Some advice to consider when taking your pet onboard

Your pet needs shore breaks for exercise and...

Help them feel comfortable wearing their PFD

Remember to take a few of their favourite toys

After 25 years of boating with our dogs which have been various sizes and breeds, there are some simple things that should be considered to make having them along easy , comfortable and enjoyable for everyone.   

Getting Aquainted to boating

Being on the water in a boat takes some getting used to for any animal. We had Mac boating as soon as we picked him up from the airport.    By 8 weeks he thought the big waves were great fun after all it wasn't nearly as challenging as the three flights he took to go from his home in Pennsylvania to Juneau Alaska.    He quickly got adjusted to the movement and sound of the boat and to trust us for his safety.  

Getting an older dog familiar with boating is a bigger challenge. Some animals have an innate fear of the water and will never be comfortable on a boat.   For them it may be best to get them introduced to the boat when it is still tied up at dock. As some animals hear a wider range of sounds than humans do and may be more sensitive to engine noises, getting them familiar with the sound of the engine before leaving port can also reduce their fear.  

Know how they are feeling

Begin with a short cruise, watch your pet's behavior and constantly reassure them.    If your pet is constantly trembling and stressed by being on the boat after all your best efforts, then unfortunately it may be kinder on them and easier on you to leave them at home.

Even pets can get seasick, just as humans do so always be alert for any signs of fatigue, clumsiness or disorientation.  While the same medications used for humans -- Benadryl, Bonine, Dramamine -- also work for pets, consult your vet. Whatever you do, don't let animals take refuge in the V-berth -- that's where motion is felt most. A nest of secured cushions or a carrier near the boat's center of motion will help pets feel safer.

PFD's and overboard drills

If all goes well and your pet goes boating with you then just like everyone else onboard, they should be wearing a PFD.    If your pet ever goes overboard then it may not only panic them but it may take some time to get into a position to rescue them. Rarely is it a hot sunny calm day when your pet goes unintentionally overboard.    Even a water dog can get frightened and fatigued in high waves and cold water .   A bright colored PFD will make them easier to spot and most have a grab   handle on the top making them easier to finally rescue from the water.   Be careful of those front feet as even with a PFD they instinctively paddle hard and those front claws are reaching out.

For Christmas Mac got his own PDF but like all pets that takes some getting used to.    He wears it around the house for short periods just to keep him used to wearing it.  

Many boat owners will have pet-overboard drills where they learn to feel comfortable swimming in their PFD, and where they learn to listen to commands. Some owners will teach their pets to climb onto a throw ring or onto a platform.   Teaching them to grasp a small float attached to a rope and then be pulled can be a trick that could help pull them to safety.    Just like any person, remember the sound of your voice should be reassuring and calming.

Many cat owners will train their feline companions to climb up a coiled rope that is hung over the side of the hull.    A   long handled fishnet may be helpful in scooping out a small dog or cat when they won't climb up that rope.  

Many dogs have gone overboard close to the dock as they underestimate the grand leap from boat to land.   Training your dog to stay until you give the OK to leave the boat can reduce the chance of this happening.

Securing your pet

At times it is necessary to secure your pet so that when the boating gets challenging your focus is on the situation at hand.   If you must tether your pet, do so in a secure area on a short lead..   Never tether a pet at the neck, and never leave a tethered pet unattended.    On our Macgregor, we have designated the floor area in the cabin as the secure area for Mac. It is the most stable area near the keel and he can still watch us from inside which gives him reassurance.   We have a large dog pillow which prevents him from being tossed around.  

Too much sun is no fun

Protect your pet from excessive heat and always have fresh water available. If your pet is excessively panting and drooling, and has an abnormally rapid pulse, it may be suffering from heat stroke.   You may be able to cool your pet by wetting or immersing him in the water.

Protect   their eyes from the glare off the water

Protect your pet's eyes from the glare of the sun by making sure there is a shaded area.   When it was really hot, our old dog let us put an old baseball cap on his head to protect his eyes

Getting on and off the boat can get tricky

Our old husky needed help boarding.   She was difficult to carry in and out of the boat but could walk a narrow plank with our support when she needed to be taken for shore leave.   Mac is a smaller dog and it was one consideration we had when selecting his breed.   Even when he is old, we should be able to manage lifting him in and out.

Exercise and shore leave

Go to shore if you can to both exercise you and your pet as well as for the needed bathroom breaks.   Although cats can sometimes learn to use the head, I don't know any dog that has figured that one out.   

Although cats tend to get all the exercise they need by crawling up, over and through spaces on a boat, dogs, especially larger ones, need to get rid of pent-up energy. While occasional trips to shore in the dinghy are preferable, they're not always possible.  The MacGregor has a large enough interior that chasing a ball up and over the bunks is great fun when the boat is at anchor. 

  Swimming is good exercise for dogs, but water conditions and the dog's stamina must be carefully monitored.  Give your dog water to drink before they go swimming so they don't try to dink salt water or contaminated water.

  The Scoop on Poop

  For dogs, a box of sod or a piece of AstroTurf may work as a substitute when a trip to shore is not possible. If you go to shore make sure to clean up after your pet.  Before pulling up to dock or shore, check ahead -- some marinas do not allow pets, and some parks do not permit pets ashore.

Have health records available

  Always carry your pet's rabies vaccination certificate and health records when on land and especially when travelling across the border.  Have an identification tag that can bring your pet back to you if it gets lost.

  Meeting all of the challenges of having your pet on board is a daunting task, but most boaters feel it's well worth it.