Is there anything good about a dog on a boat?

dylanwinter

dylanwinter

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www.keepturningleft.co.uk
I spent a week on the boat with the labrador while the boss was skiing?

I love my dog

But.....

can anyone come up with some good reasons for having dogs on board....

thinking of writing a blog but I fear it will be a bit unbalanced/unhinged

I was reading the kindle in bed and realised that even that had black lab hairs on it.

D

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The only time we have ever cruised without the dogs was a three week trip down the west coast of Ireland. Missed them terribly. It became so tempting to sling the hook, grab dinner, and lights out. With dogs, you are committed to going ashore twice daily and that means getting out and exploring. Some of my favourite cruising memories are of exploring hidden nooks and crannies around the shores of the anchorages we visit. Especially good when you haven't done much research (outside of the obvious pilotage bit) and have landed up on a tiny uninhabited island. The urge to climb to the next rise just to see what lies beyond.
Worth every dog hair!
 
I once did a coastal delivery trip where part of deal was that the owner's dog had to be taken. Never again. Whatever the weather, the dog had to be taken ashore twice a day to be emptied. It was at times unsafe and unseamanly. Nuff said.
 
the good thing about labradors is that they are excellent at enduring whatever you throw at them - very accepting

it is the transfer from boat to dinghy and back that is a challenge

when I write it up I shall try to mention how marvelous it is going ashore twice a day wherever you are whether you want to or not.

Maggie is at least better than the golden retriever Jill and I shared the eboat with for two weeks in the hebs

I don't think he was dry for the whole 14 days

D
 
As a child I remember our pet GSD coming on the family boat when my parents deserted the UK for fairer parts.... She was part of the family and I don't think they ever considered leaving her behind. Most memorable moment for me was as a ten year old having complete control over the two intruders who had sneaked on board whilst anchored off Banjul and then been chased all the way out to the end of the bowsprit!
 
I have a daft lab, who the wife would love to bring along but so far I have resisted on the basis of small boat - large very boisterous young male lab - and my sanity.

What I can't figure is how you cope with mid passage "issues" or is it a case of training the dog to wee twice a day? Ours seems to be out in the garden every 5 minutes!
 
You love your dog, good enough reason I suppose. Old Angus, bearded collie cross, was too old by the time we got the boat, but the current mutt, a Flat Coat Retriever is water mad. He ploughs along the flooded golf course with his snout in the water making a bow wave and jumps into any stream he is passing by. I am looking forward to him being on board this year.
 
SiteSurfer said:
I have a daft lab, who the wife would love to bring along but so far I have resisted on the basis of small boat - large very boisterous young male lab - and my sanity.

What I can't figure is how you cope with mid passage "issues" or is it a case of training the dog to wee twice a day? Ours seems to be out in the garden every 5 minutes!
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bitches last longer - that is for sure

some people use astro-turf

but on long passages the dog deffo does not come with us

jill is not that keen on long passages anyway so they are usually done without her - or the dog

D
 
SiteSurfer said:
I have a daft lab, who the wife would love to bring along but so far I have resisted on the basis of small boat - large very boisterous young male lab - and my sanity.

What I can't figure is how you cope with mid passage "issues" or is it a case of training the dog to wee twice a day? Ours seems to be out in the garden every 5 minutes!
Click to expand...

We have 2 dogs, one, a sort of Lab/Collie cross is trained to use AtroTurf on the foredeck and that is good. The other has to go on real grass always and as other have said it can be wet, hard work and even dangerous to have to go ashore at night in bad weather.
 
Another benefit: good companions on night watches. Our 'big' dog (Collie x Retriever) chooses to stay in the cockpit, chin resting on the coaming, and makes a comfy warm pillow to lay your back to. On occasions she has alerted me to shipping coming up from astern. The smaller dog (whippet cross) prefers the cabin, and shoving him down your sleeping bag is much easier than filling a hot water bottle.
Their longest non stop passage to date was 28hrs Stromness-Stornoway. Some days they will do their business up on deck, but most of the time they try not to.
 
"Is there anything good about a dog"?

No.

EVERYONE I know with a dog, their house stinks, their boat probably stinks as well, and the car stinks. Everything is covered in dog hairs. They NEED exercising and "emptying" and YOU have to pick up their s**t

They annoy neigbours by barking non stop every time you go out in YOUR garden (I'm thinking of my neighbours dog here)

When you go to work in a house with a dog it wants to climb up you and slobber all over you trying to make YOU stink like a dog.

Nope, Can't think of one reason to have a dog.
 
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ProDave said:
"Is there anything good about a dog"?

No.

EVERYONE I know with a dog, their house stinks, their boat probably stinks as well, and the car stinks. Everything is covered in dog hairs. They NEED exercising and "emptying" and YOU have to pick up their s**t

They annoy neigbours by barking non stop every time you go out in YOUR garden (I'm thinking of my neighbours dog here)

When you go to work in a house with a dog it wants to climb up you and slobber all over you trying to make YOU stink like a dog.

Nope, Can't think of one reason to have a dog.
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everything you say is true

although dog owners live longer, healthier, happier lives than non dog owners

apparently

http://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/a-dog-could-be-your-hearts-best-friend-201305226291

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/6279701.stm
 
ProDave said:
"Is there anything good about a dog"?

No.

EVERYONE I know with a dog, their house stinks, their boat probably stinks as well, and the car stinks. Everything is covered in dog hairs. They NEED exercising and "emptying" and YOU have to pick up their s**t

They annoy neigbours by barking non stop every time you go out in YOUR garden (I'm thinking of my neighbours dog here)

When you go to work in a house with a dog it wants to climb up you and slobber all over you trying to make YOU stink like a dog.

Nope, Can't think of one reason to have a dog.
Click to expand...

They are a bit like boats.Why on earth would you have something that costs a fortune,worries you to death,gets you wet and cold and might sink?
You either get it or not.
 
Quite often take the Dog. Big daft Black Doddle.
Makes me go ashore twice a day. Morning before we leave evening after we arrive. Longer trips are avoided by wife and dog. Both of whom require a walk every day.
She keeps me company on deck even when its windy and wet. Wife and Daughter go bellow to keep warm and dry.
Bit awkward in the dingy. has to be helped on board, up and down the companion way.
keep look out for seagulls, ducks, loons, any other wild life to bark at.
And completely ignored the racoons who sneak on board at night.

Need to teach her how to steer.
 
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