Recommendations for boat dog

jimi

jimi

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We lost our dog a couple of years ago (Lab/Weimeranner X) and I'm now under pressure to get another one. My condition is that it must be boat friendly, family friendly and love the outdoors and execise.

What recommendations do the panel have? Currently Brittany & Field English Springer Spaniels are in the frame.
 
We used to have a Springer. It loved every minute of being on board.
However, on reflection I think I would go for something smaller. i.e. Cocker.

Note: Previous Cocker absolutely hated the boat. Current Cocker tolerates it.
 
Jack Russels. Great little dogs, boat sized. Tough and hardy. Our previous one sailed for 16 years including many offshore passages. Our two current ones are being slowly introduced to sailing.
 
We've got a Working Cocker Spaniel. Everyone assumes he is a Springer though as his look and build is similar just about 20% smaller. He loves the water and the boat and as a working gundog breed is pretty bombproof to new environments. At 16kg he is relatively easy to manhandle from dinghy to boat and doesn't take up too much room down below at night.

Wouldn't hesitate in recommending the breed for onboard life. Great companions too.
 
jimi said:
We lost our dog a couple of years ago (Lab/Weimeranner X) and I'm now under pressure to get another one. My condition is that it must be boat friendly, family friendly and love the outdoors and execise.

What recommendations do the panel have? Currently Brittany & Field English Springer Spaniels are in the frame.
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I agree, must be boat friendly and easy enough to pick up. Our old lab can just about climb on and off from the pontoon but wouldnt be able to manage the dinghy via the transom. He is too old and fat, and so am I.

We had a springer too - they are good company and fun, but also pretty mad. We learned too late that you MUST train them properly from the beginning, especially walking to heel.
 
emsworthy said:
We've got a Working Cocker Spaniel. Everyone assumes he is a Springer though as his look and build is similar just about 20% smaller. He loves the water and the boat and as a working gundog breed is pretty bombproof to new environments. At 16kg he is relatively easy to manhandle from dinghy to boat and doesn't take up too much room down below at night.

Wouldn't hesitate in recommending the breed for onboard life. Great companions too.
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Oh yeah, seeing Nick's post above forgot to say that spaniels are all a bit mental, but then that's part of their charm!
 
We have sailed successfully with a succession of Old English sheepdogs, a golden retriever and a labradoodle. We have used a cockpit enclosure as overnight accommodation for them so they don't come below, since the retriever's discarded fur jammed and burned out the bilge pump motor at a bad moment going the outside route from St Agnes to Tresco.

Choose whatever breed of dog you like as a companion and introduce it to the boat a.s.a.p. Unless you are very unlucky, the dog will take to it just to be with you. The only one of ours that was sometimes less than keen was the first OE, who was already a middle aged landlubber from Wiltshire when first taken afloat.

A sugar scoop and a dog lifejacket with a built in lifting handle are very useful if you go for a bigger dog - all ours have been well over 30 kg.
 
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You probably can't stand the breed but we used to have a Yorkshire terrier as a boat dog when kids. With 4 children plus parents on a 22 foot Kestrel I'm amazed we could fit even that. But ideal as outdoor dog that likes confined spaces too. He even dealt with his own waste by going on the tiny stern deck then nudging it off. Also an enthusiastic swimmer.

Downsides - post swim shaking, preferably having come into the cabin and standing on an occupied sleeping bag.
 
TheEcho said:
Jack Russell in this story
http://yachtsngulets.com/amazing-dog-jack-saves-yacht-and-owners-in-bodrum-storm.html

Can't quite work out what happened though from the article - anyone any thoughts?
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Can't quite work out why the person taking the photos stood by and watched a dog tie the rope to a tree instead of helping themselves!! and anyway, why would you want to secure your yacht that is clearly aground in breaking waves? Surely that's a sure fire way of getting it broken into small pieces. Very strange indeed.
 
jimi said:
We lost our dog a couple of years ago (Lab/Weimeranner X) and I'm now under pressure to get another one. My condition is that it must be boat friendly, family friendly and love the outdoors and execise.

What recommendations do the panel have? Currently Brittany & Field English Springer Spaniels are in the frame.
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Spaniels need exercise & plenty of it.
Both our Brittanies are comfortable on the boat when out for a day or so, but they do need to be able to stretch their legs on a daily basis.
Wouldn't fancy having them on board for long passages.

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Had a JRT when I was a kid. Remember it to be a hyper-active unguided missile with a vicious streak. :(
 
Jack Russell, introduced to boat life at a year old. Great swimmer, dries quickly, goes into "shut down mode" on long passages (just sleeps, clever animal)!

I think if I were able to offer advice it'd be this, pick a breed that's the right size for your boat. Having seen countless people struggle with issues related to older large dogs getting in and out of dinghy etc. I'm delighted to have a small 10kg pet. Also in countries where they're banned from buses and so forth? Stick dog in a decent sized rucksack with cute head popping out the top and no one bats an eyelid :)
 
You need something that will relax whilst on board, not something that will be hyper when the boat moves.

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Then you need something that will listen up when its time to go ashore.

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Thats easy to handle into a Tender.

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Yep its Sea "Fairing Whippet Attack Dogs" every time.

Tom;):cool:
 
RupertW said:
You probably can't stand the breed but we used to have a Yorkshire terrier as a boat dog when kids. With 4 children plus parents on a 22 foot Kestrel I'm amazed we could fit even that. But ideal as outdoor dog that likes confined spaces too. He even dealt with his own waste by going on the tiny stern deck then nudging it off. Also an enthusiastic swimmer.

Downsides - post swim shaking, preferably having come into the cabin and standing on an occupied sleeping bag.
Click to expand...

We've got 2 boat Yorkies, one has sailed with us for 12 years the other for 5. Don't moult, easy to lift on or off the boat and will sit around all day or will walk all day. We then added a black lab as well just to get the the loose dog hair, wet dog smell and the logistical difficulties of getting on and off the boat that we missed...
 
Patterdale Terriers. We have two that come sailing. They are shot puttable. We throw them onto the deck from the dinghy! Weight 10kg
They are as hard as nails and have no know ailments. They are extremely agile so no problem balancing on a boat. They love being in the RIB and standing on the front tubes. They are quick drying being short haired. They will run all day given the opportunity but are quiet on the boat when you need them to be.
They are a big dog personality in a small dogs body. They are a similar specification to a Jack Russell just a big bigger and more athletic
 
When considering the type of dog our main considerations were
Size (small but too small, don't drop hairs all over the boat, like exercise but not unduly bothered if it's not provided. And of course friendly temperament.
We found that a Tibetan terrier was ideal. Only disadvantage is that she needs to be trimmed every now and again to make grooming less of a pain. A daily brush is one way of passing the time on a long sail.
She doesn't smell as bad as some breeds especially when wet.
 
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