Always wanted a small dog that didn't shed, smell and was a lap dog.I finally got my wish. What advice can you give me for those of you who bring your dog aboard.My 1983 34ft is carpeted,therefore, Shatel is at home till she is paper trained. Where would you suggest that I keep her cage,potty paper and food so that I can still move around? I plan to keep her cage towards the bow of the forward v berth when daysailing,unless you have a better idea. I would appreciate advice on any aspect of owning a liveaboard puppy.
- Status
Liveaboard pooch.
We do not liveaboard so probably cannot offer much. But we do take Ginger, our Wire-haired, on most every day or weekend outing. She has her own PFD and does not mind wearing it. But we seldom use it because it looks too warm, covers most of her 20 lb. body. She does swim off the stern using it though.
Instead we use a long leash so that she can roam the cockpit and deck. If the weather pipes up we shorten it to keep her in the cockpit. She loves to lie atop the cabin, finds shade from the main usually. Also curls up on the salon carpet in heavy seas with no signs of seasickness. We keep her food and water on the sole in the quarterberth, out of everyones way. Then there is the bathroom problem. She does not eat and drink very much at sea. We try not to keep her from land more than four or five hours. We had engine trouble once and were out for over seven. She has never had an accident. I have a box of piddle pads but am reluctant to train her on those, afraid she might think anything soft was OK. We'll just go ashore with the dinghy. Good luck.
We do not liveaboard so probably cannot offer much. But we do take Ginger, our Wire-haired, on most every day or weekend outing. She has her own PFD and does not mind wearing it. But we seldom use it because it looks too warm, covers most of her 20 lb. body. She does swim off the stern using it though.
Instead we use a long leash so that she can roam the cockpit and deck. If the weather pipes up we shorten it to keep her in the cockpit. She loves to lie atop the cabin, finds shade from the main usually. Also curls up on the salon carpet in heavy seas with no signs of seasickness. We keep her food and water on the sole in the quarterberth, out of everyones way. Then there is the bathroom problem. She does not eat and drink very much at sea. We try not to keep her from land more than four or five hours. We had engine trouble once and were out for over seven. She has never had an accident. I have a box of piddle pads but am reluctant to train her on those, afraid she might think anything soft was OK. We'll just go ashore with the dinghy. Good luck.
We Use Pads
..the extra-large ones for our Maltise. Keep it under the salon table or V-berth. He also uses a PDF when underway. He prefers being below in a seaway. We keep water in a spill-proof container, one in the cockpit under the helmsman seat and below. We keep some of his toys on the boat to make it familiar for him. He gets a bit nervous when we first get into open waters, but settles in thereafter. When he was a pup. we had to keep a close eye on him since he'd jump from the boat to the dock step. He quit it after 2 years. He also does not shed. You made a good choice for a boat dog. Rick D.
..the extra-large ones for our Maltise. Keep it under the salon table or V-berth. He also uses a PDF when underway. He prefers being below in a seaway. We keep water in a spill-proof container, one in the cockpit under the helmsman seat and below. We keep some of his toys on the boat to make it familiar for him. He gets a bit nervous when we first get into open waters, but settles in thereafter. When he was a pup. we had to keep a close eye on him since he'd jump from the boat to the dock step. He quit it after 2 years. He also does not shed. You made a good choice for a boat dog. Rick D.
Sailing dog
We are into our second time with sailing dogs. Had two, one a standard poodle and the other a small mutt. After an initial instance of seasickness they both were great on the boat, until they died. This spring we got a small standard female. She was initially skittish about the boat but has greadually gotten accoustomed to it. She can now climb and descend the companionway by herelf, get on and off by herself and generally is happy on the boat. The one thing she hasn't yet gotten accustomed to are the flapping sails when tacking. Sudden noise is disconcerting for her. We tried the piddle pad and newspaper route without success. Now that she is older, she routinely can go 8-10 hours between potties, but we try to limit it to no more than seven. We do not cage her on the boat, but when we are working the sails, anchor and other outside activity, and in bad weather, we leash her in the cockpit. (She likes to go forward.) Think the secret of a good boat dog is to start them early and try to discipline them as to what they can and cannot do (poodles are notoriously bull headed, but very smart). She should work out fine in the long run. Just be prepared for dinghying ashore.
We are into our second time with sailing dogs. Had two, one a standard poodle and the other a small mutt. After an initial instance of seasickness they both were great on the boat, until they died. This spring we got a small standard female. She was initially skittish about the boat but has greadually gotten accoustomed to it. She can now climb and descend the companionway by herelf, get on and off by herself and generally is happy on the boat. The one thing she hasn't yet gotten accustomed to are the flapping sails when tacking. Sudden noise is disconcerting for her. We tried the piddle pad and newspaper route without success. Now that she is older, she routinely can go 8-10 hours between potties, but we try to limit it to no more than seven. We do not cage her on the boat, but when we are working the sails, anchor and other outside activity, and in bad weather, we leash her in the cockpit. (She likes to go forward.) Think the secret of a good boat dog is to start them early and try to discipline them as to what they can and cannot do (poodles are notoriously bull headed, but very smart). She should work out fine in the long run. Just be prepared for dinghying ashore.
Is it fair to the dog?
I dunno, just asking, (and I'll admit that I don't like high strung yapping little dogs): Is it really fair to put a poodle in the unnatural situation of a healing sailboat, with restricted "bathroom opportunities"? While sailing sometimes you need both hands and full attention on the boat, and not on Fifi. And is it going to be yapping at everyone on the dock?
I dunno, just asking, (and I'll admit that I don't like high strung yapping little dogs): Is it really fair to put a poodle in the unnatural situation of a healing sailboat, with restricted "bathroom opportunities"? While sailing sometimes you need both hands and full attention on the boat, and not on Fifi. And is it going to be yapping at everyone on the dock?
