dogs on C-Dories

L

ldraker

New member
We, Lyle and Janda of See-Saw, are thinking of getting a dog, after many years without one, and we'll, of course, need to take it on outings and great adventures on our 16-ft C-Dory.
We'd like to hear from those of you who boat with dogs--what kinds of dogs do you recommend, what do you NOT recommend, what are the disadvantages, what pieces of advice do you have, etc.?
To Pat and Patty Anderson--we have met Baxter and found him to be a great companion to have at gatherings, like Lake Powell. What suggestions do you have for us?
We'd appreciate all the advice we can get.
 
On our Tomcat we take a Lab and a smaller terrier. On a 16 I would recommend a smaller dog. As for breeds you might want to consider one that does not shed if you don't want to clean hair after each cruise. Other than that we are in the gotta have a dog group.
 
There even used to be a forum called "C Dogs"--there is lots of information on dogs, and C Dories--but the choice of a dog is up to you.

We have and mostly labs, and yes we had two full size labs on a C Dory 22. We have had an assortment of other dogs. One of our favorites was a Border Collie--and we now have a very sweet miniature poodle. Both of these dogs were intelligent, and needed activities, or they would invent games. Better to be on top of what the dog is doing!

But any dog can adapt to boating. The schipperke is a belgium boat dog, which adapts very well to any boating--and is small size. As we aged, we wanted smaller dogs, because they occasionally need to be carried, or need a "boost".

We have had dogs aboard some of our larger boats as long as a number of months, without touching land (reason was a red tic infestation in Central America, could have lead to leptospirosis infection.) We have crossed a number of oceans with dogs. The advantage of labs is that they are strong swimmers, and adapt well to all outdoor activity. But--they are big dogs.

We also like dogs which socialize well with both other people and dogs.
 
We have had German Shepherds for most of our lives and have enjoyed them immensely even after about 4 trips coast to coast in one SUV.
However they are large and our boats are small. So, when we lost the last 2 of them (at 13/14 Yrs) we decided to wait a year and then get something smaller.

3 weeks later we got a mini-Aussie pup !! Bella.

She loves people, loves the boat, is madly in love with Baxter and every one of you she has met. Weighs 35lb and fits under the table in a crate when needed.

Perfect solution........

But, You know us, we gotta have twins not singles so we decided she needed a companion so we now have a second Mini-Aussi pup (male) and they are still in the process of deciding who rules the world.

Both have an extreme sheep herding drive and ability so they might be good for organizing C-Brat gatherings.

If you have the time and the energy to undergo positive motivational training (you, that is, not the dog !) we can thoroughly recommend them. Just a tad less active than a Border collie (not much) but a few inches smaller.

If you see our boat for sale in exchange for a herd of sheep you will know what happened.

So when you see our C-D on steroids dropping in on some of the PNW gatherings this year, lock up your food and prepare to be invaded. Just FYI, Bella is the one who will "P" on your feet or welcome mat. Patches will just steal your food.

Next best thing to boats..

M
 
IMG_3537.jpg
We adopted a Yorkie/Brussels Griffon mix, named Rusty. Great little boat and motorhome dog. Easy traveler and mellow disposition. Doesn't require much space or food, just a lot of attention and love. Perfectly housebroken in the motorhome. We will work on using the cockpit and a mat for bathroom on the boat.
https://activecaptain.com/articles/dogs/canineCrew.php
Here is a link on training a dog to go onboard, on a cockpit mat.

Good luck, Brent and Dixie
 
Discovery":zfnwkwyl said:
IMG_3537.jpg
We adopted a Yorkie/Brussels Griffon mix, named Rusty. Great little boat and motorhome dog. Easy traveler and mellow disposition. Doesn't require much space or food, just a lot of attention and love. Perfectly housebroken in the motorhome. We will work on using the cockpit and a mat for bathroom on the boat.
https://activecaptain.com/articles/dogs/canineCrew.php
Here is a link on training a dog to go onboard, on a cockpit mat.

Good luck, Brent and Dixie
Click to expand...

