I never thought it would happen but the dogs may be joining us

hillsideshortleg

hillsideshortleg

Active Member
Feb 5, 2012
254
Lake Pend Orielle, Idaho
Boat Info
92 Express Cruiser /89 Sea Ray 280 Sundancer
Engines
489s / 350's Mercruiser drives
7Tc05e.jpg

Our old dogs died, it hurt my wife so bad seeing them get old a die, she swore she was done with dogs. That lasted about 2 weeks and she couldn't live without a dog. Well one needed a friend so we ended up with 2. One is a Catahoula Leopard (6 months) and the other is a Catahoula lab mix (4 months). We are thinking about taking the dogs/ pups up with us on Friday nights to spend the night on the boat. Since we got the pups it was a relearning experience for us as far as potty training and just plain training. I have a feeling we don't know what we are in for, some things that are beginning to be question marks for me is.
1. the walk on the dock. New to us.
2. overnight on the boat. barking, but they seem to be quiet at home.
3. the new environment on the boat.
to name a few. The dogs will never be left alone. but I have a feeling we are in for a surprise.
Any advice. Thanks in advance
 
Beautiful! We are still getting over losing our boxer. It’s tax season, so, at least waiting until after that is over.
 
We have had over 40' cruisers for a bit over 30 years. During that time period we have had several Boston Terrors and my kids have had Boxers. Our dogs go everywhere with us and the only limitation we have had has been at marinas and hotels that are not dog friendly and prohibited pets. I understand the issues and am OK with such limitations.....we just avoid those places, but it isn't an option for us........my dogs come with us and we just have to clarify the dog policy in advance. Generally, if th e boat leaves t he dock, the dogs are on it.

As far as the dog's acclimating to the boat, it has never been a problem for us. We do not leave the dogs alone on the boat at all until they are comfortable with it and even then, only long enough to eat dinner. After a few trips, all of our dogs have become as comfortable on the boat as they are at either the beach house in Florida or our home in Tennessee.

Don't over think it but make the transition to the boat as small an adjustment as possible. Give the dogs an opportunity for plenty of exercise and be sure they have drinking water available all the time. Give them a chance and your pups will be a welcomed addition to the boat.
 
We take our dog with us ALL the time. Afterall, it is his boat. He just lets us use it! He was 7 months old in this picture.
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We lost our doberman after 14 plus years. She was on the boat the first day we got her and was a boat dog through and through. The only time she did not travel with us was during our boat vacations, as I did not want her to get injured on some of the rougher days on the water. Blasting through 4-6 footers makes for unstable footing, if you hadn't noticed! Their is another one in our future!

Get them on the boat, and get them on early.
 
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Our dog goes every trip to the boat. We started him as a puppy, his third boat. He loves it. Rides on the fly bridge with us.
 
My grown kids are trying to convince me and my wife to get a dog now that they’re out of the house.
I grew up with dogs and love them, especially larger dogs, but the boat has been the biggest obstacle in my mind to getting a dog.
Vacations are no huge problem because my daughter could stay at our house to dog sit.
The boat is another issue:
We generally spend a day on the hook at a local anchorage each week during the season and don’t have a dinghy to shuttle a dog back and forth to the beach to relieve themself.
I had a dinghy for a short time but it weighed about 130 pounds and when coupled with a 90 pound 4 stroke the package was too heavy and bulky for me to muscle between the boat and my dock all the time.
Leaving it on the swim platform was not a great option because it was in the way.
Other than shuttling a dog back and forth, I have no real need for a dinghy.
What, if any, lightweight dinghy and motor combo do you guys use that would accommodate two adults and a decent size dog?
It doesn’t have to plane. Puttering back and forth is plenty good enough.
I’ve been sort of eyeballing roll ups with the slats in the floor. They seem to weigh in at a manageable 50 lbs. I’m thinking that if I paired it with an older small two stroke and small fuel tank it would be fine for what I need.
Thoughts?
 
JVM225 said:
I’ve been sort of eyeballing roll ups with the slats in the floor. They seem to weigh in at a manageable 50 lbs. I’m thinking that if I paired it with an older small two stroke and small fuel tank it would be fine for what I need.
Thoughts?
Click to expand...

I have the PRU-3 (?) from West Marine. The roll-up with the slats in the floor. I will say one thing: That is the heaviest 53# item I have ever picked up! It all fits in a carry case, and you'd think, wow, 50+ pounds, I'll just toss that strap over my shoulder and mosey down to the boat! My eye! Having said that, the inflation and putting it together on the swim platform of my 420 wasn't bad....at all. Took my time, didn't hustle. Rowed, yes rowed, the dog to shore twice in the afternoon, and once the next morning. It was a fun learning experience for me and a freaking funny show for my wife to watch!!! When we head in, we deflate, and "roll up" the dinghy but we don't stow it as we are headed back to our home dock.

