We are lucky here in Australia with most marinas along the East Coast welcoming our furry four-legged crew members.
In our travels I have been impressed with the care dog owners take but occasionally someone chooses to relax the rules and it can be these people who spoil it for the rest of us.
So, let’s have a quick look at how we dog owners can do our best to ensure dogs on boats continue to maintain a flawless reputation.
One of the most common questions I am asked is, what is the best breed of dog to have on a boat? Having met hundreds of different kinds of dogs boating all over the world I have come to believe that the best type of dog is one who fits in with your lifestyle, your temperament and your commitment to ensuring their comfort and safety aboard.
Understanding breeds is helpful with your decision making and so I will present a new breed each week.
It is important to keep in mind that there are always exceptions to the rule because just like you and I, your furry four-legged crew member is a unique individual.
Let’s begin!
He is a rescue dog (English Springer Rescue Association).
Doggy Name: Riley
Doggy Breed: English Springer Spaniel
Doggy Age: 11 years old
Years Sailing: 10 years
Breezy was a Doberman. When she died, she was almost 8 years old. Unfortunately, Dobermans suffer from an inherited heart condition called DCM, dilated cardiomyopathy.
At four weeks of age Sailor had been separated from her maternal mother and placed in a kill shelter in Tennessee. Through routine examinations, the shelter discovered that Sailor and her siblings had Parvovirus and upper respiratory infections and the only outcome the shelter could afford was to have the dogs euthanised.
By some divine twist of fate, another shelter based in New York rescued Sailor and her family. All the puppies were given treatment to combat their infections and soon enough Sailor was in good recovery and ready for adoption. Along came Karen, a solo sailor looking for a crew member, but not your typical crew, Karen was after the furry four-legged K9 kind.
Sailor’s destiny had completely turned around. With the love and devotion of Karen, she was on the road to strong physical and emotional recovery and together they would set sail to beautiful worldly destinations.
Dear Sailor and Karen, we salute you.
Doggy Name: Sailor
Doggy Breed: Texas Heeler rescue
Doggy Age: 2.5 years old
Years Sailing: 2 years
As fulltime liveaboards who spend a good part of the year in the marina, it is therapeutic to get away on a regular basis to enjoy some landtime.
For anyone visiting South East Queensland or Northern New South Wales, I’d like to share with you a hidden gem.
Imagine this; the day is coming to a close, the sun is beginning to slowly sink down behind Mt Warning, and you are sitting in your very own private outdoor spa bath, sipping a crisp, chilled, bubbly champagne while your seadog enjoys the scents of the garden and rolling in the grass.
This place is real and is an affordable dream getaway. Brecon Cabin is a lovely little bungalow located within the hills of the Tweed Valley, overlooking magnificent Mt Warning; an extinct volcano that erupted 23 million years ago.
A Letter from Sally SailorDog
I am a Smithfield Stumpy Tail Red Heeler born in 2002 in Kunnanurra, Western Australia where my Dad was working. I moved with him to Queensland where he met Mum in 2005 and I became a farm dog. From Queensland, Mum, Dad and me made another move to a 3000-acre cotton farm in New South Wales.
Lisa & Maya Meet for the First Time
One evening on a little Caribbean island called St Croix, Lisa was relaxing in the farmhouse she was minding when she noticed something by the gate outside. When she went to investigate, Lisa was greeted by a ‘scared, shy, skinny stray’. Meet Maya.
The dog’s physical appearance convinced Lisa that no one had been looking after her for some time and there was a good chance that she was homeless. Despite her scrawniness this dog at her front gate had the sweetest nature and Lisa believed it wouldn’t take long for someone to fall in love with her and give her a forever home, so she took the dog to the local shelter, confident of a quick rehoming.
A few weeks later Lisa received a phone call from the shelter. Her mysterious canine friend had not been adopted as she had anticipated and was sadly facing euthanasia. The shelter in no uncertain terms stressed that someone needed to save this dog as she was shortlisted on Death Row with no hope of being adopted. Lisa was Maya’s only lifeline.
As liveaboards on a sailboat, Lisa and her partner hadn’t considered having a dog on board, yet out of nowhere, the decision was being made for them. Lisa and her partner felt that this sweet-tempered little dog deserved much more in her young life than she had lived to this point. They adopted Maya with an open mind to give her another chance, this time a loving and adventurous life with them aboard their yacht.
‘What if she really had hit her head but was still alive, thrashing about out in there? What must she be feeling? Terror. She must be so confused. She would be expecting them to come and scoop her up and wondering why on earth she was out there all alone. Could she see Honey May and see Jan and Dave yelling over the sides? What if she was watching them, trying to call out but unable to bark. Was she keeping her head above water?”
As a liveaboard sailing family with two Cocker Spaniels, dog overboard would have to be one of our biggest fears. When we are underway our two Cocker Spaniels have always been within our sights; no ifs, buts or maybes.
Doggy Name: Lady
Doggy Breed: Cocker Spaniel
Doggy Age: 10 years old