Four-legged mates, tips on acclimating?

ThorSen

ThorSen

Active Member
Aug 17, 2017
219
Western North Carolina
Boat Info
2018 SPX 190 OUTBOARD 150
Engines
150 4-stroke Mercury outboard
For those of you with dogs aboard and which were reluctant, hesitant or freaked out about being on the dock or boat, any tips on shortcutting the acclimation process?

Wife has a new rescue, Jack Russell mix 1-year old who in a month is already turning out to be an awesome new family member and the wife is really, REALLY is looking forward to taking the fellow out with her when she goes cruising in her SPX-190. She has a flotation harness for him and has been g-r-a-d-u-a-l-l-y getting him to start down the walkway to our floating dock but, things stalled rather quickly and she does not want to “push” him for fear of turning him off on the idea of boat rides ever, altogether.

I am so impressed with the commitment of time she is making on turning this little dudes life around for the better that I told her I’d ask here, where this absolutely no shortage of experience, etc.

How bout it - any tips on what you actually did with your dog, to ease them into the boat?

Thanks in advance!
 
When we got our puppy we took her to the boat brought some of her toys. While in the slip I would let the engines run so she would get use to the new sounds and get comfortable with them.
Also we trained her NOT to go past the door opening at the transom.We also kept an eye on her while underway or anchoring.

Hope this helps,
Tommy
 
Tommy, HUGE helps - THANK YOU!

(Face palm) Why didn’t I think of toys?

[Post-script: I mean heck, food is how my bride got me up on the altar. Everything about that day remains a fog BUT, THEY TELL ME I followed a path she laid of her homemade meatballs, into the church up the aisle and onto the altar - at one point I remember the priest asking, “Hey son, let us know if you do enjoy those snacks.”

I replied, “I do!” and then he said something about me being able to kiss Cathy, in front of everybody.

Same principle oughta apply to her / our new buddy JAX ... I mean, he’s a guy also, right? (! :)
 

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We had a Jack Russell that was an amazing boat dog. Loved the boat and the water. We would throw a ball in the water and she would launch off the boat after it. It seemed like she was 20' in the air. Only downside was she wouldn't stop. Over and over again.
 
We started ours as a puppy - probably 5-6 months old when he started boating. Ours is a Maltese, so small 6lb's.

Thought about what his environment was at home. Got a bed similar to the one at home, set up food/water dishes in a similar fashion in a consistent place. He has his toys on the boat.

Our focus was on the boat, not the docks.

Our smallest crew member has cruised 3,000 NM this year and he loves it.

His predecessor was 7-8 years old when we first started boating. We did not try transitioning him to the boat, I think he was pretty well opiniated and just wanted to stay home.

Its funny, there is one piece of luggage that we only use when going to the boat. When he sees this piece of luggage come out, he goes crazy. He knows he is going to the boat.
 
Our little Terrier 'Como' loves to hang on the boat and makes a bee line to it as soon as he hits the dock but when I fire up the engines and get under weigh, the poor little guy shakes like a leaf until we arrive and shut down. It doesn't seem to matter if he is in the cabin or on the bridge. Its been two years of regular boating and he has never become comfortable. He really doesn't enjoy riding in the car either.
No permanent damage seems to be done as seems happy as a clam the other 99% of his life.
Hope your little guy acclimates, The addition of Como to our boating regime has been priceless!
 
Awesome feedback fellow CSR’ers (? :)

I am relating every single one to The Admiral and she is VERY APPRECIATIVE!

(JimT: what’s that you say, an obsessive Jack Russell? ... No way! :D:D:D
 
Believe it or not using a crate and leaving the door open may help the dog feel secure
We have had four dogs all rescue labs/mixes over the years and they all loved the boat as much as us. You may have a life vest already but we have found ruffwear to be the best

https://ruffwear.com/collections/dog-life-jackets
 
Ha, Gary! The wife saw that Ruffwear comes in a red that matches her SPX-190 and she ordered the pup his new Float Coat, forthwith!

Endless Seas, thanks; poor little guy had a nightmare on Earth for his first year of life but, as the vet whispered in his ear right after Cathy rescued him: “Dude, you don’t know it yet but, YOU HAVE WON THE PUPPY POWERBALL!”

So true ...:p:D
 
This is all great stuff, I was just relieved the "Four-legged mates" was not a pig or a goat, that sends a thread downhill fast. LOL

Best of luck with the mate.

MM
 
Our dog is "good" on the boat. He was great as a puppy, but for some reason he is now "shaky" while we are underway on plane. He clings to us and shakes. Usually my wife goes below and on the aft berth for the drive now or for some of it. He is 100% fine once docked or anchored, and goes on the boat without any hesitation. Its just while underway at speed. At slow no-wake he is fine and sits in back head out to the side like a dog in a car. He loves the dinghy. Both running at speed, wind in his fur and nose, and especially when we get to shore and he can sniff the new smells and chase frogs.

I think part of his issue is the inability to see forward in a Sundancer while underway. Its noise and vibration without the visual sense of motion and wind. But who knows. Love the guy anyway, but hate to see him shaking.
 
Oh yes, our previous fur friend (the late, great, infamous “Gator”) started out terrific in the vehicle and travelled all over creation with us touring states in search of our retirement home via all manner of highway, backroads and interstate. Then, one day, it was like a light switch inside him got flipped - full on shaking terror that eventually worsened into tremors bordering on seizures. Weirdest danged thing we’d experienced (and, while in MD, the Admiral had fostered more than 2 dozen dogs for rescue groups). It was eventually determined the little guy had developed a form of dementia in his “old age,” much like humans. (LOL, and gue$$ what; if you’ve got the capital, they’ve got cures. Needless to say Gator got the best that cutting edge and advanced canine neurology had to offer. Would spend it all again in a heartbeat! :)

Any cognitive declines in our animals and the wife swears “they caught it,” from me!

As FootballFan mentions, all are of different personality and opinion so, we appreciate every reply as we sense JAX is gonna make a great mate, we just don’t want to reinvent the wheel!

The late, great Gator ...!
 

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We have two dogs. One has no issue walking down the ramp to the dock and jumping onto the boat. The other cowers on the ramp and dock, once I lift her (all 50 lbs) onto the boat she is OK. How do we get past the nervousness on the ramps/docks?
 
Our girls(Cocker Spaniel and Irish Setter) love the boat and the water. Life jackets a must.

In the second picture Quinn jumped in right after taking it. We were in the Muskegon Channel. Luckily the sailboat behind us was aware of the situation and I was able to come about quickly. Dog jackets have convenient handles so you can reach down and grab them quickly.

Agree with taking the toys along.
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Our Corgi Odie has been going on the boat for 13 years next month. No hesitation whatsoever... He wasn't a big fan of being in the water, he fell a of times was a little panicked so we used treats to get him out into the water first with his vest on then without it. He discovered he does float and has got a pretty mean dog paddle down.
2018-07-25 20.24.31.jpg
 
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