Recommend me a good boat dog?

xyachtdave said:
Daughter Freya has ramped up the pressure to get a dog.....

Ideally I want one that doesn't do poo's or wee's but realise that's a rare beast.

I know Newfoundland's like water but would like something that doesn't need its own cabin!

Anyone with dog boat experience please advise on any potential pitfalls of taking a dog sailing.
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My sons dog has to be close to the ideal. Its half springer, quarter cocker and quarter poodle. The result is a springer with wool rather than fur, that doesnt shed and doesnt smell when wet. Its a sensible size and copes well with water as do all springers.

But it still need to pee and poo. Likely it can still get sea sick. And if it is a daughters pet rather than a working dog, the last thing it will bve is obedient.

mollie.jpg
 
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birdseye said:
My sons dog has to be close to the ideal. Its half springer, quarter cocker and quarter poodle. The result is a springer with wool rather than fur, that doesnt shed and doesnt smell when wet. Its a sensible size and copes well with water as do all springers.

But it still need to pee and poo. Likely it can still get sea sick. And if it is a daughters pet rather than a working dog, the last thing it will bve is obedient.

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That is a beautiful dog
 
I have a sprocker spaniel who is hardy, loves the boat and swims like a fish... spare propulsion if needed! My pointer x red setter copes rather well but is a little more delicate. Both can hold on all day if we can't get ashore. Took my father in laws jack Russell once. Had never been on a boat but well up for it and no trouble at all.

It's going to depend more on the individual dog and owner than the breed.
 
Thanks for the suggestions so far!

I'm thinking small is best, something that Freya can carry on her own getting on and off the boat and look after herself. I'm a little shocked at the prices of puppies on the internet. More research to do before committing to ownership.
 
Ripster said:
Going on what I have seen, the Jack Russell seems very popular on boats - nice and small, can be a bit yappy though. Or the good ol black labs - bit bigger and more manly. You see a fair few on boats. We tried our cockerpoo when we had her, they don't lose their fur and are not too big, but she hated it - stressed her out when we sailed - so she went to live my daughter!
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xyachtdave said:
Thanks for the suggestions so far!

I'm thinking small is best, something that Freya can carry on her own getting on and off the boat and look after herself. I'm a little shocked at the prices of puppies on the internet. More research to do before committing to ownership.
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Your thinking is correct, small is best. We have lived aboard nearly 10 years with two Jacks. Brilliant sea-dogs :D
 
Our previous dog was a jack russell, who was fearless, loved sailing, good company but left little white hairs everywhere. When he passed away, we decided we would get a different breed so we did compare the new dog with the one we had lost, and we opted for a bedlington terrier, a non-shedding breed, small enough to pick up under one arm and chuck into a dinghy. We are now liveaboards, and she has cruised thousands of miles with us, usually snoozing under the spray hood, and we always keep her clipped on when underway.

http://moonshineofmersea.wordpress.com/
 
My sister has a King Charles Spaniel and although it is not overly keen on the water it is good on the boat and is small. It does moult but as far as it is concerned as long as it is near people and/or food it is happy. On the boat, its general dislike of the water makes it quite handy because it stays either in the cockpit or down below. It requires very little exercise being more of a lap-dog and is good at holding until it can get ashore. The Kerry Blue Terrier walks around the boat and has to be told where to go or not go as it is so much less cowardly but it gets obvious enjoyment from the trip. The Kerry Blue is about as big as I would want to go on a boat otherwise it gets hard to get them off and on and can make recovery from the water difficult. The Kerry Blue has fallen in twice while at the pontoon.
 
yoda said:
From what I have seen the Portuguese Water Dog is an excellent boat dog. My friend has one and it is great to have onboard. I am not a dog person but well impressed with this breed.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portuguese_Water_Dog

Yoda
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+1 for those, some friends have one doesn't shed hair.

Our Border Terrier cross Patterdale sheds for England, Scotland and Wales. Good in other respects though.
 
I have heard that all the various 'water-dogs' have been aptly named and are liable to throw themselves into water at the slightest oportunity. This may not be desirable in a boat-dog and their curly hair may make them very heavy and wet to recover. I have always liked the idea of an Irish water Spaniel but have been slightly put off by their reputation for getting soaked in the muddiest water they can find.
 
ferroboat said:
Our previous dog was a jack russell, who was fearless, loved sailing, good company but left little white hairs everywhere. When he passed away, we decided we would get a different breed so we did compare the new dog with the one we had lost, and we opted for a bedlington terrier, a non-shedding breed, small enough to pick up under one arm and chuck into a dinghy. We are now liveaboards, and she has cruised thousands of miles with us, usually snoozing under the spray hood, and we always keep her clipped on when underway.

http://moonshineofmersea.wordpress.com/
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Everytime I see a Bedlington terrier, a smile comes to my face (in a good way), they do look like a lamb, but have heard good things about them
 
Camelia said:
Michr be worth checking who is going to pay the vet's bills!
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Never mind the vets bills - have yoy looked at the price of dogs? My son was given the one shown above but I liked her so much I enquired about a similar dog at a local breeders. £1000 !!!!
 
I would go for a sea sponge as a pet if you can persuade your daughter.
No cleaning up afterwards but if there is a mess it cleans up after itself.
Cheap to keep, you don't have to take it ashore for walks unless you want to and takes up very little space.
Personally I think getting a sponge as a pet is a win, win situation.
 
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CAPTAIN FANTASTIC said:
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I see your computing skills are still up to their normal level. A bit like Manchester United.. all the gear and no idea!! :encouragement:
 
Our dog is a collie springer cross, big enough to leap aboard unaided and small enough to do it between the first and second guard wires, he can also manage to get up a ladder to get aboard when the boat is ashore, but has to be carried down again ( when he takes the precaution of holding my ear gently between his teeth in case I might let him slip) He has been sailing with us for all of his 12 years and has initiated more healthy exercise than I could measure. I am twice as active through knowing him.
Despite being smooth haired the hairs get everywhere, servicing the engine recently there were hairs in the sump between the bearers, ditto the cockpit lockers. When you get the dog, get a 12v vacuum cleaner.
 
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