Dog and sailing

DLM · #1 (**permalink**) 02-17-2008

Have a dog, hate to leave her behind when I go somewhere.
Haven't been successful training her to go to the bathroom on the boat...in a a appropriate area.... is there a product/method available to help in this process?
Butch

teshannon · #2 (**permalink**) 02-17-2008

DLM,
I'm in the same situation so I'm interested in the responses. The people we have asked all said they get a piece of astroturf and train them to go on that. Not successful with that approach yet but can't think of an alternative.

sailingdog · #3 (**permalink**) 02-17-2008

A lot of it depends on the dog and how big the dog is. Some smaller dogs can be crate trained and learn to go on the astroturf relatively easily. Some older, more set in their way dogs are going to have trouble learning that they're allowed to go on the boat at all.

Most amazing thing I've seen is someone who had trained their dog to crap over the transom swim platform... and let the water take the crap away... not so nice if you were swimming nearby, but hilarious to watch.

PBzeer · #4 (**permalink**) 02-17-2008

I've met a few ruisers with dogs, all of these, larger dogs, and they just will not do their business on the boat.

DLM · #5 (**permalink**) 02-18-2008

That's quite a mental picture...must say, the dog has to be a smart one....
Sounds like I've got some training ahead....my dog is one of those that will not be easy to train....
Thanks for the input...
Butch

cabron99 · #6 (**permalink**) 02-18-2008

I lived and sailed in Hawaii for a number of years. One day a fellow sailed in from Australia with a dingo on board. Claims he taught the critter to crap on a coiled line. When soiled he just drug the line behind. Boat didn't smell, but never did see the dog crap! Good luck.

teshannon · #7 (**permalink**) 02-18-2008

Uh, I don't think I'd want to handle that line!

sailingdog · #8 (**permalink**) 02-18-2008

I'd second this....

Quote:

Originally Posted by teshannon

Uh, I don't think I'd want to handle that line!

Sapperwhite · #9 (**permalink**) 02-18-2008

The problem here is that you have the wrong dog........someone once said bulldogs are the best boat dogs

teshannon · #10 (**permalink**) 02-18-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sapperwhite

The problem here is that you have the wrong dog........someone once said bulldogs are the best boat dogs

Sapper.
I have an English bulldog and she's great on the boat. She can really hold it for a long time but that's probably because she falls asleeep immediately on leaving the slip. Can't swim worth a damn though so she's always tethered.