What flavour dog?

Searush said:
I would recommend going to your local rescue home & picking up something small & friendly.
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The first time I went to the RSPCA to get a dog it was a shambles of a place with people who obviously cared. Ditto the second time to get a companion for the first due to my wroking times. They accepted my description of the quarters available and asked for a donation that I could afford. £10 did the job then.

12 years on I looked at the same place for a replacement for the first gone. They had a posh suite of offices with people to man them. Animals' quarters no different. They requested a 'donation' that I'd have paid for a pedigree. They have been bought by the bean counters
 
Sneaky Pete said:
You would need to be fairly intelligent to do this, Gets the imagination working this one which one is the dog which the bitch when it comes to the breading part how did they do it was there any help required as in a lift up. If the poodle was the dog did he sneak up on the bitch when she was sleeping and surprise her? Maybe someone can supply the answer it has gladdened my eye has this scenario.
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Best thing I can say is, don't ask. :eek:
 
Comrade Red said:
I've never been a dog person (4 legs) but the kids are keen on a furry friend that's a bot bigger than your standard mk1 gerbil (and with a bit more longevity).

As I spend most of my time single (when the kids are with ex) and go boating a bit, I am wondering if there is a parrticular breed of dog that is recommended for yachting?

i.e. doesn't want long walks, resistant to mal de mer, does small poops etc....
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As a few others have said a dog normally needs looking after all day. When you work who will look after it. The best way round it is for the dog to follow the kids so the ex will have the dog most of the time !
 
Lady Celestial said:
We have a labradoodle, a labrador crossed with a miniature poodle. She's intelligent, good tempered and loves the boat. She doesn't bark much and doesn't shed too much. She's quite happy being on the boat all day, so long as at some point she gets a walk. She's just the right size for the boat and doesn't get sea sick. I think the trick with dogs and boats is getting them used to the boat straight away.
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Second vote for a labradoodle. The only down side can be lifting 40kg of dog into the boat whilst standing in a wobbly inflatable dinghy, can be interesting. Great dog and we got him at the same time as the boat aged 9 weeks so started with just walks down the jetty and on to the boat. He now does channel crossings without a drama.

However, first couple of years were tricky, he ate a sofa, our Sunday roast joint, 8oz of butter, ......the list was endless. Thankfully he seemed to settle down at 2 yrs. Clever dog too. Needed to replace the fence so tied him up in the shade of tree with a piece of rope. A minute later he was stood behind me. Okay perhaps my bowline knot wasn't up to much. Took him back to the tree and retied the knot. Walking away I glanced back to see the nose and paws being put to good use untying the knot.

He is also big enough to lean against both life lines so doesn't disappear through the gap. We have a lifejacket but they are hot in the summer so clip him on with a lead when at sea.

Pete
 
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I have a sailing spaniel, Charlie, spaniels love the water and he loves sailing, can jump in and out of even big boats. But having a dog is a huge commitment and I wouldnt do it again,
 
mitiempo said:
Schipperke, the Dutch barge dog.

Compact and make good boat dogs. Several boat owners I know have them and there are no issues. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schipperke
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When I was a kid we had a Schipperke, it was a good ships dog.
Handy size to get on and off the boat.

As others wrote you can not rely on the kids to take the responsibility of the dog, and you must expect to have the dog for 10 or more years:)

Regardless of what type of dog you choose - it is easier to start with a puppy as it give you the possibility to let the dog get used to be on a boat during the first three months of it's life (it's good practice to introduce the young dogs to most situations at an early age).

We have two boxer's now they are great ship dogs also (both introduced to sailing at an early age), but with 30 kg's of dog it's more of a job to bring them on the boat.
In fact we depend on bringing a dingy with use to make sure we can get them on shore.
 
we chose a Jack Russell and you never can tell what you are going to get temperament wise when picking from a litter, it is hard to pin down how they will develop from just a tiny bundle of fluff.

