Puppy on the boat

[SkaterRace]

Hey all, I've got a bit of a delima, I recently got a new puppy (lab) and I'd like to have it so he could come out on the boat with us as it's normal for me to spend from 8 am to 7pm away from the apartment and I'd rather not leave him alone that long doesn't seem fair.

I have a 2018 Glastron GT 185, it's a bowrider with the marine vinyl and some fabric IIRC. I'm concerend him being a puppy and wanting to see everything means he will jump up on the seats and make holes in them with his nails.

For those who have bowrider boats and take their dog/puppy on them, how do you make sure that they cause as little damage as possible? I guess I could always not take him out though that would mean a 2 hour detour to drop him at my parents.

 

[Scott Danforth]

first, congrats on a new puppy

second, you should crate train. also, keep in mind, a dog can hold their bladder for about 1 hour per month of age to about 11 hours max. so unless your dog is at least 1 year old, you are going to have to get someone to check in on the puppy every few hours or so

third, training...... you need to train the dog. a trained dog will be glad to go on the boat. you may need to have a few toys in the boat. and if the dog is anxious, they may chew on things. so you can not leave them un-attended. keep in mind the bladder thing. you may be cleaning up after the dog. while its not a big deal, it can set back training (dogs really like to be good and do well)

we have 3 fur-babies that go boating, for car rides, etc. while I would love to say they all are great, our youngest (22 months old) still needs full-time attention, or he does grab something and chew it to bits in seconds right in front of you.

 

[Old Ironmaker]

Is the Pup eating everything in the apartment? Most crate new puppies indoors until they are trained. I might crate him now on the boat until he is trailed then take him out on the boat after he is trained. I've had a few puppies, the Dogs were fun, not so much when they were puppies. I had leather seats in my cars when they were pups. Always crated if we had to take them in the car, once trained well then and only then did they get in my cars. Good luck.

 

[tpenfield]

Bring the puppy. . . make sure the nails (claws) are filed down so that they are not sharp. Towels on the seats helps.

Our doberman has not made any holes in the vinyl, but a lab puppy may have smaller/sharper nails that just might.

 

[racerone]

That dog will love the boat.-----I could leave my dog in the vehicle while I went into a bank / store.----Not a complaint from him.-----Soon as I closed the door of the vehicle at the marina he would start barking non stop.----When I opened the door he would run straight to the boat.

 

[southkogs]

I've had mostly Goldens, but now have a Lab. Take the pup on the boat.

TPenfield's suggestion on towels on the seat is a good one. Here's a couple of others:

• Spend some time training the pup swimming from shore - see how he does getting in and out of the water, and how "out of control bonkers" he goes around water.
• Get a life jacket for him that you can attach a leash to - two of mine would swim until they were exhausted. Being off the shoreline in the boat, the life jacket made it a bunch easier to care for the dog.
• The first several rides out - use the leash until he knows the rules (don't get up on seats, etc. - whatever rules you decide on)
• Also use the leash to show him how you want him to get in and out of the boat to swim - that may mean getting on seats, but at least you control some of it (he'll make some of it up on his own)
• Get a fetching toy - I get an actually fetching dummy - that is his to play with in the water. He can play with it on the boat too, but he know's that's his. If he starts chewing it (as in tearing it up) maybe get a second toy that is there to be chewed, so he knows the fetching toy is for swimming.

Scott's point on training is huge. Training is how you and the dog learn to communicate practically. You have a lot better control that way, and you understand the places where the dog is going to get a head of his own.

Have fun with a swimmin' dog. He's gonna' be a great boat bud.

 

[SkaterRace]

first, congrats on a new puppy

second, you should crate train. also, keep in mind, a dog can hold their bladder for about 1 hour per month of age to about 11 hours max. so unless your dog is at least 1 year old, you are going to have to get someone to check in on the puppy every few hours or so

third, training...... you need to train the dog. a trained dog will be glad to go on the boat. you may need to have a few toys in the boat. and if the dog is anxious, they may chew on things. so you can not leave them un-attended. keep in mind the bladder thing. you may be cleaning up after the dog. while its not a big deal, it can set back training (dogs really like to be good and do well)

we have 3 fur-babies that go boating, for car rides, etc. while I would love to say they all are great, our youngest (22 months old) still needs full-time attention, or he does grab something and chew it to bits in seconds right in front of you.

Thanks, his training is going well so far and I think the idea of having toys on the boat is a good one. I'm thinking of using my father's older boat to get him used to things a big before I put him in mine. My fathers is practically mine so any damage is my issue there and should be cheaper to tape up another hole in the seats than fix mine properly.

 

[SkaterRace]

Is the Pup eating everything in the apartment? Most crate new puppies indoors until they are trained. I might crate him now on the boat until he is trailed then take him out on the boat after he is trained. I've had a few puppies, the Dogs were fun, not so much when they were puppies. I had leather seats in my cars when they were pups. Always crated if we had to take them in the car, once trained well then and only then did they get in my cars. Good luck.

