Tugmuts Archive dogs on the boat ... ?

K

Kaisardog

Well-known member
Joined
Jun 23, 2014
Messages
65
Fluid Motion Model
C-302 SC
Non-Fluid Motion Model
Nauticat 321 sloop
Vessel Name
eagleswing
does any one have experience to share with dogs getting onto/off the tugs ? do they just jump onto the swim platform then into the cockpit ? can they get up onto the foredeck via the sidekicks while anchored or docked, without falling off ? has anyone put the 'sailor netting' around the sides as a safety for them ?

our australian shepherd is desperate for answers.
 
Our Staffordshire terrier/boxer mix loves being on our boat. No problems getting on and off via the swim step or over the side into the cockpit. Going to the foredeck is however a no go. They are too narrow.
 
We have a 22 lb Shelty Mix and a 70 lb Labradoodle. They both enjoy the boat and have no problem getting in over the cockpit the same way people do. The swim platform works too, if you have a dock that low. They will both sit on the platform at anchor to enjoy the sights. The sidedecks are too narrow for them to travel to the bow.
The only thing they do not like is the turbo charger. It apparently has a high pitched noise that their sensitive ears pick up much more than ours. They will happily travel in the cockpit prior to winding up the turbo, but once you do that, they prefer the cabin.
 
thanks ! our aussie currently really likes going on the fore deck of the sailboat , which has wide sides and netting. she also has her own dog sun canopy there , attached to the mast and side rails, where she has her comfy mat toys and and water bowl. she will be bitterly disappointed if we move to a tug. fortunately she does not have a 'vote.'
 
Put the dog bed in the cockpit and I think your dog will be happy as a clam. Ours is!
 
We have a 90 lb lab and a 75 pound mutt, they both love the boat. Both are 12, so they are not as spry as they once were. We bought a ramp for them but have yet to use it. The ramp will be best used when we are tide up outside someone, so that they can transfer on the swim steps.
They have no problems jumping off the boat when we are next to the dock. We often just pull the fender up and pull the boat in a little closer for the lab, and then he makes his move. No accidents yet!
jc
 
My healer also loves the boat and he wears his boat coat (lifejacket) all the time! I got one that is bright red and a sturdy handle on the back. If it a long jump from the dock to the boat the handle is a nice assist for him. More importantly getting a clawing wet dog on board is hard without the handle, and being in fresh water is easy but with currents and substantial waves could prove to be near impossible. Check your cockpit drains twice a day if your dog in an outside dog, mine sheds fiercely during the prime boating months. I also use paint protective film in areas that he tends to put his claws a lot like the propane box.
 
I carry my hound on and off the boat. I do not know if this is an option for you. She was jumping on and off herself but almost fell in going from the boat to a high narrow dock.

Barbara
2015 R27 Talisman
 
Our GSP is a full time member of the crew on our 25 classic. Pretty much the same feedback that others have given. The only additional comments are regarding getting in/out of a dingy. For that the swimstep is great. However a bit of training is in order so the dog waits to load/unload only on command after the dingy is in a fixed position and provides a solid surface for the dog to step/jump from.

There is one caution regarding the swimstep. We had one occasion when our dog got excited about a seal surfacing nearby and jumped into the dingy on her own(while it was tied astern). She tried to jump back aboard before I could get back there to hold the dingy still. When she jumped the dingy scooted from under her and she didn't reach the step. When she hit the water she plunged deep enough to pop back up UNDER the swimstep. As you can imagine that freaked her out pretty bad. We have the old style step which 1) is a grating so I could see the dog and 2) doesn't have a lip around the edge. So it was easy enough to reach under there and drag her out. I imagine that it could have been a little more traumatic experience with one of the molded glass steps.
 
We have a 55 lbs. Staffordshire terrier with really short legs who really loves being on the boat. I built a 9" high x15" x15" non-slippery plywood platform-step to help her when at a low dock. I carry it in the cockpit. She prefers the over-the-gunnel route vs swim step -- The swim step , because its side is angled inward and lower than the dock, is harder for her. The nonskid pattern on the deck can be slippery so she always has a sturdy harness on, not just a collar, when she's on the boat. I keep the leash on the harness to help her as she get on and off. A dog with longer legs probably needs less help.

