Dogs and life vests

Neognosis · Ladies Man Joined: 13 Jan 2003 Posts: 17617 City: Webster

Does anyone put a vest on their dog when out in the boat? If we are moving or riding, I put one on my dog. Not so much because he can't swim, (he can) but because the vest is blaze orange, and if he falls out or jumps out, I don't want anyone else to run him down.

Plus, he's under 12.

Sorry Leggester, that one was just for you! Laughing

jon4pres · Addict Joined: 09 Jul 2004 Posts: 589 City: Fort Scott

If I were a dog and someone made me wear a life vest i would be pissed.

jryoung · Ladies Man Joined: 19 Mar 2004 Posts: 7664 City: Man Jose

This my friends dog, he wears one, but that's because he is a bit top heavy and can't swim. Laughing

chavez · RIP MHL 04/25/1958 - 01/11/2006

cameraboy, we do - for the exact same reason.

Neognosis · Ladies Man Joined: 13 Jan 2003 Posts: 17617 City: Webster

Corporate · Posted: Jan 10, 2005 10:16 am Post subject:

chavez · RIP MHL 04/25/1958 - 01/11/2006

cameraboy, that is the same damn thing our dog does. He used to get ON the bow on our boat (there was a decent flat area where the anchor storage was).

I have pics of him with me on the old Sea-Doos too, orange vest, ears flapping and all. Cool

Neognosis · Ladies Man Joined: 13 Jan 2003 Posts: 17617 City: Webster

What kind of dog? Ours is a Lab.

He has NO fear. Sometimes it's good, because we can take him hiking up mountains and across suspended foot bridges, and on the boat and all, but sometimes it's bad, like when the boat is moving and he sees someone he knows on the shore and he decides he's going back to shore NOW.

chavez · RIP MHL 04/25/1958 - 01/11/2006

cameraboy, we have a male Springer Spaniel (hence the ears flapping!) and a female Lab/Collie mix.

He is usually fearless, but after a recent trip to Donner Pass, I'm beginning to think she is the more fearless of the two. She was climbing rocks that I would never even think about climbing.

waker124 · Posted: Jan 10, 2005 10:31 am Post subject:

wakeriderof87 · Posted: Jan 10, 2005 10:33 am Post subject:

My dog is a wuss, she hates the water, and is scared to death of vacuem cleaners and sewers. We've had her in the boat a few times, and she enjoys the ride, but won't get in the water.

waker124 · Posted: Jan 10, 2005 10:35 am Post subject:

wakeriderof87, wwhat kind of dog is it?

Neognosis · Ladies Man Joined: 13 Jan 2003 Posts: 17617 City: Webster

wakeriderof87, what kind of dog?

We taught our dog to retreive downed riders. If someone falls and is done, you just point and say "GO!" and he jumps onto the platform, off the boat, swims to the rider, and then you can grab onto one of the handles on his lifevest, and he will tow you back to the boat.

wakeriderof87 · Posted: Jan 10, 2005 10:37 am Post subject:

pure breed mut. We got her from the pound not a clue. But shes been the best dog. When she was young, she was real hyper and woudl run around constantly, but now as shes gotten older, she is really mellow, has always been great with kids. Barks anytime a strangers at the door. But doesn't bark at anything else. I'll see if I can find a picture of her around here somewhere.

O yea and she got the crap beat out of her by a car, I told you she was a wuss.

waker124 · Posted: Jan 10, 2005 10:38 am Post subject:

cameraboy, that is awesome!!! Laughing

arof · Posted: Jan 10, 2005 10:39 am Post subject:

cameraboy, thats halarious.

Now, does anyone have pictures of their dogs in vests? That's what i wanna see.

waker124 · Posted: Jan 10, 2005 10:41 am Post subject:

my dog is a golden, he dosn't wear them, but Ill do a google for yall and get some

wawakechic · Soul Rider Joined: 30 Mar 2004 Posts: 413

I have a 130# newfoundland. I don't think they make a vest that big for dogs. He's a good swimmer and he's only been in the boat on a very small lake. If we were going out on a big lake I wouldn't take him in the boat, just in case he couldn't swim back.

I've seen a friend put a vest on his black lab. The dog couldn't swim very well with it on. The vest caused his upper body to be too bouyant and his lower body was straight underneath him so his back legs were useless.

