Dogs onboard

[Joe11688]

Forget the dog... just go sailing. MUCH CHEAPER! We now have a dog that has gone blind. One eye has been removed... blind in the other. Tell me where the plus side is here.

My black Lab Duchess became totally blind as she got older and I stopped taking her on the boat.
A lot of guys don't like sailing alone but I'm totally the opposite. Every week when I go sailing, I go for an overnighter and I want be able to go where I want to go and come home when I want.
My wife "swallowed the anchor" years ago. I'm sure you've heard that old saying. With that said, if I can't take her or a close family member with me when I sail, I don't want anyone.
It would be nice to sail with a pretty young lady, but my wife won't let me have a girl friend.
The best sailing companion right now is my dog Penny. She's no trouble at all. She jumps in and out of my kayak from my boat with ease when I take her over to dry land to curb or go beach combing.
I hang tarps over the boom and forward hatch when we anchor, and keep her cool when it gets steamy hot. I am never lonesome when she is with me.

 

[walt]

I’m enjoying the dog sailing pictures. I have about a 30 pound dog that loves to be on the sailboat, be at the marina, be on a kayak etc. He has been around marina off and on since he was a pup and is now about five. About a month ago, I had the boat at a marina, dog was with me and I was talking to someone on the dock. At some point, I noticed he wasn’t around so I called for him a few times. He will sometimes take his time a little but he usually comes. This time he didn’t so we went walking the dock. About 10 or so boats down, we spotted him swimming between a boat and the dock finger. I’m not sure why he jumped in as he has never done this before but I think it might be been leaning over too far to get closer to some fish near the surface. Anyhow, he could not get back up on the dock (not to mention the small risk of electrical shock). He swam over and I pulled him out. Three seconds later, it was like nothing ever happened for the dog - but it sure gave me a scare.

 

[tkanzler]

My wife "swallowed the anchor" years ago. I'm sure you've heard that old saying.

Haven't heard that term in a long while. I think mine was born with the anchor in her stomach, even though her dad has been boating since she was a kid. Or maybe that's what did it.

 

[chp]

Cookie and Chicklet are mini wiener dogs. They only weigh 11 lbs and love to be on the boat. One prefers to be on the cockpit floor the other likes to crawl into the berth. They are a burrowing dog and are happy to be snuggled under a towel or blanket. They both swim well and easy to manage. Haven't managed to potty train them yet on a mat, but will have to make a good attempt this year since some trips are in the plans.

 

[Sun Coast]

I just rembered being at a boat yard in Rivera Beach FL and there was a couple who were cruising and had to get some repairs done so they had their 40'+ sailboat hauled. This couple had a huge Bull Mastiff that sailed with them. The dingy davit had a powe winch to hoist and launch the tender and it would swing over to the port or starboard side of the rear cockpit area.

One day I was walking by their boat and I saw this big dog wearing a harness up on the deck. The hoist was connected to his harness and they lifted this big dog off the deck and swung the hoist over the starboard side and lowered this dog to the ground while the boat was on the hard. That dog didn't mind the hoist one bit, it was a treat to see, I wish I had taken a picture.

 

[skipper66]

My 8 year old female yellow lab laves the boat and loves the water more! Keeping her aboard when she spots ducks, geese, swans, or gulls on the water is the biggest challenge of all!

Have heard some owners carry their dogs on and off, leaving the dog with no idea that they can jump overboard. Seems like a good idea and wish I'd thought of it BEFORE she hopped aboard then dove overboard to play with the waterfowl!

 

[dcande01]

Just wanted to thank you, Stinkbug, for not cutting off your dog's ears and tail. She's just that much more beautiful because she hasn't been butchered.

 

[ed stack]

We sail with our two Goldens, and they love it. Our Pearson came with an ugly swim platform, that in hindsight works really well getting them back on board after a swim. And they are just delightful company, even when they take a bite of you PB&J.