Dogs on boats

[nitroexpress]

Dear members,

I wanted to ask how you manage to take your dogs on your boat. Could you possibly give me pointers on this matter? i would sincerely appreciate it.

We need to know all the information that you experienced boaters can share with us.

Many thanks in advance for your help.

Best regards,
David

 

[captddis]

We have always taken our dogs with us. We do not anchor out so it is not much different than being home.

 

[lumina]

Hi All,

We also have taken our cairn terroir with us where ever we go, and like Capt usually go from slip to slip so there's no issue. She took to the boat immediately, no fear, no sea sickness (yes it's possible). If perchance there is an emergency en route we've trained her to do her business in the corner of the cockpit, which we immediately send out the scupper with soap and water.

If we are anchored out or on a ball, we make regular trips to dry land.

 

[bhostrawser]

A lot depends on the dog. Puppies and smart dogs will figure it all out quickly. I picked up a mutt off the street in Mexico once and he sailed to El Salvador and back with me. Still got him, damn good dog. He figured out the balance thing pretty quickly, and found spots around the boat that were comfortable, secure, and where he could keep an eye on things In this respect, some dogs will take to it, and some dogs might not do it so easily... hard to say without trying.

Along the way, I met a couple that are now in FL somewhere, Titusville maybe?, Dave and Nancy Haslam. They used to train service dogs for the blind, while they lived aboard a 42 foot ketch up in Seattle. They trained their pups to go to the bathroom on a small turf-like mat (they could move it around to wherever was convenient, underway or at anchor), that was easily cleaned with a washdown hose. This worked well and gave the dog a place, they could associate and return to when the need arose.

Besides that, never really had an issue. Most of the stuff is common sense. Might scratch some varnish here or there, keep'em off deck while underway, some hair here and there, etc.... My dog loves the boat, can't get him off the thing and every Saturday morning he is the first one at the door, ready to go to the marina. Hopefully it will work out that way for you too.

 

[lumina]

Hi All,

I forgot to mention,,,, don't presume your dog can swim. Although it's supposed to be in their nature, some need you to teach them first. I've seen a dog sink like a rock the first time he was on a boat and fell off. (owner saved him).

Every dog needs to where a vest at all times......

 

[Finalee]

Ours rarely misses a trip. She will not pee or poop until onshore. Having a good collar has been handy several times . She has jumped off while underway.

 

[Mike36c]

Hi All,

We also have taken our cairn terroir with us where ever we go, and like Capt usually go from slip to slip so there's no issue. She took to the boat immediately, no fear, no sea sickness (yes it's possible). If perchance there is an emergency en route we've trained her to do her business in the corner of the cockpit, which we immediately send out the scupper with soap and water.

If we are anchored out or on a ball, we make regular trips to dry land.

On one Bahama crossing I put two pieces of sod in the corner of the cockpit, both dogs looked at me in disbelief. They must have been thinking what the hell is this grass doing on our boat! They ignored the lawn but it was worth a shot.

 

[Plan B2]

I extended the swim platform added a spiral stair to facilitate getting Travis to the bank. Other than that he is pretty much a regular crew member. He has been with us on every outing since he was 8 weeks old.

 

[doc g]

We have a Yorkie that I trained to a cat litter box. Loves going to the boat and never have to get in the tender and go poach someone's waterfront property.........Pat

 

[Freestyle]

We used to laugh about the people taking their tenders in at day break to walk their dogs and thought they were crazy. No we are them.

We travel with 2 Chinese Pugs who can not swim at all. They are supposed to always wear their life vests when on deck and in the tender but the wife and kids are less than diligent about it if they are near by. I worry if one fell in I would have a dog and 3 other people in the water to rescue.

The funniest thing we see all the time is how the dogs hear dolphins before we see them and then they bark back and forth with them while the dolphins perform in our wake. Video is on YouTube.

Cruising with dogs adds more fun than pain. The dogs force us to dinghy ashore more and wander around new places. Same when we are tied up. Sometimes you just don't feel very adventurous but with the dogs you have to go out anyway so might as well enjoy the exploring.

I loved the sod idea and am glad it didn't work so I wont be tempted.

Bruce

Freestyle
1986 67 CPMY
Tampa

 

[Diesel]

On one Bahama crossing I put two pieces of sod in the corner of the cockpit, both dogs looked at me in disbelief. They must have been thinking what the hell is this grass doing on our boat! They ignored the lawn but it was worth a shot.

I really think the sod idea is great as well especially with my 2 big dogs...in fact I may sod the entire cockpit and practice my golf swing as well.

