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Dogs Who Sail TV – Toileting Your Dog On A Boat

In this episode of Dogs Who Sail TV I chat with vet, Sheridan Lathe from Vet Tails’ Sailing Chuffed about toileting dogs on a boat.

Sheridan sheds some light on those concerning topics we have as dog parents such as how long is too long for our dog to hold on and signs from a vets experience about what to look out for if our dog chooses not to go to the toilet and so much more.

If you would like to know more about Sheridan and her floating vet clinic, you can read about her adventures at https://www.vettails.com/about-me.

I hope you enjoy the interview and if any questions arise please pop them in the comments on YouTube or send me an email to admin@dogswhosail.com

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Lifeline Netting Installation

Maxy feeling so relaxed knowing he is safe with lifeline netting installed.

One safety measure I have sworn by as a liveaboard dog owner is lifeline netting. It isn’t guaranteed protection but it significantly minimises the risk of a dog overboard situation.

I’m not a DIY person, so to me installing lifeline netting on our boat was a tedious task. However, in saying this, I was driven by two things. One, was to ensure Maxy and Mel were as safe as could be onboard. The second, was finding fabulous instruction that I could easily follow without getting myself into a tangled mess; literally and figuratively.

Thank goodness for Sailrite! If you haven’t heard of this wonderful organisation and you enjoy DIY boat projects, I encourage you to check out their amazing website.

Sailrite was founded 50 years ago in California by Jim and Connie Grant who developed an interest in making their own sails and sharing their instructions with other boat owners via a correspondence course. The old style internet back in 1969.

Today the business is still operated by the Grant family and has an astounding following of boating DIYers. To help boat owners, Sailrite generously share instructional videos via YouTube. If anyone can teach you how to install secure lifeline netting, it is Sailrite.

 

 

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10 Tips to Help You Find The Pawfect Dog Lifejacket

 

Most sailors with furry four-legged crew members who join Dogs Who Sail will often request advice about dog lifejackets.

Before introducing Maxy and Mel to the boat, I invested in lifejackets for them.

Looking back I cringe at the first lifejackets I bought them. My intention was with the greatest love but my choice was completely misinformed.

The jacket was called by all the right names and had a reputable brand associated with sailing but no thoughtful design to save my dogs life.

Like many of you reading this article for your research, I regarded Maxy and Mel as my fur-kids. If anything happened to either of them, especially from my carelessness, I would live with the heavy burden of regret to my last day. They deserve the same safety measures as I apply to myself, our crew and guests.

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BOAT DOG ETIQUITTE

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.

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Breezy

Beautiful Breezy
An avid sailor with strong sea legs and quite a few nautical miles under her doggy collar.
A lovely dedication from her human to this special crew member who passed away suddenly.
RIP Breezy

 

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.  

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Need Some Landtime?

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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. 

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Sally


Sally shows how versatile some dogs can be. We hope you enjoy this delightful story from an iconic Australian breed who lived many years as a farm dog, turning in her Akubra for a Captain’s hat at sea.

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.

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Maya


Have you ever heard the saying that we don’t pick our dogs, they pick us? 
If you didn’t believe so, Lisa and Maya’s story may just change your mind.

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.

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Lady

Introducing Lady.  This gorgeous Cocker Spaniel has travelled more places in the world than most people, and she did it all on a 50 foot Passport. 
Lady’s bio offers a very interesting read for those considering circumnavigation.  

Doggy Name: Lady

Doggy Breed: Cocker Spaniel

Doggy Age: 10 years old

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Buster

In loving memory of Buster the Barge Beagle. 
“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.

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