My wife and I are considering cruising for a while and would love to/have to take our dog. How many of you cruise with dogs and how hard was it to train them to go on a mat (or other method)?
TIA.
TIA.
Cruising with a dog
- Thread starter Kuntrymann
- Start date
- Status
We Dog
We take our 9 pound Maltese with us. We haven't taken him out of the US yet, but many friends do (to Mexico) with no problems, assuming proper documentation, vet inspection and shots. He is trained to use the large disposable pads (which is real handy traveling off the boat too). Our prior Maltese never did figure out how to use the pad. My uncle's dog used a flat of grass in the cockpit of his MY.
We take our 9 pound Maltese with us. We haven't taken him out of the US yet, but many friends do (to Mexico) with no problems, assuming proper documentation, vet inspection and shots. He is trained to use the large disposable pads (which is real handy traveling off the boat too). Our prior Maltese never did figure out how to use the pad. My uncle's dog used a flat of grass in the cockpit of his MY.
Attachments
Dog
I intend to cruise with my dog also. We wouldn't go if we couldn't bring him. I asked around about cruising with a dog and what to do about their potty needs. Some people say that their dogs just hold it until port for days if they have to. Others take them in the dinghy twice a day. I intend to have a mat on the foredeck that I will train him to use. They have one available that has a scent that makes them want to go on it. It may be called the doggy head, I can't remember. What kind of dogs do you have and what kind of boat?
I have to modify my ladder so he can negotiate it better.
If you are going to cruise to other countries there are often strict guidelines to bringing your pet ashore. Some caribbean islands will exterminate your dog if you bring them ashore unauthorized. You can get what's called a brittish passport and that will allow you greater access to many islands in the Caribbean with out much of a hassel. It takes some time to get it as your dogs will undergo evaluation in the states by an authorized vet for a period of a few months.
Rick what kind of dinghy is that?
We are so sappy posting pics of our little guys! The first pic is my little man on deck in the ICW. The second is a family dinner.
I intend to cruise with my dog also. We wouldn't go if we couldn't bring him. I asked around about cruising with a dog and what to do about their potty needs. Some people say that their dogs just hold it until port for days if they have to. Others take them in the dinghy twice a day. I intend to have a mat on the foredeck that I will train him to use. They have one available that has a scent that makes them want to go on it. It may be called the doggy head, I can't remember. What kind of dogs do you have and what kind of boat?
I have to modify my ladder so he can negotiate it better.
If you are going to cruise to other countries there are often strict guidelines to bringing your pet ashore. Some caribbean islands will exterminate your dog if you bring them ashore unauthorized. You can get what's called a brittish passport and that will allow you greater access to many islands in the Caribbean with out much of a hassel. It takes some time to get it as your dogs will undergo evaluation in the states by an authorized vet for a period of a few months.
Rick what kind of dinghy is that?
We are so sappy posting pics of our little guys! The first pic is my little man on deck in the ICW. The second is a family dinner.
Attachments
We cruised for 12 years with our Golden Retriever, Nugget. She was with us on virtually every trip. She was part of us. She was big enough that a dink was mandatory and we had to make sure wherever we set the hook, there was somewhere near by that she could be taken twice a day to do her business. She ate with us, drank with us, swam with us, fished with us.
Do it.
Rich in Annapolis
(looking for another pupp...Nugget passed on, but we've scattered her ashes at some of her favorite anchorages.)
email me (via owners link) with questions about dogs on board.
Do it.
Rich in Annapolis
(looking for another pupp...Nugget passed on, but we've scattered her ashes at some of her favorite anchorages.)
email me (via owners link) with questions about dogs on board.
Dog's Dink
"Rick what kind of dinghy is that?"
It's a Watertender which is sold by both West Marine and Boatersworld. I have had it for nine years and had another for five before that. Cheap and indestructible. Nice for me because I don't have to worry about the rough work boats at the dinghy docks or running it ashore on a rocky beach. We tow it on a double bridle altho I have seen them on the foredecks. Funny thing is that the cushions I had made for it cost more than the dink!
"Rick what kind of dinghy is that?"
It's a Watertender which is sold by both West Marine and Boatersworld. I have had it for nine years and had another for five before that. Cheap and indestructible. Nice for me because I don't have to worry about the rough work boats at the dinghy docks or running it ashore on a rocky beach. We tow it on a double bridle altho I have seen them on the foredecks. Funny thing is that the cushions I had made for it cost more than the dink!
