Where does your dog sit ?

[moodycruiser]

I said SIT. ttcht. Do you take your dog sailing with you, and if so, where does he/she sit when you are on your beam ends? Do you tie him/her in a corner, up against the dodger, wedge him/her in, stick them down with Velcro or what?
One of the Mags was giving away tie-wraps, but I think that's a bit harsh.
Benji (my JRT/sheep cross) has a tendency to slide about a bit when we are beating, and was thinking about a v.short line through his lifejacket 'D' ring tied across the pushpit on the leeward quarter.
Anyone found a good solution ?


<hr width=100% size=1>Tony

 

[bernard_foster]

Where ever he wants!, he's too big to argue with

<hr width=100% size=1>Bernie Foster

 

[Talbot]

Mine used to curl up on any of the seats he fancied in the cockpit, and sliding around was not that big a problem, but I am not into this heeling stuff cause my boat is a cat /forums/images/icons/smile.gif



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[Nick_Pam]

So your dog keeps close company with a cat quite happily???
Hmmm........My GSD would have probably bitten parts off at random!!!!

<hr width=100% size=1>Is it really 42???

 

[Jools_of_Top_Cat]

If it is sunny he likes to lounge out on one of the cockpit benches. If it is shady or a bit bouncy he has a crate set up with lots of blankets and toys on the bunk of the spare cabin. We leave the door open and he can come and go but would rather sleep through anything he can't easily sunbathe in.

Another thing to make him settle, we may throw his cushion under the saloon table, but this might not be possible for monohulls in the same way, our saloon is on the bridge-deck so he can go and sleep under the table without our help.

I have considered tying him via his jacket, but as a staffie he hates being tied in, any attempts in the past he will bite through any rope or string that has stopped him getting to me.

<hr width=100% size=1>Julian

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[Becky]

I used to sail with two spaniels, a cocker and a springer; Spangle (the cocker - now deceased) found the quarter berth and retreated there whenever the weather/seas were not to his liking. Bessie, my little springer followed him. Now we haven't got a quarter berth in our bigger Moody Bessie will have to test her powers of initiative somewhat. But I think that she would rather be with me than left at home with somebody else. Probably retreat to lee saloon berth and sleep. Can I suggest that you give your dog some space and see how he/she choses to settle? They are far more inventive than you might realise.

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[simonfraser]

yuk, as far away as possible !

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[ponapay]

Our Norfolk

terrier cross Yorkie - spaniel size - (sadly now deceased) used to sit with us in the cockpit but when it got rough went below to a downwind bunk in the saloon.

He would leap up and tell us whenever there were whales or Dolphins around and would try to get into the bows to watch them. If he barked the dolphins would always roll onto their sides and look at him.

As to training, it took ages to persuade him that it was OK to pee gainst the mast and nowhere else. His greatest delight, after dolphin spotting, was to sit in the eyes of the tender when going ashore for his walks.

At anchor when the bunks were occupied he slept on the cabin sole, but if it got very swelly (as it can on the Atlantic fringe) he would leap on to the nearest suitable bunk (whether or not it was already occupied).

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[smeaks]

I have two dogs in an 18.5ft boat one is an 8 stone mastiff who sleeps down below....portable ballast. the other is a terrier who tends to sit anywhere I want to!
Just before I choose to!......portable cushion.

When healing heavily he just scoots up closer to the accomodation bulkhead and gives me one of those looks!

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[[3889]]

Tend to agree with "wherever he wants to" As he's not a keen sailor I've tried to make things a bit easier by making a bean bag out of net curtain- this is self draining and quick drying and lets him slump inside the cockpit when the boats heeled.
Andy

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[Gordonmc]

Our King Chas. Spaniel makes a nest out of the mainsheet on the cockpit floor until he's kicked off. Sorry... moved gently with a foot.
I wonder if anyone has experienced their dog becoming pontoonaphobic?
As a pup he was fine getting to the boat and with sailing, often in lumpy water. But now a year old and on going back into his lifejacket after the winter lay-up he refuses to walk on the pontoon.
After some time he does eventually move... as though he's on a tightrope. This is even on calm days when wobble can't be the issue. He's not even frightened of water. I know KCS's are supposed to be lazy wimps, but he's big for the breed and runs all day in the hills, frit of nothing.
Any solutions from the Barbara Woodhouses on the forum?



