how do you train a dog to do his "duty" on deck on a long cruise?

[JBurans]

Hi all,
Not a technical sailing question but we've got a new pup - very smart - just trained to "go" outside - hard for him to go anywhere without having "bathroom privileges" close by every two hours - makes it hard to sail any distance - how have you all handled this issue? Sorry for such a mundane question but its a very practical one!!
Thanks,
Jim

 

[RichH]

I use a "Potty Patch" .... most (young) dogs will 'take to it' almost immediately
www.pottypatch.com

 

[Bill1565]

We used glicerin suppositories on our dogs. kept them aboard for 24+ hours, then lead them up to the foredeck. Hugs kisses and treats when they went. Only had to do it once. I pick up the solids, flush them into the holding tank. Rinse the liquids off with a 1 gallon sprayer from HD.

 

[Bob 04 H260]

We did a two month cruise this winter with our 12 year old Westie. He likes to sail but can not "go" on the boat. I just had to plan around that and walk him each morning and evening. It meant shorter days and always anchoring near a place with public land so we could land a dinghy and take him for a walk. I looked for bridges near the anchorage area as there is usually a strip to land a dinghy and then walk along the roadway. This was mostly in the Keys so lots of bridges !
Lots of people have trained their dog to go on the boat, the younger they are the easier it is I think.
Bob

 

[cygnussailor]

Train first on shore

I will be getting a new puppy shortly. I will train him/her to go potty on a piece of outdoor carpeting whille housebreaking. I'll cut a large piece of outdoor carpeting (use the cheap stuff that looks like grass) and train the puppy to do his duty on the carpeting when it is outside. When the puppy starts to get the idea, cut the carpeting in half and continue with the training. Keep making the carpeting smaller until you have a size that is appropriate for the boat and continue the training on the boat. When my boat was new I installed a forward shorewater regulator and never used the aft one. I replaced the aft shorewater regulator with a coiled hose similar to the ones used for anchor washdown hoses. My ultimate intention is to have a fairly small piece of carpeting near the walkthrough transom for my dog to use and the hose at the stern will make short work of the mess!

 

[hunkydory]

doggy duty

We've brought our Chihuahua on overnights, we just bring along some newspaper to put out in the cockpit. After he goes we wrap it up and put it in a gallon ziplock so it doesn't stink. (We paper trained him in the garage during the off season.)
Have fun with your pup!

 

[captmikem]

My little dog Kip has sailed around the world with me, he is now 16 and has sailed on everything from Mega Yachts to windsurfers. He grew up aboard, and when he was a pup I would take him on deck and walk him around until he went. Takes time but is worth it. If he does not go you can take an old piece of line and get a bit of his or other dog's urine on it (from ashore or wherever), then put it on the foredeck that will help. Once he learns it is easy to just grab a bucket of sea water and wash it over the side. When it is rough he uses the back deck, when it is very rough he uses the cockpit.
Good luck with your pup, nothing makes a lonely night watch cheery as as having your friend with you.
Michael

 

[John]

I've tried everything I could think of with our two dogs. At home, they go in the front yard, which has a ground cover. I put some of that on the foredeck - even included a piece of their poop. It didn't work. I tied a small board to a post where other dogs pee and put that on the foredeck. That didn't work either. I read about a guy who "set the example" for his dog, so I tried that. That didn't work either. I have some sort of scent that I'll try next time, maybe on that carpet patch suggested here, but if that doesn't work, then I'll be back to taking them ashore every evening and morning.

 

[Steve Dion]

Our schnauzer can go for several hours without any problems.

One of the common methods posted here in the past had a piece of "astro turf" with a grommet in it. Train the dog that it is OKAY to do his/her business on the turf. When it is done, you can just dump it overboard (or in your head if you are so inclined).

 

[soberkiwi]

Hi all,
Not a technical sailing question but we've got a new pup - very smart - just trained to "go" outside - hard for him to go anywhere without having "bathroom privileges" close by every two hours - makes it hard to sail any distance - how have you all handled this issue? Sorry for such a mundane question but its a very practical one!!
Thanks,
Jim

i sail with two maltese terriers, when they were young i taught them to go to toilet on comand, the boat has been a struggle but i have been leading them to foredeck and use the word toilet, they seem to be getting the message
in the last year they have made one mistake each, both times by the head door.we are planning further afield and hope to have them fully compliant by then, someone sugested a mat of sinthetic grass sounded good to me.
my guys will hang on for long periods and i know is not good for them

 

[Rick D]

