Pets on board

[Manny]

Hi All,I was wondering if many of you take your pets on board. I have two dogs that I sometimes bring along so my wife and I can spend the weekend on the boat. We are slipped at a marina and only go out for a few hours at a time so it's not that big of a deal having the dogs on board. I'm sure some of you take your pets on extended trips so I was wondering how that works out. After all, the animals need a bathroom break every once and a while. Cats are probably no big deal because you can have a litter box, but what about dogs? Any special training? I'm hoping to eventually take longer trips and would like to bring them along.Also I wonder if the pets generally like being on a boat or they dislike it. My Husky hates it, but my little mutt (half Spitz/half Poodle?) seems to enjoy it.Any good pet on board pictures?Manny

 

[CalebD]

Manny, there are quite a few salty dogs

that put to sea with their owners. So enough of them do enjoy it. Huskys are not maybe the ideal breed for being on the water though. Their coats are thick and adapted for a cold and snowy environment and they will overheat quickly even if they are not made uptight by being on a moving sailboat. What is odd is that I have heard/read of people taking Newfoundlands on their boats but maybe that was in Canada - they are great water dogs and great slobberers too - the dogs that is. If you want to try to get your Husky to enjoy it I would supply it with plenty of drinking water and even shade on deck and even wet its coat down from time to time to help him/her cool off naturally.If he/she is panting a lot then they are either nervous or hot or both. Does the Husky like to go swimming? If so go swimming with it a few times and maybe he/she will catch on to the fun. And no, I am not Cezar Milan of "The Dog Whisperer Show" on NGC but I watch it a lot and love dogs (and cats) too.

 

[Manny]

The husky drinks like a fish

CalebD - I'm real careful with the husky. I won't bring her if the temperature is going above 80 and she always has plenty of water to drink. I'll keep the bimini up or leave her in the cabin. I have a (big) fan for her also that I run. Most of the time she crawls into the quarter berth and curls up in there. She's not a fan of taking a swim, I've tried in clean lakes, but I wouldn't want her swimming in the Delaware River anyway (yuk). She does seem to enjoy watching the ducks around the marina and the attention she receives from the other slip holders when I take her for walks. Fortunately both dogs are quiet and don't disturb anyone.Manny

 

[Manny]

Great Shot

Bob V - Your pups look pretty relaxed and comfortable!I can't wait till spring!!!Manny

 

[CalebD]

Manny

my understanding of canine anatomy is not that of a vet so please bear with me. I still think that your husky might need a little moistening of her coat to help her cool herself off, but she may just be nervous about the boat as well. Dogs pant with their tongues hanging out to cool off. They do not cool off the same way we do through our skin and their internal heat must be transferred to the outside air by panting (breating hard). As I noted they will do this also when they feel stressed. On a sailboat when there is plenty of breeze the added moisture in their coat will help cool them off as dogs do not sweat in the sense that humans do; again their panting usually is enough on land. Most dogs do not like being doused with water. I would still suggest wetting the cockpit floor (if that is where she likes to hang out) or your hands with some water and rubbing some gently into her fur on her back (she is used to and probably likes this). You can feel with your hand if she is hot and if so, get the moisture down to the skin so it will help wick off the heat (especially if the humidity level that day is low). If it is humid you might need an A/C or fan if it is not windy. You sound as though you know your dog well enough to manage. I wish I had my own nauti-dogs! I make do and the Commodore is a good companion without a cat or dog.My $.02

 

[KevSwack]

Down to Buisness!

Hey Manny,I have several friends with dogs and cats aboard. Thes best bathroom situation I have seen is traditional boat with a bowsprit that has a flat teak grating. A little extra saftey netting to keep "Dacron" on board. It's sorta a self cleaning location. Not great in port though. Several friends use some form of astro turf. They keep it in the back of the cockpit. They are fairly large and tied to a stern cleat. To clean (off the dock) throw it over and it cleans itself. This is the method I will try when I get a dog.Hope that helpsKevin

 

[Shippy]

Tug the Pug

For anyone in the Havre de Grace area, they probably know Tug the Pug. They even know the admiral and I as Tug's owners. He has been sailing with us since 8 weeks. He loves it. The dinghy is his favorite because it means a trip to shore to go to the bathroom and explore. When sailing, he likes the cockpit, especially under the helmsman seat (out of the way). He always has his lifevest on while underway. We do keep a close eye on his temperature and give him water often. His favorite time is when we anchor. He perks right up, and can't wait to jump into the water once we open up the transom. Fortunately he is only about 25 lbs, so pretty easy to move around and loves sleeping on the cabin floor in teh gally area. I'll have to get a picture and post it. We too try to make sure he gets at least two trips per day ashore, sometimes more. The longest was a 12 hour run once. His eyes were watering but he held it. We haven't been able to get him to go on the transom yet....how can you blame him though....all these times we teach the dog to hold it and go outside and too him, the boat is part of the house....must be confusing.

