Labrador. Boat. Disaster?

Babylon said:
5yr old Lab newbie, new boat, whole family aboard, harsh time of year...

No, you haven't left it too late, but I'd wait until the Spring when you can plan the thing properly and ease him in progressively over several outings, starting with a visit to the pontoon/mooring so he can get used to the smells etc, then a gentle motor, then a gentle sail, etc.
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This, probably is the best immediate advice I suspect!

However - all the rest is also top stuff for which I am most grateful, we've had a chat and it's looking likely that given the weather - we may call the short break off. Of course I'm quite gutted, but as has been said many times - keeping the family happy is 9 tenths of the way to a often used boat.
 
Couple more thoughts to add to the advice above.
Our lab/spaniel cross loves swimming, being with us, going in the dinghy. Never a problem getting her on or off board from the dinghy or a pontoon - she waits til she is told then makes the jump.
Main problem is, she is easily scared. Not, I think, sea sick but very unhappy when the going gets rough - panting, salivating, trembling and the like. Some dog sedatives from the vet seem to help, have also used "Quells" for motion sickness in kids, quarter tablet dose. Wrapping her up in a blanket and letting her squeeze in beside the missus seems to be the main help though.
May not be possible but if you can, as Babylon suggests, a few short trips in calm weather might be a good introduction to let her get used to being afloat.
 
I'm no expert, but I've heard it suggested that some dogs can be persuaded to use a lump of astroturf as a toilet. Attach a good sized bridle and it can be thrown overboard to clean itself*.




*No, not the dog, though some might well enjoy it ;)
 
Was in Gibraltar a few weeks ago tied up to UK motor boat with couple on board. Dog fouled the front deck every day and it was left to lie. Disgusting. Also went to use a dryer in Stromness and a dog lover had put a dog bed in - stinking with dog hair. Not, I'm afraid, keen on dogs even on other's boats.
 
dgadee said:
Was in Gibraltar a few weeks ago tied up to UK motor boat with couple on board. Dog fouled the front deck every day and it was left to lie. Disgusting. Also went to use a dryer in Stromness and a dog lover had put a dog bed in - stinking with dog hair. Not, I'm afraid, keen on dogs even on other's boats.
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There good pet owner and bad once , just like there good parants and bad once , not everyone are pet fans but then not all of us are fans of drank behaver or people who swear/shout but that's life .
For us who are pet owners or in our case was before are pets passed over , a pet on board can bring joy , dogs will keep you fit and cats will keep rodents away .
Why we had pets on board we had more people wanted to moor next to us when every complain as it happen in nine years we had two complains both been from people who did nothing but complain about everything including other boat owners .
One interesting thing we find , people alway remember our pets names and not always ours .
 
sailaboutvic said:
There good pet owner and bad once , just like there good parants and bad once , not everyone are pet fans but then not all of us are fans of drank behaver or people who swear/shout but that's life .
For us who are pet owners or in our case was before are pets passed over , a pet on board can bring joy , dogs will keep you fit and cats will keep rodents away .
Why we had pets on board we had more people wanted to moor next to us when every complain as it happen in nine years we had two complains both been from people who did nothing but complain about everything including other boat owners .
One interesting thing we find , people alway remember our pets names and not always ours .
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Yes always the way , we only knw the local dog walkers in our area by their Dogs name :D
Yes there are bad dog owners and bad people , not the poor dogs fault , it s only doing what it does,
My two took to the water no issues , although the hound whines a bit , but is a bitch and gets a little nervous the German Shepard cross just lies on the coach roof and think hes a lion.
As a advised a good harness lifejacket, to haul then into the dinghy or the pontoon as they decide to jump in after the ducks
 
Definitely get a doggy jacket with a good strong handle on the back and work out how to get him out of the water before you let him near the boat. This is one of those "I learnt about boating from that..." incidents though I probably learnt more about dogs and people really. Also you'll find Fido probably has very grip on fibreglass so get ready to get hold of him/her first few times until he/she learns. The pooch in my incident was on a boat for the first time and tried to follow a family member onto the foredeck from the cockpit, lost his footing on the sidedeck and went straight in the water. What was comical was watching the owner coax the poor pooch round to a ladder on one the piles and then realising that spaniels (I think that's what it was) aren't exactly famous for their vertical ladder climbing abilities. In the end two of us took the inflatable over to the ladder but even then the owner had to climb down the ladder into the tender to get the dog to come aboard. Wasn't impressed at getting soaked and dirty right at the start of trip (me, not the dog).

Hope your dog takes to it - I've not sailed with pets often but it's a wonderful feeling, sharing a watch with a dog is somehow better than sharing it with a human crewmember (unless I'm just anti-social) ...
 
Just down to look at the boat and smelt - when I was back in the car - that I had stood in one of the many pieces of dog fouling which boat owners seem keen to spread around the compound. Last summer I had to throw out carpets from the other boat after crew did the same. Effin dogs and dog owners, I think.
 
