Each week member questions and stories from our Dogs Who Sail facebook group will be summarised into a newsletter.

Learn from the experiences of others dogs on boats.

Importing Dogs Into St Vincent & The Grenadines

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Thanks to our Dogs Who Sail member Samantha A who has kindly shared the latest information she has received from Dr. Malaika Glasgow, Veterinary Officer, St. Vincent & the Grenadines.

Also a big thankyou to Dr Glasgow for being so helpful.

NOTE:This is a guide only. Please contact authorities directly to confirm procedures as things change and you don’t want to get caught out.

 

In order for a permit to be issued, Application form for importation of live animals (2015) must be filled out and sent to animalhealthsvg@hotmail.com with the required documentation (Rabies test results and vaccination records – Rabies, Distemper, Hepatitis, Leptospirosis, Parvovirus and Parainfluenza).  

 

The other records (heartworm test and the internal and external parasite treatment) must be sent to animalhealthsvg@hotmail.com prior to departure.

 

Please be advised that an import permit must be issued prior to departure to ensure all conditions are met to avoid delays or denial of entry. 

  

Also, an import permit is valid for three (3) months once issued and it takes a minimum of three (3) business days to process once all the documents have been submitted, therefore, you need to ensure that this process starts in a timely manner prior to your expected departure date.

  

Please note that you must make an appointment for your inspection in advance of your arrival so that your inspection can be scheduled.

 

As at 5th January 2023 the cost for each import permit was $55.00 XCD/ $21 USD.

 

If you require the inspection to be done outside of working hours (Mon – Fri after 4.00 pm or on the weekend or public holidays) there is an added fee of at least $125.00 XCD per animal.  We also require you to have the exact fees for ease of process.

 

If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact us. Please also read the official General dog import conditions.

Yours in Agriculture

Dr. Malaika Glasgow

Veterinary Officer

Animal Health & Production Division
Ministry of Agriculture
Kingstown
St. Vincent & the Grenadines
VC0100
Tel: 784 456 1111 Ext 326 or 784 493 1749 or 784 457 2452
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Dogs Who Sail Weekly News – Issue 3

Welcome New Members

 

Piggeldy, The Netherlands

What a stunning breed. Piggeldy is a Podenco mix who sails in the The Netherlands with doting mother Sandra. Together they look forward to sailing next season on Lake Constance.

 

Welcome aboard Dogs Who Sail.

 

 

 

 

I had never heard of this type of dog before and so I did some research and found that the Podenco are notoriously abused working dogs in Spain.

 

One of the oldest breeds in the world, the Podenco is related to the ancient Pharaoh Hounds of Egypt. These days they are bred as hunting dogs, reported to be chained up in horrible conditions when they are not working. To top things off they are not protected under Spanish law.

 

To learn more about this fascinating breed please visit Hope for Podencos, a registered charity who do their best to rescue this forgotten breed and find them caring families.

 

Benji & Daisy, Greece

 

In our last issue we looked at the challenges associated with adopting a stray boatyard dog. Today we meet Benji & Daisy, two gorgeous strays from Koronisia, a small village on the west coast of Greece. Benji and Daisy have joined Jill and her partner to become boat dogs.
Jill told Dogs Who Sail members, “They are so fond of each other, so we had to take both of them.😊“
The couple are aware of the challenges they face adopting strays and also introducing the dogs to boat life. The initial focus has been on gaining the dogs trust and gradually building a bond between one another. Being responsible guardians, Jill booked Benji & Daisy in to be desexed.
As boating dog parents, we have all asked (or ruminated) about one or both of the questions Jill presented to the group. I have added links to each question to interviews I conducted with sailing vet, Sheridan from Vet Tails Sailing Chuffed and Ken Innes, head trainer from Assistance Dogs Australia. All of the interviews go for about 30 minutes and are packed with professional, practical advice. Not every dog is the same and unfortunately there is no magic solution but we can do our best to learn from others.
Question 1
Peeing and pooing while out sailing. How did you go about teaching your dogs to do that onboard?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UM0xw7AYgX4&t=13s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-zVVBSpvTy8&t=8s
Question 2
Motion sickness. Daisy has been puking in the car a few times and we are of course worried about her being sea sick when it’s time for us to sail away from here.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gdhGvCX7TfE
One of the things I love most about our Dogs Who Sail community is the support that everyone gives each other. Where I can, I will add to that by brining in professional and personal experiences so we can enhance opportunities for our dogs to be happy, safe and comfortable onboard.