Brent and Dixie,

My offer to take her off your hands still goes!!! What a cutie. She was a sweetie as a pup, and looks like she has just gotten sweeter.

Steve
 
Wow...the moderators here are freindly...I mean it...another forum I belong to ya get hung out to dry for postin any Qs without doing a search first. Simply pointing out the threads is a revalation in tolerance. I am not being a wise guy..Im serious. people have been bounced off my other forum for such a violation.

Now, does proper forum ettiquite call for me to post my dog comment here, or in one of the previous threads? HHmmmmmm
rogerbum":9dewfeaf said:
See this previous thread and

this previous thread and

this previous thread and

this previous thread.

The above discussions (and more) can be located by typing "dogs" in the search box.
Click to expand...
 
alanc":25sd8t99 said:
Wow...the moderators here are freindly...I mean it...another forum I belong to ya get hung out to dry for postin any Qs without doing a search first. Simply pointing out the threads is a revalation in tolerance. I am not being a wise guy..Im serious. people have been bounced off my other forum for such a violation.
Click to expand...

Alanc, If you really want to have a little fun and see a multitude of thread references....ask about single vs. twin engines. :shock: :roll: :mrgreen:

Definitely a great bunch of folks 'er brats here. :thup
 
Alrighty, then.

Dogs. For 11 great years we were owned by and crew to a beatiful, black, 160 lb Newfoundland named "Lewis". He was without doubt way more at home on his boats ( a 17 ft Yankee skiff and a 21' Steiger) than he ever was in his cars. Cap't Lew was the greatest. Expert swimmer, boat puller, swimmer rescuer( whether or not the swimmer needed or even wanted rescuing) and a competent camper. Lewis never went boating without us, and we miss him terribly. Big as he was, he was never in the way. Always found a good spot for himself.

If all goes well, we will soon be upgrading to a CD22, and another Newfy is most likely in the plan as well. Its just not the same without a good captain.....i should post a couple pics...ill work on it.



Call me Alan.
 
Most breds will adjust to cruising on a boat-a little patience and training and a good traveling companion you will have-JUST REMEMBER-PLENTY OF GOOD DOGS ARE AVAILABLE AT YOUR LOCAL ANIMAL SHELTER-

Please consider when looking to adopt a dog or cat.

Ken
 
Here is the kind of dog I recommend. No muss, no fuss and it adheres to the KISS principle.

aibo.thumb.jpg
 
Thanks to all of you for the great info on dogs on boats. What a wealth of ideas! Sorry we didn't know about typing in "dogs" in the search; we looked at all the links to the older posts and felt like we got much better prepared to make a decision. So we took one of the suggestions and made a trip yesterday to the rescue shelter. And we found a great dog, one of many, no doubt. Now if we just "qualify"! The shelter is going to send someone out to do a home study, and then they'll check our references! Hope we're good enough! Can we give all of y'all for references? If everything checks out, we're supposed to pick up Lindy Thursday morning. She's a 3-year-old, 20-pound, white (with gray-and-brown ears) schnoodle (half schnauzer/half poodle). We're excited to get her home and introduce her to the C-Dory and the pickup camper, getting ready for spring. (We've already bought her a life jacket with a handle on the back.) So hopefully we'll soon be happily joining the "dogs-on-Dories" crowd!
Lyle and Janda
 
Good for you !!! Many people believe that the only dogs in shelters are "problem dogs".The truth of the matter is that most dogs in shelters lost their home for reasons not related to bad behavior-Many as the result of unemployment and the economy.

Realize that you saved a life and got a loyal companion for life.

Congrats

Ken
 
ken 120":1ln02psy said:
Good for you !!! Many people believe that the only dogs in shelters are "problem dogs".The truth of the matter is that most dogs in shelters lost their home for reasons not related to bad behavior-Many as the result of unemployment and the economy.

Realize that you saved a life and got a loyal companion for life.

Congrats

Ken
Click to expand...

Could not agree more!

Congratulations and Good Luck!

Joe. :teeth :thup
 
Back
Top