George Dibble
Thank you so much for your advice. Shatel learns quickly, but you are right, she is bull headed, a commom trait of poodles.
Thank you so much for your advice. Shatel learns quickly, but you are right, she is bull headed, a commom trait of poodles.
Phoebe loves the boat!
Phoebe is a 1 year old (10/15) female Standard Schnauzer (about 35-40 lbs). She loves the marina life. When we arrive on Friday evening she perks up from her rear seat position to smell the delta air. Then she jumps out of the car to sniff the entire area like it is her first visit. She runs down the ramp and jumps aboard the boat. She can manage the companionway without ANY problems. She sleeps under the salon table or in the v-berth depending on the tempature. We take her sailing nearly every weekend either on our boat or our friends boats. She likes to watch the water passing by end then goes below to rest. We have been taking her to the boat since she was 5 months old. Our previous dog was also a Standard Schnauzer. We got her as an older dog (5 yrs old). She also loved the boat. She did not like any loud noises. Flapping sails, running the engine or pounding through rough water was very low on her list. Other than that no problem. It is amazing how quick the adapt to their environment. Much quicker than intolerant humans.<g>
Phoebe is a 1 year old (10/15) female Standard Schnauzer (about 35-40 lbs). She loves the marina life. When we arrive on Friday evening she perks up from her rear seat position to smell the delta air. Then she jumps out of the car to sniff the entire area like it is her first visit. She runs down the ramp and jumps aboard the boat. She can manage the companionway without ANY problems. She sleeps under the salon table or in the v-berth depending on the tempature. We take her sailing nearly every weekend either on our boat or our friends boats. She likes to watch the water passing by end then goes below to rest. We have been taking her to the boat since she was 5 months old. Our previous dog was also a Standard Schnauzer. We got her as an older dog (5 yrs old). She also loved the boat. She did not like any loud noises. Flapping sails, running the engine or pounding through rough water was very low on her list. Other than that no problem. It is amazing how quick the adapt to their environment. Much quicker than intolerant humans.<g>
Fair to the dog? You bet!
We have taken our 55 pound mutt with us on both our H-34 and our Trojan 36. She probably prefers the sailboat on a calm day, she can lounge and see all around her. On the power boat she can only see if she stands up to see out of the cockpit. We trained her from the begining that once we were moving she was not allowed to go up on deck. She absolutly loves to go for dinghy rides, probably because it often means a run on the beach.Fair? I am sure that it beats staying at home alone.
We have taken our 55 pound mutt with us on both our H-34 and our Trojan 36. She probably prefers the sailboat on a calm day, she can lounge and see all around her. On the power boat she can only see if she stands up to see out of the cockpit. We trained her from the begining that once we were moving she was not allowed to go up on deck. She absolutly loves to go for dinghy rides, probably because it often means a run on the beach.Fair? I am sure that it beats staying at home alone.
We have 2 Wiemaraners . . .
Which come to the boat with us every weekend. They also accompany us on our 2 - 1 week cruises in the summer. They have lifejackets, and usually sit in the cockpit and observe the surrondings (especially dogs on other boats) while we motor out of the harbor. once we raise the sails in open water, they usually get bored and go below for a nap. On vacations, I think their favorite place is Essex CT, and all the dingy gunkholing you can do there. Their least favorite (But our favorite) is Block Island. They perfer a mooring to crowded Champlins Marina. At our home marina, there are dogs on the boats on either side of us and also on the 2 boats across from us. Chris s/v Tidesong
Which come to the boat with us every weekend. They also accompany us on our 2 - 1 week cruises in the summer. They have lifejackets, and usually sit in the cockpit and observe the surrondings (especially dogs on other boats) while we motor out of the harbor. once we raise the sails in open water, they usually get bored and go below for a nap. On vacations, I think their favorite place is Essex CT, and all the dingy gunkholing you can do there. Their least favorite (But our favorite) is Block Island. They perfer a mooring to crowded Champlins Marina. At our home marina, there are dogs on the boats on either side of us and also on the 2 boats across from us. Chris s/v Tidesong
How do you go down?
I often thought about bringing my 75# lab with me for a weekend. She can go 8 hrs no problem. I'm sure she'd be able to UP the companion way, but how do you get 'em down? The thought of hauling my 75 lb dog down the companionway makes my back hurt. Not to mention if I miss a step!
I often thought about bringing my 75# lab with me for a weekend. She can go 8 hrs no problem. I'm sure she'd be able to UP the companion way, but how do you get 'em down? The thought of hauling my 75 lb dog down the companionway makes my back hurt. Not to mention if I miss a step!
A lot more agile than dumb humans.
Bob: We have a year old standard Schnauzer. She took about one trip to the boat (5 months old) to figure how to go up and down the companionway. She goes so fast that I sometimes do not see her leave. Like some of the others, she sits in the cockpit when we leave the harbor and sits watching other boats, dog/ sea lions etc. When she gets tired of this, she goes below for a doggie cocktail (H2o) and a nap. Our previous pooch was a little nervous about the noise from the engine, but this one has no cares. She just wants to be where we are. Her ONLY problem is getting aboard if there is no boarding step. She can do it but is reluctant.
Bob: We have a year old standard Schnauzer. She took about one trip to the boat (5 months old) to figure how to go up and down the companionway. She goes so fast that I sometimes do not see her leave. Like some of the others, she sits in the cockpit when we leave the harbor and sits watching other boats, dog/ sea lions etc. When she gets tired of this, she goes below for a doggie cocktail (H2o) and a nap. Our previous pooch was a little nervous about the noise from the engine, but this one has no cares. She just wants to be where we are. Her ONLY problem is getting aboard if there is no boarding step. She can do it but is reluctant.
- Status