I will be retiring on a sailboat in about 5 years and I'm preparing to buy one now, and add some things to her and start getting her ready to go. Also I plan to take a dog with me. So I just HAVE to ask the obvious question about Dogs on boats. Where do they poop and how is it taken care of? I have heard rumors that you can get a piece of indoor outdoor carpet and spray it with something that attracts the dog to the carpet, let him do his business, and attach the carpet to a line through an eyelet and hang it overboard and wash it off, although I've never seen it in operation, It sounds feasible. Can any of you tell me how you do all this and tell me of your experiences with dogs on a live-a-board? Also Any experience as to whether a male or female dog is easier in this regard? Thanks in advance Ron
Dogs on boats
- Thread starter R Slater
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size matters...
Do you currently have a dog? Smaller dogs are MUCH easier to deal with on boats. Also, the bigger issue here is: Will the dog actually go on the boat? if not, you're going to be headed to shore several times/day. Small dog is key if that is the case. First figure out if your dog will do his/her business on the boat, then worry about how to deal with it. There are doggie litter options, fake grass options, etc... check www.drsfostersmith.com for ideas. If you don't currently have a dog, I wouldn't suggest it. We have 2 large dogs that we cruise with and it's pretty difficult sometimes. We love them to death, but it would be much easier with a cat or something. Best, Bill
Do you currently have a dog? Smaller dogs are MUCH easier to deal with on boats. Also, the bigger issue here is: Will the dog actually go on the boat? if not, you're going to be headed to shore several times/day. Small dog is key if that is the case. First figure out if your dog will do his/her business on the boat, then worry about how to deal with it. There are doggie litter options, fake grass options, etc... check www.drsfostersmith.com for ideas. If you don't currently have a dog, I wouldn't suggest it. We have 2 large dogs that we cruise with and it's pretty difficult sometimes. We love them to death, but it would be much easier with a cat or something. Best, Bill
Don't currently have a dog, but was thinking of a Lab long ago, but then downsized my thoughts to something smaller. I definitely want a short haired dog and one that likes water of course. Thanks for your thoughts. I'll check out the website.
Good Dingy
We have a 3 year old Sheltie who loves the boat, but will not "go" unless he is on hard ground. Our daughter named our dingy the "Do Do Dingy" in his honor. My point is be prepared to go ashore frequently just in case.
We have a 3 year old Sheltie who loves the boat, but will not "go" unless he is on hard ground. Our daughter named our dingy the "Do Do Dingy" in his honor. My point is be prepared to go ashore frequently just in case.
Training them before hand
I guess it might help to train the dog to go on a piece of carpet BEFORE we take to the water. I wonder if that's possible. Has anyone heard of a spray that can be sprayed on the carpet that makes the dog WANT to poop on it?
I guess it might help to train the dog to go on a piece of carpet BEFORE we take to the water. I wonder if that's possible. Has anyone heard of a spray that can be sprayed on the carpet that makes the dog WANT to poop on it?
We don't live aboard,but
have a two yr old Maltese male who is paper trained. We spend long wknds and so does our dog "Rudy". Rudy is a member of the family and he is paper trained. We put pads on the head floor and now if theres no pad, he tells us so.He sits by the head door and waits to be seen. Malteses are great but I'm not sure if they are water dogs or not. He wears his life jacket anytime we put it on him with no complaints. I know Rudy doesn't shed hair and his poops are small.I'm from the school that the food you feed your dog makes all the differance in the world.Feed you dog walmart crap and he'll crap most all out. Feed him good quality food and he'll digest and absorb 80% of it.Same amount of food, less poop.Great program.`So we have no hair and little poop and a great companion and wonderful watch dog.What more could you ask for? Now about that French maid? Err... I mean crew member Keep it up, Ctskip
have a two yr old Maltese male who is paper trained. We spend long wknds and so does our dog "Rudy". Rudy is a member of the family and he is paper trained. We put pads on the head floor and now if theres no pad, he tells us so.He sits by the head door and waits to be seen. Malteses are great but I'm not sure if they are water dogs or not. He wears his life jacket anytime we put it on him with no complaints. I know Rudy doesn't shed hair and his poops are small.I'm from the school that the food you feed your dog makes all the differance in the world.Feed you dog walmart crap and he'll crap most all out. Feed him good quality food and he'll digest and absorb 80% of it.Same amount of food, less poop.Great program.`So we have no hair and little poop and a great companion and wonderful watch dog.What more could you ask for? Now about that French maid? Err... I mean crew member Keep it up, Ctskip
Boat Dog
I'm w/ Trevor on this one. This year we wanted a dog and my condition was it had to be small enough to spend week-ends and possibly a longer week trip aboard our h29.5. We got a pug (named him Tug) and he has done exceptionally well this season so far. When we are heeling, he finds his corner and takes a nap. When we anchor, he comes to life and is ready to play. Last month we took a week long cruise down the Chesapeake and back and Tug went with us. Several times we left him below while underway in rougher conditions and after a few minutes of whining, he went up in the aft berth and found a corner to sleep. When-ever we are underway, he has on his life jacket. at first he hated it, but he has grwon into it better and during this trip he learned that putting on the life jacket at anchor usually meant going ashore, and that is his favorite part of sailing. He has gone a couple of times on the boat. The pee pads were usually set out for him, but he wasn't too interested. He did go twice on the swim lockers on the stern (great big praise when he did this) and once on the cockpit cushions. I was thinking about the turf idea and spray attached to a retrieving line for the stern lockers and see how that works, just haven't gotten to it yet. But like Trevor says, it does motivate me to get the dinghy setup and take him ashore which leads to us exploring a cove or beach.
