Tugmuts Archive Where do dogs sleep

[adventres]

We are considering our first furry pet. Excited and nervous at the same time. We are researching and looking for a breeder of golden retrievers in Washington State. Of course we will take the dog boating. Our girls have seen many dogs on our boating trips around the puget sound and the desolation sound trip (they love Moxie on Seaquel!), and always loved the golden retriever and is the most comfortable with them.

As a family of 4 in our RT29CB, we utilize the sleeping spaces (the cave and the main stateroom). So, where would the dog sleep? underneath the dining table? or in the "hall" of the galley? outside in a crate? use a dog bed? The complication we see, is the size of the dog. And I know Andrew would love for us to upgrade to the R31, but we love our RT29!!!

any advice?
thanks,
Lisa

 

[Navigator's Son]

Hello Lisa,

Is it too early to congratulate you on your new family addition? Yeah, I had insider trading information already from Karl :lol:

Good question about where would you setup a place for the puppy to sleep, while keeping that in mind when that puppy is fully grown. I don't know if I'd be able to give you advice about where on your boat to setup a sleeping area, but I will offer this - whatever decision you do come up with, the hardest part is going to be everyone must be consistent with that decision and behavior.

If you all continue to enforce the same behavioral pattern, then the puppy will quickly learn where they are suppose to sleep, and you will never have a problem as they grow. But if you are inconsistent, the puppy will not know when they are allowed in the cave, in the stateroom, on the bed, etc.

One of the best ways to train the puppy actually is to use a cage or crate, and put a pillow or dog bed in the crate. They quickly learn that the crate is their safe place, and they will always go back to it no matter what. Then you slowly take the crate away but leave the pillow/bed behind and they should continue to sleep there without the crate.

Best of luck with your search, and congratulations.

Robert.

P.S. - I'm sure Peanut and Bandit will be happy to make a new friend 🙂

 

[Seaquel]

Hi Lisa,

Well, the love affair at the dock at Gorge in Desolation Sound was mutual: Moxie loved your girls too! As for where to sleep, the great thing about Golden’s is they are very much at ease and adaptable on the boat and around water. Moxie mostly sleeps under the dinette, but occasionally in the “hall” adjacent the galley.

They say there are two types of boaters: those with dogs and those without, and it is really true. Bringing a dog will get you off the boat more, and subsequently you will see more. Yes, there are times when I don’t feel like going to shore (the dock at Gorge was the exception: we almost always anchor in remote coves), but every time I do I enjoy the exercise with Moxie.

A big plus is you like to take pictures (as do I). Typically you will be taking your Golden to shore early and late in the day, when natural light is best for photography. Of course, you can teach your dog to do his duty on the boat as others have done, but our preference is going to shore.

When Moxie was a puppy, the “urge” would hit at most inconvenient times (yes, I’ve used a headlamp to find my way rowing to shore in the middle of the night!). But last year (Moxie turned 3 years old) she completely adapted to my timetable, allowing me to take her later in the morning (after breakfast vs. before sunrise); and never bothered me to go during the night.

Another great thing with Golden’s is their love for water. We carry a kayak and SUP board, and Moxie loves to do both so I use these even more than our dinghy. And she loves to swim. At Desolation, if I dove off the boat Moxie would dive simultaneously. They are true water dogs. I’ve even taught her to climb the ladder to get out of the water! :lol:

A Golden will change your life and the way you boat - all in a good way as long as you are prepared for a little bit more mess and shedding fur to deal with. But the positives will far out-weigh the negatives, and your daughters will become inseparable with their new best friend!

 

[S. Todd]

We have a 3.5 yr old labradoddle (Christy) that loves to cuddle. She sleeps on our queen size bed at home so at night she is allowed in the V-birth on our R25SC. There is actually more room for her there than the bed at home. The rest of the time she generally is right in the middle of the floor and has to move when we want in the lower cabinets or the refrigerator if she is that far forward. We had this great plan that she and our 16 year old sheltie/coyote mix (22lbs) would share the mid-cabin but sharing was not what they wanted to do. The interesting thing is we cruised with Labrador retrievers for 30 years and they always had to go swimming and get wet. Christy swims wonderfully but does not like to get wet, so we almost always have a dry dog these days! At anchor she will nap in the cockpit, or jump in the Zodiac if it is floating, or rest on the swim platform where she can see better. She like to ride on the SUP.

 

[NorthernFocus]

Our dog loves to sleep in the cave. We put a cuddle style dog bed in there for her and she loves it. Even when under way the engine noise doesn't bother her. I suspect one reason is the natural nesting instinct of dogs and the other is probably because it's warm in there from the engine heat. She also likes her privacy from time to time. Don't get me wrong, she would join us in the v-berth given the opportunity. But after the first 24 hours of a trip she smells distinctly like salt marsh so is not welcome on the bed sheets.

Bottom line is that they will sleep wherever you tell them to sleep if you start from day one. Even if an adult dog that is used to sleeping on your bed at home there is a window of opportunity to start over while the boating thing is new to them.

 

[Solomons Guy]

Though we live in Maryland our last two Goldens have come from Gina, a long established breeder near Portland, Oregon.
See "BrierGoldens.com". She does produce beautiful, well mannered pups on a small rural farm.
Cutter, our latest (3+ yeas old now), likes to sleep in the R-23 "hall" so he can keep track of everyone and everything - which he sees as his job. We have a couple rubber backed throw rugs on the floor - no bed needed.
We think you can't go wrong with a Golden but may be biased after four of them. They are smart and curious so cruising on the Tug provides a lot for them to watch.
Solomon's Guy