My Flat Coat doesn't like the pontoons and will not get onto the boat. We have managed to get him to walk along the pontoons but he is hunched up and crouches along, not happy looking at all. As for going onto the boat, no way, not interested and when lifted on just stands there frozen to the spot. I don't really want to force him or slowly try and build his confidence up, as he looks just miserable with his tail between his legs. Being a 'water dog' he loves swimming and will be in the sea from the beach or jump in a river no problem. No motion sickness but he does have one eye. He used to cross cattle grids but will no longer do that since he lost the eye.

If your dog wants to be on the boat, great, go for it, but don't try and force it. Sailed with my friend and their Labrador which loved the boat.
 
dgadee said:
Just down to look at the boat and smelt - when I was back in the car - that I had stood in one of the many pieces of dog fouling which boat owners seem keen to spread around the compound. Last summer I had to throw out carpets from the other boat after crew did the same. Effin dogs and dog owners, I think.
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I think you need to stop banging your single-issue drum and get pragmatic - and a pair of glasses.

Most dog owners are considerate people who pick up their dogs' business immediately using a poo-bag which they dispose of in a bin, and who don't put their dog's bedding in a marina washing machine, etc.

I used to sometimes feel angry when thinking about that small number of humans who, over the decades and in many different ways, had done me a serious disservice out of malice, envy, greed or stupidity. I no longer feel that way - because I realised that by letting go of these ancient feelings I became free.

Happy 2019.
 
Babylon said:
I think you need to stop banging your single-issue drum and get pragmatic - and a pair of glasses.

Most dog owners are considerate people who pick up their dogs' business immediately using a poo-bag which they dispose of in a bin, and who don't put their dog's bedding in a marina washing machine, etc.

I used to sometimes feel angry when thinking about that small number of humans who, over the decades and in many different ways, had done me a serious disservice out of malice, envy, greed or stupidity. I no longer feel that way - because I realised that by letting go of these ancient feelings I became free.

Happy 2019.
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Ahmen to that.
never seen so many twisted angry faces when I bring my dogs for a walk poor souls , become free from the tyranny
 
chrishscorp said:
Feel free to rant and have a go at any dog owner you see failing to clean up, as a dog owner i will quite happily join you in berating them
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Not my role in life, I fear. Too many dogs around now, so can't be too long before stricter controls are brought in. And none too soon.
 
So sad that a sensible question from the OP seeking reasoned advice has to be turned into a dogist rant by some. Dogs bring much pleasure to many particularly the elderly and lonely .
 
ashtead said:
So sad that a sensible question from the OP seeking reasoned advice has to be turned into a dogist rant by some. Dogs bring much pleasure to many particularly the elderly and lonely .
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True, but there's another side to that coin. As mentioned above not everyone loves your pooch the way you do: "never seen so many twisted angry faces when I bring my dogs for a walk poor souls". And these are sensible views - too many dogs and too many owners who blame others for fouling. I live in a seaside town where people bring their dogs at the weekend. The state of the place on a Monday morning is a disgrace. I am sure the elderly non dog owners don't want dog dirt at their front doors. Perhaps the lonely feel the same.
 
dgadee said:
True, but there's another side to that coin. As mentioned above not everyone loves your pooch the way you do: "never seen so many twisted angry faces when I bring my dogs for a walk poor souls". And these are sensible views - too many dogs and too many owners who blame others for fouling. I live in a seaside town where people bring their dogs at the weekend. The state of the place on a Monday morning is a disgrace. I am sure the elderly non dog owners don't want dog dirt at their front doors. Perhaps the lonely feel the same.
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There always two side to a coin , so what do you suggest , shot all dogs or should owners never take there dogs out ?
We don't have a dog now , but I had dogs all my life and one day I will again , even at a very young age we always picked up our dog poo and I them day there wasn't any thing said about it , what made me mad , is some people just can't wait to complain , there been time when I been standing there with a bag in my hand In view and people have walked by and said , I hope you going to pick that up .
At less it's normal for dogs to poo they can't really do much else , it's up to the owner to be responsible ,
unlike humans who litter, spit out gum and throw their ciz ends on the floor .
 
sailaboutvic said:
There always two side to a coin , so what do you suggest , shot all dogs or should owners never take there dogs out ?
We don't have a dog now , but I had dogs all my life and one day I will again , even at a very young age we always picked up our dog poo and I them day there wasn't any thing said about it , what made me mad , is some people just can't wait to complain , there been time when I been standing there with a bag in my hand In view and people have walked by and said , I hope you going to pick that up .
At less it's normal for dogs to poo they can't really do much else , it's up to the owner to be responsible ,
unlike humans who litter, spit out gum and throw their ciz ends on the floor .
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Well, if there were fewer dogs there would be less mess. Dog ownership is socially contagious they say (also linked to being more likely to have mental health problems and does not increase your length of life). I look forward to the days when the contagion dies down. If what makes you mad is that some people just can't wait to complain you'll understand that walking on dog shit, looking at it lying all day on the boat moored next to you, or being unable to use a dryer due to the stench of dog hair makes others just as mad.
 
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