Dogs Who Sail Little Champion

 

 

 

 

Harley is a 14 year old Maltese Terrier and an adventurer of both land and sea. I have had the pleasure of spending time with Harley as we share the same marina and circle of friends here in Australia. This little dog has the softest, most pure nature you can imagine. Every single time I see her out walking, my heart melts for her Maltese ears that bounce as she trots along.

 

For the past six years, Harley has been living aboard with her humans Tanya and Danny, travelling the East Coast of Australia during cruising season. This year she had a new adventure, a road trip across Australia covering a whopping 14,800kms – (9,200 miles) over eight months.

 

Harley is a brave little warrior. When she was nine years old she was diagnosed with Cushing’s Disease, also known as hypercortisolism and hyperadrenocorticism. If left untreated, this illness can have detrimental outcomes. She has torn both rear ACL’s and in the past two years has developed late onset epilepsy. Despite all of this, Harley is always in good spirits and her humans go to great lengths to ensure she lives a life of luxury and has the best medical care wherever they travel.

 

During their recent expedition across Australia, something got stuck in Harley’s paw on a walk around Uluru. You can see in the photo below the poor little paw became inflamed with infection. Tanya and Danny jumped in the campervan and headed to Alice Springs to find a vet – only a short 460km away (285 miles).

 

Four days later little Harley collapsed in the harsh outback Australian heat of Camooweal while her little body was still recovering with the infection. Even though Tanya and Danny still had places they would have liked to have visited, they chose to return home to the East Coast where conditions were cooler for Harley.

 

There is so much I love about this Dogs Who Sail family. While Tanya and Danny live their dreams, it is never at Harley’s expense. If their little girl is not comfortable, they will unquestionably change their plans to ensure her wellbeing.

 

As Tanya says, “For all who are worried about cruising with your beloved fur baby in their senior years, just remember perseverance, understanding your dogs limitations and most of all loving them is all they and you will need to have a wonderful cruising life full of special moments and memories.”

 

 

Together We Walk In a New Way

 

These past few weeks we have bid farewell to some very special members of Dogs Who Sail who have crossed the Rainbow Bridge. I honesty feel that this is one of the toughest challenges we have to face in our lives.

 

It has been an absolute honor to witness a united Dogs Who Sail Facebook community being so incredibly supportive when there is a loss of one of our salty sea dogs. The love and compassion they share with each other melts away any differences in worldviews. All that matters is the understanding of the greatness of loss and the accompanying heartache.

 

No one truly knows what happens when life as we know it ends. The one thing we can be sure of is the love that we shared with our dogs, and the feelings that love evoked within us will never go away. It is this energy that remains in our hearts, our minds and our bodies and it is immortal.

 

As we take the time to remember another’s loss, may we be reminded of how precious the time is that we have with our furry best friends.

 

RIP Stella, United States

 

This gorgeous smiling girl was a fulltime liveaboard with her human Karen and three other dogs. Well to be exact, two other dogs and a cat who thinks she is a dog.

 

Thank you Karen for giving Stella many adventures which would have enriched her life.

 

Blessings dear one.

 

 

RIP Temba, Australia

 

Temba also known as Flubbie to her human Nicky, has been sailing the beautiful east coast waters of Australia. Having the best of both worlds, Temba spent time on land and water. One of her favorite destinations was Great Keppel Island, a stunning tropical island where dogs who sail are welcome.

 

Darling Temba, thank you for sharing the past five years of your boating adventures with us. Run free Beauty. xx

 

 

 

 

Dogs Who Sail TV – Episode 5

DOG OVERBOARD

We’ve heard about it happening to others but never think it will happen to us. In this interview I chat with Dogs Who Sail member Esther Woodward about the day her black labrador Shelby fell overboard and they didn’t see it happen.
Thank you Esther for spending time with me. You have shared some valuable information that will keep other dogs safe on their boat.
You can view the interview by clicking on this link.
Thank you for being here and making this community so very special.
Until next time, fair winds and love.
Tanya xxoo
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Dogs Who Sail Weekly News – Issue 2

Meet Ren – Dogs Who Sail’s Birthday Girl

 

A big shout out to a little salty sea dog – darling Ren, Happy 2nd Birthday to you gorgeous girl.

