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.
Great meeting the dogs and information on sailing with the dogs.