“He taught me so much – to look forward, not be afraid of adventure and that it is alright to just follow your instincts, no matter what others think.” Alison Alderton (Buster’s Mum)
Doggy Name: Buster aka The Admiral
Full (Pedigree) Name: Cliffmere Union
Doggy Breed: Beagle
Doggy Age: Now deceased, lived to the age of 12 years and 10 days.
Years Sailing: All his life, although the first 18 months was holiday boating only.
Places Sailed: England, Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland, the Netherlands, Germany, Denmark and Sweden.
How did Buster handle sailing life?
My husband and I never had a boat when we first got Buster but knew we would eventually acquire one so prepared him for a life afloat right from his early days. We went on visits to waterside locations and enjoyed walks along canal towpaths in order to help him become familiar with the settings. Boating holidays followed, all of which he took in his stride. We ensured he always wore a life jacket but of course he fell in, I think that most boating dogs do at some stage or another!
Biggest challenge:
Buster took to most things well. I think the biggest challenge came late in his life when he was suffering from Idiopathic Immune Mediated Poly arthritis. Buster adapted well but my husband, Roger and I did worry for him and if he decided to go off for a stroll around deck we would follow closely behind just in case his legs gave out or he had a wobble. At his most ill, he could not manage the steps from the wheelhouse to below decks and vice versa so he would sit at the top or bottom and give us a little whimper to let us know he needed lifting – we called the lift a ‘Buster boost’.
How did you overcome/manage these challenges? See above
Boating was good recuperation for Buster as the sights and sounds came to him without exertion. This meant he continued to live a full life despite the illness however, Buster’s leg problems meant that off-water activities had to be limited and we were often worried that we would go somewhere only for him to be unable to make the return walk. It then occurred to me that a bike trailer would solve the problem. Buster soon got used to travelling in the ‘doggyhut’ and was able to arrive at our destination fresh and ready to enjoy himself. He came to love his rides out in the country and wagged his tail whenever my husband set up the trailer.
Chilling out on Germany’s inland waterways.
Most dog friendly places you’ve experienced on your travels in your local area and abroad?
The most dog-friendly place we have stayed at during our travels with Buster was at a medium sized marina in Rechlin, a small town in the Mecklenburg Lakes region of Germany. The Ferienzentrum-Yachthafen-Rechlin is completely dog friendly, we enjoyed our time there immensely as our dog was allowed in the on-site restaurant with us. There were poo bag dispensers and disposal bins in and around the site including at the extensive waterfront gardens alongside the marina. I really hope we have the opportunity to visit with Maksi our new Beagle at some stage.
Website: https://www.yachthafen-rechlin.de/ihre-mueritz-ferienwohnung.html
In fact, we found all of Germany to be good in regard to welcoming dogs. We enjoyed several museum trips with Buster throughout our time in the country and found most very welcoming to our hound. At one, the Müritzeum in Mecklenburg, Buster was even given a poo bag along with his admission ticket which we thought was great – very thoughtful.
Website: https://www.mueritzeum.de/
Any tips on international travels?
Currently being in the EU makes travelling throughout Europe easy for us as we are British citizens and he has his Pet Passport. Generally speaking I would say just ensure all your pets documents are kept up to date and if in doubt do not take any risks, seek veterinary or customs advice.
With Brexit all of this may well change, but nobody knows when or by how much.
What’s the longest leg your doggy has travelled and how did you manage Buster’s energy, toileting and behaviour on these legs and keeping him safe on larger swells.
Buster was a seasoned sailor and could travel for long periods of time on the boat without making any fuss, however, we would still plan our journeys carefully and ideally try not to travel for longer than four hours at a time but this is not always possible.
Being on inland waterways it is much easier to do this but on the sea it is different. Weather and sea conditions can cause delays as can any engine problems. Our barge is slow moving (max 6 knots) and as it was not built to undertake serious sea work and will soon struggle on increasing waves or building breezes so there is always a back-up plan in case a diversion is required.
On longer trips we have tried using a piece of grass turf on the front deck as a doggy toilet but Buster was always very dubious about using it. The trip from Travemunde to Gedser, a distance of 66 nautical miles, took all day to complete but we did have a short break on the German island of Fehmarn in the middle.
Have you made any modifications on your boat to accommodate Buster?
No, our barge is very dog friendly and as we only do limited sea work no call for modifications. The decks are wide but have no safety netting as on a yacht so when we are out on the sea Buster stays below decks, or in the wheelhouse, however, if we are inshore and it is very calm, then one of us may walk around the deck with him. He always wears a life jacket. On rivers and canals we allow him more deck freedom.
Below decks Buster had his own small safe place, a travel crate in which his bed and some soft toys were always placed. This only occupied a little room but offered peace of mind both for us as well as our pooch. If there were any tricky manoeuvres or very rough weather we could place him in his crate so he was not underfoot and out of any potential harm’s way, likewise if he was tired or felt a little unsure about anything he could always retreat to his travel crate, surrounded by familiar things, and feel more settled.
What advice would you like to share with others who have dogs who sail or who are considering having a dog on a boat?
Having a dog is a lifetime commitment, whether you are boating with him or not, so ensure you have the time to give him – your dog will rely on you for everything. I would advise boaters to think carefully about the breed of dog and the amount of available space on and around your boat in which you will all be living and moving.
3 Do’s
1: Patience and understanding are key. Reward both with treats, toys and vocal praise.
2: Always ensure your dog has a safe place – somewhere to call his own where he can retreat to.
3: Ensure your dog has a life jacket and becomes used to wearing it from the start.
3 Don’ts
1: Never force your dog to do something he is not comfortable with.
2: Do not remove your dog’s collar. This can act as a vital aid for recovery if he should fall into the water and/or should be become lost in an unfamiliar port/place – a collar with an id tag will hopefully reunite you quicker.
3: Do not allow your dog to lounge in the sun without skin protection, some form of shade and a fresh supply of drinking water are required.
Last thoughts (from your dog’s perspective)
No matter where we went orwhat we did, Buster always seemed like he had done it before so his last thoughts would have been “I’ve done this before.”
Website: http://www.alisonalderton.com/