Recently Ren has had to share her boat with a group of boys scouts. Ren’s human Thomas facilitates a High Adventure program at Sea Base in Islamorada. The program runs for about 13 weeks. Six kids, two adults and five days of sailing, snorkeling and fishing. All the things we love in life.

Ren & Thomas, we salute you.

 

Questions from Dogs Who Sail Members

Can you domesticate a stray boat yard dog?

Last week Dogs Who Sail member, Shane B is at the end of her tether. She reached out for advice to help her understand the behaviour of her newly adopted dog. Earlier this year while working on their boat in a boat yard in the Philippines, Shane and her partner fell in love with a stray puppy who was only eight weeks old. Six months later they are concerned as the puppy still won’t go to the toilet on the boat. Yes, that old chestnut many of us are familiar with.

 

To add to Shane’s dilemma, through persistent barking and whining, the puppy has successfully trained her humans to take her to land when she is ready to go potty. In a land home this is an ideal scenario but for boat life, we would love to train our dogs to go to the toilet on the boat. Acknowledging her puppy’s request, Shane gets her puppy into a collar and leash, and off to land they go. Once on land, the puppy is still demanding her independence and insists the collar and lead be removed before she will toilet.

 

Until recently, Shane was giving in to her puppy’s demands. Now, if puppy refuses to go potty with her leash on, the couple will take her back onboard without toileting. Here she will hold her bladder for 12 hours at which point Shane feels for her dog and ends up taking her to land. Back to square one.

 

Shane felt she was doing the right thing by taking in a stray dog and giving it a safe and comfortable life full of love and adventure. Clearly this adorable puppy who was born a boat yard dog has inherited her dog mother’s independence. If Shane wants to keep the dog and her dream of sailing across oceans alive, once they finish working on their boat, they will need to spend considerable time bonding and training with their beloved dog.

 

Where to from here?

As we support Shane through this period, we can also learn from her experience. When we commit to a dog, we commit for life, taking on all of their characteristics, and we work through the trials and tribulations together. Granted there are situations where a dog may not be a good fit due to some form of aggressive behaviour.

I am by no means here to sit in judgement of anyone for their choices, instead I am reminded that dogs and boats don’t always go together and as a dog’s guardian, I advocate the modification of our plans to fulfil the commitment we made when we brought the dog into our family.

 

Shane, we wish you and your free spirited little dog all the very best with bonding and training. Please connect with the Dogs Who Sail community whenever you need support or guidance. We are here for you.

 

Toileting tips and tricks offered by the Dogs Who Sail community

 

A significant number of our 3,000 Dogs Who Sail members can empathize with Shane because we too have agonized over the toileting issue onboard. Here are some the suggestions Shane received to help her toilet train her dog on their boat.

 

  • Collect some of your dogs urine by soaking it up with a paper towel and then rub it over the fake grass pee mat on the boat. For extra strength place the paper towel under the pee mat. Remember a dog’s nose is 1,000 times more sensitive than a human’s nose.
  • Be consistent with training. You must make a commitment to your dog.
  • Have a code word for your dog which they will always relate to going to the toilet – ‘Go potty!’ ‘Wee wee!’ etc. Use this same verbal cue on the boat and on land as well.
  • Take the pee mat to land with you. Use your code word and see if your dog will begin using the mat on land first.
  • When they do go to the toilet on the boat, give them lots of praise and treats. Yippee! Have a party!
  • If the dog goes to the toilet in the wrong place, don’t scold them.
  • Take your dog to the pee mat first thing in the morning.
  • Watch Dogs Who Sail TV Episode 1 – An interview with sailing vet Dr Sheridan Lathe from Vet Tails Sailing Chuffed about the health side of toileting your dog onboard.
  • Watch Dogs Who Sail TV Episode 2 – An interview with head trainer Ken Innes from Assistance Dogs Australia about how he trains their assistance dogs to go to the toilet on command.