Attachments
Shamus sails with us. He can wait for shore trips so he has never been trained for potty on board. The nice thing about this it that it forces us to get up early and go to shore. I have a RIB with a high bow so he can get in and out of the dinghy on his own with the help of a step on the transom ladder. He weighs about 55lbs so I can lift him if needed.
We only had one tragedy last season when his favorite stuffed boat toy, a hedgehog named Dinsdale, went overboard. He just sat in the cockpit quietly mourning as we sailed away. We would have have done an MOB drill but we were in a narrow channel.
Shamus and I in Pennobscot Bay.
We only had one tragedy last season when his favorite stuffed boat toy, a hedgehog named Dinsdale, went overboard. He just sat in the cockpit quietly mourning as we sailed away. We would have have done an MOB drill but we were in a narrow channel.
Shamus and I in Pennobscot Bay.
Attachments
Thanks for the great responses people. We're huge dog lovers (me especially) and lost our best friend of almost 15 years last year. We've acquired another 4 legged family member and are considering taking some time off from corporate life and being poor cruisers... currently looking at a used Island Packet.
No problems, although we don't do any overnighters, we did cross Georgian Bay which meant 12 hours without a pit stop. She hasn't learned to go on board but lots of others have been able to do that training. We always anchor were we can get to shore.
I have two Papillon's that love to sail and they are also in the training process. After a trip to the Florida Keys where they held it till we could get them ashore. I don't want them to suffer in anyway, so training them to do their business is a top piority.
Attachments
Bird crap I cannot do anything about but I would not voluntarily bring a pet aboard to have to clean after him. I do not pretend to know my dog's likes or dislikes but he seems quite content with licking himself in dry land.
Don't leave home without it (them)
I have yet to figure out how to train them to go on the deck, though. I tried everything. I picked up some of the tanbark from our front yard where they do their business and put it on a pad on the deck, hoping that the odor would be familiar. Didn't work. I followed what somebody else had suggested and tried setting the example for them. Didn't work either. My next idea is to get some grass or earth or something where another dog has peed and put it on the deck, since especially our male dog has to mark every place where another dog has left his scent. If that doesn't work, then I don't know what else to do.
But anyway, they're part of the family.
I have yet to figure out how to train them to go on the deck, though. I tried everything. I picked up some of the tanbark from our front yard where they do their business and put it on a pad on the deck, hoping that the odor would be familiar. Didn't work. I followed what somebody else had suggested and tried setting the example for them. Didn't work either. My next idea is to get some grass or earth or something where another dog has peed and put it on the deck, since especially our male dog has to mark every place where another dog has left his scent. If that doesn't work, then I don't know what else to do.
But anyway, they're part of the family.
Attachments
We try to take our "crew" with us most of the time. We sail the southern Chesapeake mostly and try to find a good place to throw the hook where we can take them in at least twice a day. We've also had fair luck with the piddle pads which we buy from PetSmart. Friends of ours have had success with putting a box of sod on the foredeck. As you can see, going ashore is never a simple matter with this crew.
Dennis
Attachments
I busted out laughing when I read this. Hopefully you weren't in a crowded marina at the time...
The ultimate boating accessory?
We've been boarding our dog when we cruise, mostly because our Irish water spaniel is so neurotic, that if she were human, she'd be in an institution. She foams at the mouth with fear when the boat heals over. Perhaps because she is such a looser in the the canine gene pool, I made the mistake of suggesting that it might be a good idea to get a second dog.
"Really?"
Well, no, not really. But whatever I said after that, the damage was done. I showed up at the beach house with our boat on the fourth of July two years ago, and was presented with a boat bag.
"We got you a present."
What?
"Its for the boat". Always a good line. "Its the ultimate boating accessory". Dear lord in heaven, my wife is buying stuff for the boat! Wow.. maybe its a forward scanning sonar!!
So I looked in the bag, and there was a black beanie baby animal of some sort. Odd sort of boat accessory I thought. Then it moved. Whoa...
Well, I was hooked. We planed to have him out that summer so he could bond with the boat and he would be a real seadog. But it was a short summer aboard due to an (unlreated) accident, and we are now finished summer season two, and there is still a ways to go.
So far - he can't get up or down the campanion way. He does handle rough weather just fine, he sleeps on his back in the cockpit and slides from side to side when we tack. So that's good.