I have a strip of field turf when the local high school replaced their field. About 2 feet wide and 10 feet long. It would be a perfect piss place if I could just get my little buddy to go on it. And believe me, I've tried everything, expcept just putting him out there and let him suffer till he takes a squirt. I can't do that to him.

When we travel and spend the night or two in a marina, we don't have a problem leaving him in the salon with the AC on. My wife bought me a cheapy web cam for Christmas with the idea/intent of being able to spy on him while we're gone for a few hours.

Jaybeaux
 
Jaybeaux said:
I have the PRU-3 (?) from West Marine. The roll-up with the slats in the floor. I will say one thing: That is the heaviest 53# item I have ever picked up! It all fits in a carry case, and you'd think, wow, 50+ pounds, I'll just toss that strap over my shoulder and mosey down to the boat! My eye! Having said that, the inflation and putting it together on the swim platform of my 420 wasn't bad....at all. Took my time, didn't hustle. Rowed, yes rowed, the dog to shore twice in the afternoon, and once the next morning. It was a fun learning experience for me and a freaking funny show for my wife to watch!!! When we head in, we deflate, and "roll up" the dinghy but we don't stow it as we are headed back to our home dock.

I have a strip of field turf when the local high school replaced their field. About 2 feet wide and 10 feet long. It would be a perfect piss place if I could just get my little buddy to go on it. And believe me, I've tried everything, expcept just putting him out there and let him suffer till he takes a squirt. I can't do that to him.

When we travel and spend the night or two in a marina, we don't have a problem leaving him in the salon with the AC on. My wife bought me a cheapy web cam for Christmas with the idea/intent of being able to spy on him while we're gone for a few hours.

Jaybeaux
Click to expand...
Dagone,now we r spy caming the dog.
Maybe he can’t preform under pressure.
 
We were adopted last June by a Lab mix that's about 9 years old. http://clubsearay.com/index.php?threads/weve-been-adopted.93392/

He's been on the boat with us a few times and enjoys it, but gets nervous when I fire up the engines and the floor vibrates. We haven't yet done an overnight trip with him. That's coming in April when we do a 3 day trip up the Snake River. We'll see how he does.
 
My wife and I are cat people but I can fully understand how hard it is to lose a cherished dog. Dogs (and cats) are not just animals that live with you. They are part of the family. Our Cat died last January and neither of us has gotten over it yet. My sincerest condolences.
 
A couple of quick tips- The first time you introduce him to the boat you have to just approach the boat as if you were going anywhere else with them. Your apprehension can give off a bad vibe and that will raise their anxiety level. Walk up to it as if you are just entering any other house.

The first time you are going to go out with the boat and bring the pup along, take the dog for a walk and while they are away from the boat, start or have someone else start it, and then bring them back to the already running boat. The sudden starting and vibration while they are aboard can be shocking. When they board the boat and it is already running it makes it a little calmer for the innitiation. Act like nothing different is going on and they feel the calm.

When boarding and unboarding <especially, dont just let them jump off all willy nilly when they want to- hold them back and wait for a command from you. This will tend to lessen the chance of a dog overboard someday when they misjudge the leap, or just feel like going for a swim. as a matter of fact our small dogs(all under 20 lbs) are not allowed to jump on or off the boat,we pick them up and place them on dock. They are allowed to jump from swimplatform to dink and paddleboard, and floaties.
 
Jaybeaux said:
I have the PRU-3 (?) from West Marine. The roll-up with the slats in the floor. I will say one thing: That is the heaviest 53# item I have ever picked up! It all fits in a carry case, and you'd think, wow, 50+ pounds, I'll just toss that strap over my shoulder and mosey down to the boat! My eye! Having said that, the inflation and putting it together on the swim platform of my 420 wasn't bad....at all. Took my time, didn't hustle. Rowed, yes rowed, the dog to shore twice in the afternoon, and once the next morning. It was a fun learning experience for me and a freaking funny show for my wife to watch!!! When we head in, we deflate, and "roll up" the dinghy but we don't stow it as we are headed back to our home dock.

I have a strip of field turf when the local high school replaced their field. About 2 feet wide and 10 feet long. It would be a perfect piss place if I could just get my little buddy to go on it. And believe me, I've tried everything, expcept just putting him out there and let him suffer till he takes a squirt. I can't do that to him.

When we travel and spend the night or two in a marina, we don't have a problem leaving him in the salon with the AC on. My wife bought me a cheapy web cam for Christmas with the idea/intent of being able to spy on him while we're gone for a few hours.

Jaybeaux
Click to expand...

