Tips For Taking Your Dog Out On the Water

Ever look out on the open water and see a trim sea cruiser or ocean going sailboat
loafing along, soaking up the sweet wine of life unfettered by highways, byways, traffic
and traffic lights and feel a spark of envy. “But” you tell yourself, “life wouldn't be
complete, no matter how idyllic the circumstances without . . .” and then you look again
and not only are there people on that craft, relaxed and carefree -- they've got their dog
on deck! Their lives must be utterly complete. Now your jealousy is raging and you vow
that somehow, someway, someday you will have the boat, the dog and the life.

There's a lot of thought and preparation, though, that goes into successfully and safely
integrating life onboard and dogs.

First and foremost, you have to get your dog acclimated to life on the water. The
effortless land task of staying balanced becomes a workout and your dog needs time to
build not only the skill but the muscles it's going to take for long periods of time on the
water.

And then there are those swimming lessons. Better make sure your dog floats for
starters. Not all dogs can swim. If your dog can't stay afloat for a safe period of time,
you'll need to get him used to wearing a personal flotation device when on board. Just
like every other sailor onboard, a pet needs their own PFD anyway, and it should be put
on if there is any inkling of bad weather in the vicinity. You should also have a long boat
hook so you can grab him and pull him in if he falls overboard. Get him used to that, too,
so if you have a situation he doesn't panic and swim out of reach when he sees the
boathook coming toward him. Try practicing in a contained area like a lakeshore or even
a swimming pool.

Keep a sturdy line with a clip and a floater on each end in an easily accessible place on
board for emergencies. It doesn't need to be long -- four feet or so -- in case of an
overboard situation where your dog is out of reach of the boathook and you have to go
in after him and swim out to get him. Hook one end on your own flotation device and the
other to the dog's, or to his collar if he's gone overboard without it. That will give you a
hands-free lead to swim him back to the boat.

Get a watertight container for copies of all of your dog's health certificates and
vaccination records. Make sure they are kept up to date. Some ports may require these
documents before you'll be allowed to dock and disembark. It's always a good idea to
check ahead before setting sail to see what ports and docking facilities on your route
are dog friendly, and if you'll check on the internet, you'll find sites that give reviews,
including information like which areas are adjacent to beaches where you're allowed to
run your dog or which have not-so-pleasant land features, like black mud that only
comes off of paws when in contact with a clean deck. Also check to see if there are any
breed restrictions in that jurisdiction.

If you plan on longer cruises to foreign ports with your dogs, checking ahead for any
quarantine and entry requirements is essential. Check and double check, then verify.
Don't just take the word of the guy on the boat two docks over. Things can change, and
frequently do.

On a practical, day to day note, you'll have to make arrangements for a place for your
dog to relieve himself. It needs to be someplace secure, where there's no risk of him
winding up overboard because a swell hits while he's balanced precariously. Some
boaters use a piece of astroturf in a low edged box that's easy to clean out, or even
make a box of sod. There are quite a few set ups available now that make clean up
easy, boxes with plastic grids that fit over newspapers or pads to absorb urine, while
leaving the solids on top for easy retrieval and disposal. Some dogs just won't go until
they get to land if at all possible. It's better if they don't hold it so long, but they can be
hard to convince.

Perhaps the best preparation you can make is to cultivate an acquaintance with
someone who boats with their dog and learn everything you can from their experiences.
Experience is, after all, quite a thorough teacher.

Provided by Angie Brown of www.pet-super-store.com: Find great deals on Pet Doors and Dog Kennels