Do dogs and boats mix?

kmagnuss · Posted: Mar 27, 2005 4:05 pm Post subject: Do dogs and boats mix?

Okay, I have a new boat. I also have a 90 pound chocolate lab named Rally that absolutely loves the water. Will his nails destroy my boat's vinyl? What about the gelcoat? I would really like to bring him along, but I just don't want to be replacing upholstery every year either.

-Keith

ohsix · Posted: Mar 27, 2005 4:10 pm Post subject:

A guy I used to ride with had a female chocolate lab. I don't know how much she weighed but her nails didn't hurt the vinyl in his new Wakesetter.

KurtInCincy · Addict Joined: 06 Mar 2003 Posts: 645 City: Cincinnati OH

Your profile says you have an 05 Malibu. If you had an old fishing boat it would be no problem. But a brand new wakeboat? I wouldn't do it.

DRAGON88 · Posted: Mar 27, 2005 4:16 pm Post subject:

I'd just be sure to have your dogs nails clipped or you could buy those little doggy booties, the booties would be the easier solution, and they would also save the gelcoat as well. They are a little fruity, but alot cheaper then new interior...

kmagnuss · Posted: Mar 27, 2005 4:26 pm Post subject:

doggy booties! That's hilarious. Okay, all kidding aside, where do I find them? LOL.

-Keith

DRAGON88 · Posted: Mar 27, 2005 4:38 pm Post subject:

Try searching on Google Boats Dog Boots

Heres one I found theres a ton of em out there!

Another pair

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

No issues.....

Erik · Posted: Mar 27, 2005 4:48 pm Post subject:

My wife says that the ones found under the apparel for dogs section on Petco.com are the best. 15 dollars - never had a better pair. Tried em' all.

Dickens' Closet Tuffy Fleece Boots.
She said those are like, THE DOGGY BOOT of record.
http://www.petco.com/Productlisting.asp?tab=1&c1=100&ct1=Apparel&c2=102&ct2=Boots&Dept_ID=102

We use them for our old buddys' feet duing the winter but they look comfortable and have a grippy bottom. The regular fleece ones do not have the grippy bottom. Dickens' Closet Tuffy Fleece Boots are the ones that we use. I hadn't thought about it but I could see requesting that the dog wear them in the boat...

WakePowell · Newbie Joined: 25 Mar 2004 Posts: 44 City: Littleton

Labs and boats are a good combination. We boat with our two golden retrievers and have never had one bit of trouble with the vinyl or gel coat. Both our old boat and our new boat have “step” though transoms so the dogs never have to get on the vinyl to get in or out of the boat.

Spend time training your lab where he is and is not allowed in the boat and make him shake off on the platform and you will be fine. One option to the dog “booties” is taking extra towels to protect the vinyl and tucking them snuggly around the cushions needed to be stepped on to get in and out of the boat. This way the towel protects the cushion.

We have ours trained to retrieve the handle and rope when we switch out riders. It’s great. When we get the boat out the dogs are every bit as excited as we are to get to the lake.

Chad H · Posted: Mar 27, 2005 5:16 pm Post subject:

It shouldnt be a problem... Though make sure your in open water so he doesn't get completely muddy...

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

After nine years with our 100 lb golden the only holes in the vinyl were from me or careless friends.

For $160 had a boat vinyl guy come to my house and fix all the little nicks. Looked brand new, couldn't tell where any of the holes were.

