Our Pup

[Candy Reaid]

Our Yellow Lab is a 90 lb. baby, but he loves to swim and sail. We only recently started sailing and are getting the hang of it very well, but taking our pup is a handful because he hangs over the side of the boat, just staring into the water and I can tell he's ready to go a for a swim....and he will when he gets the perfect opportunity! We've been keeping him on a rope that allows him to jump from one side to the other safely, but we've also had someone with us each time to help keep him in. Now, our problem is once he goes in, how in the world are we supposed to get the little stinker back in the boat? 90 lbs of rotten pup is a lot of lifting! My husband suggested that we could rig up a canvas sling of sorts, and tie it into the winch and use the winch to bring him up. Any ideas on whether this will work, or any other ideas? We can't sweet-talk him into the boat cause he pays neither of us any attention at all. With all of the sailors and companion pups out there, there's gotta be some perfectly reasonable way to make this work.Advanced thanks to anyone who can advise us...cause the boy just loves to swim and sail..no way can we leave him at home!

 

[Timm R]

How about this

Is there a way you could use the end of the boom with your sling and winch him back up?This would give you good practice for your man over board drills.

 

[mike c]

build a ramp

I built a 4 ft ramp approx. 2 ft wide that hinged onto the stern of my boat. At the end going in the water I secured a small fender which kept the end floating in the water yet low enough to the water for our dog to climb back onto the boat. every foot on the ramp i nailed down 1 in. x 1 in. strips for a foothold.I don't have it anymore or i'd send a pic. but hopefully you get the idea.

 

[Warren]

Life Vest For Dog

Sterns and others make vests for your dog that have a "handle" on the back. I have a 100 lbs. Black Lab (Bonnie)and have got her back in the boat using the handle (tought, but can be done). I like the idea of using the boom as a crane. Secure a block midway out the boom and run the line to a winch.Dogs get tired very quickly in the water, the life vest could same his life!Good Luck!

 

[Don]

Labs and Sailboats

Candy,Reggie, my 10 month old lab loves to "go to the boat" He also spends much of his time gazing into the water. So far he hasn't made the plunge. (knocking on wood) I like the suggestion of a MOB drill to retreive the retreiver.