Rottweiler on board a 33ft Yacht

[Shelley]

Hi,

We are taking our 33ft yacht to Spain later this year and I would like to be able to take my dog, a Rottweiler, with me on board. Is there anyone out there who has travelled some distance with a dog on board and if so, do you have any tips or advice?

Thank you.

 

[Das_Boot]

Mind where you step!

 

[jhr]

Don't let it get too hungry.............

 

[dralex]

Are they already trained to do pees and poos on board?? If not, you'll have a constipated bursting dog. I've heard of people using astroturf or even real turf on the foredeck, but that may be a wind up. I have never done more than 6 hours underway with our labrador. It's well worth getting one of those doggy life jackets, just as a way of clipping them on and as a way to get them out of the water WHEN(not if) they fall in. Taking a rigid dog bed ie one of the plastic ones is a good idea as they always have somewhere secure to go which will support them. Get a dust buster to get all the hairs up. Will you be coming back with the dog or will the dog go ashore I assume you've checked all the quarantine issues.

BTW- is this a wind up post?

 

[snowleopard]

I heard of someone who took his dog ocean sailing. He renamed it "Emergency Rations" /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[Stemar]

Taking your dog out and getting it used to the boat is one thing, getting it back in the UK is a potentially trip-busting issue.

AFAIK there are only two legal ways. One is to sort out a pet passport and bring it back using an authorised transporter, which meands a ferry Co. or Eurostar. The other involves 6 months quarantine.

The illegal ways involve a significant risk of 6 months quarantine for you and curtains for the mutt.... /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

 

[ZuidWester]

German Shepherd on board a 29 foot boat

My dog loves being onboard, but he's getting old and walking around the boat is a problem. The rabies issue is also a pain as you cannot bring him back to the UK on the boat. He must be brought in via Dover or Heathrow.

My advice: Find him a holiday home while you're away, or don't leave Bristish waters.

 

[KathrynDavies]

We have taken our Bull Terrier with us on a 32" boat, our crossings were between 4-6 hour stints. Our dog has a very strong bladder but I wouldn't want to risk much longer passages than that, as you never quite know when they might need to go!!!! Sometimes he looked a little uncomfortable on the rougher trips, if you imagine lying on the floor of the boat in rough seas you could feel a bit iffy!!

Although the trip went well generally, it is always a worry if you are going to have to tie up against a wall where you wont be able to get him off. We found it an added worry so now choose to leave him with friends or he goes in kennels.

Kathryn

 

[l'escargot]

If you take him out of the country on your own boat he will be subject to 6 months quarantine on return.

 

[Shelley]

Thank you for all your tips and comments on having the dog on board whilst sailing.

Basically, I am moving back to Spain. I lived there for several years and moving back there via my boat, and with hubby of course.

The dog will not be returning to England hence the carefree attitude towards quarantine.

My original request for tips was merely to see if anyone out there had actually done such a long passage with a dog on board and could they please share their experience with me.

This is a genuine request Dralex not a wind up.

If anyone has anything further to add regarding the dog on board, please reply to this thread.

Thanks.

 

[dweeze]

You can also try a bit of pre-trip training - ie teaching it to take a pee or dump on command. Ours does it.
Other things to watch for are to have a clear plan in your head as to what your going to do if the weather gets manky and you've got a sick / hyperactive / moochy dog needing attention - particularly if the dog doesnt tend to listen to you. We've taken ours on 24 hr journeys and will be taking her back to Oz in 12 months. Luckily she does everthing she's told to do - ie stay on her bed downstairs. Worst we've had so far is her playing with her ball in bad weather.

 

[SQUIRRELS]

Having taken two small dogs on passages up to 8 hrs, sometimes encountering fairly rough water I found that a really cosy bed, in a secure position, say wedged up against a bulkhead or even on top of your berth can really help. Get one of those lovely soft padded beds and get him/her used to it at home before taking it to the boat.

It might also be an idea to fix up some netting around the guardrails/decks to enable the dog to walk freely around the deck, perhaps with a safety line running along your jackstays. That way he/she will get a bit of exercise and won't feel so confined (this has certainly worked for mine when, of course conditions allow!). Once you arrive in Spain you can always remove the nets, but at least they'll give you peace of mind.

As far as toileting, you could allows try using the puppy training pads you can buy in pet shops; spray them with the stuff that attacts them or if the dog has a preferred area in your garden, place them there so he/she can get used to it, remember to reward for going on it!

Other ideas, well nothing too heavy on the food front that might get him/her prone to sickness and get one of those bowls with the lids, so that drinking water is always available but it won't spill over the cockpit or saloon. Oh yes, life jacket, take the dog into a chandlers and get one that fits really well with good grab handle on top!

By the way, if you do decide to obtain a pet passport, it takes 7 months in total. That's from first having the rabies injection, then one month later having the blood tests, then further 6 for all clear, but tests now last for 2 yrs - well that was for France, but best check with the vet. Just a thought in case you need to come back to UK.

Any more questions, please don't hesitate to ask.

 

[Phoenix of Hamble]

[ QUOTE ]
We have taken our Bull Terrier with us on a 32" boat


[/ QUOTE ]

Kathryn..... how on earth do you all fit on a 32 inch boat?

Seriously..... when we sailed with some friends and their dog, it was quite embarrasing taking him ashore, and trying to stop him 'doing his business' on the pontoon, as he was busting!..... long passages are tough on dogs....

 

[SQUIRRELS]

You're right long passages are tough on dogs, but sometimes the alternative of staying with someone else or worse, kennels makes a necessity that you tr and manage as best you can.

As far as messing on pontoons and without going down a somewhat unpleasant converstional route, most dogs will try to wait until they get to land. However a absolute essential, no matter where you are is to ensure you always have doggy bags. I cannot abide people not clearing up after their dog! So, should the worst happen on a pontoon, simply use a bag and reach for the nearest hose pipe - straight away!

 

[Shelley]

Re: Rottweiler on board a 33ft Yacht - A reply for Squirrels

Squirells,

Thank you so much for all your advice.

When I lived in Spain before, I rescued two dogs that had been abandoned on the beach in a bag at five weeks old. I took them to the vet and they were immediately given the first of their many injections. On the next visit I was told to bring a photo of each puppy, which I did, and in return received two shiny new passports for them. Evey visit the passport was signed. Unfortuanately I couldn't keep the dogs any longer, so I found a really lovely lady, through the vets, who kept them together, being brother and sister. I only had them until they were five months old, so they hadn't had their Rabies injection at the point. So I will keep that in mind what you said about the Rabies.

Also, I too agree, in that, as dog owners we must clean up after them as we do our children. (Okay, so not everyone cares about where to dispose of nappies, but most do).

Once again, thank you.

 

[Espadon]

Hi,
We sailed from Shoreham to Fecamp with our collie - a 13hr overnight trip - he was fine, a good long trot before hand & again when we arrived. He has a good bladder & doesn't like the rain, so is quite used to not going thru his own choice. He also doesn't like getting up in the morning in the winter so again he has a long stint between his evening run & the next day's outing. All dogs are different though & we don't make long passages a regular thing - the norm is more like 5 or 6, with occasionally an 8 hr stretch. A good long run before the journey is the best thing, & start of with 2 or 3 hour trips if possible! I wouldn't be without our dog on board.