This Spring Break we're taking our 85 pound lab with us on a week long
cruise, kids excited wifie not really....first time the can will spend
that long on the boat, longest leg might be a bit more than 10 hours.
Any advice from this savy bunch?
M.

On Mar 29, 12:44 am, "map" wrote:
This Spring Break we're taking our 85 pound lab with us on a week long
cruise, kids excited wifie not really....first time the can will spend
that long on the boat, longest leg might be a bit more than 10 hours.
Any advice from this savy bunch?
M.

You probably don't want a week-long cruise to be your dog's or your
wife's first sailing experience. Most people who successfully manage
that transition to sea life succeed only if the introduction is done
at a very young age. The first challenge will be getting them on
board, which was never my dog's natural inclination (lifting an 85-90
pound lab from the dinghy over the transom is an experience you will
remember). The wife was harder.

Once there, I'm not sure which is worse, a seasick dog or a seasick
wife.

You need to consider how you will keep the dog adequately hydrated in
an environment where it will be difficult to accommodate the resulting
need to pee. It takes a long time to train a dog on where to go, too
long if you are on someone else's boat. I've also had more than one
laugh about someone needing to make an emergency stop so the dog can
be relieved. In this singular instance, the wife is easier to
accommodate than the dog (assuming normal head accommodations; if it's
"everyone over the leeward side" the wife will be far less easy to
please).

For the dog, you may want to consider "muttluks" (http://
www.muttluks.com/our_products/index.php), a product that will help
your dog gain traction onboard. I'd also consider how you are going
to (a) keep him on board if he sees something worth chasing and (b)
how you are going to get him back on board after he leaps in for a
swim. Lifeline netting seems advisable to discourage the dog from
leaping, as well as a harness, life jacket and tether to jacklines. I
have no advice for what to do if your wife decides to take a leap.

Steve Hayes
Cruising out of Rockland, Maine
..

On 29 Mar 2007 07:55:58 -0700, "steve_hayes_maine"
wrote:

You probably don't want a week-long cruise to be your dog's or your
wife's first sailing experience.

How often do you need to take a wife ashore, and can they be litter
trained?

Can they be trained to go ashore without taking credit cards with
them?

On Mar 29, 8:17 am, Wayne.B wrote:
On 29 Mar 2007 07:55:58 -0700, "steve_hayes_maine"

wrote:
You probably don't want a week-long cruise to be your dog's or your
wife's first sailing experience.

How often do you need to take a wife ashore, and can they be litter
trained?

Can they be trained to go ashore without taking credit cards with
them?

Thanks Wayne, wife is a lost cause will be easier to train the dog....

On Mar 29, 7:55 am, "steve_hayes_maine" wrote:
On Mar 29, 12:44 am, "map" wrote:

This Spring Break we're taking our 85 pound lab with us on a week long
cruise, kids excited wifie not really....first time the can will spend
that long on the boat, longest leg might be a bit more than 10 hours.
Any advice from this savy bunch?
M.

You probably don't want a week-long cruise to be your dog's or your
wife's first sailing experience. Most people who successfully manage
that transition to sea life succeed only if the introduction is done
at a very young age. The first challenge will be getting them on
board, which was never my dog's natural inclination (lifting an 85-90
pound lab from the dinghy over the transom is an experience you will
remember). The wife was harder.

Once there, I'm not sure which is worse, a seasick dog or a seasick
wife.

You need to consider how you will keep the dog adequately hydrated in
an environment where it will be difficult to accommodate the resulting
need to pee. It takes a long time to train a dog on where to go, too
long if you are on someone else's boat. I've also had more than one
laugh about someone needing to make an emergency stop so the dog can
be relieved. In this singular instance, the wife is easier to
accommodate than the dog (assuming normal head accommodations; if it's
"everyone over the leeward side" the wife will be far less easy to
please).

For the dog, you may want to consider "muttluks" (http://www.muttluks.com/our_products/index.php), a product that will help
your dog gain traction onboard. I'd also consider how you are going
to (a) keep him on board if he sees something worth chasing and (b)
how you are going to get him back on board after he leaps in for a
swim. Lifeline netting seems advisable to discourage the dog from
leaping, as well as a harness, life jacket and tether to jacklines. I
have no advice for what to do if your wife decides to take a leap.

Steve Hayes
Cruising out of Rockland, Maine
.

Thanks Steve.
All of us are long time boaters, the only newbie is the dog, we've
taken him out in day- cruisies and he has sleep on the boat at the
marina but you're right keeping him hydrated and the cabin clean will
be a challenge.

On 28 Mar 2007 21:44:35 -0700, "map" wrote:

This Spring Break we're taking our 85 pound lab with us on a week long
cruise, kids excited wifie not really....first time the can will spend
that long on the boat, longest leg might be a bit more than 10 hours.
Any advice from this savy bunch?
M.

We hqave only cruised as liveaboards with cats. The drop in hinged
doors that replace the washboards at anchor and in kind seas have a
cat door incorporated. Cats are fine - we use an enclosed kitty litter
bin. Ig we run low on, or cannot get kitty litter we simply wash ito
in the sea and let it dry before using it again.

We have met many with dogs. Long term voyaging dogs use a mat by the
mast or in a corner of the deck which can be washed and scrubbed.
Those cruisers we have met in harbour or at anchor take their dog
ashore for a run and to "mark trees and tyres" once a day. I can't
recall anyone complaining that the dog has any accidents down below.

I do know that if a cat has peed (sp?) somewhere in the boat, another
cat, even years later will pee on that spot also - possibly
territorial marking.

cheers
Peter