Word to the wise - when ashore - don't let them drink salt water - it takes a while for them to learn that, and it has a rather devistating affect on the bowels, due to the salt and osmototic preasure and yes.. bad things happen...
...There was this one morning.. dog had to go out... he whined and carried on. We put him on deck and figured he could find the bow where we had a mat for him. Well, I sleep up forward and the hatch was open, and he kept backing up toward the hatch and... I guess I was awake after that... we pointed him somewhere else, and were very thankful for the salt water washdown.
But I do love this dog, and he makes the trip a lot more fun.
Here's to Roscoe, our black gooldedoodle ship's dog.
We've been boarding our dog when we cruise, mostly because our Irish water spaniel is so neurotic, that if she were human, she'd be in an institution. She foams at the mouth with fear when the boat heals over. Perhaps because she is such a looser in the the canine gene pool, I made the mistake of suggesting that it might be a good idea to get a second dog.
"Really?"
Well, no, not really. But whatever I said after that, the damage was done. I showed up at the beach house with our boat on the fourth of July two years ago, and was presented with a boat bag.
"We got you a present."
What?
"Its for the boat". Always a good line. "Its the ultimate boating accessory". Dear lord in heaven, my wife is buying stuff for the boat! Wow.. maybe its a forward scanning sonar!!
So I looked in the bag, and there was a black beanie baby animal of some sort. Odd sort of boat accessory I thought. Then it moved. Whoa...
Well, I was hooked. We planed to have him out that summer so he could bond with the boat and he would be a real seadog. But it was a short summer aboard due to an (unlreated) accident, and we are now finished summer season two, and there is still a ways to go.
So far - he can't get up or down the campanion way. He does handle rough weather just fine, he sleeps on his back in the cockpit and slides from side to side when we tack. So that's good.
Word to the wise - when ashore - don't let them drink salt water - it takes a while for them to learn that, and it has a rather devistating affect on the bowels, due to the salt and osmototic preasure and yes.. bad things happen...
...There was this one morning.. dog had to go out... he whined and carried on. We put him on deck and figured he could find the bow where we had a mat for him. Well, I sleep up forward and the hatch was open, and he kept backing up toward the hatch and... I guess I was awake after that... we pointed him somewhere else, and were very thankful for the salt water washdown.
But I do love this dog, and he makes the trip a lot more fun.
Here's to Roscoe, our black gooldedoodle ship's dog.
Last edited:
Almost lost my drink all over the keyboard... that is hilarious.
Ours so far has only left a deposit right beside the main overhead hatch.... was making coffee in the morning and thought something didn't smell just quite right
She's also a Goldendoodle as well although she ended up with the golden caot and not doodle coat. Great dogs though.
A good reason to batten down the hatches when the dog is on deck. BTW, my friends have a goldendoodle, and he was supposed to be 40-60 lbs...he's north of 100 and not quite done filling out. I'm guessing that he'll be 120 lbs. when he's done growing.
That's not a dog, that's ballast! Train him to sit on the high rail and go racing!
So dog, are you boat potty trained? I had to ask
GRRR!!!!
That's not a dog, that's ballast! Train him to sit on the high rail and go racing!
So dog, are you boat potty trained? I had to ask
Glad we could entertain. Another reason to have your dog with you - entertainment value.
Goldendoodles come in all sizes, depending to some extent on the size of the poodle, but 120lbs is beyond the normal range for sure. Ours is about 60lbs. Smaller dogs aboard are easier than bigger ones - getting Roscoe out of the traditional round bottom dinghy is hard.
Anyone have any good ideas on doggie friendly side mount boarding ladders? I've looked at Dive'n'dog but it seems like we need an intermediate platform or a circus trained pooch.
I think she's pushing the 80 - 90 lbs. mark at 1 1/2 years old now. Her mother was small retriever with standard apricot poodle father, definiatley takes after her mom with her coat etc., which is unusual for doodles.
We're lucky to have a walk through transom and hopefully she doesn't get much heavier. I grab her by the scruff until she gets her footing on the ladder and swim platform and then help her up into the cockpit. Any heavier and it could become a challenge.
Only other boarding ladder I've seen is the Paws Aboard Ladder don't know if that'll help.
We're lucky to have a walk through transom and hopefully she doesn't get much heavier. I grab her by the scruff until she gets her footing on the ladder and swim platform and then help her up into the cockpit. Any heavier and it could become a challenge.
Only other boarding ladder I've seen is the Paws Aboard Ladder don't know if that'll help.
Attachments
- Status