Boat Dog

F

FatSteveTheBoatCat

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Apr 22, 2025
4
Hunter 460 Salt Ponds Marina
We have a spacious Hunter 46 and a boat dog and boat cat. The current boat dog is about to turn 16, and is an accidental rescue spaniel hound mix around 40 lbs. We love him. We are looking to get another dog specifically to live on the boat. I was curious as to the best types you have found that work well on the water and living on a boat.

thank you!
 
dLj

dLj

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Mar 23, 2017
4,296
Belliure 41 Back in the Chesapeake
I had a labradoodle that did very well on the boat. I would think any of the poodle type mixes should work. Also any of the retriever types used in duck hunting probably would be good. But many others could work. I think it depends more on the specific dog. Just like some people like water and some people don't.

dj
 
Stu Jackson

Stu Jackson

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Feb 26, 2004
23,003
Catalina 34 224 Maple Bay, BC, Canada
Would not your own experiences with a 40 pound critter inform your choices? Unless living on board means just at a dock.

Otherwise, this is a recurring subject, so I recommend a search here, and on sailnet and cruisersforum, would go a long way, since I doubt they've invented any "new dogs" recently, but you never know with old tricks.:beer::beer::beer: There was a thread on cruisersforum just last week entitled "dogs on boats". Really...:cool:
 
BigEasy

BigEasy

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Jun 21, 2004
2,802
Beneteau 343 Slidell, LA
dLj said:
Also any of the retriever types used in duck hunting probably would be good.
Click to expand
No problem with Labs & water; however, they shed a tremendous amount of top coat & down twice per year. We're on our fifth lab now; he's blowing off his coat now. It's difficult enough trying to manage the shedding at home with him being inside & outside. Recently purchased a robotic vacuum to help. If I were to have a dog on board, I would select a breed that is not only good with people, but also one that has limited shedding. Perhaps @dLj 's labradoodle might be a good choice.
 
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Timm R Oday25

Timm R Oday25

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Mar 2, 2019
570
Oday 25 Milwaukee
The view from here . We've always had large dogs . Think Shepards and Rottweilers and Labs .
When the Mrs started strongly suggesting we get another dog ,I thought about it long and hard
To the huge surprise to us both we fell for an American Staffordshire Terrier .
Ruby is 56 pounds give or take . We wanted to be able to lift her easily up onto the boat from the dinghy .
More than once she has slid off the boat and had to be rescued . This is about as much weight as either of us can lift easily to get her back on board. .
Bobbie and Ruby on Enigma.jpg

This is easily the best dog we could have ever hoped for . Not a huge shedder , very intelligent , can be left alone without worrying she will destroy anything .She figured very quickly how to let us know she needs to go to the bathroom
 
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J

JBP-PA

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Apr 29, 2022
580
Jeanneau Tonic 23 Erie, PA
Ha. The admiral just got a Bernese Mountain dog (because I'm a pushover). Highly recommended as the worst dog for boats, except possibly a St. Bernard. My boat is 23ft. I hope we don't sink!
 
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