Neognosis · Ladies Man Joined: 13 Jan 2003 Posts: 17617 City: Webster

Yea, that's the vest we put on my dog. He's bigger, and the vest is smaller, then in that pic, but it's the same type, with the handle for hauling his boat jumpin' a$$ back onboard.

trammill · Soul Rider Joined: 03 Feb 2004 Posts: 389 City: Georgetown

Any of you guys know if there are some kind of booties or shoes that you can put on your dog when you take em on the boat. I have a lab and I love to take her, but she gets so damn excited and tries to jump off the boat all the time. Her claws scare me on the vinyl....

chavez · RIP MHL 04/25/1958 - 01/11/2006

trammill, yes. Go to Petsmart or Petco.

We bought them for our dogs so they wouldn't scratch my moms hardwood floors when we were visiting.

PS: I have never had any dogs vs. vinyl or leather problems. Let the dogs ride in my cars with leather and on the boat all the time, no problemo.

wawakechic · Soul Rider Joined: 30 Mar 2004 Posts: 413

There are booties made for hiking. Petsmart and REI have them. These are pretty tough and the material might damage the vinyl. Ebay has a lot of different kinds too.

wakeriderof87 · Posted: Jan 10, 2005 11:18 am Post subject:

I'm just picturing a dog with a vest AND booties on. probably a funny sight

trammill · Soul Rider Joined: 03 Feb 2004 Posts: 389 City: Georgetown

chavez, Thanks for the info. I had a couple of little holes poked in my vinyl this summer and my boat is freakin' brand new. I'm just assuming that she did it with her claws, but who knows. I'd just rather be safe than sorry this year. I hope she can swim ok with them on.

chavez · RIP MHL 04/25/1958 - 01/11/2006

trammill, depending on her breed, her feet might be webbed. Just an FYI - it could seriously hinder her ability to swim.

Grace B. · Posted: Jan 10, 2005 11:51 am Post subject:

I have two Goldens and a pit bull/whippet mix. The mix really doesn't like water, she swims, but she isn't the biggest fan of it. We never take her on the boat anyway, she gets too nervous. The Goldens LOVE the water. Neither of them wear life vests, they are awesome swimmers and someone is always around when they are in the water. When they are on the boat, they know not to jump out.

BR_WB · Wakeboarder.com Freak Joined: 12 Jan 2003 Posts: 2850

I probably need to get a jacket for my Golden this summer. He's 7 now and weighs about 110 - big dog Laughing

He loves being at the lake. If we have a boat full of people and he can't go he will swim after us til he gets to the entrace of the cove we live in then turn back.

Neognosis · Ladies Man Joined: 13 Jan 2003 Posts: 17617 City: Webster

FYI, there are these little vinyle capsules that you can crazy-glue over your dog's nails. They stay on a long time and they don't hinder the dog in any way.

Buergday · Guest

E.J. · Ladies Man Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 7597 City: Mogadishu

Scout has a jacket, but doesn't wear it. He swims, but does not appreciate the water.

Yes....that is a tube you see in the background.

E.J.

elyse · Posted: Jan 10, 2005 3:32 pm Post subject:

hahahBuergday, thats funny. You do that?

Zach M · Posted: Jan 10, 2005 3:57 pm Post subject:

I was out boarding with some friends, and after we were done we headed back to the docks. I opened up the throttle and was cruising, when I noticed something in the water. I thought it was a log, so I moved just enough to keep it from hitting my boat. As we got closer, I noticed it had some fur on it and was moving. I slowed down, and at the same time a boat came screaming down the river, drove by at full speed, and a guy jumped out of the boat and grabbed his little dog. It was tiny, and had been struggling to stay above water. I would have drowned it if I hadn't have been paying attention.

Buergday · Guest

Thanks wakechick182 - yeah I did.

lcap · Ladies Man Joined: 13 Nov 2003 Posts: 10973 City: Homeless

Like me, my Golden is a Senior. He loves to swim but hates getting his 100 lb rear up on the platform. The handle on the vest could be a great option to get him back up. I was going to buy a ramp that extends off the deck, but my beautiful wife put her foot down on that.

Guest · Posted: Jan 10, 2005 6:18 pm Post subject:

had a bad experience with A_Dog once.