Basset Hound Ahoy !

[Osirian]

Hi Everyone

We have a question.

We have two basset hounds and are looking at buying a cat in 2012 and going cruising long term. We love our dogs so much and really don't want to leave them behind in the pursuit of our dream, as they are our family.

Can anybody give us some advice on this scenario and we'd love to here from anybody who has a basset on board if possible, and what life on board with dogs largish dogs is like in general.

Many Thanks

Dave and Lisa - Boris and Oakydockie

[aegean adrift]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hmWHqlhKlzI

[svstrider]

Welcome to CF, Boris & Oakydockie (U poor dawg. WHERE did UR Humanz get that name from??)

As U can C frm my Humanz avatar, I 2 live on a Boat with 2 hulls (I just can't say the C word).

Capt P & De Admiral have erected a dingo fence to stop me doing any more dawgie dives off the bows when I am engaged in my second most fave activity, after chasing C's, of chasing jet skis up & down the boat.

HELL, all aboard de good ship Pelican, do hate them noisy small dick toys.

I was getting one hell of a case of postnasal drip from those exit stage fronts into the deep blue. Now Jimmy Buffet knows how I felt. BTW get well soon Jimmy.

My Humanz also bought me a hi visibilty life jacket and griptex boots from
this mob in the US Ruff Wear Big Eddy Float Coat Life Jacket : Backcountry K-9
The Capn then added not one but TWO water activated strobe lights just in case I do decide to go for a moonlight dip with the dolphins. The Admiral and I hate the boots and she never let Cap perservere with them.

Maybe the basset with the wierd name would like my near new pair.
PM mail me, ookiedooky or wot eva ur name is and we could do a contra dawg biscuit deal.

I way 40 kgs when fightin fit, so U guyz esp. OOOkDuky, are small fry compared to me. So if I can adapt to boat life, U guys can.

As you can C from the pic, when I am not sorting out jet skis or cats most of my sailing time is spent supervising from the cockpit with my best friend, Kev the Cush(ion) - speaking of wierd names.

Sorry about the spellin miztaks but this keeboard is 2 small for my pawz.

U neva no, when U settle in to your duo hull, U can help out like I do by pulling on the sheets when the Humanz are frantically reefing the main. However, I sometimes get the feeling that they don't like playing games at these times BUT a dawgs gotta do wot a dawgs gotta do.
C U 2 dudes out on de wata, real soon

Woof
Kaspa de Wonda Dawg

[Lexam]

LOL! I love basset hounds! Just get those harnesses for them and haul them up using the dingy davit.

[SaucySailoress]

I would recommend you take them sailing from now. We had both our dogs on board for a few years (sadly we had to put one down a few years back), and they both loved sailing almost as much as they love trying to stick their heads out of the car window.

They should find their feet fairly quickly.

If they become racing crew, they need to learn to get out of the way when crew shouts at them, rather than head straight to the crew to find out what the problem is! Our dog's favourite place is under the mainsheet, behind the traveller. She always moves back to cockpit when she sees us preparing to tack. They must be trained to get back to the cockpit on command.

They should have a properly sized lifejacket, which they should wear when conditions dictate.

If you have and love your teak decking, then you need to make a choice. What do you love more, the dog or the deck? Claws scratch way more than stilettos!

[SaucySailoress]

Oops - forgot the foto....