Sailing with a dog on board - any advice to offer?

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npf1

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Just got a setter pupper which we will - he says both hopefully and blissfully unaware of the consequences! - be taking sailing in due course. I'd be interested to hear from those with experience of pets on board of any useful tips, things to avoid etc for boating/sailing with a mut?

Thanks in advance.
 
A setter? Arn't they the ones with ADHD?:)
We "found" a labrador sized mutt in Corsica and sailed with her for three months. She accepted the situation but was always overjoyed when we came in to harbour. Had a tendancy to jump for the quay a little too early! So keep control of the dog when entering or leaving harbour. Only real problem was the two overnight passages we did, because she refused to do anything until she had a tree to do it against. Had yellow liquid sloshing around in her eyes by the time we came in...
Also make sure claws are trimmed and be strict about the floor being the place for the dog; if you value your resale value. Good luck, we had a ball, a whole new dimension to sailing cos it gave the kids something to do.
 
A really useful source of fresh meat on long voyages I have been told. Ensure you have the claws pulled if allowing it to roam otherwise keep it in its cage on the foredeck by the chickens and just hose it down once a day with fresh seawater. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
 
Clean up after it, no one else appreciates poop on their boats after walking in it (or any other time)

Do dogs get sea sickness?

/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
A friend of mine has this crew member to keep him company and protect the boat

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I think he's a cross between a Labrador and a Newfoundland. Either that or a Bear /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
Well, at least you have a big boat for it to wander around! Setter (English or Red) would not be my choice of boat dog. Many people go for small and lively things like Jack Russels or lazy slobs like many labradors.

However, you stand a chance as pups adapt to their surroundings whereas grown dogs need to adapt. I have had two labs, one loved sailing the other hated it.

Short trips are OK for most dogs if they have somewhere to escape at the end, but if they live aboard you have to deal with their bodily functions - plus the hair at moult times!

Good luck!
 
If you can train the dog to pee on board at an early stage you'll find life a lot easier. Ours only learned at the age of 12 when she was getting incontinent.

Get a life jacket. All dogs can swim but if you have a DoB it can get tired and sink before you get to it.

Instil dinghy discipline. The dog gets in and out only when you're ready, especially when going ashore.

Don't visit Dover or Ramsgate with the dog on board. There is a total ban. In other ports, make sure you can prove you haven't been abroad (harbour receipts, GPS track etc.) In theory the dog could be put in quarantine after a trip round the bay.

Don't imagine you can take a dog to France with a pet passport. It's a LOT more complicated that that.

A dog needs a secure place to lie when at sea. The ideal is a rigid basket, well chocked in.
 
i'm in the same boat too as i have a 6month old English bull terrier, so keep in touch and exchange stories.

bob
 
We sail with a dog and at times it can be a pain but nothing comes close to the following. Many years ago my parents & i were anchored at stone point on the Walton backwaters, we got up early to catch the tide up to the deben. Just behind us was an old Kestrel 22 with mum, dad, two kids aged about ten and of all things an Afghan hound. The hound came out of the top hatch board as the crew slumbered on, tiptoed to the stern and leapt into the dinghy it then leapt from the dinghy to the shore. Unfortunately the dinghy shot away and it fell in. Swimming ashore it then found the mud was soft & deep and plowtered through it up to its belly. Of course once ashore it went berserk as only afghan hounds can and roared about eating crabs rolling in mud, sand & dead seagulls. After half an hour of great doggy fun it had had enough and went back to the boat. by now the tide had fallen further so it was able to leap into the dinghy dripping in mud & sand & from there into the cockpit. We watched open mouthed as it wriggled back through the hatch and a few seconds later the howls of anguish started. We got under way so did not see the final result. The moral of this story is best dog on a boat is a small one with short fur or leave it in the kennels!
 
Our 2 are quite new to this sailing lark ..... both mad as snakes but seem to enjoy the sailing. We ensure that they always wear their life jackets (handle on jacket is handy), and are always tied on whilst up on deck.
They both often sleep in the forward cabin whilst at sea and are only allowed on deck when the boat (and skipper) are settled. First thing we do when arriving into port is take them off for a walk and wee etc. (away from pedestrian areas normally). The puppy gets a little lonely when we're both on deck but stops the whining after a 10 minutes or so. We've not been out longer that 8 hours yet so haven't got to the wee aboard stage yet - there's enough fresh water on board to "flush" any wee that may happen into the bilges though.
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And here is the complete crew !
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I can thoroughly recommend an Old English Sheepdog as a boat dog. our current seadog has nine years' sailing under her collar including five trips to Scilly
 
Can we swap our Old English for yours then please as ours seems to have lost her sea legs and doesn't like it much anymore. First 3 years great as she slept all the time but now she wont settle at all! /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif
 
[ QUOTE ]
Do dogs get sea sickness?

/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

Oh yes.

SWMBO's springer spaniel, anyway. Took her (the spaniel) with me 'cos she was making "spaniel eyes" at me as I left the house for the boat (they're good at that). Previously, she'd just lay down and gone to sleep once we'd headed out to sea (a bit hairy in the marina, 'cos she's always too ready to dive in). This time, she didn't settle, until eventually, she'd disappeared into the saloon and went quiet. Got back in later than planned, and my friend under severe pressure to make his MIL's birthday meal, so looking for a swift depatrure from the boat. Go below to close seacocks, switch batteries off, etc. and find the cabin sole swimming in dog vomit, and a *very* folorn spaniel.

Whereas she used to leap onto the boat without a care, she now stands on the pontoon whining until ordered aboard. Took her with us for a brief sail last Saturday, and she spent the whole time with her head hanging over the transom looking at the wake. Not looking good /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

Andy
 
A picture of our seadog from a few months ago.
EdwinaRotchfordLilly.jpg

On Saturday we sailed from Ilfracombe to anchor for the night at Porlock weir. I offered to take Lilly off for a wee etc. When I arrived at some steps I had the painter in one hand and the dogs lifeline in the other. I had a sudden thought, clipped the dogs lifeline to the painter, sent her up the steps and stepped ashore. It must have looked so cool!! The guy at the top of the wall nearly fell off, he was laughing so much.
Allan
 
You should not post pictures like that - particularly if SWMBO is around. Had a yellow one, then a black one, so need a brown one to complete the set!
 
Brilliant idea, tie bow line to dog collar. Dog jumps ashore and holds bow whilst I tie up the stern /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif



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Our Spaniel gets seasick at the beginning of the year but gets over it pretty quick.

SWMBO uses him as an excuse - "Darling - Kipper (short for Kippernicus) doesn't like the boat leaning over......" Sod it - start the engine. Should have bought a Catermaran!

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