CHiLi DaWg · Posted: Mar 27, 2005 5:38 pm Post subject:

kmagnuss, cabelas has the booties. So does campmor.com. My dog has a cheap pair and he hates them. He walks really funny when he has them on also. Be careful what kind you get because they may be slick on gel coat and vinyl. You may have to drop your rider to pick up your dog Smile

Enzoborder230 · Posted: Mar 27, 2005 5:44 pm Post subject:

yah the booties would work, but my dog would go crazy wearing them

kmagnuss · Posted: Mar 27, 2005 6:00 pm Post subject:

awesome...thanks for the input guys. I can't wait to get him out there. Now about that retrieving the handle thing! That sounds sweet. How the heck did you do that?

dirtysparks · Wakeboarder.Commie Joined: 07 Jul 2004 Posts: 2428

Our dogs have never punctured vinyl but I've been careful to watch them. Also our boxer decided to take a dive off the bow when we were in the river....me being panicky, I jumped in after her because she gets tired real easily in deep water. Now we're looking at doggy life jackets for the upcoming season! I'm also going to check into the booties though.

kmagnuss · Posted: Mar 27, 2005 7:20 pm Post subject:

yeah...boxers are real muscular with about zero fat...I wouldn't think they'd be good swimmers since they aren't as boyant. (sp)

savage3221 · Posted: Mar 27, 2005 9:34 pm Post subject:

No problems after 8 years with an 80 pound golden, and a little boston terrier, not one hole except for this one part in our boat where everyone steps on the same cusion to get from the dock into the boat, that began to tear some, but not from dogs. As long as your pup isn't chew crazy too, you will be fine I'd say.

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

The only problem I have with my lab on my boat is the shedding. It's a pain to get all the black lab hair off the carpet after every outing.

No puctures in the vinyl. But keep their nails clipped and you probably won't have a problem.

nashvillematt · Addict Joined: 15 Jul 2004 Posts: 823 City: Nashville

I was going to start another topic....its funny how that search button really works!

I have just become the proud owner of a 6 week old lab. I take delivery next weekend and plan on training her to be very boat friendly. I have looked at a lot of sites online to see about methods of training. Do any of you have experiene with labs and training them from the ground up? I had the choice to get a male, or a female. I chose the female b/c of the size of a full grown male lab.....thats true ballast!

Thanks for the help!!

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

Used to take my dogs out on the boat all the time, never had a problem.

For the record - the dog boots are a good idea, so long as the mutt doesn't have a problem swimming in them. We bought a set from Petsmart or Petco (Can't remember which) to prevent scratches on my mom's new wood floors during a visit. After a while, the dog got used to them.

smokedog2 · Outlaw Joined: 02 Dec 2004 Posts: 210 City: Cincinnati

This from my dog training diary, to the breader. Every dog I know or knew that will not go in the water was thrown in due to owner impatience.

Dusty and my previous labs all waded into the water directly, but carefully. I’m going to have to be more careful when I send Jag out. Jag has a wonderful flying water entry. Jag would not enter the water until about 3 weeks ago. I would take here at least once a week to a pond, sometimes with other dogs that swam and she would have none of it. One day she waded out a step to pick up a duck feather. I picked it up teased he a little and threw it in the water about two feet, kersplash! It killed me but we went two more trips, each with about five feathers in the water, before I threw one far enough for her to swim. I still limit the number of retrieves to 10 or less on any outing. Jag has lots of desire left, but I want to keep her fired up. When she comes over sits at my side and pleads with those big brown eyes, I have been known to weaken a time or two, but I try to train long enough to learn and have fun, without becoming a bore.

Jag is now a little water bug, jumping from the boat to fetch and diving for the dummy. I think the diving is a direct result of the feather fetches. She had to get her nose wet to get them. When she swam over the early close dummies in her excitement, she would dive for them. If she kicks the float under her, her head disappears under the water. I’m looking forward to seeing that skill put to work.

I got her to jump from the boat by first getting her to fetch to the boat. I would sit-stay her on shore, walk out on the boat’s stern and throw the float. After I release her, I’d push the boat off and have her fetch to the boat. I had to haul her in after taking the float.

My dogs are better behaved than most peoples kids.

SD2

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

smokedog2, totally agree with the above. We didn't train our dogs for hunting, but we basically just got in the water, and he followed - we did this shallow, then deeper, then deeper, until he would just go on his own. He also dives under the water to retrieve things, it's a pretty funny sight actually!