 

[jim rosenthal]

Why don't you move up to a 70' convertible and you could have a short course, not just a practice tee?

 

[bigbill]

we have 3 boston terriers that love going on the boat, we have to spell b o a t around the house or they get excited. i trained them to use the bow as their potty since we mostly hang out on the aft deck, the mess dries quick in the sun and we just pick it up and put it in the trash. mine have also jumped off of the moving dinghy when we get close to the beach so they always wear their life jackets.

 

[Mike36c]

Ok, you folks who have trained your furry buddies to do their business at sea must share your secret. When my admiral points at the the poorly laid cockpit sod and says "Pee!" the critters look at her as is if she asked them to construct an Obamacare website. What's the secret?

 

[holtcl]

LOL for real! When Diesel the Doberman was alive we tried the sod thing as well. Even scented it with some urine thinking that, being a boy dog, he would have the urge to "mark" his territory. Didn't work!

With Diesel being a big dog and Cinderella not having a cockpit, we ended up taking him over the side in a custom "sling" to get to the dink. He tolerated it well, rest his soul. My next boat dog I will probably be in the smaller range though, as it was a process getting him ashore.

Cheryl
Cinderella
1971 53 MY

 

[rsmith]

Over the years I've seen people lose dogs on their boats. Like having a little kid on board animals are no different. You may think they are smart but their still just an animal. Mike36c may remember 4of July at walkers when a couples dog freaked out by the fireworks and jumped off the island. The current swept the poor dog away never to be seen again. The couple was hysterical and it ruined their vacation and probably their entire boating experience. It's something to think about if you think that if fido falls overboard he won't panic and find his way back to the swim platform.

 

[Avenger]

Good point. We saw a dog drown at an Op Sail in NY harbor. Family couldn't get it back in the boat. A doggie PFD would have been a great help since most of them have a handle on the back to help pick Fido up, but still no guarantees.

 

[Mike36c]

Over the years I've seen people lose dogs on their boats. Like having a little kid on board animals are no different. You may think they are smart but their still just an animal. Mike36c may remember 4of July at walkers when a couples dog freaked out by the fireworks and jumped off the island. The current swept the poor dog away never to be seen again. The couple was hysterical and it ruined their vacation and probably their entire boating experience. It's something to think about if you think that if fido falls overboard he won't panic and find his way back to the swim platform.

I do remember, what a sad day. We don't have children so our mutts are treated as such. The Doggie lottery is what our friends say the pups have won, we rarely leave the dock without them and we watch them like a they watch us making their dinner. Still hoping the folks who have sea trained their canines will chime in with the secret.

 

[bhostrawser]

Still hoping the folks who have sea trained their canines will chime in with the secret.

I'm not sure if there is a secret, but it just takes training. Certain things dogs will or won't do, and you have to be sensitive to where they are comfortable in the first place, it can't be somewhere too close to loud noises or strong smells, too confined or too exposed, etc... each dog has their own things they get nervous around. The better it fits what they would have selected, the easier its going to be.

What I did with mine was, relocate them to the spot you want them to go when they alert you that they need to go (you have to know your dogs signs), or after they made a mistake somewhere else, just like house training them. Being aware of the alert before they go takes patience and a lot of attention the first few times. If they make a mistake somewhere, I relocated them, and whatever part of the mess I could, to the astro turf, so they could associate going to the bathroom, to that location. If they did manage to make it where I indicated, or close, then they got a treat. The more repetition, the better, so it might take a little longer if you aren't on board with them daily. I lived aboard at the time, and both our dogs are working mutts, eager to please and easy to train. Your mileage may vary!


Thats what I did, it worked for us, nothing special really. At one point, a few months later, I ditched the turf, but I think if you had the space, you could do a little box for them, sort of a sandbox or litter box.

 

[madhatter1]

we have 3 boston terriers that love going on the boat, we have to spell b o a t around the house or they get excited. i trained them to use the bow as their potty since we mostly hang out on the aft deck, the mess dries quick in the sun and we just pick it up and put it in the trash. mine have also jumped off of the moving dinghy when we get close to the beach so they always wear their life jackets.

Ha! We have a Boston who has a love/hate relationship with the boat. She doesn't want to miss ANYTHING but when underway she sticks to the little bed I bought her and stuck in the V-berth. Last summer pounding our way to the Keys the kids pulled all the bedding down and put it on the floor so she had a soft landing from going airborne. swims great but have met some others whose Boston's sink like a rock. Barks at the kids jumping in the water and goes for ANY fish we catch. Don't tell the cops but she is on the boat when we are at shell island!