 

 

Dogs Who Sail – Doggy Social Pages

 

If there was one thing you wanted for your dog onboard what would it be?

 

While Harry was watching me in the galley this week, he and I discussed this question. I suggested things to him and he twisted and turned his head which I took as a deep understanding.

 

When we posed the question to our Dogs Who Sail members this is what the answers were:

  • Comfort
  • A treadmill
  • Dolphins for her to talk to all day long
  • Seasickness prevention
  • A patch of green grass for Mindy to pee on, so training would not have to start all over again every season we go to live aboard
  • More dog friendly beaches
  • A playmate
  • A remote control ball
  • A really big comfy snuggly bed
  • Green fields to run and roll in
  • Grass
  • A larger yacht
  • To be comfortable and not stressed
  • A way for them to get on and off the swim platform that doesn’t take up too much room
  • A piece of land for their business
  • A solution to steep companionway stairs so Mila feels safe going up and down on her own
  • A dock
  • Another dog

Christmas is not far away. Maybe Santa will deliver some of these wishes – in particular the bigger yacht!

 

 

Ginger Dog Biscuits – A Seasickness Remedy Recipe

Ginger Biscuit Ingredients
  • 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
  • 1 ½ cup unbleached all purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon ground ginger root
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons dry yeast
  • 2 tablespoons unsulphured blackstrap molasses
  • 1 Tablespoon vegetable oil or olive oil
  • 1 cup water
  • 1/4 cup wheat bran or oat bran
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
Directions for Homemade Dog Biscuits
  • Put all the ingredients in your bread maker and press dough cycle or knead together (the old fashioned way).
  • When the dough is ready to use, take it out of the bread maker or your kneaded ball.
  • Divide it into 3 portions.
  • Roll the dough into sheets that are ¼” thick.
  • Use a cookie cutter to make your desired shape.
  • Let the cookies rise for 45 minutes.
  • Bake the cookies in a 275 degree F (135 degree C) oven for 1 hour.
  • Turn off the oven and let the cookies finish drying overnight to make them nice and crunchy.
  • Store the cookies in an airtight container and in a cool dry place.

Recipe from Best Dog Treat Recipes

 

And that’s a wrap. If you have some news to share, please get in touch at admin@dogswhosail.com or we’ll see you in the Dogs Who Sail Facebook group.

 

Fair winds and big slobbery doggy kisses.

 

Tanya xxoo

 

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Weekly News From Dogs On Boats All Over The World

Meet Admiral Nelson – Dogs Who Sail’s Pinup Yachtie For The Month

 

Nelson is 11 years old and knows no other life than living on a boat. He is currently cruising the crisp clear waters in Greece. Nelson is a great example that there is no true rule about what dog is the best dog for being on a boat. He is happy and his family are happy. They wouldn’t have things any other way.

Admiral Nelson, we salute you.

 

Questions from Dogs Who Sail Members

Can we get a rescue dog and sail the world on a yacht?

Dogs Who Sail member Jen S and her family are considering adopting a rescue dog or two. Their three year goal is to buy a yacht and sail to Australia, southeast Asia, Africa, Europe and South America. Here are some of the questions Jen asked the group this week.

What would be the breed most suitable for boating?

According to the Fédération Cynologique Internationale (CFI) there are around 400 breeds of dogs to choose from but in my experience there is not one specific type of dog that could be considered the perfect boating breed. I like to reframe the question. Instead of asking what is the best breed of dog for a boat ask yourself what type of dog can I manage on our boat?

Some basic considerations are:

  • The size of the dog. Would you be better with a small dog that you can tuck under your arm? If you choose a larger dog, does your boat offer a swim platform or transom with stairs enabling easy access from the mothership to the dinghy?
  • Does your dog shed hair?
  • How much activity does the dog need and will you be willing to meet those needs on the boat?

Will the dog be comfortable on the boat?

There are thousands of dogs travelling on boats all over the world. If you think of a breed or a combination of breeds and boats, they will be out there on the high seas and loving life.

