Issue -
All paws on deck!
Surveys collected from one hundred cruising boats indicate only 10% of those polled had children aboard, but a full 22% counted a pet among their crew. Why take a dog sailing? Companionship. We're dog people. Entertainment. We're dog people. Protection. We're dog people. Boaters meet new friends as dogless cruisers appear in search of a "puppy fix."
Surveys collected from one hundred cruising boats indicate only 10% of those polled had children aboard, but a full 22% counted a pet among their crew. Why take a dog sailing? Companionship. We're dog people. Entertainment. We're dog people. Protection. We're dog people. Boaters meet new friends as dogless cruisers appear in search of a "puppy fix." 
Tess, a relative newcomer to the sailing scene, is described by Chris and Ron as a Norfolk Pound Puppy. She joined their crew following a four-month search of Humane Societies and ASPCA shelters. Their criteria called for a waterdog between the ages of four to eight months, suitable for training, preferably a female who would have no urge to raise a leg on Rhumb Runner's stanchions.
Cruz is a K9is-Tri-Leggis-Beggis. This black Lab, who lost his right front leg to cancer six years ago, doesn't know it's missing yet, so his people just don't say anything. Cruz comes from a family of cruising canines -- this son of a sailor was sired by Schooner, who developed his sea legs aboard a 1926 John Alden schooner.
Teddy, an eleven-year-old white German shepherd who was born in Iowa, now boasts over 22,000 nautical miles under his safety harness.
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I think I could turn and live with animals, they are so placid and self-contained. Walt Whitman, Song of Myself, 1855 |
The responsibilities of dog ownership on the water vary from those encountered ashore. Boaters considering the decision to "turn and live with an animal" aboard should give serious thought to the commitment necessary. The pet must have a personality that allows it to readily adjust to new faces and places. Cruisers must carry appropriate documentation, travel with an adequate canine medical kit, provision familiar dog food, and cope with the ever present reality of dealing with that food again once it has passed through the dog.
Dog hair accumulates rapidly, toenails scratch the teak and holly cabin sole, and sufficient exercise time must be scheduled to keep the pup content. It can be difficult to keep dogs cool when it is extremely warm, and an animal with a heavy coat may have to be shaved. Wet-dog odor can become pervasive if the pooch has not learned to stay off the settee cushions.
Space &endash; a precious commodity aboard ship -- must be allotted for stowing food, toys, medical kit, and the animal's flotation device. A secure, non-skid, out-of-the-way area must be designated for food and water bowls.
A plan must be developed for getting the dog back on board; with large dogs, this can be a problem. Lenny and Sherry feel their "schnoodle" is an ideal size for a boat dog. Tramp, a schnauzer/poodle mix, is small enough to carry up the boarding ladder, yet large enough to look threatening. He is also able to get into the dinghy without assistance.
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They say a reasonable amount o' fleas is good fer a dog &endash; keeps him from broodin' over bein' a dog, mebbe. Edward Noyes Westcott, David Harum, 1898 |
Well, Mr. Westcott, cruising canines are a fairly cheerful lot on the whole, and their human companions believe that a "reasonable amount o'fleas" is no fleas at all. The current generation of flea products are very safe and highly effective at killing fleas, and preventing reproduction.
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I never heard thy fire once spark, I never heard once in thy house I never heard thy cat once mew. John Heywood, A Quiet Neighbour, 1556 |
These praises are definitely neither small nor few among the cruising community. Boaters cherish serene anchorages. Barking dogs are no more highly regarded by neighbors afloat than they are by land dwellers.
Rhumb Runner's crew is attempting to deal with the problems created by Tess's incessant barking when she is left alone aboard ship. Petless cruisers become understandably irritated when calm afternoons are shattered by vociferous expressions of unhappiness from a lonely Labrador. Ron and Chris are determined the howling will cease. They check regularly with other boaters in each anchorage, requesting reports on Tess' behavior.
Does she yelp throughout the duration of their absence or only when she recognizes the sound of their approaching dinghy? They are convinced that their pup's behavior will be successfully modified.
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That indefatigable and unsavoury engine of pollution, the dog. John Sparrow |
While this seems rather harsh, quite frankly "taking care of business" is the most troublesome part of cruising with a pup. Cruisers unanimously agree that the dog must be trained to relieve itself on the boat before departing on a cruise.
It is infinitely simpler to educate a young pup than it is to try to teach an older dog new (elimination) tricks. Certain dogs simply refuse to void on board, limiting the crew to short passages with twice-daily trips ashore or miserable conditions for the animal. Some dogs have gone as long as 36 hours before their owners have had the opportunity to row them ashore.
