Want a good boat dog!

[brine]

Any suggestions for the breed of a good boat/family dog. Must love water and be gentle on upholstery. Smart would be good too...but not a whole lot smarter than me.d

 

[vipzach]

Re: Want a good boat dog!

My personal choice is a weimaraner. Smart loyal dogs and will walk around the beach looking for my son if he is out of site.

 

[rottenray6402]

Re: Want a good boat dog!

I had an English Springer Spaniel which are a little hyper around the house but as soon as he got in a vehicle or the boat he would settle right down and be really calm. After a while he would usually just go to sleep out of the sun. They are really smart but stubborn. 8)

 

[rottenray6402]

Re: Want a good boat dog!

I had an English Springer Spaniel which are a little hyper around the house but as soon as he got in a vehicle or the boat he would settle right down and be really calm. After a while he would usually just go to sleep out of the sun. They are really smart but stubborn. 8)

 

[mattttt25]

Re: Want a good boat dog!

Chesapeake Bay Retriever. Arguably the best swimming dog out there and the smartest of the retrievers/labs. Very powerful, but loving dog.

Downside is they require an immense amount of exercise and become almost too protective of the family and home. But you can solve both of these issues with exercise and interaction with other people and dogs.

I have a female, just shy of 5 months old- Teak.

 

[CN Spots]

Re: Want a good boat dog!

Chihuahua.

Don't laugh...

They'll fit in a cupholder, they don't eat much nor take up deck space.

If they get hot, throw 'em in the livewell.

Cold? Put 'em in your pocket.

Plus, you can teach 'em to fetch lures out of your tackle box.8)


spots

 

[SS MAYFLOAT]

Re: Want a good boat dog!

Yep, I wanted a boat dog. One that would swim, fetch, and possibly save a life. So I got a Newfoundland/Lab mix. Labs love water and Newfies are used as water rescue dogs. Both have webbed feet and just love the water,,,,,,,,,,,,except mine. He is a true boat dog, but he will do his best to stay out of the water. He won't drink out of the lake or a puddle. Just crazy, but he is a smart loving dog. The wife and I rescued him from a shelter in Michigan. Was a long azz drive, but worth it.

 

[Gone]

Re: Want a good boat dog!

Years ago I had a pair of Goldens that loved boats and the water. It was hard to keep them in the boat, they were always chasing ducks, geese and swans.

Our Grand-dog is a shi-tzu. He loves the boat, walks around the rail and never falls in. Absolutely loves fishing like Jerry McKinnis' dog Archie. Watches lure action, the fighting fish, but never bites at the lure or fish.

The goldens were a bit much for the 12 footer that I had then. Now that I've upsized boats, the grand-dog is much smaller...go figure. Oh well, it's my grand daughter's dog that spends more time at our house than his!

My niece has a Newfie that loves water but won't go on a boat or pontoon!

Can't tell you all how much I miss those Goldens!!:'(

CD

 

[bamspringtx]

Re: Want a good boat dog!

My lab loves going on the boat. She is getting older now, and only jumps in once per trip. She cools off, gets a drink, and then gets back in the boat.

I like the chiwawa idea, much easier to get back in the boat.

 

[ndemge]

Re: Want a good boat dog!

Or use as bait.

I like the chiwawa idea, much easier to get back in the boat.

 

[Plainsman]

Re: Want a good boat dog!

Lab

 

[Ron G]

Re: Want a good boat dog!

This is going to sound crazy,but a stray pup a couple of months old makes the best dogs in the world!they are very loving and are easy to train in my opion once you gain there trust they'll do anything for you,one of mine is a cross between a blu heeler and mountain cure he's 10 years old and loves going to the lake,if im in the water he'll swim anywere i go or fetch anything i throw.

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Want a good boat dog!

Lab ?? Well yes and no. Mine loves to dive into the water and stay there!! Unless you are willing to get a boarding platform or a life jacket with a handle (I have one) to lift the dog back into the boat.

My lab loves the water more than anything. Rather swim than ride, dives off docks and swims like there is no tomorrow.

 

[FLATHEAD]

Re: Want a good boat dog!

Lab. Best all around dog there is.

 

[POINTER94]

Re: Want a good boat dog!

I'm a golden guy. Newfoundlands will not be so good on upholstry, they have an oil on their hair, and are fairly large dogs. I don't know how you could lose with a lab or a golden. But due to overbreeding make sure you know your breeder. A poorly bred dog will cost you far more in vet bills than a well bred dog ever will.

 

[goatherder]

Re: Want a good boat dog!

My old chocolate lab loved the water so much we had to tie her leash to a seat post, so she wouldn't jump in until given permission. I've got a 5 month old chocolate lab pup who hasn't been in a boat yet, I can't wait to see how she reacts.

 

[studlymandingo]

Re: Want a good boat dog!

My golden loves the water, and loves riding in the boat as evidenced by this:

 

[Fishin' Jeff]

Re: Want a good boat dog!

Black Lab + Blue Heeler = a smart dog (IMHO)

My Buster loves to boat and hates to swim. I feed him ice cubes and let him drink from the cooler if he gets hot.

 

[LadyFish]

Re: Want a good boat dog!

We have a chocolate lab, he loves the water and we haven't had any problems with him jumping out of the boat. Thank God, because he weighs over 100 pounds.

Also, we live on the water and he won't jump in by himself. You could throw a tennis ball in and all he'll do is bark at it until you get it for him.

He's really different than most labs I've seen as far as the water. We adopted him at age 2 and his previous owners must not have encouraged him. I really thought it came naturally though.

 

[jtexas]

Re: Want a good boat dog!

This is going to sound crazy,but a stray pup a couple of months old makes the best dogs in the world!they are very loving and are easy to train in my opion once you gain there trust they'll do anything for you,one of mine is a cross between a blu heeler and mountain cure he's 10 years old and loves going to the lake,if im in the water he'll swim anywere i go or fetch anything i throw.

Actually...mixed breed dogs come from a larger gene pool therefore expect them to be generally healthier, smarter, better disposition than pure bred (with exceptions of course). Case in point my big yella hound...bays like a hound, tracks like a hound, no retrieval instincts whatsoever, yet, interestingly, the webbed feet of a water dog...no idea where that came from.