular but everyone always thought it was funny.

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[Becky]

Last year I ailed with two spaniels, sadly my little boy died on New Year's Eve, so sail now only with my little Springer, whose life will never be complete until she has caught one of the ducks in Chi marina. But I have never had any complaints about my two; I think that your nasty man had more problems in his life than just your dog. I feel sorry for people who seem unable to get on with their fellow man and his pets/children. But we can't all be as nice as Forumites, can we?

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[pragmatist]

Not dogs just Dartmouth

I don't think it's the locals but there are some v rude people who use the pontoons at D/mouth. Once ended up leaving a raft of dinghies only to discover that I was towing one which had tied to us not the pontoon.

If you take dogs to the Dart we recommend the dinghy pontoon above Darthaven Marina with good access to the woods

<hr width=100% size=1>a pragmatist is an optimist with a boat in the UK

 

[longjohnsadler]

So Longjohnsilver's got a parrot and a dog.
Is that like a tweeter and a woofer?

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[Samphire]

I think we can safely say dogs 1 whinger nil.Goody!

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[dulcibella]

As the man in the Mark Twain novel said when bothered by a persistently barking dog "I wish I owned half that dog. I'd shoot my half.".

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