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Boating with our canine companions is a lot of fun, but
keeping them happy and healthy means making sure they
are comfortable and protected.
Comfort starts with the weather report: if it’s too hot to leave dogs
outside for any length of time, it’s too hot for them to be on the
water. I’ve heard people say that they leave their dogs in the cabin
enjoying the air conditioning while the humans explore a harbor
town. That’s dangerous, as power lines have been known to be
unplugged on docks! It’s best to leave canines in their cool homes
on brutally hot days.
dose should always be along for the ride.
Unless you have an ultra-fancy yacht, you’re unlikely to have a
grassy park aboard to encourage doggie elimination. However,
you can create one on any size vessel — be careful if choosing an
artificial grass oasis, as most get hot — or check out pre-made
potty set-ups designed for hi-rise apartment dwellers. If your dog
is used to long walks or roaming around the yard, it may take time
plus treats and plenty of praise to get her to go on a tiny plot, but it
is worth it!
Bow-Wow!
Dog Boating Know-How
Canine protection touches h many areas, f from h health l h to the
h
environment. Start by looking at the route to the boat and how
to get on and off it. Are there steps (perhaps literal ones) that
will make doing so easier? Next, doggy-proof areas on the boat
including stairs and gunwales — add gates, railings, and/or other
barriers to prevent falling down or over.
Dogs cannot all naturally swim, and even those with ability
might be hurt or grow exhausted in the water. Buy dogs properly
fitted, brightly colored life jackets with handles; get them used to
wearing the jackets at home or by the shore before heading out.
If the day is tolerable and you want the family all together, dedicate
an always shady spot on the boat for your dog. Make it soft, too,
and use a non-spill water bowl to hold fresh, cool water at all times.
Bring along treats that your dog loves, or maybe special ones she
only gets aboard (the same goes for toys). Even if you plan to be
back home before canine meal time, it’s best to bring along some
food — every boater has experienced that excruciating delay in
returning to the dock or mooring, but how will you explain it to
a very hungry dog? This advice goes for medicine, too. An extra