Thinking about a dog on board

[2BonC]

After spending frequently some days with two dogs of a friend of mine (Labrador/Dalmatiner) I´m thinking about having a dog myself. I´m absolutely aware of the responsibiliy which is taken with an animal at home. As I´m I retired and we are living in a green embiance the general situation is given to take care of the dog. However I´m not sure about how this is accordable with staying on board of the especially if it´s not possible to land for more than one day . Sorry doe to my limited English I have to express it that hard : Is it possible to teach a dog to sh~t in a box? Which would be the best breed of dog to take on board?
Friends of mine have a Australian Shepherd on board.

I asked them about it and they told me that in the Mediterranian Sea they were used to row the dog to an island for it´s sh~t until- all on it´s own- it started to jump into the water, swimm to the island, doing it´s job there and swimming back .

Rainer

[K9Kampers]

I don't what it takes to get a dog to go in a box. When my wife cruised with her parents on their 45' motorboat in her youth, they taught the dog to do it's business on the fordeck, then just hose it off. When we / I cruised with both or one of our own dogs, rowing the dogs to shore was the only option as they had been trained not to go on the floor.

We've only sailed with cocker spaniels. Small breeds are easier to manage a Mac-sized boat, IMO.

[Rick Westlake]

I'm not a "doggy person" myself - but I have a couple of friends who have schipperkes ...
Even if the name doesn't really mean "little sailor", they have a reputation as good dogs for a boat.

[Kelly Hanson East]

We have found with our two young dogs they will go in the cockpit or even on the dinghy, without having to be told. In either case, it is really easy to clean up with seawater.

[Jim Bunnell]

No personal experience, but I've read success stories of using an artificial grass mat attached to a line. Dog uses it, then you throw it overboard to rinse. Can be trained with and used at home prior to use aboard. Probably less messy than a box would be.

[Captain Steve]

I got a plastic low sided box and swing by the Home Depot and buy a piece of sod and cut it to fit. It sits under the helm seat. The dogs use it and then just toss it overboard or into the trash at a marina when we return. I usually get the sod for free as the pieces on the top of the pallet are starting to dry and no one wants to buy them. Dogs just went right to it!

[rwmiller56]

We lived aboard for a week with our 3 Dachshunds (Dackels, in Germany ) while cruising San Francisco Bay. Fortunately, we were tied up at a marina guest dock for the evenings, so we were able to take the dogs on shore. When sailing, the dogs would last for several hours. They are crate trained, and can go several hours without going. There were no accidents on deck or down below.

[pokerrick1]

I recommend a dog (or a God if you're dislexic).

I used to insist my dog poop in the aft berth (where I slept) and then I spread it around the berth cause I just LOVE that odor

Rick Less

[bastonjock]

i have two minature Schnauzers and a Labrador cross,the Labrador does not like the boat,the lab is too old and stiff for the boat.The small dogs are easy to have aboard,if it is a smooth sea i keep them with me in the cockpit and i always have little dog life jackets on them.

There are advantages for having small dogs,if one goes over board they are easy to retrieve,i would hate to try and pick up a wet 150lb labrador.

i have never had them mess in the boat,i take them for a long walk in the morning and in the evening,if i am in a marina i always have dog poo bags to pick up the mess.

[Russ]

I asked them about it and they told me that in the Mediterranian Sea they were used to row the dog to an island for it´s sh~t until- all on it´s own- it started to jump into the water, swimm to the island, doing it´s job there and swimming back .

Rainer

That's funny because that's exactly what used to happen when I was a kid. It was my job to row the dog to shore and as soon as she saw land she leaped out of the dink and swam for shore. Then I'd have to get her back into the dingy all wet and sandy. The dog didn't like the dingy and and would walk over my legs with her claws. Bad times.

I do remember she would sometimes relieve herself in the cockpit floor. I suppose if the dog is paper trained you could lay some newspaper down for it to go on.

Now our old cat was toilet trained and would climb up on the potty and do his business in there. It was so easy. That cat loved the night and would walk the boom. We always worried he would fall overboard while we were sleeping.




--Russ

[Erik Hardtle]

We have a pomerian that is litter trained... yup I said LITTER trained. Week take her all the time, alot of long weekends. She weighs about 6 pounds and is usually a big hit at any dock.

We keep the litter box under the table.

[ROAD Soldier]

THe can pee in a cup and is accurate at too. However he barks too much if I am not next to him to strangle him. It's my wife’s dog.


These are mine and have to be beached or dock the boat for the tan one which is part Rhodesian Ridgeback and like most dogs in the hound category she cant swim a lick. So she is terrified of water but will go boating with me because she will follow me anywhere except the swimming pool and a tender.

[Québec 1]

Just aftrer I relieved Captain Kanouk for my watch!

He can hold it longer than we can, as long as we do not feed him or give him anything to drink! A sip of water lasts him a long time and we never feed him when we are at sea.
Q1

[SkiDeep2001]

If you have a pet on board (dog or cat) you should have one of these. If your pet goes overboard, it may save you a whole lot of grief, as most of us love our pets like they were our kids. I bought one of these for my cat RC and he has no problem wearing it. It gives me peace of mind knowing he will be OK if he goes overboard. If I am in inclement weather or busy with sailing issues and can not keep an eye on him then he is attached to a lifeline to the back of the vest but the float coat is added protection against accidents. Very affordable product. There are other brands out there but these have the best reviews and are made to prevent rollover in the water. http://www.ruffwear.com/dog_life_jackets Rob PS: and he's porta-potti trained, I just can't get him to flush though.

[richandlori]

Dogs....heck I have two kids....no time for extra work

But seriously, about 25% of the cruisers we meet have an animal aboard, mostly cats, but some dogs...from what I can see, it a LOT of extra work, but if you already had your dog before you bought the boat...what-ya-gonna-do...they come with you!


Rich
Sea of Cortez