 

[Tony]

Two labs

We sailed for years with 2 female labs they were ok for 8-10 hrs so we went on week long cruises often with themthey were a fixture around the mrina for yearssome days we sailed all day came in for BR break and food for the "girls" and then out for the eveningWe actually bought a Hunter as much for the walkthru transom as anything elseunfortunately both gone now one two years ago the last yearwe are at 60 now and hesitate to get another ( had a chessies too)First time in 39 yrs of marriage with no dogsBut two grandchildren and more on the way Take the dogs !!! its doable and the memories are greatI rememer first time in Ego Alley annapolis got a slip and just finished tying up when one dog tried to get off and ended up in the bay9pm dark etc etcvery excitingWe still laugh about itt

 

[gpd955]

Better whatch out!

You may end up seeing this message soon!!Why do you some"dogs" ruin everything? Why do some of you dogs have to ruin everything? And why does this list serve allow suggestive pics of female dogs? It should not be allowed, there are plenty of other sites for that. This should be about SAILING. Too bad the "pigs" are allowed to use this forum to do their "macho he dawgs belittling female dogs" thing. I ask the people in charge to not allow the postings of these pics and kick off the ones that do and/or try.PJ ;-)

 

[Manny]

Thanks All!

Thanks for the ideas. Once we start venturing further I'll try the Astro Turf/Outdoor Carpet idea. I can see where a washdown pump might be handy for any accidents on deck...BTW, great pictures! Makes me long for a nice weekend of sailing!Here's one shot of Cutlass the duck. He's not my pet but he did help me get the boat ready this past spring. He would come visit and spend hours with me almost every time I was down there. I had to be careful if I had to drop any tools down to the pavement, I almost squished him once with channel locks by accident! I was really hoping he would come visit once the boat was back in the water but it seems like all the male ducks left once it got warm...Manny

 

[r.w.landau]

Manny, tell us the truth!! You ate him didn't you?

That is why he didn't come back when it got warm! r.w.landau

 

[Manny]

LOL

R.W. - I laughed so hard after I read your post. ;dNot to get too much off topic, I don't think I've ever tried duck, is it good? Manny

 

[r.w.landau]

Manny, about the duck...

Why don't you tell us?Seriously go and try a crispy duck. A crispy duck has most of the fat cooked off or burnt off and the flavor of the duck is at it's max.The best is when it is whole and stuffed with wild rice.How did you eat your duck?r.w.landau

 

[NYSail]

My Cat

wife and I want to break our cat in and get her to the boat, but are worried about her mental stability. We plan on doing much more traveling this summer and hate to leaved her. She is very jumpy with new things. I figure we will bring her onto the boat when the engine is running and turn it off after a short while. Just so she knows that happens and it is ok.The things we do for our pets.

 

[jybiom]

Dewitt material

Bob V. I am interested in the mesh material you describe. Is there a web site or address I can see to check on this?RegrdsJohn C30 #593jybiom@yahoo.com

 

[newsailor06]

Make that two too...

I am interested as well. Our boat faces south in the slip and in the late afternoon the sun shining in is relentless. We have been clothespinning up towels to cut the sun, but the Dewitt product seems like a great suggestion...and it can be moved to the east side if necessary.

 

[Chuck]

Dewitt Tarps

link for shade tarps.

 

[Bob V]

Shade Tarps

Thanks for the link Chuck, I should have included that. They have quite a large variety of products. The one that we are using is Kool K-9 woven tarp in a 6 x 8 and a 6 x 10. That is enough to cover one side and the back of our 350. I tie a line from the bimini frame to the shrouds at about 6 feet above the deck and thread the tarps on like a shower curtain. Let the bottom hang loose unless it's too windy. It can easily be pulled back if the sunny side is the one you are exiting the boat by. A couple of well-placed bungees are all you need for the bottom.