Not eating nothing in the apartment, he has tried to chew on 2 different things but I nipped that one quick, he hasn't touched anything that isn't his in weeks. I do have probably 30 toys laying around though. I went a bit overkill on toys but has paid off since he only plays with/chews those

I only crate him at night and the plan is within the next month or two to start letting him roam the bedroom than if that goes well more and more area till he has full roam of the place.

I have leather seats in my Explorer but I do like my parents do with their dog and Escape, put him in the far back (I put 3rd row down) on a rubber insert and he has full roam back there. Lots of room and no damage done. I hate crates unless there is no other option.

 

[SkaterRace]

That dog will love the boat.-----I could leave my dog in the vehicle while I went into a bank / store.----Not a complaint from him.-----Soon as I closed the door of the vehicle at the marina he would start barking non stop.----When I opened the door he would run straight to the boat.

Nice, I'm hoping my pup will be the same way in a year or two. He already LOVES water, had to give him a few baths already and he is happy as a pig in ****.

 

[SkaterRace]

Bring the puppy. . . make sure the nails (claws) are filed down so that they are not sharp. Towels on the seats helps.

Our doberman has not made any holes in the vinyl, but a lab puppy may have smaller/sharper nails that just might.

Thanks for the towel idea, I'll have to give that one a shot and see. His nails I doubt will ever be very sharp, I will likely take him to have his nails done fairly often when he needs it

 

[SkaterRace]

I've had mostly Goldens, but now have a Lab. Take the pup on the boat.

TPenfield's suggestion on towels on the seat is a good one. Here's a couple of others:

• Spend some time training the pup swimming from shore - see how he does getting in and out of the water, and how "out of control bonkers" he goes around water.
• Get a life jacket for him that you can attach a leash to - two of mine would swim until they were exhausted. Being off the shoreline in the boat, the life jacket made it a bunch easier to care for the dog.
• The first several rides out - use the leash until he knows the rules (don't get up on seats, etc. - whatever rules you decide on)
• Also use the leash to show him how you want him to get in and out of the boat to swim - that may mean getting on seats, but at least you control some of it (he'll make some of it up on his own)
• Get a fetching toy - I get an actually fetching dummy - that is his to play with in the water. He can play with it on the boat too, but he know's that's his. If he starts chewing it (as in tearing it up) maybe get a second toy that is there to be chewed, so he knows the fetching toy is for swimming.

Scott's point on training is huge. Training is how you and the dog learn to communicate practically. You have a lot better control that way, and you understand the places where the dog is going to get a head of his own.

Have fun with a swimmin' dog. He's gonna' be a great boat bud.

He loves water already, had a bath and shower, loved it and constantly wanted to go back for more. I'm sure he will love swimming too, figure I won't get to have him swim for a while since the water tends to be fairly cold till mid June.

Life jacket is a for sure thing I'll need to do. I'm not sure what kind to get him so that'll be some research for sure. He'll still be growing fast by summer so cheap but safe is key.

Leash on the boat is a good idea too, right now he goes a bit crazy when I get the leash out, he knows it's time for a walk then. Maybe getting a different kind of leash would be good. Currently the one I use to walk him is a retractable one - almost always fully retracted for now. Maybe one of those fabric fixed length ones.

Fetching toy is a for sure thing, I am planning to have him come hunting and such so I'm sure he will have at least one fetch toy or two around.

 

[southkogs]

Couple of training leads for different types of working:

We've got a (50') long nylon line with a clip for training - come / stay / heel / etc. - - a retractable for going to and from the car, etc. (though, by the time he was 1 he didn't need a leash for getting in and out of the car or boat) - - a fixed web lead for working / on the boat

It also depends on how serious you work the dog, and if you're training them for obedience or field or what-have-you.

 

[racerone]

Have seen bigger boats with a ladder for the pup to come back on board after a swim.-----Easy to find / get at a good boat shop.----Could not believe it when I saw a dog use one the first time.-----Dogs are smart and can be taught too.

 

[Redrig]

I hope the lab does better than my basenji . I took her on the boat for the first time this summer and the poor things heart almost exploded , she was a nervous wreck . especially when underway , once we were stopped and swimming / fishing she was fine. This was her first boat trip and she is 3 , so that didnt help . Shoulda got her out there earlier.

 

[Grub54891]

Just a thought if you are to worried about tearing up the seats. How about them doggie booties they use for winter, to protect the seats?

 

[Bob_VT]

I have a 90 lb German Shepherd who loves the water and the boat. Just keep up on training and keep the nails trimmed properly. Start trimming the nails now and it will acclimate the puppy for having it done and make it easier to do in the future. I have a spot where i attach a leash just to keep him calm and centered when needed. He gets "protective" when strange people approach - so the leash is just added security for his control when needed.

I will tell you this........ dogs love swimming! You will have dog hair everywhere and wet dogs love to shake and spread water.