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[jleaworthy]

Our two Jack Russell terriers sit under the spray hood on either side of the hatch. The previous owner of our boat told us his twin grandsons occupied similar positions - presumably until they started crawling. But when conditions become unpleasant one of our dogs, the intelligent one, finds her way below and gets turned in amongst the quilts on the quarter double berth. Wish I could do the same.

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[charles_reed]

Both cat and dog

used to retire into the leeward quarter berth on my last boat and seemed to have no problem with stability.

I'd suggest leave well alone - he'll find his own place.

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[Inselaffe]

Our Beagle/Labrador/Portuguese-street-hound mongrel Lilli swims like a fish, has been introduced slowly and surely to my Etap 22 on the pontoon (she thinks it's a big plastic sweet tin) and this evening we took her out for her first test-sail in a dinghy to see how she liked it ready for a trip this weekend.

So far her favourite place seems to be tight-rope walking along the transom even when heeled up to the gunwhales.

So I'm interested to see more replies about the practicalities of clipping the mutt onto the boat...


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[Jools_of_Top_Cat]

If you are clipping the dog in please buy a decent harness from a pet shop, the types for cars are very strong and my dogs always found them comfortable.

It would in my opinion not by wise to use the D loop on the life jacket or the collar, you need to get support on the dogs chest. The car type harness can be worn under the dog lifejacket, and is much better for lifting the dog in and out of the boat etc.

Sorry if I sound like I am lecturing.

<hr width=100% size=1>Julian

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[Inselaffe]

Good point, with a line to the collar it would just need one jump or slip to end it all.

So Lilli has been sporting her new harness for a while now, and when she liked the look of a nearby floating stick and dived in off the Jetty to get it last night it was really easy to pull her back up, both times. She's not heavy at 17kg but with a collar it's surprising what a struggle the same thing can be.

I've got netting to put around the lifelines, but wonder if this gets in the way (in terms of using a well placed boot when required) when leaving / coming up to the pontoon because as a beginner my boat handling skills are still improving, and it's very tight to get in and out of my berth...




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[boatless]

I've used netting to keep small children on board. No, it isn't thought to be cool, and it does make it slightly awkward with lines when mooring. Fenders tie to mid-height rail.

The upside is that you won't lose winch handles etc over the side. Well worth having, but do renew it at least every two years, it's not very UV proof.

<hr width=100% size=1>my opinion is complete rubbish, probably.

 

[richardandtracy]

This has got me thinking.
I don't have a dog, just three cats. Has anyone tried cats on their boat? Do they get seasick?
I rather miss my cats when they're not around. I think the biggest (about twice the weight of a normal Jack Russel) is bold enough to find the experience interesting. The cats are used to sleeping anywhere too, we don't give them cat beds at home as there are three human beds in the house we can't keep them off..

Regards

Richard


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[ongolo]

Hi Richard,

yes cats do sail. no problem at all.

There was a case of a poor cruiser in houtbay. his cat lingered near the fish shop for awhile before darting in, onto a table, grabbing a big fish, off the table, out the door and brought the fish to its owner (the cats owner). So the cat literally fed the owner.

After a few days, the manager/owner did not chase the cat anymore. Dont know how long this actually carried on.

Shop was Mariners Wharf. So Richard better take your cats.

As far as dogs go, you people should get a proper dog for a sailing boat.

My billy, actually willam of brakwater, is a smoth haired namibian navy giant, especially bred for low centre of gravity on namiban sailing ships. very rare breed indeed.

There are only three in the world, the pope has one , your queen has one and I have the third.

regards ongolo




<hr width=100% size=1>So what......... it floats

 

[Courageous]

Ongolo says -

"As far as dogs go, you people should get a proper dog for a sailing boat."

www.mailspeed.com and look under sailing dogs - they have a great selection!

Hehe!

I divorced my dog and she was awarded the house, so she sits anywhere she wants.......

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