Too Big for Sailing ?

[eastendsailor]

I'm beginning to look for a cruising sailboat in the 30-40ft range. After reading through several threads, it seems that having any kind of dog aboard presents some challenges. In this case, I wonder if these would be too great? Not enough room, too much hair, too much wetness, difficult to board and go ashore. On the plus side, he's pretty well trained and isn't a barker.

A link to Active Captain in another thread showed a rig used to hoist a Porto Water Dog aboard. For my Newf, this would probably be the only way.


Just to give an idea of his size, he's taller than the Montauk Light.

[minaret]

We have a Cane Corso, an Italian Mastiff. Not quite as big as your newfie, but still a huge dog. He's short haired and doesn't shed a lot though. Believe there are some pics of him in my member gallery. Our last salty dog was half malamute, half rottweiler though. Shedding was a serious problem. You really have to stay on top of it if you don't want to end up with a clogged bilge pump. It's amazing how much hair makes it through the seams in the floorboards.

[tropicalescape]

Nice dog..you would need a floating kennel to take em with ya!DVC

[SkiprJohn]

I had a friend who sailed from Mexico with his wife, son and 100+ lb dog aboard. Up and down the companionway was the hard part for "Old Blue" but he made it here to Hawaii and has the experience of a white squall under his collar.
Can be done but it won't be as easy as having a 10 pounder aboard.
kind regards,

[sabray]

Lived aboard with a chessie. She grew up on board so that may have helped. Great fun we had and she adapted. Learned to climb ladders which is useful. She would jump ship on occasion. Usually when pulling into a slip sometimes while anchored. She always made it back. She used to pull me around in the dinghy like a sled dog but in the water. If she could find away to come inboard again I'm sure she would find it. Your Newfie should be fine you must read all the mowat books especially that dog that wouldn't be.

[Artif]

Lovely dog
It's not just the room you have to take in to consideration, how will the dog move about the boat, when he gets a bit older will he be able to deal companionways and cockpits etc.
We had a 62' trawler but our newfie wouldn't go below deck level because of the steepness of the stairs below, fortunately the deck saloon and large deck was plenty big enough for him to wander about happily.
We're currently looking at cats (the boats not the animals) for this very reason, large deck/saloon area, drop down boarding ramps etc.
TBH a motor boat may be a better option in this case.
Save money on fuel for the dink though!

[Hudson Force]

You guys are fodder for the Darwin awards!

18 pounds will suffice. How large do you have to be to bark at boats only seen as targets on the radar screen by the captain? As Jack London would say, Buck up!,- think small! Regrdless of age, sex, or breed we'll accept you big guys as functional dogs. I promise to look away when you're in the block and tackle sling!

[markpierce]

There is a couple living aboard on a 40-foot trawler several berths down from me. Their household includes three full-size dogs. Another liveaboard couple on a 35-foot cruiser have two Dobermans. So, why not?

Seems to me that a mellow dog like yours would be much easier than any high-strung breed.

[Artif]

Originally Posted by SkiprJohn

I had a friend who sailed from Mexico with his wife, son and 100+ lb dog aboard.

Ours is 170lbs

[Me-and-Boo]

Okay, I am a bit naive - do you train your dog to use a litter box? Or are there other options for a dog on the open water?

[Artif]

Originally Posted by Me-and-Boo

Okay, I am a bit naive - do you train your dog to use a litter box? Or are there other options for a dog on the open water?

The joy of living on an ex working boat, a deckwash pump.

[Hannah on 'Rita T']

Our labradoodle uses the poop deck and in rough weather he uses the aft head. He just hasn't adjusted to waiting until we're cleared in to go ashore. When the captain leaves without him his look would slice rock. I'm thinking about a portable ramp from he aft bunk to almost up the aft companionway. He can't/won't do ladders, even though we've seen him go straight up an embankment.

[Blue Stocking]

Artif'
If we could get him out on the rail --

[minaret]

Originally Posted by CaptForce

You guys are fodder for the Darwin awards!

18 pounds will suffice. How large do you have to be to bark at boats only seen as targets on the radar screen by the captain? As Jack London would say, Buck up!,- think small! Regrdless of age, sex, or breed we'll accept you big guys as functional dogs. I promise to look away when you're in the block and tackle sling!

LOL! You should have seen us doing a long term refit in the yard many years ago as liveaboards. We would swing out the boom and hoist our hound with a sling a few times daily. I also got good at scooting him up the ladder till I threw out my back doing so. He weighed about 130. When he was an old timer I carried him everywhere, often riding him in dock carts. We got lots of laughs...

[Blue Stocking]

Originally Posted by Hannah on 'Rita T'

Our labradoodle uses the poop deck and in rough weather he uses the aft head. He just hasn't adjusted to waiting until we're cleared in to go ashore. When the captain leaves without him his look would slice rock. I'm thinking about a portable ramp from he aft bunk to almost up the aft companionway. He can't/won't do ladders, even though we've seen him go straight up an embankment.

Hannah,

I hope you feed him before I come visit next month.