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We took a 60 pound Lab with us to French Polynesia. She lived aboard for two years before we left. Tried to train her to go on a piece of Astro Turf but she wouldn't go on the boat. We took her on a trip to the Channel Islands and she finally went on the deck after keeping her on the boat for three days. No problems after that. Her bathroom habits worked out fine. All we had to was scoop the solids over the side and wash down with sea water via a canvas bucket. About a minute to clean up after her once or twice a day. No odor problems with a fiber glass boat.
The Westsail 32 has a pretty long companion way climb but she was able to do it on her own except in rough seas. She stayed below when it got boisterous but lived on deck most of the time. Didn't seem to have any problems being on the boat and we let her swim whenever we were becalmed or at anchor.
We took her to shore once in the dinghy. She jumped out of the boat and ran after a dog that was on the beach. She came back quickly but it killed her. She got distemper from the other dog and died. As luck would have it, a research veteranarian was cruising in the same anchorage at the time. He did an autopsy and determined it to be a new variety with no vaccine.
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