Before setting off on Island Time, Sherry purchased a purple silk flower to stick in the ground by Tramp's favorite bush at home. After a week she brought the well-used flower, along with a stool sample, to the boat and placed it on a mat on deck. Interestingly, though the pup uses his mat, he does not lift his leg while on the catamaran, possibly due to fear of losing his footing.
Rhumb Runner's crew refused to be restricted to going ashore first thing in the morning and last thing at night, so they launched a rigorous program of training immediately upon acquiring Tess. Instruction was based on the principle of "poop to port, piddle to starboard." They were so successful that the pup would wait to return to the boat before doing her business. The next step was to train her to use grass. Tess is fed only dry food; the firmer stools make disposal an easier task.
A "show and tell" approach to toilet training was reported by one first mate. Following numerous efforts to enlighten his furry friend as to the purpose of the mat on the forward deck, the captain of the ship finally resorted to going forward, with dog in tow. There he proceeded to conduct a demonstration which left no doubt in any minds, human or canine, as to what the mat's function was intended to be.
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Where dogs go on with their doggy life… W.H. Auden, Musee des Beaux Arts, 1940 |
Puppies tend to adjust well as far as balance and equilibrium go. Rocky isn't bothered by the heeling action of the boat; when Off Call tacks, he simply moves to the opposite corner of the cockpit where he won't slide around.
Nevertheless, life jackets and safety harnesses are important to ensure that there are "doggy lives" to go on with. Of particular concern are night passages, cold water, and rough water. While underway, the animal should either be confined below decks or wear a life jacket which is tethered to a jack line secured to the boat.
Most pet flotation devices feature a handle on top of the vest to aid in lifting the dog out of the water, as well as a separate eye for attaching a leash or tether. These are available from boat supply outlets, average less than $20 in price, and come in a variety of sizes based on weight and chest size.
Dyan bought a flotation vest for Pasha following a harrowing episode where the puppy fell into the water unbeknownst to her people. Cool Change was tied to a high concrete wall when a young boy pounded on their houseboat, shouting that their dog had fallen overboard. They discovered Pasha trapped between their hull and the cement wall, with no way to regain land.
Merrill has long arms and was able to lie belly down on deck, hook a finger through Pasha's collar, and pull her to safety. The little Shih Tzu is less than thrilled with her new PFD (personal flotation device), but her human crew considers it a doggone good idea.
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Young blood must have its course, lad, Charles Kingsley, The Water Babies, 1863 |
A cruising dog has "his day" far more often than landlubber counterparts, for the very essence of the lifestyle dictates most waking hours are spent with his family.
Luke jumps into Tranquility's dinghy -- still raised on the stern with davits -- and waits, hoping his humans will get the hint and take him ashore for adventures.
On dog day afternoons, Rocky loves to float lackadaisically in his custom life vest.
Cruz keeps the below decks area free of clutter by performing the Float Test. He picks up anything that is small enough to fit in his mouth and drops it overboard!
Charlie was on the docks one afternoon as Pat and Cathy engaged in some cleaning and general maintenance on Mischief. The marina was calm and relaxed, as he roamed the slips looking for hand-outs and scratches behind the ears. Then "she" arrived, strutting down the dock, sleek and sexy. It was love at first sight! Charlie's ears came forward, his tail went up, and he forgot all about that itch under his collar. Off he went in hot pursuit, down the rows of boats, till he had the object of his affections cornered at the end of a finger pier.
After considerable sniffing about, Charlie made his big move, which was less than well received. The lovely lady labrador shook Charlie right into the cold spring water. Charlie had never heard that Golden Retrievers are supposed to love swimming; he was more of a wading kind of guy. A small crowd gathered at the end of the pier to witness all the splashing and flailing about, and by the time the canine Romeo was fished from the deep, all thoughts of romance had vanished from his mind.
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Brothers and Sisters, I bid you beware Rudyard Kipling, The Power of the Dog, 1909 |
"Bubba's dead. Come home," the man choked out tearfully, before severing the connection between the pay phone at the marina and his wife, who was away visiting family. The sailboat tied to the pilings had been a bleak home to the man these past two weeks and he could no longer tolerate the loneliness. His wife's love for the dog was legendary and he knew she'd immediately make plane reservations. Leaning down, the man flashed a wicked grin, scratched the ears of a very-much-alive Bubba and smugly announced, "She'll be back tomorrow." (She's dog people!)
Tramp, Nicki, and Annabelle of Royal Island Time
Teddy of Carrousel III