We just got a new addition to our family, a 9 week old Shih Tzu (Named "Jake". I'll post a pic on my website after this weekend) I'm looking for input, ideas and suggestions from all of the sailors with pets aboard. What are the BIG pitfalls? What "inventions of necesity" have you come up with? *! Any and all input (and pics of your pet aboard) would be welcome! Regards to all! -Jim- s/v Forever
Pet's Afloat
- Thread starter Jim Smith
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just part of the crew
our Jack Russell sails with us all the time. he loves to ride on the bow sprit. he has never fell off the boat, he has dove in after dolphins and pelicans before. when underway we always make him wear his life jacket which has a handle on the back which we use to scoop him up with when needed. lots of fun, he thinks it is his boat!
our Jack Russell sails with us all the time. he loves to ride on the bow sprit. he has never fell off the boat, he has dove in after dolphins and pelicans before. when underway we always make him wear his life jacket which has a handle on the back which we use to scoop him up with when needed. lots of fun, he thinks it is his boat!
Water-dog?
Good luck. Our black lab, "Maddie", hates the water and curls up in the very front of the V-berth while on board. Usually takes three of us to get her off the boat. I thought labs were supposed to LOVE water...go figger?!
Good luck. Our black lab, "Maddie", hates the water and curls up in the very front of the V-berth while on board. Usually takes three of us to get her off the boat. I thought labs were supposed to LOVE water...go figger?!
Two excellent books on pets aboard
"Teach Your Dog to Eliminate on Command" and "Cruising With Your Four-Footed Friends," both published by Seaworthy (who also publishes my book). Links to each are at: http://www.seaworthy.com/store/customer/product.php?productid=33&cat=6&page=2 http://www.seaworthy.com/store/customer/product.php?productid=15&cat=6&page=2
"Teach Your Dog to Eliminate on Command" and "Cruising With Your Four-Footed Friends," both published by Seaworthy (who also publishes my book). Links to each are at: http://www.seaworthy.com/store/customer/product.php?productid=33&cat=6&page=2 http://www.seaworthy.com/store/customer/product.php?productid=15&cat=6&page=2
Peggie's Got You Pointed Correctly
Training them to have a place to relieve themselves aboard is one of the most important things you can do for their comfort and your piece of mind. We trained ours on the large disposable housebreaking product that is like a disposable diaper. Also, have a non-spill water and some dry food available whenever the dog is on the boat. Use a non-skid pad to keep them anchored and avoid mess. To make them more comfortable, have boat snacks, toys and the like and keep them there so the dog feels like the boat is also for them. Obviously, a good pet life-preserver is in order as are a couple of dunkings so they become careful. Good luck, RD
Training them to have a place to relieve themselves aboard is one of the most important things you can do for their comfort and your piece of mind. We trained ours on the large disposable housebreaking product that is like a disposable diaper. Also, have a non-spill water and some dry food available whenever the dog is on the boat. Use a non-skid pad to keep them anchored and avoid mess. To make them more comfortable, have boat snacks, toys and the like and keep them there so the dog feels like the boat is also for them. Obviously, a good pet life-preserver is in order as are a couple of dunkings so they become careful. Good luck, RD
Here are some pictures 1
Jim, small dogs are ideal for boating. We have a 5 year old furry friend called Jimmy. We take him with us all the time. We got him trained to go on the plastic/paper sheets sold on Pet stores, and later we moved him to the much cheaper un-scented version sold in drug stores. We place it on the head's floor and he uses it when needed. This is good because we don't have to take him to land several times per day The first time we were sailing the boat up the ICW from Lauderdale to Jax and it took him 2 days before he was able to go solid. Since then, it took him less and less and these days he goes pretty regularly on the towels. Here is a picture and I will follow it with a couple more.
Jim, small dogs are ideal for boating. We have a 5 year old furry friend called Jimmy. We take him with us all the time. We got him trained to go on the plastic/paper sheets sold on Pet stores, and later we moved him to the much cheaper un-scented version sold in drug stores. We place it on the head's floor and he uses it when needed. This is good because we don't have to take him to land several times per day The first time we were sailing the boat up the ICW from Lauderdale to Jax and it took him 2 days before he was able to go solid. Since then, it took him less and less and these days he goes pretty regularly on the towels. Here is a picture and I will follow it with a couple more.
