Dog on Board

I can vouch for not forcing the dog into the water thing. When my parents lab was a pup my dad shoved her off the dock cause she wouldn't go in. Now every time someones on the dock when she is she freaks and heads back to dry land. Hell, if you toss a stick out for her to fetch it she'll run down to the sea wall and get in from the beach. :smt009
 
This is our first year with a new pup on board. Who can recommend a manufacturer or style of pfd for dogs?
 
Good for you for getting a rescue dog. I think a crate is going to be your best friend for the home, the car and the boat. All of our dogs love their crate...it's their safe "den".
 
Three hours after we got him, we were doing a boat ride. Boating is part of him. When I start the engines, he gets next to me and get asleep, but when at the dock or at anchor he does his job and becomes an "alarm system". Small dog but smart.



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dpvandy01 said:
Damn dude, where are you boating that you need a bullet proof dog vest? :lol: is it kevlar? My SWAT vest doesn't float!:huh:
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He's in NYC. Ever circumnavigate Manhattan Island? Some interesting neighborhoods the rivers run past. I did it once or twice back in the late 80s or early 90s. There was one part that full throttle wasn't enough for me.

Best regards,
Frank
 
avguy said:
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Here are two of ours. Abby (brown lab) took to the boat and the water from day one. She can't get enough of either of them. Katie (black nut job) also loves both the boat and the water but took much longer than Abby to acclimate to all of it.
As Frank said let the dog learn at it's own pace. Get it a life jacket. We have a doggy ladder both dogs use. We'll float in the middle of the lake & throw frisbees, tennis balls etc. off the boat & the dogs will race to see which one can get to it first.
Another thing we did was buy a couple inexpensive rubber mats to throw over the transom to protect the gelcoat.

We picked up a starving boxer pup last fall on the golf course & he'll get his intro to the boat this spring.

Fyi.....The guy in the picture looks a lot like me but my gut isn't that big :lol:
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Hello,

How sturdy is the ladder? I've been looking at ladders but my biggest concern is how well they will work with my 190 pound Newfoundland.
 
190lbs? Thatzzzz a lot of dog!
I've gone up the ladder on several occations but as you can see in the photo I'm only a svelte 185 :smt043
Honestly I think that would best be answered by the manufacturer http://www.pawsaboard.com/
 
I have looked at a few types online. I was looking for an opinion from someone who has used the product rather than a review on their site. I appreciated the input.Thanks.
 
Use the link to their site & give them a call. Very nice people to deal with as we had a couple of minor issues with ours that was resolved very quickly.
I would specifically ask them about the weight. I feel confident the ladder would allow your dog to board I just don't know how the ladder would hold up over time with that kind of weight. Good Luck! Scott
 
I have a Wheaten Terrier, "Roxy" and she absolutely loves the water. Two tips: carpet on the swim platform helps the dog feel more sure footed boarding the boat and the collapsible floating rafts with a mesh middle section are great because she can lay in the water all afternoon and not need to swim.
 
Well we had our first trip down to the boat on Friday. He would not jump onto the swim platform from the dock. He layed down and would not move. I had to pick him up and put him on board. Once onboard he relaxed a bit, but was still nervous. He would not go donw below on his own. He was either afraid of the steps or they were too slippery for him. Once again, picked him up and took him down stairs. Still a little nervous and would not go back up the steps when it was time to leave. We did not take the boat out of the slip, but did fire up the engines. This did not seem to bother him.

I am hoping he will begin to get more acclimated as time goes on. All and all, not a total failure.
 
Sounds just like one of our dogs. He hates both of those first steps (onboard and down to the cabin). He has gotten better but will still balk now and then. I did find that a mat on the swim platform helped him. I don't know if it being slippery is the issue or not. And it is funny how the engines don't bother him in the least.. finds the sun and goes right to sleep. Now the other one just hops right up and down.. Even jumps around the passenger seat onto the sink and down to the floor. But when the motors fire up she will get nervous and sticks right with the admiral.
 
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In Two Deep said:
Well we had our first trip down to the boat on Friday. He would not jump onto the swim platform from the dock. He layed down and would not move. I had to pick him up and put him on board. Once onboard he relaxed a bit, but was still nervous. He would not go donw below on his own. He was either afraid of the steps or they were too slippery for him. Once again, picked him up and took him down stairs. Still a little nervous and would not go back up the steps when it was time to leave. We did not take the boat out of the slip, but did fire up the engines. This did not seem to bother him.

I am hoping he will begin to get more acclimated as time goes on. All and all, not a total failure.
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I would have a pocket full of small doggie treats and reward the dog with treats and lots of praise for the appropriate action you want him to do....
1) start with dog on dock... give him a small treat (let's him know that the reward is worth it)
2) you get on swim platform and coax dog to make the leap and then reward.... (reverse platform to dock)
3) same procedure with your steps (up & down)

You have now trained your dog in boating......(or at least getting on/off up/down boat)

(OK, results may vary)
 
This is us getting the dogs acclimated - no Dad does not let the dogs sleep on the couch - Apparently mom does.

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