Hopefully a dog on board soon

yachtShoestring

yachtShoestring

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10 Mar 2008
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www.yachtshoestring.co.uk
We're adopting a Greyhound!

Went today to see him, he's lovely. All we have to have now is the home check on our flat, if we pass that he'll be coming down to the yacht to get used to it before the summer.

Far far too much paperwork involved in dog adoption, but it does prove a good security barrier to stop abuse I guess.
 
There's a few adopted greyhounds around our way, often see them out for a walk.
Hope it all goes ok for for you /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
This is Tigger on our boat yesterday. Louise and I are really excited, but he could barely contain his boredom. All that stainless and teak did little for him, and he had barely enough enthusiasm to steal one of my cheese sanwiches whilst I struggled in the cockpit locker to release one of the skin fittings.

Tigger was a rescue dog, small black lurcher. He was abandoned and still struggles to pass a bin without looking for a meal. Louise wanted a greyhound, but I thought they were a bit big for us. I;m a bit unsure of Tigger though. Not sure he has the necessary dedication to get through his yachtmaster theory. Got through my cheese sandwich though.

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No, but we did try and home a dog from the Dogs trust before we got Tigger, and they did a home visit, said our big tree-lined garden was not secure and refused to tell us what was necessary to make it secure. We gave up with them in the end, despite the fact that we are dog lovers, take our dog everywhere with us, and I work from home almost all of the time, so the dog is hardly ever alone. A bit annoying to find out that you are not considered 'suitable'.

Anyway, it was all to Tigger's benefit, and he has made the most of his chance.

Just to stay on topic, he is fine on boats, though I would not say he loves them. We once took him from Gelliswick in Milford out to Grassholm for the day on my old rib. When we came back into the haven, he launched himself into the water 100yards from the beach and swam ashore. We were dumbstruck, until we saw him relieve hinself for a long, long time once he landed on the beach.

Seems he didn't want to do it on the boat!
 
It's wonderful that someone will devote the time and energy to ensuring these dogs have the minimum four or five miles exercise they need each day, every day and not just walk it round the block then leave it to its own devices as so many do.
 
This is Kaiser. It's such a tough name for a dog who really is a daft pudding. He's my boy and I think the world of him. He too was a rescue dog from the Dogs Trust - or should that be MIS Trust! They faffed around before finally agreeing to let me have him. I felt that I should thank them for allowing me to take on the 15-20 year responsibility of taking an unwanted dog off their hands.
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He comes to most places with us on the boat although he doesn't always like it. I couldn't say that sailing is his favourite past time. He used to be a bag of nerves at first, but now, he stands at the bow glaring at the seagulls, and because he's got such long ears, the wind lifts them up and we think he looks like Kate Winslet on the front of the Titanic. (I'm sure she'd be flattered!)

He sleeps on board and eats on board with no problem, but he hates being left on board if Bev and I have to pop somewhere where he can't go, e.g. restaurant. We know the dog-friendly places to go in Bristol and Portishead and because I'm such a cowardly summer sailor, we can can sit outside at most pubs anyway.

The dog lifejacket is compulsory for him, even in Cardiff Bay, and the lifeline is a definite when at sea. He will follow you to the bow when we deal with the lines and fenders and the chances of him getting knocked off are high. The life line prevents it happening.

Lizzy D
 
He's got that look. Tigger gets it regular. That 'They're not feeding me, give me chocolate' look.

I'm looking around for a substantial harness for Tigger. I want something that supports him, is strong enough and won't end up choking him if he does make a bid for freedom over the side. Our boat is out of the water for a few weeks yet, but he does run about all over it, and I am nervous about when we do start sailing it.

I'll probably ask the question nearer the time though. For some strange reason, my wallet seems to be empty a lot since we bought the boat.......
 
I'm looking at life jackets at the moment, I was going to try a 'people' lifeline on him, as we already have a lifeline strap running around the inside edge of the deck.

They phoned me to say they are 'concerned' about the garden, -it is a communal one with very high walls, and used by 2 other dogs on a lead owned by neighbours..

