Large Dogs on Medium Sized Boats

[jac]

Since selling our last boat we have acquired a now 2 year old German Shepherd that weighs about 35 kg and just considering the implications re next boat. Next boat will be AWB around the 36-38 foot mark.

I’m looking for the collective wisdom of the forum.

Most of our sailing will be days / weekends, Solent based but with the very occasional longer trip (still constrained by school holidays and annual leave considerations) Boat will be kept mid river so boarding from a club launch.

The issues as I see them are:
Getting dog onto /off boat from launch - possibly need to ensure we have boarding gates in the guardrails to help and maybe encourage, help her up.
Getting dog onto /off boat from Marina - same approach or possibly boat with decent stern access and moor stern too.
Dog use of dinghy?.. I see that Sailing Cadoha devised some springboard like attachment for a ladder so I’m thinking of something like that for us.
Getting dog below - no solution other than lift her? What do others do?
Keeping dog attached when sailing - she has a harness anyway so shackle to jackstay / strong point.
Toilet - keep trips shortish and walk her before and after. Maybe encourage her to use some of the foredeck but I believe that can be a hit or miss affair.

so any other issues? any better solution?
How have other dog owning sailors found the whole dog on boat piece??

 

[Stemar]

Can't help with experience - my excuse for not having a dog is that I love animals far too much to inflict on them the level of care I'm prepared to invest. I was looking for a pic of a Newfie on a 17footer for a bit of humour, but couldn't find one. However, I did come across this, which may help.

Cruising with a Large Dog - The Boat Galley

 

[ashtead]

I am guessing German shepherds are a slightly heavier version of Labrador crew so some thoughts
1 they can leap on board in absence of sides gates but makes it easier until old age leads to issues with rear legs but ideally for marina a folding dog ramp is ideal and train them at early age ;
2 obviously stern to parking with sugar scoop or drop down stern is easier than ramp;
3 dogs of this size can easily go up/down to saloon again until old age rear hip issues arise;
4 the dogs can leap into dinghy alongside -even our current spaniel can access rib alongside -whether a German shep leaping into say a wooden rowboat is a concern might be best tried out in warm waters.
5 a handle on lift jacket or if too hot the k9 harness is ideal-I guess you can winch up the wet hound on board ;
6 dogs like their own space so unless they get sea sick on passage let them sleep in stern cabin;
7buy a cooling mat for warm weather
8 if on deck use a short lifeline attached to D ring by saloon steps -a lot here depends on how well dog responds to tacking;
9beware of swans in marina as they don’t take to Germans or spaniels even;
10 watch out for large brown expanses of mud at marina etc eg Sparkes as dogs don’t realise they cannot run on mud etc;
11 never had any issues re comfort breaks -for Solent sailing or indeed down to Portland marina say dog should be fine without relief but maybe it’s trial initially building longer trips. Not certain I would sail say Solent to Dartmouth in one trip though with our hound on board;
12 certain marina far more dog friendly so your usage might change;
13 avoid rafting alongside as that can be a PITA for some owners I believe;
14 if you want plastic green grass a stern deck over sea eg Amel type works in med but not certain I would start this approach in Solent- we are not taking our canine crew cross channel or via Ireland etc so plan distances accordingly;
15 have stern shower or a anchor deck wash;
16 buy plenty of dog shampoo
17 put down mats eg turtle mats in saloon unless you have Hallberg carpets etc fitted;
That said smaller dogs work better -just don’t get happy schnauzer types;

 

[Bouba]

We always have the dog in mind when choosing a boat.....the result is (and you will not want to hear this) you need a motorboat with a swim platform and direct entry to the cockpit....walk around decks...all non skid and guardrails...if you really care, stairs to the fly bridge not a ladder...and if you really really truly love your dog, a hydraulic swim platform...it is the perfect way for getting a swimming dog in and out of the water...every other method (and we have purchased them all) isn’t nearly as good...

 

[Mister E]

For our pooch I made a boarding ramp. But from a dinghy she has to wear a harness for assistance.
She only weighs 16 kg.

 

[boomerangben]

Having owned a Shepherd cross, the concept of big boat sailing was incompatible for me. It all sounds a big faff to me, lots of worry and would quite frankly detract too much from the sailing. I would be looking at taking up dinghy racing to scratch the sailing itch.

 

[Frogmogman]

Some good advice there. Definitely think a boat with a bathing platform will make boarding from a launch easier.

I’m going through this thought process the other way around. Already have the boat, but I’m now thinking about getting another dog (previous mutts include flat coated retriever and cocker spaniel). As I am actually slightly allergic to dogs, this time around it’ll be one of the low allergy dogs, so probably poodle, schnauzer or whippet. The missus is from Yorkshire, so obviously leans towards a whippet, whereas I’m thinking more along the lines of a poodle. Hmmm.

 

[Frogmogman]

Can't help with experience - my excuse for not having a dog is that I love animals far too much to inflict on them the level of care I'm prepared to invest. I was looking for a pic of a Newfie on a 17footer for a bit of humour, but couldn't find one. However, I did come across this, which may help.

Cruising with a Large Dog - The Boat Galley

There, fixed that for you (from a recent PBO)

 

[Bouba]

Make sure that at all times your dog has a harness or life jacket with handle on top...either of these will give you a fighting chance of getting the dog back aboard

 

[Bouba]

There, fixed that for you (from a recent PBO)
View attachment 142272

A dog like that could probably out swim your boat...because without a boarding device you will have no chance...remember that dog is 65 kg dry

 

[KevinV]

Some good advice there. Definitely think a boat with a bathing platform will make boarding from a launch easier.

