Dog Boats

[DennisM]

Love my Aussie. Can't get him to use the "poop deck" since he was a puppy. He totally freaks out in rough water, but as a coastal cruiser, I can mostly avoid it. (I'm not fond of it, either.) He loves the dinghy, because he knows what it means - shore time! He also recognizes the sound of the launches at various marinas when they come out to get us on our moorings. I try to limit my daytime cruising to a maximum of 8 hours, but he has gone as many as fourteen without having an accident.

[ElGatoGordo]

That's a fine looking dog Dennis!

[Vino the Dog]

@delay
It is true. Our search & rescue group did a helicopter protocol training with the USAF 36th Combat Rescue Squad out of Fairchild AFB, Spokane, Washington. You want to see a seriously scared dog, walk up to a running Huey with him! But he did it. Just like a good soldier... put his uniform on and he snaps to attention and obeys the command. Each dog had to load on the running helicopter twice to earn the certification after first loading on it not running so they would understand that there are people on board.

[Vino the Dog]

DennisM

Nice looking Aussie. What do you do when he freaks in heavy weather? How do you keep him from being thrown around and getting hurt when you are sailing the boat?

(photo; Aleutia approaching USAF Helicopter)

[DennisM]

Great pic, Vino. I just try to reassure him and encourage him to go below. Once, and only once, he figured out how to wedge himself, curled up, on the forward-most part of the cabin sole, under the v-berth, where he wouldn't slide around. Most of the time, he'll go down into the quarter berth and wedge himself in a corner there. When it's really rough, however, he trembles and won't leave my side in the cockpit. I'm thinking that the previously mentioned small dose of valium might be a good idea, but I don't know how I'd administer it. He won't eat or drink when he's frightened.

[svstrider]

Kaspar de Wonda dawg has been on the boat for the last 3 years. We got him from the pound when he was 4, onto the high seas when he was 9. His 12th birthday is next month. We usually day sail in OZ but crossing the Gulf of Carpentaria which took 4 days, he EVENTUALLY went to have a pee on his astro turf after 40 hours and a crap on the third day. He is always rewarded with a treat for visits to the turf. Now he does a token wee to earn an extra treat after eating dinner.

We have taken him to Indonesia and Malaysia and are now in Thailand. Muslim countries are a real difficulty as Muslims HATE dogs. Even floating dog hair has caused great upset. There are so few dogs in Muslim villages that the cats often don't know to be afraid when they see him. This upsets him cause they don't bother running. It takes all the fun out of it.

During night watches, he lies on the cockpit cushion. If the weather is bad he is allowed to get up on the bridgedeck lounge. He is terrified of lightning and needs a good hug for the duration of the pyrotechnics.

He has fallen off twice. Both times at anchor when he was chasing jetskis and skidded off the stern scoops when he couldn't stop. If we are too slow going ashore, he just jumps into the dinghy even if it hanging off the davits and gives us a dirty look until we take him ashore.

[DennisM]

Incredible information, svstrider! What a great dog!

[Craig Cape Town]

Hi Steve,
Have a look at Carolyn's site Potty Training a Boat Dog
You'll find some useful info here.
Good luck
Craig

[boatsail]

She just likes our company. Does not matter where she is. She hunkers down in the cockpit when it gets rough. She walks up on the bow and I get nervous. I let her go to see how far she will push her comfort level. Only do this when it is really calm out. I keep her in the cockpit or below if it is rougher out. She just loves company, does not matter. Boat, wet and soaked in the woods, deep in the snow.
She is great.
Just dropped her off to get a cruciate(<spelling) ligament surgery again second one she had)

[eliems]

I find we have to lay out some carpet runners for our Boxer to make use of the (small) foredeck.

Also we made rubber booties to protect his feet from the oyster shells.

Sailing Desolation Sound - Boaz the Sailor Dog - YouTube

[ElGatoGordo]

Great stuff!!

[lucseawalker]

We have been cruising the Caribbean and South + North pacific for 20 years ... with one or two Schipperke dogs ... would do it again if we went back in time! So many people worry about regulations of each countries and the only countries we avoided because of the dogs were NZ and Australia ... and we could have gone there too if we had accepted the complications and fees there!

[ElGatoGordo]

Originally Posted by lucseawalker

We have been cruising the Caribbean and South + North pacific for 20 years ... with one or two Schipperke dogs ... would do it again if we went back in time! So many people worry about regulations of each countries and the only countries we avoided because of the dogs were NZ and Australia ... and we could have gone there too if we had accepted the complications and fees there!

This is good info, I am one of those concerned about the myriad of regs to deal with!

[islander20]

Was just reading about bringing a dog into Ne Zealand...when they have to be quarantined for a month are they completely removed from you? Or can you go see them? Sounds pretty aweful

[Vino the Dog]

More great info. Thank you all. Aleutia is now learning about boats. His first lesson is how to get down the ladder without flopping on his nose. Had to slow him down and try to get him to climb down instead of just jumping. Then he found the boat strange and looked worried until I told him it is OK to get on the settee. After a couple days practice, he now jumps on board and goes up and down the ladder without being encouraged.