Labrador. Boat. Disaster?

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We are going for a mini break at Christmas on the new boat, given that it's a lot bigger than the previous one we are considering taking the dog.
Said dog is a (not overweight) 5 year old male Lab who's never been onboard, family is seriously keen to have him with them, me less so - but if I have to compromise - then so be it.

Any advice please? Have we left it too late?
 
Take him, he is part of the family. Create a bed with a blanket for him so he knows were to sleep, don't forget treats and toys etc. Getting in and out of the dinghy is challenging with our 40kg labradoodle, one day there will be a big splash, but at this time of year I guess you are heading for harbours and marinas.
 
In my experience the safety/happiness of your dog will turn on how easily he can negotiate the companionway steps, whether he suffers from motion sickness, and whether you are staying in a marina.

Prob best to purchase a doggy jacket and have a test run in advance of your trip!
 
Just reminded me of a retired German guy in Vilamoura. He had a lovely lab on his 'trawler' type mobo. Often saw them. Him on his bike, with the lab loping along alongside. The boat had dog hairs all over, except the engine room, which was pristine.
 
dom said:
In my experience the safety/happiness of your dog will turn on how easily he can negotiate the companionway steps, whether he suffers from motion sickness, and whether you are staying in a marina.

Prob best to purchase a doggy jacket and have a test run in advance of your trip!
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Good advice, ours was a happy sailor for most of his 15 yr. life but when he got so that he could not get on and off on a pontoon or into the dinghy and needed to be lifted in or out of the cabin he no longer wanted to be there and we felt almost as miserable as he did. His loss of agility also meant that the choice of where to land him became a lot more restricted. But a young fit dog should be capable of enjoying life at sea, he may find the strange angle of the deck when bashing to windward or the loud slatting of sails disconcerting so perhaps delay that until confidence builds.
 
They're all individual, a bit like people.
I think we were quite lucky in that our 1 & 2 year old dogs took to sailing very well. They enjoy knowing that they will spend all day with us, rather than being stuck at home while we are out at work.

Popping ashore with them after arriving at a new anchorage is one of the things I really look forward to now- although this is because we cruise some pretty remote places. Staying in marinas or harbours is actually much more hassle because it is harder to find somewhere to let them off the lead.
If you ever have to berth on a quayside or wall, it's very hard to get a sizeable dog on or off the boat. We end up using the dinghy to take them to the nearest steps or slipway.

Our two dogs have quite different personalities. On night watches, one will insist on climbing into your sleeping bag to keep you warm, whilst the other will stay in the cockpit and sometimes sniffs out shipping before I have spotted it myself.
 
We were moored on the visitor's pontoon in the Bag in Salcombe a few years ago. The 40-footer behind us had FOUR labradors aboard. Watching him attempting to get them in the dinghy was a true spectator sport.
 
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Our 10 stone Rottweiler was very happy on the boat throughout her life; very clumsy and very heavy; but she loved going on the boat and in the dinghy; my young son and the dog were totally inseparable.
 
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I introduced my labrador to sailing when she was 6. She loves being on the boat. To be kind to her, I only day sail up to 8 hours and make sure she can walk ashore quickly once I return. Whilst sailing she wears a doggy life jacket and is tied within the cockpit. It took nearly 2 years before she would go below and she still goes splat every time she goes down as it is very steep.

Give it a try, I feel sure you will enjoy the company of an additional crew member.
 
Friends had a lovely Lab who relished life aboard. On passage he had two preferred places to lie on opposite sides of the saloon. On the words "Lee, ho", he'd sigh in that typical Lab way, get to his feet and wander to his slot for the opposite tack.
 
macd said:
Friends had a lovely Lab who relished life aboard. On passage he had two preferred places to lie on opposite sides of the saloon. On the words "Lee, ho", he'd sigh in that typical Lab way, get to his feet and wander to his slot for the opposite tack.
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Wonderfull story , our dog sailing with up till he die even at 17 he loved saiing , never sick and had a great time exploring new places , we miss him much but always said once he pass away we wouldn't have another pet till the time come that we move back on land . Sadly this year our other pet , our cat well known to many liveaboard , he had a big follow amount cruisers on FB passed away . Boat feels a bit empty now .
 
We had a boating lab when I was young. Main problem she liked to jump in the water.
We had a Standard Poodle and Goldendoodle both happy on the boat. The Poodle has passed away but the Golden loves being on deck with me the whole time we are on the boat.
Getting ashore for a walk is important.
She usually needs help boarding from the tender, fine from the dock. and help getting up and down the companion way.
 
You don't say the class of your new vessel and numbers of crew but ideally you should take on board a soft dog bed and give him one of your stern cabins but he might not need heating . A life jacket and a safety harness line to hook him on assist particularly if recovering from cold waters. A doggy bag to place in after walks or to dry off in after a shower on the stern is useful. As he goes older as you be no doubt aware Labs can develop hip issues so while he's younger some help on the companion way might assist to avoid issues in later life from hip displacement. Ultimately unless you stern moor a folding ramp assists as a gangway . The other item you might buy your crew as an xmas pressie is a rechargeable dyson vac or suchlike if you are boat proud. Only real issue is if he mistakes brown mud for solid land and then wants to return on board but that's when the stern shower ideally with shampoo and heated water assists.
If you plan voyaging away with him visiting marinas where you are asked to raft can present challenges as not all vessels have side gates so crossing the bow to traverse your neighbour can be a challenge for him but some marinas will take into account you canines crews access issues and try to accommodate.
Enjoy your xmas on board with him and don't forget to take doggy treats etc. He might enjoy some music if you have to leave him on board while visiting dining venues which don't welcome him but in these more enlightened days discrimination against Labs seems to be declining and well behaved versions tend to be accepted in many places but it might impact your dining out plans .
 
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.
 
Ours is a 7 year old Lab Mastiff cross, he loves being in the tender, but having his 40KG bulk hoisted on board from the tender he was not impressed. Settled down by the stern and would not try the companion way, so we havent taken him since. We do have a lifejacket for him, even though he is a superb swimmer. We will try and get him on board again in the spring.
 
A friend brought his youngish Lab with him on our gaff cutter, which had a six foot ladder to a hatch in the coachroof by way of a companionway. Jake had no problems with it, up or down. He just took it at high speed, like a cat running up or down a wall. Good in the dinghy too; he would ask if he could swim ashore and wait until he was given permission, then hop out neatly, with almost no splash.

Another friend's Husky was the most hopeless dog in a boat that I ever saw. Huge, clumsy, and terrified - capsized her dinghy more than once!

I suppose it all depends on the dog...
 
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Our two are a teensy weensy bit smaller than a Lab, but have a great time onboard, we would really miss the fun they give us.

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