Bosun is our second Jack, and we introduced him to sailing from 8 weeks and he takes it in his stride and hardly ever yaps or snaps ashore or afloat. our first Jack was only introduced to boating from 3 years old and would not stop barking when we went sailing probably through excitement because we were doing things, it drove us nuts that he would not shut up.

Any dog is going to be a real tie, so be sure of what you are doing before getting one as has been said.

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Alternative pet

Are you an alligator or crocodile person, still it has four legs maybe not child friendly but would be the focus of attention of other boat users in close proximity to it, they like their own space and don’t like being pestered so don’t expect it to fetch the ball. On the plus side they do make good burglar deterrents so may reduce your boat insurance.
 
Have to agree with SeaJet and one or 2 others.

If its only for the children forget it!

On the other side the X will not let me see the dogs. They used to go every where with me when I was home. They are great companiions if you find time for them.

In my opinion if you keep an eye out for a rescue working (NOT show) cocker spaniel you will not go wrong. Mine (I ended up with a pair and I would do it again wait till one is 2ish then get second great fun) loved sailing (even sat on the high side for me) great water dogs can be picked up with one hand (when they fall in).

MInimal inbreading problems, need some excersive but as much as anything keep them thinking/ challenged, 40 mins a day was enough. Although when not working they were normally out with me 12 hours a day.
 
we had 2 JR's. Super little dogs if you get ones with the right temperment.... ours were long haired bitches from the same litter, one being the biggest the other the smallest of the litter. Ours could be trying to kill each other one minute and shortly after they'd be curled up in their basket together.

I definatly wouldn't have two together again, they didn't bark as some do, but did seem to lead oneanother astray.

We had a border collie at the same time and after many weeks of the two JR's bossing her about, she would eventually 'lose it' and sort both the JR's out, that is until the next time she'd had enough of them.

When they lose their hair, it gets everywhere. When JR bitches are on heat they will chew through wire fencing to get out... ours did and one was eventually killed on the road.

Just because JR's are small don't be fooled. they need a lot of exercise to keep them happy otherwise they can get grumpy.

If you really have the time to look after it....( the kids will probably lose interest ), I'd still recommend a JR though. A male, with a smooth coat, ideally with longer legs than standard (they still race them up North)... and have his nuts off when the time is right.
 
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My experience is that dogs are either happy on a boat or not happy. There doesn't seem to be any middle ground, and if they don't like it at the off, they never will. As others have said, getting a dog for the kids is not a valid reason to have one. You have to want one yourself, because when the weather is bad, there's something good on the telly or numerous other distractions come along, you'll be doing the walkies yourself.
CJ
 
Sorry dogs are a big responsibility whatever their size-avoid at all costs-I hope my German Shepherd didnt hear me say that although probably he did.
He is getting old but might try him on boat but my worry is he will like it.
Despite having been an urban rescue dog he loves forests;mountains;lakes and the seaside!
If he gets a taste for sailing I have no doubt there will be no stopping him!
 
Pete7 said:
Second vote for a labradoodle.
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Angus is a dead ringer for my old labradoodle, although they weren't called that back then. When I was pike fishing up in Scotland he regularly fell overboard and since he weighed over 80lb dry you can imagine what he weighed swimming! He loved being on boats, and off them, the rougher it was the better.
If I get another sailing mutt it will be a LOT smaller, I fancy a Westie, but I've no idea how they'd take to water.
 
American Cocker Spaniel... small, fun and love the water.

Kate Middleton loves them too:D:D:D

Get a blonde one though. Our poor little black one was always too hot in the summer.

GL
 
Chrissie said:
I have a sailing spaniel, Charlie, spaniels love the water and he loves sailing, can jump in and out of even big boats. But having a dog is a huge commitment and I wouldnt do it again,
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Thought mine had jumped ship for a moment Chrissie!
 
There is no Kate Middleton, she, Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge is married.

Catherine and her husband now have a cocker spaniel NOT an American Cocker. Sorry.........:)
 
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