extremely upset puppy on new Tug

[carld1234]

Our 8 year old yellow Lab is having a very, very hard time on our new Ranger Tug 27. This puppy has been on a boat since she was 3 months old and never had a problem until we bought the Tug. She starts shaking and running as soon as I start the engine and doesn't stop until I shut it off. My other boats were also diesels but much larger. Could the Volvo be emitting a sound that we can't hear that's setting her off? Anyone else had/have this problem and any suggested solutions. She still loves the water and riding on the dinghy.....
thanks,
Carl

 

[stwendl]

Interesting that you mention this. My 4 year old Doxie Chiwahwah mix had the same issue. After a few times that fear seem to reduce itself. On my old boat she had some place to go or find one she called her comfort spot. That boat was a catamaran and while it had two engines it was also louder but bigger to get comfy on

On the r27 she has no such place yet but the cave. She is only 20lbs and I finally found a place for her. By keeping the port seat folded open to the settee she can get on that and then get on the backrest to look out.

I think the turbo of the engine may be a bit scary to a dog. Oddly enough the turbo in my truck does not seem to bother her and she is the best travel dog. Just gets on the back seat and stays there for many hours sleeping or dosing

 

[Crewdog]

We have the R27 w/Yanmar, and our 2 Australian Shepherd mixes and French Bulldog don't much like the engine noise. Underway, they find a low point to hunker down. then they're ok with the engine stopped.

They handle riding in the car or pickup just fine, regardless of vehicle speed.

But then I remember seeing a Golden Retriever on the bow of a trawler underway on the Atlantic ICW who was barking at the dolphins almost non stop.....

 

[S. Todd]

We cruise with (Foxy) a 14 year old Shelty Coyote mix and a 2 year old Labradoodle (that looks more like a Brittney). The old dog gets seasick when the waves get to be 3 feet or more, and always has, but does not want to stay home. She used to shake whenever we started the engine because she anticipated the rough going. After having some relatively calm seas the last few years she does not do that anymore. She does not appear affected by the engine noise at all. The Labradoodle likes to spend time in the cockpit enjoying the lake breezes however she clearly does not like it when the turbo charger kicks in and spins up faster. My conclusion is that when I can start to hear the turbo, she really hears it. At somewhere above 11 or 12 miles an hour she will typically leave the cockpit and curl up at my feet near the helm (we have to keep the canvas to the V-birth closed or she would be up there as far from the engine as possible). She does settle down and will sleep while we cruise for hours, so I do not believe that it bothers her very much. (The older dog has hearing impairment in her advanced years and the turbo does not seem to bother her.) We have a R25SC with the Volvo D-3-150. If I put my two dogs reactions together, I would say your "puppy" is anticipating the turbo if the reaction starts as soon as the engine starts.

 

[NorthernFocus]

My guess would be what S.Todd suggested. The dog may react to the engine immediately in anticipation of what happens when the turbo spins up. Turbos turn at incredible rpm and may well produce sounds outside our audible range. Is the dog sensitive to other high pitched sounds? Drills or other motors? Doesn't like going to the airport?

That's really a shame if the dog loves boating as much as ours does.

 

[R Baker]

We can confirm similiar reaction from our 7 month old mini Aussie. Once over 1850 rpm or so he gets very uncomfortable. The boat is a 2012 - 29 with a Yanmar 6by2. Is there a sound generator out there that could be used to cancel the turbo whistle ? Or, maybe those sound cancelling headphones .

 

[sheral]

On our R21-EC (no turbo of course) our two Aussies can’t wait to get on the boat and then sleep most of the time we are motoring... so the turbo idea probably has merit.

 

[bjp447]

On my R21 and now R21 Ec my French bulldog mix, goes over with her head cocked at the engine box when it is first started. She anticipates it. I'll bet thee is a sound meter which would give you an idea of the silent turbo whistle, what range it is in.

 

[BO-J]

Try these they work for flying http://www.safeandsoundpets.com/index.html

BO-J

 

[Scuba Too]

I can hear a high pitch whine when the throttle is up. Not enough to annoy me but I suspect it could drive a dog crazy.

Eric

 

[Pilotnavigator]

Check my album, our dog Jack seems to be really upset 😀

 

[a_nyc_scott]

I think it depends on the dog. Quinn (The Mighty Quinn's namesake) hates being on our runabout (a 14', 1960 runabout made by Cadillac) that has a 15hp outboard. However he is very happy on our tug (you can see his picture in my photo album). Hopefully your guy relaxes over time.

 

[Kaisardog]

per the vet boards, dogs can hear a greater range of sounds than people can. People hear sounds in the frequency range of 64 to 23,000 hertz while dogs can hear sounds in the frequency range of 67 to 45,000 hertz. According to dog behaviorist Steven Lindsay, frequencies above 36,000 hertz can be painful to dogs, resulting in whining or barking. These sounds are inaudible to people . I've noticed that our aussie hates drills or fein tools or vacuums more than the diesel. High frequency and hi volume from a big double diesel with turbos might be causing the puppy some pain.

Animal hearing can be damaged by prolonged exposure to loud noises just like human hearing. A combination of high frequency and high volume will cause the most pain and discomfort. At high volumes, frequencies above 25,000 hertz are uncomfortable for dogs and will cause the dog to whimper or run away. on our boat, we start the engine with the dog as far away from the engine as she can get, (way up on the fore deck.) then we bring her into the cockpit with her people when the engine is idling and we're ready to all out. she then goes down below the the c cabin furthest away from the vicious :evil: engine.