Spooky
Jim: I have a pitch black pomeranian who the kids named Spooky. He loves to go sailing and so do I. My previous boat was a O'Day Mariner which I sailed every evening after work. Spooky always came with me and sat opposite me in the cockpit. I never thought to lifeline him or even get him a life preserver. One night I heeled over, sailing fast and I noticed he was gone. I looked back and just about saw him swimming in the chop. I came about hard to starboard and attempted to line him up on my starboard side he was drifting to port. I knew that once I was near him I had to cut hard to starboard but not to close to run over him. He was fading fast and I had one chance to get him. He passed right in front of my bow and I swung to starboard I then leaned out and just was able to grab him because of his long hair and my long tiller. He was petrified and shaking but I saved him. I know that I had one chance and that I would not be able to see him after that. It was getting near dusk. Anyway he still loves to sail and now I have a perserver on him and especially a life line. I know the story was long but I wanted you to know how important it is to secure your pet to the boat. If they go in, it is extremely difficult to see them without vivd colors of a perserver. It is also difficult to retrieve them without a "grabbing" loop on top of the perserver. They also sometime see their image in the water and jump in after it. The most important thing is that if I did not retrieve Spooky, I could have never returned home to face my wife. Sam
Jim: I have a pitch black pomeranian who the kids named Spooky. He loves to go sailing and so do I. My previous boat was a O'Day Mariner which I sailed every evening after work. Spooky always came with me and sat opposite me in the cockpit. I never thought to lifeline him or even get him a life preserver. One night I heeled over, sailing fast and I noticed he was gone. I looked back and just about saw him swimming in the chop. I came about hard to starboard and attempted to line him up on my starboard side he was drifting to port. I knew that once I was near him I had to cut hard to starboard but not to close to run over him. He was fading fast and I had one chance to get him. He passed right in front of my bow and I swung to starboard I then leaned out and just was able to grab him because of his long hair and my long tiller. He was petrified and shaking but I saved him. I know that I had one chance and that I would not be able to see him after that. It was getting near dusk. Anyway he still loves to sail and now I have a perserver on him and especially a life line. I know the story was long but I wanted you to know how important it is to secure your pet to the boat. If they go in, it is extremely difficult to see them without vivd colors of a perserver. It is also difficult to retrieve them without a "grabbing" loop on top of the perserver. They also sometime see their image in the water and jump in after it. The most important thing is that if I did not retrieve Spooky, I could have never returned home to face my wife. Sam
Sam, I wish you had seen our web site before
that happened. On the third film strip is a picture of our Wheaton Terrier in her life jacket. On her first sail, lashed to the binnacle (in that life jacket), first heel, she went over. She couldn't go far and my wife grabbed her by the carrying handle and pulled her right back aboard. As the worlds biggest dog fan
your story had me reading furiously for a happy ending. I even have a pup on my lap as I type. No kidding. Anybody want a horse? Two down and one to go. My wife took it hard. But she knows you can't sail away and feed horses at the same time. This thread is what we need to learn how to take our pups with us to Canada this summer. And Sam, no more stories like the last one, OK.
that happened. On the third film strip is a picture of our Wheaton Terrier in her life jacket. On her first sail, lashed to the binnacle (in that life jacket), first heel, she went over. She couldn't go far and my wife grabbed her by the carrying handle and pulled her right back aboard. As the worlds biggest dog fan
your story had me reading furiously for a happy ending. I even have a pup on my lap as I type. No kidding. Anybody want a horse? Two down and one to go. My wife took it hard. But she knows you can't sail away and feed horses at the same time. This thread is what we need to learn how to take our pups with us to Canada this summer. And Sam, no more stories like the last one, OK.
Don't think outside the box
Jim: Friends of ours, who sail an ODay 322 down your way (in fact, it might even be out of Deltaville), have a tiny dog (might be a Shitzu) and they trained it to use a litterbox, much like a cat would. Sounds pretty convenient to me. Good luck with yours. At least with a 45 footer, all you have to do is walk the pup to the foredeck and back and she'll probably get all the exercise she needs.
Jim: Friends of ours, who sail an ODay 322 down your way (in fact, it might even be out of Deltaville), have a tiny dog (might be a Shitzu) and they trained it to use a litterbox, much like a cat would. Sounds pretty convenient to me. Good luck with yours. At least with a 45 footer, all you have to do is walk the pup to the foredeck and back and she'll probably get all the exercise she needs.
crew
Jose, I also have a Bichon Frise that I would like on my C22 more often. The problem is that she seems to be afraid of the boat/water. She'll come aboard but will stay where put and not move an inch till we leave the boat. She's OK on the dock, way to many things to smell there.
Jose, I also have a Bichon Frise that I would like on my C22 more often. The problem is that she seems to be afraid of the boat/water. She'll come aboard but will stay where put and not move an inch till we leave the boat. She's OK on the dock, way to many things to smell there.
Charlie
Jimmy, is a toy poodle but his hair stile makes him look like a bichon. He used to be worried about sailing until we discovered the bag trick where he feels secure and happy to be on the cockpit. Later we found that the spot below the skipper's sit, kept him out of the action and provided a good side support while sailing. The only thing he stills hates is to stay on board when we cannot take him with us (going to a party or restaurant). He stays quiet while we are gone but makes us know how very miserable he was when we come back. After 3 years, he is still unhappy about that and I don't blame him.
Jimmy, is a toy poodle but his hair stile makes him look like a bichon. He used to be worried about sailing until we discovered the bag trick where he feels secure and happy to be on the cockpit. Later we found that the spot below the skipper's sit, kept him out of the action and provided a good side support while sailing. The only thing he stills hates is to stay on board when we cannot take him with us (going to a party or restaurant). He stays quiet while we are gone but makes us know how very miserable he was when we come back. After 3 years, he is still unhappy about that and I don't blame him.
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