I'm w/ Trevor on this one. This year we wanted a dog and my condition was it had to be small enough to spend week-ends and possibly a longer week trip aboard our h29.5. We got a pug (named him Tug) and he has done exceptionally well this season so far. When we are heeling, he finds his corner and takes a nap. When we anchor, he comes to life and is ready to play. Last month we took a week long cruise down the Chesapeake and back and Tug went with us. Several times we left him below while underway in rougher conditions and after a few minutes of whining, he went up in the aft berth and found a corner to sleep. When-ever we are underway, he has on his life jacket. at first he hated it, but he has grwon into it better and during this trip he learned that putting on the life jacket at anchor usually meant going ashore, and that is his favorite part of sailing. He has gone a couple of times on the boat. The pee pads were usually set out for him, but he wasn't too interested. He did go twice on the swim lockers on the stern (great big praise when he did this) and once on the cockpit cushions. I was thinking about the turf idea and spray attached to a retrieving line for the stern lockers and see how that works, just haven't gotten to it yet. But like Trevor says, it does motivate me to get the dinghy setup and take him ashore which leads to us exploring a cove or beach.
Doggie Jail
Ron, I have been a dog lover for all my life, most recent was a German-Shepard-Malamute. Most Islands have strict laws quarantining animals. In Hawaii the animall must go directly to a kennel for several months; the owner pays for this. New Zealand, up a river in a small town, Whangarai, some friends of mine lost their bond, 1,000.00 NZ. and paid a fine! they're cat had escaped the yacht whilst on anchor and had managed to climb ashore exactly when the animal inspectors were up from Auckland to do their monthly animal nose count...;-) This is a consideration when cruising, the BVI has restrictions, I have not cruised the Carribean for some thirty years and no dog either, but it would be worth investigating.
Ron, I have been a dog lover for all my life, most recent was a German-Shepard-Malamute. Most Islands have strict laws quarantining animals. In Hawaii the animall must go directly to a kennel for several months; the owner pays for this. New Zealand, up a river in a small town, Whangarai, some friends of mine lost their bond, 1,000.00 NZ. and paid a fine! they're cat had escaped the yacht whilst on anchor and had managed to climb ashore exactly when the animal inspectors were up from Auckland to do their monthly animal nose count...;-) This is a consideration when cruising, the BVI has restrictions, I have not cruised the Carribean for some thirty years and no dog either, but it would be worth investigating.
Thank Oprah
Oprah has done a lot of lobbying and has been able to get the Laws changed in Hawaii regarding pets. Check the local laws first, but Oprah likes Hawaii, as much as her pets. She did not like being without them so money won again!
Oprah has done a lot of lobbying and has been able to get the Laws changed in Hawaii regarding pets. Check the local laws first, but Oprah likes Hawaii, as much as her pets. She did not like being without them so money won again!
Oprah's 'Kamaina'
Doghouse, looks like yer right, I just checked with a friend in Hawaii, I use to live there, and the quarintine time has been lowered to six weeks AND if you have an "isolated location" the dog can indeed stay with you, sounds like a yacht would qualify here, did not get all those details, and it was Oprah. Hawaii politics is, lobby, buying, and bribing; the Hawaiian word is 'kamaiana'. Learned sumthin new...;-)
Doghouse, looks like yer right, I just checked with a friend in Hawaii, I use to live there, and the quarintine time has been lowered to six weeks AND if you have an "isolated location" the dog can indeed stay with you, sounds like a yacht would qualify here, did not get all those details, and it was Oprah. Hawaii politics is, lobby, buying, and bribing; the Hawaiian word is 'kamaiana'. Learned sumthin new...;-)
Thanks everybody
Everybody, Thanks so much for all the replies. It's been very enlightening. Ron
Everybody, Thanks so much for all the replies. It's been very enlightening. Ron
Beagle
I think the earlier posts really point out that the temperament of the dog is crucial to whether having the dog onboard is enjoyable. Tug the Pug sounds like an easy dog to have onboard; my beagle isn't as easy to have around as that. She will only pee onboard if she escapes us and gets in the aft cabin, where her favorite pee spot is the mattress. She is only happy laying in the cockpit amid all the feet, the lines, and the traveller. She normally doesn't cuddle up in the cabin and go to sleep; if we put the first hatch in so she has to stay below, she'll bark until she is set free. Make sure you try some daysailing with your canine friend before committing to permanent saildog status.
I think the earlier posts really point out that the temperament of the dog is crucial to whether having the dog onboard is enjoyable. Tug the Pug sounds like an easy dog to have onboard; my beagle isn't as easy to have around as that. She will only pee onboard if she escapes us and gets in the aft cabin, where her favorite pee spot is the mattress. She is only happy laying in the cockpit amid all the feet, the lines, and the traveller. She normally doesn't cuddle up in the cabin and go to sleep; if we put the first hatch in so she has to stay below, she'll bark until she is set free. Make sure you try some daysailing with your canine friend before committing to permanent saildog status.
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