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Hi guys -

took pooch (border collie - medium doggie - 23Kg) with us last time out. He handled it all very well - only hangup was getting in and out of cabin. I had to lift him out and watch him scramble for footing on the cockpit floor by the traveller. Getting him in, I had to coax him to jump into my arms and pass him down onto the dinette rear seat.

I am thinking of a "landing" attached to step about 1/2 way up, made out of ply with a support down to the cabin floor. He could get onto from dinette seat or the seat area opposite (behind galley when in forward position), then onto landing, and then out.

Not sure how easily we can get out with this landing in place though!

I have also bought some marine carpet to fit around the traveller for him to have more purchase and I would like to put some on the top of cockpit tops (I would have to glue that in place I guess ) This would make it easier and safer for him to exit/enter boat from the landing.

Anybody any more clever solutions ('part from shooting the dog)?

Cheers, Stuart

We took our JR/Patterdale along last trip but he wasn't allowed below except for the one day/hour it rained but he won't be coming again as he was a pain trying to catch the fish before we got them in the dinghy and having to spend 30 mins trying to bust a log open when he found an echidna in there while we were walking and wouldn't come out.
He slept on deck with a bit of material tied to the wheel in case he decided to jump ship during the night chasing roos or ducks.

We always have our two aussie shepherds on board both are 8 yo the male is 60-65 lbs and the female is 40-45lbs It took about two weekends or so for the female to figure out how to get up and down the ladder by herself but now has no problem unless underway in rougher seas. The male still needs coaxing, and has little issue going up; Its coming down thats hard for him. We encouraged them to do this by making them climb the ladder and putting a bit of pressure behind their heads at the top. A lot of times when descending both will aim for the rear dinette seat at the bottom of the stairs rather than try the entire ladder.

I've been playing with the idea of a simple plank, probably just plywood, long enough to get to the cabin sole at the dinette table, with some self-stick non-skid on it, that I can unhook and slide into the stern berth when it's not needed. My doesn't have a ladder, just the single removable step, and our Lab has trouble getting up and down. She's also getting old, though she's still quite sprightly.

Getting out is a matter of learning to use the ladder. I am more worried about my dogs, two large Chesapeake Bay Retrievers, getting into the cabin in that they seem to think the galley is a good intermediate point for jumping down. Can be a real mess.

This will b the first year for our lil Morkie and our question is what to do about potty time . Sometime it may be days before going ashore. We are investigating grass pads etc..thanks in advance for your input.

Unfortunately our two were already trained by the time we got the boat and are not used to the grass pads. We've tried everything to get them to go in the cockpit with no luck. I believe a cockpit wash down kit is essential for the pads to work. You definitely don' want to be rinsing that out in the sink

2ndWind wrote:This will b the first year for our lil Morkie and our question is what to do about potty time . Sometime it may be days before going ashore. We are investigating grass pads etc..thanks in advance for your input.

We tried EVERYTHING for our little yorkie , Mac (Mr MacGregor) and He refused to use any of it ! We got a potty patch , peepee pads , and assorted sprays to no avail .

He flat refuses to pee on the boat . We think He will actually burst his bladder ! On our west to east crossing of the Gulf He went 18 hours w/o peeing . On our way home east to west crossing , He went even longer .

We have gotten in the habit , thanks to Active Captain , of finding dog friendly anchorages , that we can dinghy Mac to shore . So once in the morning and once in the evening , Mr MacGregor is escorted to shore to tend to his business .

GOOD LUCK !

Re dogs going on the boat did you smear a bit of donor poo where you wanted them to go? my freakin poms will happily crp and pee pretty much anywhere outside. One seems to prefer the foredeck, the other one not so much.
On other option is to barrow a dog like mine for the day, and let him set an example for yours.
Ix

Ixneigh wrote:Re dogs going on the boat did you smear a bit of donor poo where you wanted them to go? my freakin poms will happily crp and pee pretty much anywhere outside. One seems to prefer the foredeck, the other one not so much.
On other option is to barrow a dog like mine for the day, and let him set an example for yours.
Ix

Before we left Carrabelle on east to west crossing , we were anchored with two boats that had female dogs aboard . When we were aboard the trawler , all the dogs would pee on her swim platform . We carefully wiped up the female pee and put it in a ziplock bag . When we started the crossing we opened these bags laid out a peepee pad and put them under the ladder so he could smell the female and hike his leg on the ladder . Mr Mac would have no part of it !!!