LOL!
The older I get, the heavier 50 lbs becomes.
Especially as I rapidly approach 66 this year.
I had great plans when I bought the other dinghy brand new and a brand new 9.9 4 stroke Mercury for it.
I even picked up and adapted a small used PWC trailer for the package so I could inflate the boat at home.
It was a great plan until the first time I had to muscle the 130 lb boat between the bulkhead and swim platform, then balance the 90 lb motor as I carried it from the dock to the boat to mount it.
One time was enough! I sold the boat and trailer. The motor would have gotten sold too, but my son convinced me to hold on to it so it’s been stored for the last two years.
I’ve got plenty of storage room for a dinghy up on my dock property so I’d probably just leave a lightweight one inflated all season and covered up on a stand or blocks when not in use.
The small 2 stroke motor would probably get stored in a shed.
I’ve considered skipping the motor and just rowing instead but we get some pretty heavy afternoon winds around here.
Rowing against the wind and a chop can be a PIA.
 
Sublimetime said:
A couple of quick tips- The first time you introduce him to the boat you have to just approach the boat as if you were going anywhere else with them. Your apprehension can give off a bad vibe and that will raise their anxiety level. Walk up to it as if you are just entering any other house.

The first time you are going to go out with the boat and bring the pup along, take the dog for a walk and while they are away from the boat, start or have someone else start it, and then bring them back to the already running boat. The sudden starting and vibration while they are aboard can be shocking. When they board the boat and it is already running it makes it a little calmer for the innitiation. Act like nothing different is going on and they feel the calm.

When boarding and unboarding <especially, dont just let them jump off all willy nilly when they want to- hold them back and wait for a command from you. This will tend to lessen the chance of a dog overboard someday when they misjudge the leap, or just feel like going for a swim. as a matter of fact our small dogs(all under 20 lbs) are not allowed to jump on or off the boat,we pick them up and place them on dock. They are allowed to jump from swimplatform to dink and paddleboard, and floaties.
Click to expand...

Great tips!
We’d probably look to adopt a rescue puppy for that reason.
 
hillsideshortleg said:
7Tc05e.jpg

Our old dogs died, it hurt my wife so bad seeing them get old a die, she swore she was done with dogs. That lasted about 2 weeks and she couldn't live without a dog. Well one needed a friend so we ended up with 2. One is a Catahoula Leopard (6 months) and the other is a Catahoula lab mix (4 months). We are thinking about taking the dogs/ pups up with us on Friday nights to spend the night on the boat. Since we got the pups it was a relearning experience for us as far as potty training and just plain training. I have a feeling we don't know what we are in for, some things that are beginning to be question marks for me is.
1. the walk on the dock. New to us.
2. overnight on the boat. barking, but they seem to be quiet at home.
3. the new environment on the boat.
to name a few. The dogs will never be left alone. but I have a feeling we are in for a surprise.
Any advice. Thanks in advance
Click to expand...
Just went through same thing. We lost our yellow lab about 3 years ago, and we eventually got a new black lab puppy. She's done great on the boat, right from the start. We carry a collapsable soft-sided crate that works well when we have to leave her on the boat for an hour or two.
 

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Our Rat terrier Max grow up on boats . When he was younger it was a breeze he would just run out the dock and jump on board when he got towards the end of his life we would have to pick him up to let him on the boat. He always did good on the boat.Wife had a hard time when he was gone. Max changed when she had a brain cancer in 2003 he wouldn't leave her side from then on. She couldn't bear going through the loss of another dog when their time comes. Do to her Dx he was with us every where a support dog for sure. We miss him for sure but its nice being able to come and go without accommodating a dog every where we go.
 
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We brought our Yorkie Como
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on the boat when he was 8 weeks old. He is fine by himself when we are away from the boat and really only barks when startled or people walk by. He thinks he is a 100 lb
Doberman! Our only issue is his anxiety while underway. No matter where he is, when the boat is moving he is clearly anxious. Three years now boating regularly and he has not learned it relax.
As to jumping off the boat on his own accord, all it really took was one slight miscalculation and he went in. He had his PFD on and I was there so he spent all of 15 seconds in the water. He won’t leave the platform unless it’s tied within 2 inches.
 
JVM225 said:
LOL!
The small 2 stroke motor would probably get stored in a shed.
I’ve considered skipping the motor and just rowing instead but we get some pretty heavy afternoon winds around here.
Rowing against the wind and a chop can be a PIA.
Click to expand...
We used a roll up dinghy with a trolling motor and a small gel battery (to avoid concern over the battery tipping). For the motor you have a choice of the more expensive salt water rated unit or the standard unit. We went with standard and used it in salt water for years. I just rinse it well at the end of the season. Very light weight setup, and quiet for evening runs in the bay after dinner.
 
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