How To Watch Out For Your Canine First Mate

The smell of the salty sea air. The rocking of the boat as you make your way out amongst the waves. The seagulls flying high above. A good hand scratching the back of your head. What dog wouldn't want to be out on the high seas?

Almost every dog loves the water, and there's nothing like a long day out on the lake or the ocean in a small boat, with the faithful company of a good dog. Unfortunately, many owners of boats and dogs don't fully take into consideration the safety of their first mate. It isn't their fault, of course. When a dog is a part of the family, you tend to forget that he or she is also a dog. Nevertheless, it is vital that owners protect their dogs when they take them out for a boating excursion, and these simple tips will make it easy.

First and foremost is the doggy life jacket. Available at most boating stores, and even some pet stores, doggy life jackets are just as essential for the dog as their counterparts are for the human travelers. While intuition may suggest that dogs can swim better than most people, that is not always the case. And even where it is, prolonged time swimming is extremely exhaustive without support, and can lead to problems of its own after or during the rescue of the wayward pet.

Secondly, dogs should never be encouraged to drink water from the surroundings, even when on a freshwater lake. Because most motorized boats leave a bit of residue from their engines, it is important to have some bottled water and food on hand for pets. Also, if boating in saltwater areas, remember that the air can dry animals out much quicker than on land, and that they'll probably require much more water than normal.

A third tip involves a classic boating accessory that many of us forget to use: sunscreen. While dogs are indeed covered by their fur, a good deal of short-hair dog breeds can indeed get sunburned...and sunburns can make a dog just as miserable as a person. SPF-15 will normally do the trick, but for hot days, or dogs with extremely short hair, a higher SPF might be warranted. On a more personal note, it may be good to invest in lightly scented sunscreen, to help neutralize its effect on a dog's nose (not to mention your own).

Finally, a consideration often overlooked is what to do in the case of long trips, or in the event that a dog needs to relieve themselves in a boat --- they can't use a cabin bathroom, or hold it, as people do. For this, the same standards as taking a dog for a walk should be applied: plenty of plastic bags and paper towels. By cleaning up after the dog, feces born diseases are taken care of, and the smell is kept to a minimum, for both canine and human enjoyment. Febreeze or other odor neutralizing products may also be extremely helpful with this problem.

It can take a lot of work to make sure that a trip out on the boat is pleasant, both for yourself and your dog. But with careful planning and good safety precautions, a lovely day can be enjoyed by all involved.

Written by Victoria of Pet-Super-Store, a place to find great products like dog training collars and dog tracking collars.