boating with dogs

P

Picadilly

New Member
Aug 10, 2015
5
Pacific Northwest
Boat Info
1997 250 Sundancer
Engines
5.1L Mercruiser
Hey ya'll, new to the forum. Hubby and I purchased our SeaRay about a month ago. Was curious how dogs do aboard. We have a border collie that we are taking it slow in her getting use to the boat. She loves the boat at the dock, not too crazy when out on the water. Granted only been out twice, second time on plane a little. She doesn't mind the life jacket and would like the mutt muffs off her head. But overall she did ok. Still getting use to it. Think she'll be fine once we get to a destination. How do other dogs like boating?
 
Take our two every time we go out. They get excited if you even say the word "boat." One loves swimming off the stern when at anchor or off the beach when we go to shore, the other hates the water but still loves being on the boat, going for dinghy rides and all the cool hikes we get to go on when we get to our destination.
 
Labrador, goes nuts as soon as I grab the boat bag......first on the dock, first to the boat, first above.
And first off into the water when we stop, even if the water is cold


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I'll echo the same. Say the word boat, see the kids getting their boat bags or any other related things - dogs get psyched. Have to keep them on their leash when we get to the marina, otherwise they'd mow everyone over to get to the boat.
 
how do the dogs get back on the swim platform? do you have to pick them up? our lab weighs about 80lbs...lol. hernia waiting to happen
 
Max our rat terrier is an old salt when it comes to boating and doesn't mind rough water or being under way he was raised on our boats. But there are other breeds that don't do so well . If you are only going to be out on the hook by yourself have at it. If you plan to be in a marina with a dog it should be quite and well mannered with people and other dogs being by your boat.There is no exceptions a marina is in to tight of quarters to have a dog going off every time there are people or a dog passing by your boat.Sorry for going off a dog can be a great companion if your dog likes to be on board it's great but if your dog gets too stressed out then don't put your pet through it. Most dog's that are stressed out are more likely to acted out.
 
My labradoodle loves the boat. He takes over the captains chair every time we are under way.
 
boatman37 said:
how do the dogs get back on the swim platform? do you have to pick them up? our lab weighs about 80lbs...lol. hernia waiting to happen
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They sell ramps just for dogs. My 50 lb dog is no issue but 80 lbs might be a problem for me.
 
boatman37 said:
how do the dogs get back on the swim platform? do you have to pick them up? our lab weighs about 80lbs...lol. hernia waiting to happen
Click to expand...

I'm sure there are a million different set-ups, but as you can see from my sig pic, we're stern in with the small finger on the port being about 6" higher than our platform, and the platform about 10" from the edge of the finger. Very easy for both two and four legged critters. Floating docks are a great thing.
 
Picadilly said:
Hey ya'll, new to the forum. Hubby and I purchased our SeaRay about a month ago. Was curious how dogs do aboard. We have a border collie that we are taking it slow in her getting use to the boat. She loves the boat at the dock, not too crazy when out on the water. Granted only been out twice, second time on plane a little. She doesn't mind the life jacket and would like the mutt muffs off her head. But overall she did ok. Still getting use to it. Think she'll be fine once we get to a destination. How do other dogs like boating?
Click to expand...
Slow and steady wins the race. The more she's out, the more she'll acclimate to the sounds and sensations, though do take care that she doesn't fall off seats, bump around on hard surfaces, or end up in the water unexpectedly if you can. The more you can control the situation, the faster she'll adapt and then be able to deal with accidents that can always happen. A couple of friends dogs took headers into the water when there were unexpected waves/boisterous humans around, and their dogs were a little traumatized.

boatman37 said:
how do the dogs get back on the swim platform? do you have to pick them up? our lab weighs about 80lbs...lol. hernia waiting to happen
Click to expand...
If you mean how do they get from the water onto the platform--and you don't go the ramp route--a life jacket that has a sturdy handle on the dog's back or toward the rump makes it easier. If you don't use a jacket, a harness that has two straps of webbing will work, too--one should be behind the front legs and the other should be spaced farther back on or past the ribcage. While the dog's in the water, coax it to the area of the platform where you/it can maneuver without obstacles/without back paws bumping into props or anything. Be on your knees on the platform to avoid straining your back with a major waist bend/lift. If you can get the dog to put its front paws on the platform, all the better; lift its back/rump with the jacket handle/top of harness as it's pushing from the front paws and place its hind end onto the platform; you can lift from the front edge of the jacket/harness near the neck, too, if the dog needs a little extra oomph.

Is yours sensitive about its scruff? Some friends with Labs grab a handful of scruff on the front end and the jacket handle on the back end and the dogs don't even blink--they've been acclimated since puppyhood. One dog that's an especially adept swimmer and seems to never tire usually aims toward the ladder and tries to climb a little with all four paws, too--that one is a full scruff lift, no jacket.

Practice the lift on land first, so the dog doesn't get scared feeling the jacket/harness tighten around its middle and learns not to flail.
 
we are still getting used to boating ourselves so haven't tried the dog yet but would definitely have a doggy vest on. not sure about the scruff never tried it
 
my dog liked to wear her "Thunder Shirt" when on the boat... I made her less nervous and kept her hair confined...
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boatman37 said:
how do the dogs get back on the swim platform? do you have to pick them up? our lab weighs about 80lbs...lol. hernia waiting to happen
Click to expand...

We use the Load a Pup. it clips on the ladder and sits about 1' under the water. Our lab loves it, as he often just sits on the platform in the water, with his head resting on the swim platform waiting for the ball to be thrown. Oh and he's a big boy, tall and over 80lb.
 
load a pup looks like it might do the trick. thanks
 
we made it out for the second time this weekend my daughter was home on vacation from Hawaii.. we have her dashound until my daughter and her husband return home. Ollie loved the boat was his 1st time on the boat we went out to the sandbar in beach haven had him swimming with his life jacket on.. He sinks like a rock without it.. legs are too short.


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As you can see below my dogs get pretty stressed out while boating....



But my dogs hate the water and feel it should be for drinking only. On the plus side I never have sloppy, wet dogs on board.
 
This is our second season with the boat and our first season having our puppy aboard. Prior to taking her out on the boat, I took her to the boat twice, maybe three times while I was doing minor work on the boat (installing LED's, and fixing the transom shower). That way she was used to being on the boat and comfortable with it prior to being exposed to the noise or vibration of the motors.

We have had her out during the day and at night and she is very happy on boat any time of day and just about any water conditions too.
 
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Had a 100 pound Golden that loved the water but would never jump in. I had to lift him off and place him in and then lift him out. I added the extended swim platform and that helped. Miss that guy. I also have a Toller. She's about 55 pounds and is easier to lift but is petrified of the water. I probably have the only duck dog that sinks like a stone. She won't even try to swim. She comes along sparingly and always wears a jacket. She loves being on the boat and swim platform when we are at anchor but isn't crazy underway. It's funny, when I'm on the boat at my dock at home she gives the boat a wide berth fearing I'll grab her and throw her on.
 
Mason manages just fine on the boat. We bring him along every time we go out. All of our Golden Retrievers boated with us and we brought them on our boating trips as well.

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Although sometimes they were only happy inside the cabin with the A/C running.
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Definitely recommend boating with your furry friends.
 
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Jesse goes anywhere we go on the boat with few exceptions. Give him some sun and free up the aft couch and he is a happy dog.
 
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