What Works For Us

We have a nine pound Maltise. He has been trained from puppyhood to use pee pads. We use Four Paws extra large and they are superior to the others we have tried. It is doubly important to us since we live in the mountains on a steep slope, so he can't go in and out by himself. First, he'd be something's meal. Second, the weather does not always cooperate. So, we use them in the house as well. Once trained, they are also great for travel. We can go to a hotel and not worry about him, even tho we always take him out. On the boat, we put a pad underneath the salon table, taped down with masking tape when underway or at night. See this link: http://www.petmountain.com/show_pro...e=froogle&utm_medium=datafeed&utm_term=516604

 

[CaptForce]

I tied our dog, Zorro, at the transom when he was a young pup and still prone to pee and poop at anytime. I rewarded him when he produced and returned him to the stern with a clap of the hands and a command word "lido" called out when sending him to the stern,- continuall rewarding him with a treat anytime he produced.Now he is a master!

...ready.....set....

...blast....

Sea dogs don't need a patch of plastic grass! Take care and joy, Aythya crew

 

[Don3098]

We cruised with Cooper, our Bichon Frise, for 3 weeks in the San Juan and Gulf Islands of Washington and British Columbia. Purchased a U-Go Dog grated tray which we placed in the cockpit at the stern. It took about 2 days for Cooper to get the idea, which we reinforced with plenty of treats and praise when he finally did it. No problems for the rest of the cruise!! We took him out there after meals, and pretty soon he was letting us know when it was time. It was a relief not to have to dinghy him to shore to relieve himself.

 

[wannabesailor]

Easy To Do

When you first take your dog off of the boat first thing in the morning it will do its business on the first piece of natural grass or dirt it can find---within 2-3 days this will become its favourite place for doing its business --once the 'place' is established then next time the dog needs to go then you have someone hold the dog back on the boat while you place a piece of artificial grass on the favourite spot---don't use inside-outside carpeting --too confusing---get the fake grass stuff from maybe a golf supply store---the dog will 'go' on its favourite place but will now be doing its business on the artifiicial grass--after about 2-3 days of doing this then start moving the artificial grass each day along the dock closer and closer to your boat ---within about another 2-3 days the artificial grass will be beside your boat and your dog will still be doing its jobs on the fake grass ---

Now comes the critical step --the next morning move the artificial grass from beside the boat up on to the boat (we use the foredeck) --bring the dog out of its crate (you do have a crate don't you) and take the dog up onto the foredeck (or whatever) where the artificial grass is located ----WAIT --do NOT leave until the dog has done its business on the fake grass --repeat again next morning--repeat again

After that it is really easy --for the next 4-5 days do not let the dog do its business off of the boat unless it has first done it on the fake grass sometime that day (preferably first thing in the morning when it really needs to go)

Also each time that you bring the dog to the desired location give it a command (eg: 'Go Pee') and when the dog does its business give the same command again AT THE SAME TIME AS IT IS DOING ITS BUSINESS --the dog will soon learn to associate the command with the 'action'--each time the dog does it at the desired location then praise the dog (good girl) ---be consistent and simple in your commands (same command and no additional gibberish)

Our 8 month old Brittany (who was already house-broken) learned the whole thing in about 8 days ---

Now --any time --even when bashing on a close hauled reach--- I can clip her harness and tether onto a jack line, tell her to 'Go Pee" and she goes up the side decks, does her business and comes back for her cookie

The fake grass is on a line and when we reach an anchorage the artificial grass goes over the side for 10-20 minutes (if the fish can crap in the water I figure my dog can too ) then I hoist it out of the water, let it drain and place it back on the deck

Training your dog to do it on board is almost an essential --especially if cruising in croc waters --besides believe me, your dog stops being your 'best friend' the first time you have to dinghy the dog ashore first thing in the morning after too many tequilas the night before:cussing:

Good luck --it can be done --just be patient and consistent and use the dog's natural instincts and desire to please you

Wannebesailor
Gozzard 36
Cruising in Mexico (with my best friend [& and my wife])

 

[capta]

doggie do

On my circumnavigation I got a piece of artificial grass (astro-turf), roped around the edges w/ about ten feet of line extra. After the dog did his thing, I'd drag it behind the boat about ten minutes, to clean it & rinse the aft deck of pee w/ a bucket of seawater. My dog actually preferred it to going ashore.
No fuss, no mess.

 

[Philippe18196]

Chocolate Labradors do it on Astro-Turf

I agree with those other subscribers. Get a square of Astro-Turf combined with a line for cleaning and lots of treats for a good performance.
If only there was a reverse application for those pesky seagulls who are convinced that my boat is the only avian lavatory in north-west Europe!