I’m going through this thought process the other way around. Already have the boat, but I’m now thinking about getting another dog (previous mutts include flat coated retriever and cocker spaniel). As I am actually slightly allergic to dogs, this time around it’ll be one of the low allergy dogs, so probably poodle, schnauzer or whippet. The missus is from Yorkshire, so obviously leans towards a whippet, whereas I’m thinking more along the lines of a poodle. Hmmm.

Much as I love our whippets, they really aren't designed for the water, and don't like it!

I spent two months on a 36' boat with two spaniels - no problem at all. They were trained never to jump off the boat, and off the dinghy only on command (so they didn't get run over). They stayed in the cockpit or below when underway, only venturing to the foredeck supervised when hove to to do their business. Simple enough, and if a spaniel can learn it then an alsation will understand in thirty seconds.

 

[Whaup367]

Have a look here, two newfoundlands on a 36 footer: Log in to Facebook

Swim platform aft allows them to clamber up & down from the dinghy, the lower guardwires can be loosened to allow access to & from a pontoon.

They are water dogs by inclination, though- webbed paws, weatherproof, low CoG.

 

[davidmh]

My sailboat is 28 ft so a little smaller than you are thinking about. I have tried sailing with a 30 kg labrador. I find it very difficult and almost impossible if shorthanded. Dogs have no grip on their feet so they slip all over the place, think of how they handle a hard floor at home. Many boats have steps down to the cabins which are much steeper than those in a house. You really need one person to look after the dog all the time.
.If you want to have a dog on a boat it needs to be small enough the pick it up one handed, think small terrier size. Have managed with the lab on a canal narrowboat. In the days of the thames barges, said to be crewed by a skipper, boy and a dog the motion and heel is very slight not like a 38 foot modern yacht.
David MH

 

[Bouba]

I published this in another thread but since it only happened a week ago it’s still relevant (he had just come back from a walk and was showered which was why he didn’t have a harness on)
“Just had a bit of an adventure…I have told the dog many times to be careful when using the passerelle…not to be casual or fast or change directions mid stream…well this morning he decided to go ashore and then changed his mind…out of the corner of my eye I saw his body contort then lose footing and splash!! He started to swim aimlessly and at one point swam out of sight under the swim platform but he listened to his dad’s voice and I got a hold of his scruff and pulled him back on the boat….where, soaking wet he jumped on to my new electric couch that he is only allowed on when he’s dry!
On a serious note, a dog in the water in a port won’t find a place to get out, they need their back legs on something solid which they won’t find and eventually will drown from exhaustion…so, today, have a sit down with your dog and explain, again, safety onboard ??“

 

[dgadee]

Why have your boat stinking of a kennel?

 

[Bouba]

Why have your boat stinking of a kennel?

If you have a dog...you won’t notice the difference...your house, your bed, your clothes, your car...why not your boat?‍??

 

[jamie N]

I'm not a dog lover at all (sorry Bouba), but rather than not having the boat one likes, why not utilise a thing called a 'kennel', and use a modern facility called 'Zoom' to 'keep in contact' (ffs),with the thing that's much happier sniffing other dogs arses anyway, than sailing on boat.
Don't we have enough issues coping with the heads for humans, let alone a hound!

 

[Bouba]

I'm not a dog lover at all (sorry Bouba), but rather than not having the boat one likes, why not utilise a thing called a 'kennel', and use a modern facility called 'Zoom' to 'keep in contact' (ffs),with the thing that's much happier sniffing other dogs arses anyway, than sailing on boat.
Don't we have enough issues coping with the heads for humans, let alone a hound!

Boating can be reduced to a series of equations.......no dog=no wife...no wife=no boat....no boat=miserable me....

 

[fifer]

It may be a good time to consider a boat that will take the ground - either a multihull or an ovni type boat that sits low on a beach and can simply be stepped up onto. Will give you a better range of options for overnighting or for just being able to take the dog for a walk on the beach once the tide has gone out.

Personally for a dog that size I'd think theyd be most comfortable on a catamaran but it might not give you the sailing experience you are looking for

 

[Bouba]

Since selling our last boat we have acquired a now 2 year old German Shepherd that weighs about 35 kg and just considering the implications re next boat. Next boat will be AWB around the 36-38 foot mark.

I’m looking for the collective wisdom of the forum.

Most of our sailing will be days / weekends, Solent based but with the very occasional longer trip (still constrained by school holidays and annual leave considerations) Boat will be kept mid river so boarding from a club launch.

The issues as I see them are:
Getting dog onto /off boat from launch - possibly need to ensure we have boarding gates in the guardrails to help and maybe encourage, help her up.
Getting dog onto /off boat from Marina - same approach or possibly boat with decent stern access and moor stern too.
Dog use of dinghy?.. I see that Sailing Cadoha devised some springboard like attachment for a ladder so I’m thinking of something like that for us.
Getting dog below - no solution other than lift her? What do others do?
Keeping dog attached when sailing - she has a harness anyway so shackle to jackstay / strong point.
Toilet - keep trips shortish and walk her before and after. Maybe encourage her to use some of the foredeck but I believe that can be a hit or miss affair.

so any other issues? any better solution?
How have other dog owning sailors found the whole dog on boat piece??

The other issue is the future...German Shepherds are prone to hip dysplasia. I’ve boated a lot with a big dog (just under 50kg) with bad hips...you need to make a lot of allowances and have many backup plans