How do you keep your pet sailing with you?

Drew · Mar 10, 2006

Liam

I don't rely on the dog, sir. I was merely pointing out that they often make up their own minds about people.Your outbursts suggest that, should you come wandering down my dock, I will have to restrain my dog in advance lest she rip your shorts off. 'Nuf said.

Ross · Mar 10, 2006

Don't blame the dog

they are just reflecting their owners. Dogs don't judge people they let their owners judge the people and respond in the manner that will please the owner. You can teach a dog all manner of bad behavior by muttering, body language, smiles and frowns. Smile when a dog sounds off at someone you don't fancy and no amount of scolding will correct it. I encounter about a hundred dogs a year in peoples homes and if the dogs are warm and friendly then the people will be. But if the dogs are suspicious and not trusting, the owners will be that way too.

Herb Parsons · Mar 10, 2006

Not A Goffin

Gabby's an Umbrella, not a Goffin, she just wasn't "displaying" in that pic.

s sauer · Mar 10, 2006

Life Jackets and Harness

We have 3 Labs, and once in awhile bring one or two along. They have a strong harness with a handle and the Life Jackets with handles. However, thebalance position of the dog and the harness or life jacket handle isn't something you can rely on and it can hurt the dog to tru to lift her when the harness digs into her. We have them on a leash tethered in the cockpit. Several years ago our 80# female Black Lab was on the foredeck while we were sailing. She had on the harness but not the life jacket and lost her footing and slipped backwards through the lacings we had between the life lines. We dropped the sails and did a pick-up drill, bringing her up the stern ladder. Oh yeah, I left out the hard part -- when the dog went overboard, my wife jumped in to save her, also without a life jacket! So I had to circle, drop the sails and bring them both back aboard. I did not risk starting the engine with them in the water; instead luffing up, circling back and heave to -- then drop the sails within throw line distance.

Ross · Mar 10, 2006

S.Sauer, Labs can swim longer than you

can. I know a chesapeake that takes great delight in towing a dinghy around the harbor.

Bad Obsession · Mar 10, 2006

My wife was wondering........

Let's just frame in the story....I am not a cat person. I have always had dogs and I love my two dogs (Golden Retriever and a Black Lab). My wife is a cat person and she doesn't like dogs (dogs stay outside and the cat stays inside of the hosue).We are in the process of stepping up in boat size. My wife says.."I wonder if cats can swim, I am thinking of bringing one of them on the boat when we go on vacation."My mind immediately flashes to cat hair on all the interior cushions and the stench of a litter box in the head. The thought of violating the one place that I have that is cat free comes into mind.I look at my wife and reply...."Not if they are tied to the CQR or the danforth."Okay, I am not going to do that...but I am keeping my boat pet free. Dry land is for the animals.

Ross · Mar 10, 2006

Cats can swim very very well

and when they chose will enter the water without hesitation. If they have their front claws all you need for rescue is a towel.

Moody Buccaneer · Mar 10, 2006

There is a down side ...

Hair.I lived aboard for 5 years with 2 dogs. Dog hair and bilge pumps do not get along.Early on, one of my dogs decided that beating up SF Bay in 20+ was not a good deal and jumped ship ... didn't fall off ... jumped, and headed for shore (about 1.5 M). Dogs are very hard to spot in whitecaps. I got to practice my Crew Overboard skills as the dog came to the awful realization that swimming in SF Bay was a bad choice.I got her attention on the first pass and got her alongside on the second pass. She was on the leeward side of the cockpit. When I grabbed her collar and she got one paw on the rail, she flat levitated herself back on the boat. There was no need for any find of harness to get all 55# of her back into the cockpit. If I hadn't been in such a panic to get her back, it would have been comic.Since that one time, she was quite content to sail and stayed below when the water was rough. On calm days and downwind, she kept me company on deck.The other dog was much smaller, and she liked to hang out on the bowsprit ... giving Wench a heart attack.In 5 years my girls never soiled the dock, and never barked at folk when I was topside.Sadly, the girls have sailed on, one at 17 the other was 19. Now I have two more ... a older rescue mutt that is okay but not thrilled sailing and ... a Yorkshire Terrorist ... er Terrier ... I'm not at all sure that there is anything inside the Yorkie's head to train ... He's a yappy little bugger and I will not allow him spoil other peoples sailing, if I cannot control the yap factor, he will never see a marina. He just turned 1 and has been out with me in the dink and sailing once or twice, there may be some hope ... but I have my doubts ... cute as a button and just as dumb.

I have to agree with Liam, there is no excuse for yappy, ill-mannered, untrained kids or dogs in a marina. If they cannot train and control a dog or a child, any bets that they aren't very good sailors either? (that's my rant)

Fred Ficarra · Mar 10, 2006

Moody, Hair.

You need a Wheaton or a Schnauzer. They DON'T SHED. No hair from ours. Our Soft Coated Wheaton Terrier is seen in post #15. Our Schnauzer is black so he's stealth to a camera. These guys sleep with us at home. On the boat they have to grab a berth. Not enough room with us. Oh well. But no hair! I think it all has to do with poodle ancestry.

Scott · Mar 12, 2006

We have a Gorden / Border Collie mix

Her markings look the same as your dogs face, except that she has a very slender snout and short ears like a collie. We drove down to Maryland to rescue her from a kill center. Even from her picture on the internet, she had an unmistakeable personality. She was probably too headstrong and had too much energy for whoever left her. She is an amazing athlete and very intellegent. She is particularly sweet around kids and she gets along great with all other dogs.We don't like to leave home without her so she goes sailing with us pretty often. She has a vest with a handle and we're going to try out some snow booties to see if they give her traction on deck. She won't stay below unless we're there and she wants to wander all around the deck, even when healed over. She won't stay in one place, unless she's on my lap when I'm at the helm. We're on a lake so we don't worry about her falling in. She's a great swimmer but she only jumps in when we're in the water. The handle helps to lift her on deck when she starts to scramble up the ladder.

Tricia · Mar 12, 2006

Hint for traction in cockpit

Put down a bathmat or two.

Mick · Mar 12, 2006

Fred Ficarra

Were you and that Wheaton out in front of the Silverdale Target about 6 years ago? I know this is a wierd 'left field' question, but my wife talked to a sailor with a Wheaton pup there. He said he was training the dog to use a cat box on the boat. We were just wondering if it was you.

How do you keep your pet sailing with you?

Drew

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Scott

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Mick