A dogs favourite place to be is right beside you. The truth is you will not know how your dog will take to boating life until they try it. This needs to be a slow and steady process of introducing your dog to boating life for them to get used to the noise of motors, unsteady surfaces, new sounds and limited freedom.

What paperwork will need to be prepared?

Paperwork varies from country to country and as our valued member and circumnavigator Lynne Dorning Sands from SV Armarula reminds us, ‘travelling has become more challenging for both people and animals since COVID’.

With two Jack Russell’s onboard for the past 15 years, Lynne recommends using Noonsite. This is a must bookmark link for cruisers worldwide, offering comprehensive information on what you need to enter a country and what to expect when you first arrive in port.

Noonsite offers a wealth of information but at the end of the day you are responsible for confirming the information is current and valid. Don’t rely on online forums, social media groups or websites alone. Where possible speak with the countries and allow plenty of time to prepare for some tests – this could be up to six months before your arrival.

 

 

Dogs Who Sail – Doggy Social Pages

 

Dogs Who Sail Commodore Harry Turns 1

 

It was a day of celebrations at FetchnFun Wellness and Daycare on Wednesday 13th October 2021 when our boy Harry turned one. He celebrated in fine form with his doggy daycare buddies playing chasies for a solid 10 hour stint. The doggy mates celebrated with Harry at morning tea time chowing down on a delicious meat and veggie cake. Harry’s chop licking says he was pretty satisfied with the unfolding of his birthday event.

 

 

Mojo Sets Sail In Singapore

 

It’s been a long week for Cocker Spaniel Mojo as he finally slips the lines and heads out for the weekend singing the Easy Beats tune Friday On My Mind. Mojo sails with his Cocker Spaniel sister Bella in Singapore. This pair would have to be Dogs Who Sail’s coolest sailing dawgs.

 

 

Stanley Heads Back Out Onto The Water After Maiden Voyage

 

This weeks bravery award goes to none other than Stanley, another Dogs Who Sail Cocker Spaniel. In news received from Stanley’s human Sophie earlier in the week, the young Spanner ventured out for his second trip under what she described as ‘a gentle motor’ in Plymoth Sound, UK.

 

Stanley’s big brother Barney, known as Captain Cool onboard, is a salty sea dog in his element. It would be easy for Stanley’s parents to assume that because Barney is fine with sailing, Stanley will enjoy it too.

Small incremental steps are the best technique to introduce your dog to being on the boat. You will need to be calm and patient while they take their time to adjust to their new environment.

Easy steps to introduce your dog to your boat:

  • Start by taking your dog down to the boat for the day. Hang out onboard together. Take his bedding, some toys, lots of treats, praise and love. No boat jobs where there is the potential for chaos and swearing. Just chill.
  • Next time you might start the engines. Find a way to distract your dog at this time. Give them their favourite toy to play with prior to starting up. Fill up a Kong, licky mat or other chew toy with peanut butter. Remember, lots of TPL ~ Treats ~ Praise ~ Love.
  • The next time you are at the boat with your dog and you have benign conditions, go out for an hour or two on the water. If you are a sailboat, bare poles for this first ride. The less action going on onboard, the better.
  • Always keep an eye on how your dog is behaving to determine how long you stay out for. More TPL ~ Treats ~ Praise ~ Love.

You get the picture. You are adding layer upon layer of small changes so your dog doesn’t get freaked out right from the start. All dog training is performed in this way. It might feel tedious at times but believe me, this process is much more rewarding than scaring your dog from the beginning and then trying to undo fearful behaviour.

 

My next post will cover the story of a young couple who have adopted a boat yard dog and the challenges they face.

Until then dear friends and salty sea dogs, fair winds and lots of scrumptious treats.

 

 

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MUTINY ON THE DOG BLOG

The Take Over

As Commodore of Dogs Who Sail, I will be taking over the blog posting from Tanya. Now that’s worth a round of applaws don’t you think. Oww-woof-woof-woof.

Tanya’s great and I love that she’s my human/servant but you see, the thing is, she is a bit boring – all she does is work with boats, write about boats, and live on a boat. Boats, Boats, BOATS!

Me on the other hand, I have THE MOST exciting life in the world and I’m only six months old. Actually, I am quite certain that I OWN the world and EVERY human in it. Why be humble, right?

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