They are concerned that I would have to walk downstairs to take him to pee at 2am... Don't you have to do that with private gardens and dogs too? LOL
 
Sorry to say but this dog looks really unhappy and doesn't want to be at sea.

So does the one in the picture above. Sorry guys I think it's cruel or bordering on to take them to sea. They always look miserable or really uncomfortable.

Get a parrot, maybe not, they too have a long history of human cruelty.
 
Tangomoon,

Your comments are noted. I have to say that I would never, ever hurt or cause my dog pain or suffering and I suppose I over-egged the pudding in saying that he doesn't like going to sea. I have to be honest, at first he didn't, but now, he's an old hand and to be honest (a lot of honesty in this post!) he's quite happy. He has but one wish in life and that is to be with me at every waking moment of the day. He'd rather come with us than be left at home. You do get "the face" when I have to leave him to go shopping etc, but he know's I'll be back. He's terrified of being left behind and it's that that distresses him most. He's like it even today and I've had him for ten years now.

I suppose a picture doesn't give you context and I've given you the impression that he's having a bad time, then I apologise. You post conveys to me someone who was upset at the apparent suffering of an animal and for that I applaud you. If you have animal welfare at heart, then I believe that it's usually a sign of a decent person. So to try and alleviate your concerns, here's a photo of him smiling.

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And here's another of the worlds most spoiled dog when we had a barbeque on board in Cardiff Bay. You'll note the adoring gaze I'm getting. I wish Bev looked at me like that!

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We usually put him behind Lizzy's mizzen mast on a nice flat space where we can adjust the bimini over him if it's too hot and he enjoys sniffing the air, glaring at the seagulls and waiting in anticipation for whatever we've made him on the barbeque to cook. Tescos finest sausages if yo uplease. None of that "value" stuff filled with bull's eyelids and other unmentionables.

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And once his barbeque food is ready for him, and by that I mean that I've spent so long blowing on them that could have filled everyone's inflatables in the whole of Cardiff Bay, he gets to eat them from one of his own specially weighted dog bowls. (Oh, yes. He has more than one!)

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Even as I type, he's sitting nearby. The sun is shining and the door's open for him to go into the garden whenever he pleases - but no. He'd rather keep an eye on me.

Don't worry. He's a happy little fella really.

Regards to all from Mike, Bev and Kaiser
(Lizzy D)
 
Our little terrier comes with us to on the boat.

She is a little apprehensive at first but would rather be with us than left at home.

She soon settles in and sleeps when out on the water.
 
I'd like to chip in on that too. When we first had Tigger, he hated the camper van. Now he cannot wait to get in it on a Friday evening, as he knows he is going to be with us all weekend, and go to beaches, get better food etc.

He was also terrified of water. Didin't even like getting his feet wet. Now, whenever we go to the beach, he charges down and into it. This year, after three years, he decided he wanted to swim. He even tried to get in the water at CBYC the other evening and had to be restrained.

I think the moral is, what initially might seem cruel can lead to great fun for them in the end.

When we occasionally go away in the van and leave Tigger with my mother, he apparently mopes about all weekend and won't eat, so it cuts both ways.
 
Well just to complete the picture, we also have a dog who loves being on the boat with us, only we've had her 'from new' so to speak.

Here's my 2 favourite girls, Michele the wife and Sally the daft english springer spaniel. We've had her nearly 5 years now. Her birthday's easy to remember as it's the same as the wifes'.

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And here she is, on guard, looking for me to hurry up and return from the khazi.

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The life jacket's great fun as well as being standard issue when she's on or heading for the boat, as she walks past us one of us has a habit of picking her up with the handle just for comedy value to see the little legs still going underneath. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

She's a bit wary of the pontoons as she's not too comfortable being able to see through the gaps, but if the ducks or swans come swimming round 'her' boat, god help them. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
 
[ QUOTE ]
You'll note the adoring gaze I'm getting.

[/ QUOTE ]

The sun's in his eyes /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
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