My wife and I sail a 356 Hunter on Lake Superior and are thinking of adding a companion to the boat, specifically a dog. We are thinking about a Wheaten Terrier - not too big (35 lbs)and doesn't shed (much). What we don't know is if this breed of dog would do well on a boat and generally, how dog's do on boats. We are interested in boat owners with dogs to offer their points of view on the subject and any advice you could offer us. Thanks. Captain Dave
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boating dogs
I don't know about that breed, but my border collie/Australian mix (30 pounds) loves our Oday 25. She's a great sailor and knows when to get out of the way. We recently got her a a life jacket. The handle on top of the life jacket is a perfect lake-in-lake-out device. Alan
I don't know about that breed, but my border collie/Australian mix (30 pounds) loves our Oday 25. She's a great sailor and knows when to get out of the way. We recently got her a a life jacket. The handle on top of the life jacket is a perfect lake-in-lake-out device. Alan
Dogs onboard
I don't want to start a "dog war", but a Wheaton Terrier is a "fine" long haired coated dog. The hair mats. It also will retain mud, sand, water ect. They are a "High Maintence" breed onshore much less on the water. I'm sure they are great companions, but be aware they can be a grooming nightmare. If you like terriers check out the hard coated breeds, like Jack Russells, Norwich, Carins, Welsh, ect. all are about 15 to 20 lbs. The hard coats don't shed hair much (all dogs shed some)if groomed and most importantly after they get into the mud, sand, ect on the beach it will pretty much just fall out when dry or a quick comb will remove it. I'm not familiar with your cruising area but, in some tourist areas they don't allow dogs or restrict the hours. In Avalon, Catalina we can land the dingy and walk down the pier, but at the base we have to pick the dog up to walk on the main drag to get to the rest of town. So when looking for a place on the hard to do the big "job" size matters. We didn't pick our dog as a boat dog, however he has turned out to be a "good" boat dog. He will use the swim step to do a job if required, he's small enough to carry, his coat is almost self cleaning, and he loves to be with us whatever we are doing, and if that's the boat so be it. Oh Yea, he is a Norwich Terrier, about 10" tall and 15 lbs. There are several other breeds that are similar in size and qualities also, like Poodles, Schipperkes, Bichon's ect.
I don't want to start a "dog war", but a Wheaton Terrier is a "fine" long haired coated dog. The hair mats. It also will retain mud, sand, water ect. They are a "High Maintence" breed onshore much less on the water. I'm sure they are great companions, but be aware they can be a grooming nightmare. If you like terriers check out the hard coated breeds, like Jack Russells, Norwich, Carins, Welsh, ect. all are about 15 to 20 lbs. The hard coats don't shed hair much (all dogs shed some)if groomed and most importantly after they get into the mud, sand, ect on the beach it will pretty much just fall out when dry or a quick comb will remove it. I'm not familiar with your cruising area but, in some tourist areas they don't allow dogs or restrict the hours. In Avalon, Catalina we can land the dingy and walk down the pier, but at the base we have to pick the dog up to walk on the main drag to get to the rest of town. So when looking for a place on the hard to do the big "job" size matters. We didn't pick our dog as a boat dog, however he has turned out to be a "good" boat dog. He will use the swim step to do a job if required, he's small enough to carry, his coat is almost self cleaning, and he loves to be with us whatever we are doing, and if that's the boat so be it. Oh Yea, he is a Norwich Terrier, about 10" tall and 15 lbs. There are several other breeds that are similar in size and qualities also, like Poodles, Schipperkes, Bichon's ect.
Another vote for a small terrier
I agree that a small terrier is ideally suited to sailing. Our two year old West Highland Terrier loves to sail. She is small enough to take aboard our 26 ft. sailboat and real big on heart. She also wears her doggie life vest when up on deck. The handle is a real life saver. We have scooped her up once this year and she hasn't slipped in again. This is her first year of sailing and has adapted well.
I agree that a small terrier is ideally suited to sailing. Our two year old West Highland Terrier loves to sail. She is small enough to take aboard our 26 ft. sailboat and real big on heart. She also wears her doggie life vest when up on deck. The handle is a real life saver. We have scooped her up once this year and she hasn't slipped in again. This is her first year of sailing and has adapted well.
Our Wheaten sails with us regularly.
She is very timid on the boat unless she is snuggled up against one of us if we have our H410 healing the usual 15 degrees. She relaxes a little more when we level out. She does fine overall, and wears her life jacket the whole time without any bother. ps: Since we have no plans to "show" her, we have her hair groomed short monthly, and thus have none of the complaints Dwain raises.
She is very timid on the boat unless she is snuggled up against one of us if we have our H410 healing the usual 15 degrees. She relaxes a little more when we level out. She does fine overall, and wears her life jacket the whole time without any bother. ps: Since we have no plans to "show" her, we have her hair groomed short monthly, and thus have none of the complaints Dwain raises.
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