I would never let her go forward of the cockpit on this style of boat with narrow decks. Like others, I sometimes have to pull up a fender to get the boat closer to the dock. She did fall in once-- and its really hard to get any dog fished out-- but especially one that's not a good swimmer and is fairly heavy, more so if they fall between the dock and boat.

The Llasa Apso hates the boat, so he stays with the dog sitter.
 
One more thing about boating with Britt ( the Staffordshire terrier): On our last long cruise we put her portable kennel in the cockpit ( it does take up space I know) and keep her in it when docking. We don't let her out till we are secured and fendered, and are sure there are no distractions (other dogs primarily) on the dock that might cause her to want to jump off by herself.
 
Our dogs both get their harnesses on when we arrive at the lake and they stay on until the truck ride home. Collars are worthless to try to pull a wet dog back into the boat or the dock if and when there is a mishap. They both have dog life jackets which they wear when going swimming and it is rough or when SUP riding. The older one is mostly deaf and does not hear commands so she gets tied to the base of the settee table when docking. Rope gates are used between the cockpit railings and the pilot house wall when we are in a slip, just to remind them they are not to leave and roam the docks at will. Benadryl is in order when the waves are forecast for more than 2 feet and there is distance to be covered. They can not look out the window and seasickness is no fun (nevertheless they do not want to be left at home).
 
Hi We are new owners of a 2008 Ranger Tug 25. Baxter is our 20 pound wire hair fox terrier - 10 years old. He has never been on a boat. We bought a life jacket for him and it has convenient handles so we suited him up and used the handles to put him through the starboard side window. He loves being on the boat. He went right to the V-berth and went to sleep. we attached his leash to the stern so it is just long enough for him to see out but not long enough for him to go overboard. We are enjoying our new tug and plan to take Baxter with us always. Was going to show pix here but don't know how. We'll post it later once that learning curve is mastered.
 
Our Aussies both wear life jackets when on the boat. Last season one decided she was going for a swim on her own. By the time we got the boat turned around etc., we would have been a lot more concerned for her had she not had her lifejacket on.
 
Absolutely important...we are not sure Baxter can swim..we were docked and I was with him in stern when he took off after a heron. Lesson learned..now he always has his leash on attached to ring in cockpit.
 
We had no problems with our labrador retriever on boat! But to tell the truth, labradors are not problematic at all 😀
 
Our 45 lbs GS/Chow/Retriever and anything else her family tree fooled around with loves the R-23. On and off the swim step without problems. In and out of the Kaboat, piece of cake. Ellie rides in the Kaboat up on the bow like a Maiden Head. She even loves to ride on the bow of our $100 inflatable kayak. Worried she'd put a hole in it, I bought a Walmart special plastic kayak for $185. We'll test her on that this season.
Ellie lays claim to whatever seat is available except the helm seat. When the sun's too hot she'll seek shade inside on the V berth. If she's in the water, or on a kayak, or Kaboat, she has her life jacket on. She will try to swim after ducks n such.
 
We are new owners of an R-31S. A significant part of our motivation to buy a boat was so that we could vacation with our dogs. We have THREE dogs - Sapphire is a 13 year old, 70lb Aussie mix with bad hips; Toby is 1-1/2 old, 95 lb German Shepherd; and Molly is a 4 month old Black Lab. Toby has no difficulty jumping in and out of the cockpit and is pretty good at waiting until it is his turn. Molly has just realized that her can clamber out of the cockpit and is quite proud of herself - so a bit more discipline is needed there. Sapphire is coping really well, despite her age and physical problems. We got her a fold-up doggy ramp that we use INSIDE the cockpit to ease her up to the gunwale at which point she can use the plywood step sitting on the dock. The ramp is a bit cumbersome to fold and unfold and does take up room in the cockpit, but it is a godsend for our aging Sapphire.

They all settled well into sleeping onboard, but we can tell that two younger ones really miss running and chasing that they do at home (6 acres). On our maiden puppy cruise, they seemed pretty content for the first couple of hours, but began to get antsy - so we headed back to port.

Since we hope to do a lot of cruising in the canals and great lakes, we are work on that.

Have not yet introduced them to the dinghy.

Welcome suggestions about their potty needs.
 
We only have one dog to cater to her needs. We put her on the dinghy (Kaboat), or kayak, every couple hours and paddle her to shore for her rest stop, if we're on the hook. In port it's just the normal take her for a walk routine. We let her chase some ducks n such to burn off some energy. She never catches them, they swim faster than her...
 
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