Boating with your Dog

[triumphrick]

Re: Boating with your Dog

Our Jack Russel, Lucy will chase anything and everything..untill we get out on the water. Then she just seems to settle right down. That's when she becomes a lap dog, which is entirely unlike her....maybe it's the calming effect of the water??

 

[HappierWet]

Re: Boating with your Dog

Not to hijack the thread....But a question especially for the people with bigger dogs ie labs.....How do you get them back aboard? The dog goes in 120 and comes out 130-140 with water weight.

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Boating with your Dog

google dog ladder

 

[salty87]

Re: Boating with your Dog

Not to hijack the thread....But a question especially for the people with bigger dogs ie labs.....How do you get them back aboard? The dog goes in 120 and comes out 130-140 with water weight.

swim platform at water level. that and a firm hand on the back of their head/neck, gives them leverage to use their legs. they'll do the work but you'll want to hold on to the boat with your other hand until you get the hang of it.

 

[radioguy]

Re: Boating with your Dog

Our German Shepherd loves the boat. If we are camping he will go & sit in the boat hoping to go fishing. When we are fishing if there is no action he will hit the rods with his paw hoping that will initiate some action. Interesting note, we ordered PFD's from the U.S., no problem with ours but they would not ship the dog PFD to Canada.

 

[smclear]

Re: Boating with your Dog

Not to hijack the thread....But a question especially for the people with bigger dogs ie labs.....How do you get them back aboard? The dog goes in 120 and comes out 130-140 with water weight.

The only boat my dog actually swims off of is the pontoon for the exact reason of your question. No swimming off of the speedboat. On the pontoon though, he can climb out himself using the boarding ladder on the stern of the boat. It did take a while to get him trained but he's pretty good at it now. Although if he's been swimming all day, which he will do if allowed, he gets kind of tired and needs a little help. The downside to this is he can "sneak" back on board and give unsuspecting folks a nice shower as he shakes himself off.

 

[smclear]

Re: Boating with your Dog

Not to hijack the thread....But a question especially for the people with bigger dogs ie labs.....How do you get them back aboard? The dog goes in 120 and comes out 130-140 with water weight.

The only boat my dog actually swims off of is the pontoon for the exact reason of your question. No swimming off of the speedboat. On the pontoon though, he can climb out himself using the boarding ladder on the stern of the boat. It did take a while to get him trained but he's pretty good at it now. Although if he's been swimming all day, which he will do if allowed, he gets kind of tired and needs a little help. The downside to this is he can "sneak" back on board and give unsuspecting folks a nice shower as he shakes himself off. (see previous post with pics of dog - unfortunately no pics of him climbing out himself.

 

[northernmerc]

Re: Boating with your Dog

Some breeds of dogs like the water and others don't. Having a dog jump out of the boat might be more of a problem with the retriever breeds. At least they can swim well when they hit the water.

Our border collie can swim well but doesn't like to go in past his chest. We throw him in the lake once in a while to clean him off; it then takes a bit of time for him to trust us again. He loves boats of all sorts but sits real still when in a small craft such as a kayak or canoe. He's as afraid of falling overboard as most people are.

 

[haulnazz15]

Re: Boating with your Dog

Not to hijack the thread....But a question especially for the people with bigger dogs ie labs.....How do you get them back aboard? The dog goes in 120 and comes out 130-140 with water weight.

Lift weights before you go boating for the weekend! Usually I can get ahold of the 80lb golden from the boat and lift him in if needed, a swim platform would be ideal though. The doggie ladders are good, but I don't have the space to store one without it being in the way when not in use. Dockside they usually get in and out as they please since the dock is about level with the engine hatch.

Anchor shallow enough and you can stand in the water and lift them up to someone in the boat. Just watch for kicking legs with sharp nails (it ruins your sunburn).

 

[Seon]

Re: Boating with your Dog

When the wife comes, we bring both dogs.

But if it's just me fishing, then I bring the male with me.

 

[skargo]

Re: Boating with your Dog

Yep, he's family!

He's allowed, like people aboard, to take off his PFD when we are on the hook.

He does the same thing on the boat, that he does at home...SLEEPS!

 

[River-Daze]

Re: Boating with your Dog

Dog ladder / check out www.boatingdog.com I am going to buy one. I hope it will work.

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: Boating with your Dog

Great thread guys! I like all the pics!

 

[Tacklewasher]

Re: Boating with your Dog

I've tried taking mine. One is scared and sits on my feet. The other won't sit still and is all around the boat.

Stopped trying.

 

[wa_ssv197]

Re: Boating with your Dog

Our dogs go everywhere with us unless there are going to be a lot of people.
If its just family they go. The lab/dane mix lays behind me and the German Shorthair stands on the bow cushion in the Glastron. On the Chris Craft, they get the run of the ship.

 

[Bearfan]

Re: Boating with your Dog

Yes, Goldendoodle. Two parts Golden Retriever, one part poodle. He doesn't shed and is hypoallergenic. Aren't they wonderful dogs?

He 'works' as a comfort dog, visiting Retirement Homes and Hospitals so the folks there can experience his magic. His name is Merlin.

Ours is 2 parts poodle and 1 part golden...also hypoallergenic and doesn't shed. She is the best dog we've had.

 

[Jeff-in-PA]

Re: Boating with your Dog

We started with a 18' I/O and our Greater Swiss Mountain Dog, Mochi
( click for big pics )



My wife said " Mochi needs a bigger boat" ( side note- there is no such thing as a "free dog" )

So now Mochi has a 24' pontoon boat to relax on



Jeff

 

[jeffnick]

Re: Boating with your Dog

Ours is 2 parts poodle and 1 part golden...also hypoallergenic and doesn't shed. She is the best dog we've had.

Doodles rule.

 

[Ryanbabz71]

Re: Boating with your Dog

Thanks for all your comments. He is about 2 and a half now and is calming down so I dont think there wil be a huge problem just want to prepare. Here is a photo of the monster hehe

 

[cr2k]

Re: Boating with your Dog

We take, on occasion both my Catahoua/Lab cross (kinda timid underway) and my sons 85lb. American Bulldog (loves the wind in the face thing). To get them back in, well the bulldog can get in by herself on the swim step, the other one I just help him get his back end on the step and he can hop on in. both Love the water and chasing stuff thrown for them.

Both will jump out when we stop in deep water and tell them it's ok.
Haven't really had any problems with them wanting to jump underway.

We haven't gotten them PFDs yet but are going to this season.


We do make frequent stops along the bank for dog swims (and us), water and potty breaks - (carry baggies to pick up after them)

Love Boats, Love Dogs and damn we love the lake!