I also used to take him on my old Sea-Doo for low speed rides - he loved putting his front paws on the handlebars and let his ears flap in the wind.

My other dog (younger female) saw him swimming around, and just followed him in. Didn't have to train her 1 bit! Mr. Green

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

nashvillematt · Addict Joined: 15 Jul 2004 Posts: 823 City: Nashville

I am planning on taking her to the boat ASAP. We stay on a very deep lake with rock banks...so I am thinking I need to go to the launch ramp a few times and let her wade in. She has grown up with other labs right on the lake....so I am hoping that it will be an easy transition.

How long should I wait to get her in the water?

p.s. Any good lab books? Should I invest in a trainer, or obedience school?

tequilasun · Newbie Joined: 17 Aug 2004 Posts: 40 City: Anywhere

nashvillematt, There is no wait period to get her in the water, just don't let her get out of sight or get extremely tired. For all things dogs, repeat, repeat, repeat.

We taught a buddy's lab to water retreive with an ear of corn that was left over from a Bar-B-Q. Man that dog loves corn

Schmo · Posted: Mar 28, 2005 9:24 am Post subject:

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

Be careful of encouraging the hounds to jump out of the boat! They get older, bigger and have a difficult time of getting back on the swim step.

nashvillematt · Addict Joined: 15 Jul 2004 Posts: 823 City: Nashville

Schmo, Thats exactly when I get her....I had to put it in "boat terms" because that is what forum it is...plus I just like the way that it sounds!

jvanick · Posted: Mar 28, 2005 11:04 am Post subject:

I have a 80 pound chocolate lab that loves the boat...

In order to get him back on the swim step, I just push down on this head and shoulders while he's trying to climb onto the deck... his back legs naturally come up and he has no problem.

i haven't had any problems with scratches in the gelcoat or vinyl tears either... just a bunch of hair to clean out with the shop vac.

-J

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

We have a lab. I think it is all natural they are just attracted to the water. My only advise is train them when they are young. Work hard at it while they are still young. When they get older they are implossible to teach anything. We spent all of our time teaching our lab how to do tricks and not useful things. She is terrible on a leash and doesnt seem to listen any more.

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

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

so how do i teach her to walk beside me and run till she hits the end of the leash or chew on it.
If its me tell me how to fix it. I have tried everything. Yelling, talking nicely, even hitting(last resort). And she only straitens up for about 10 seconds. then back to the same old thing.

wakechick79 · Outlaw Joined: 12 Mar 2005 Posts: 228 City: Virginia Beach

nashvillematt,

Congrats on the new pup! I have 2 labs-a yellow male and a chocolate female. Both of them were cautious of the water as puppies, but usually if you just go in swimming, they will follow. Labs are people lovers, and they want to be where you are. Plus, they have a natural love of the water. Don't force it, they will do it on their own. Both of my labs are water freaks, with the female being the bigger of the 2 freaks-she'll try and swim in a puddle if it is big enough!

As for advice on training, if you feel you can invest in an obedience school it may be worth it for the basics. Just as long as you enforce the things that are important to you from the start, you should be good to go. Its not that you can't teach an old dog new tricks-it is just a hell of a lot harder to!!

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

jon4pres,

Reward the good behavior. A gentle tug on the choke collar and when he/she lets it go slack, praise her.

As far as listening, remind him/her who Alpha dog is. Make him do push up's for a few minutes and resume whatever you were doing. If he/she fails to listen again--back to push up's. Sit-Lay-Sit

WakePowell · Newbie Joined: 25 Mar 2004 Posts: 44 City: Littleton

Take it slow with your dog and water. Labs and retriever both will like it if they have a "good" first experience. I started my dogs by getting them to enjoy retrieving on land and keeping it fun for them. Eventually I tossed their retrieving "dummy" into shallow water where they could wade out and get it. Then slowly worked out to where they were swimming. Now they will dive off of rocks 10 feet high just to retrieve.