Moving from River to Sea (with dog)

[rmashton]

Peeps,

We recently had a fantastic sea trial on a fairline Targa 39 and I'm now convinced that a move to sea would be desirable. (Well I am - the SO isn't too convinced - yet!!)

However, the one problem we have to overcome is that of the dog.

Does anyone here take their dog regularly on the boat when going to sea and how do you cope with a 4-5 hour cruises with no facilities for him/her?

The other thing is, do any readers regularly take their dogs to France or the Channel Islands and is this a problem - have they had any nasty experiences or picked up any particulalry nasty diseases? What precautions would you recommend?

Any thoughts or experiences much appreciated.

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[MickJ]

We have two Border Collies, they come on every trip. They both wear doggy life jackets and both thoroughly enjoy themselves. They are young, so can go without toilet stops for up to 6 hours.
Initially they were a little reticent, especially when on the plane, but now if they see a boat, they are on it and ready to go regardless who owns it!

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[byron]

Try moving my boat with my dog and there'll be howls of displeasure from him. (see my website at <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.oceaneagle.fsnet.co.uk>http://www.oceaneagle.fsnet.co.uk

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[rog]

Our dog's very happy on boat when we're parked.
Once on the plane, he's not so happy and particularly dislikes sliding about on the fibreglass on our flybridge. SWMBO had bright idea of putting him in a fabric type basket up there and on last trip he slept/rested/sunbathed all the way, although to be fair sea was fairly flat.
To go to France, understood that dog's gotta have loada innoculations (starts about 8 months before you go) and I think must come back by ferry and be checked by French vet before leaving there.
Main problem for us is to find suitable places to visit with dog who likes running about and grass rather than concrete facilities!

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[trev]

We took our lab bitch to sea with us for fifteen years (poor old girls gone now). She got used to it as a pup, and thoroughly enjoyed it. If necessary she would go up to eight hours without a pee. Usually tried just hops of five or six hours. Never got embroiled in the 'dogs abroad' business though.

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