GrandadPig
Active member
Thank you. The only thing wrong with dogs is that they do not live long enough! And that I fall in love with them every time.
Labrador Vs Companionway Steps
- Thread starter Jon magowan
- Start date
Seaway Channel
Member
Here’s my Lab showing her incompatibility with boats. Sold our last sailing boat 4 years ago. Took her on a 10 day charter last summer and she chilled as soon as she got on the boat. 2 photos about 8 years apart.
Jon magowan
Member
Thanks Seaway Channel.
So there is hope
So there is hope
yotter
Active member
Just back from first weekend away this season with our 18 Month black lab. We have to lift her (28Kg) down the steps, she can make it up with a bit of a push from behind. Our steps are fortunately not too steep. I am thinking of using bits of rubber sheet to place on the steps, but have not thought of a way to hold them in place without damaging the steps...velco perhaps? Carpet is ready at the bottom should she decide to jump/step down. Need to think of a solution before she gets heavier!
Ian_Edwards
Well-known member
I've sailed for the last 10 season with a Leonberger, Rona, she passed away in September 2022.
Rona weighed over 50kg, no way I could lift her down the 4 steps into the saloon.
She was trained to wait in the cockpit, and "ask" to come down, she'd put her head in the companionway, and perhaps make a little whining sound, just to let you know she was there. I then stand by the companionway steps (4 steps) and she'd jump down. That was well within her capability. A mat at the bottom of the steps was required, to stop her skidding on the floor. She would only jump down if the mat wasn't there.
Getting back up the steps was more difficult, she learnt how to use her from paws to climb, but had less control over the rear legs, but she would let me guide where to put them.
I found a big dog like Leonberger, and her 3 predecessor, another Leo, and two Pyrenean Mountain Dogs, very easy to train and very much at home on the boat. They are very intelligent and docile, learn quickly and soon get the hang of things like "ready about ..... lee ho" and change sides, no training just a will to adapt.
I miss Rona, but I have new Leonberger pup on the way, collection from the breeder mid April.
In my mind, you need to get a dog on the boat early, Rona started sailing at 11 weeks, and I'll do the same with the new pup.
Rona's first trip.
Rona weighed over 50kg, no way I could lift her down the 4 steps into the saloon.
She was trained to wait in the cockpit, and "ask" to come down, she'd put her head in the companionway, and perhaps make a little whining sound, just to let you know she was there. I then stand by the companionway steps (4 steps) and she'd jump down. That was well within her capability. A mat at the bottom of the steps was required, to stop her skidding on the floor. She would only jump down if the mat wasn't there.
Getting back up the steps was more difficult, she learnt how to use her from paws to climb, but had less control over the rear legs, but she would let me guide where to put them.
I found a big dog like Leonberger, and her 3 predecessor, another Leo, and two Pyrenean Mountain Dogs, very easy to train and very much at home on the boat. They are very intelligent and docile, learn quickly and soon get the hang of things like "ready about ..... lee ho" and change sides, no training just a will to adapt.
I miss Rona, but I have new Leonberger pup on the way, collection from the breeder mid April.
In my mind, you need to get a dog on the boat early, Rona started sailing at 11 weeks, and I'll do the same with the new pup.
Rona's first trip.
ashtead
Well-known member
One of the issues teaching a Lab to descend the steps on their own is potential damage to hips in later life. We had a lab on our 2001 Bav34 and when young he would ascend/descend with ease. A smaller lab can be trained however to wait and step into your arms to descend so you stand below and he steps to you. We now have a working cocker so much lighter exercise at about half the kg. . If you do want you canine crew to descend then a turtle mat at bottom helps. As he grew older we had a ramp which folded in half about 8 ft for the pontoon but never used for saloon. A handle on a life jacket is great or a body harness with a handle. Whether a 6 year old can be trained to descend depends on dog but maybe just try ascending first?
Paulfireblade
Active member
I had much the same problem, my dog is a German Shepherd cross Border Collie 35kg.
First attempt was a car type ramp, one concern is that you cannot leave it there permanently. That is okay but sometimes our dog would decide she wanted to look outside and try to scrabble up companionway steps and potentially fall back down. In addition ours was happy to go down but not up so we had to help her.
second attempt I made angle of steps shallower by bolting wooden extensions on bottom two steps with vertical supports to cope with extra leverage/weight when I use them. Bottom step I tripled depth and next step up I doubled depth. Top step I left as was. I also added carpet to my two extended steps.
she could run up them with no trouble and then came down fine but on reaching teak and holly floor slid towards fore cabin so attempt 3 was to glue a section of carpet to floor at bottom of steps.
she can now go up and down easily. Only issue is she doesn’t realise if Perspex hatch is closed and she ran up and hit hatch so tape added.
Not pretty but solved our problem.
First attempt was a car type ramp, one concern is that you cannot leave it there permanently. That is okay but sometimes our dog would decide she wanted to look outside and try to scrabble up companionway steps and potentially fall back down. In addition ours was happy to go down but not up so we had to help her.
second attempt I made angle of steps shallower by bolting wooden extensions on bottom two steps with vertical supports to cope with extra leverage/weight when I use them. Bottom step I tripled depth and next step up I doubled depth. Top step I left as was. I also added carpet to my two extended steps.
she could run up them with no trouble and then came down fine but on reaching teak and holly floor slid towards fore cabin so attempt 3 was to glue a section of carpet to floor at bottom of steps.
she can now go up and down easily. Only issue is she doesn’t realise if Perspex hatch is closed and she ran up and hit hatch so tape added.
Not pretty but solved our problem.
