[FloatingDoctors]

We have questions as to how to train our boat dog and cat. We understand that the cat will be using a box for bm and the dog has a small astro turf mat to go on. Our questions involve how else to train them. Are we overlooking anything when we train our pets? Any suggestions for us? We appreciate any and all advice.

Thanks!

Welcome to Floating Doctors

 

[Allanbc]

Make sure you hang a large diameter line (old and frayed is better) off the stern or side of the boat when at anchor. Teach your cat that they can climb up it if they fall overboard. To train the cat, put the cat in the water next to the line. It will figure out how to climb it. Then put the cat into the water away from the line and coax you cat toward the line.

 

[Omatako]

They are not meant to live on a boat. I don't care if its 50 ft, 75 ft, or 175 ft.

They are meant to thrive on terra firma. With the emphasis on firma.

I sorta thought people were too . . . . . . .

We have two animals that sail with us. The (small) dog loves every minute, even the dingy ride out to and back from the boat. He would be seriously pi$$ed if we left him behind.

The cat doesn't go with every time, only when we're away sailing for two days or more and he takes about the same amount of time to settle down as my wife. But then they're both fine.

Animals, like people, will get used to just about anything.

 

[n0w0rries]

I've been tempted to see how my cat does on my boat... but the thought of kitty litter on the boat... and kitty litter getting overturned... has kept her on shore.

Lots of animals love boats and the water. I think the original poster was looking for tips on training their animals for boating, not your opinion on animals aboard.

Let me know how the cat thing goes... but I think I'd be in big trouble throwing Kahlua overboard and telling her to climb the rope. She's a Himalayan ragdoll runt... she'd probably be hiding in a locker for the first few trips.

My girlfriend has a sugar glider... I'd love to train it to jump off the rigging and glide down to my shoulder! Any tips for that?

 

[smackdaddy]

Is this the rant of the day thread now?

Dude, if monkeys can go to the moon...dogs and cats can sail. It's not rocket science....strictly speaking.

My kid has 2 pet rats. I absolutely hate them. But talk about perfect sailing pets.

 

[tdw]

I think the original poster was looking for tips on training their animals for boating, not your opinion on animals aboard.

So, I guess if the OP was asking how to start an open fire on the deck, I should just tell him the two sticks method.
(tongue in cheek.)

Not directed at you CP.......but.....

..then again the OP might just have been hoping that you'd toddle off to their site and maybe fling 'em a couple of bucks or ten.........am I being just a litlle bit toooooooooooooooooooooo cynical ? ......though its funny how they havn't been back since they posted the same messages six times in four different threads.....

and for effs sake peoples.....dog or cat on boat for a day or even two or three....cool......I can tell you that rowing the buggers to shore in the pissing down rain gets old very very fast but hey, whatever rocks your boat......dogs on boat for offshore passage ? .........blech.........for you and the dog.......and cats piss still stinks........so does snake for that matter

now rats.....that's another story.......you can bbq the buggers when things get tough........

 

[n0w0rries]

So, I guess if the OP was asking how to start an open fire on the deck, I should just tell him the two sticks method.
(tongue in cheek.)

Well you'd have to assume he's already got a way to contain the fire, right? What if he just landed a whale and needs to render some blubber? I don't think the two sticks method would work if there was much wind. Here's a tip: The best way to start a fire on deck is with your expired flares! If you happen to run out of flares, DON'T PANIC, your deck fire will make a suitable distress signal.

Kidding!

 

[CaptainForce]

I won't attempt to involve myself in the ethics of pets on boats, but I do have a few words about training a dog to produce a product on deck. At this time our eight year old Schipperke lives aboard and fulltime cruises with us. If we call out the command word, "Lido", he runs to the stern and where he is expected to perform. We accomplished this by restricting him to this area for periods of time when he was a puppy and rewarding his performance. I have heard of people having success with designated pads and placing dog urine samples at a desired location, but we were successful with patience, repetition and reward.

...'take care and joy, Aythya crew

 

[FloatingDoctors]

I really appreciate all of the advice you all have given!! Thank you so much. We will definitely consider these training methods... I like the cat in the water idea a lot! Haha.

In response to the ethical side of having these pets aboard for the duration of the trip... We had been given advice to get them- the dog for some form of added protection (he is a pitbull mastiff) while we are ashore. I understand it will not stop someone who is really determined to get at our supplies onboard the ship, but it may deter some would-be criminals. As far as the cat goes, we were told that boat cats help in our type of situation by being able to get into all the little nooks and crannies of the ship to help rid us of possible mice running up our lines while docked for days at a time in remote places. There is also the gargantuan bug factor in central america. He might have fun hunting them too.

Besides all that, we love them and they are already here. So they're coming along.

I appreciate the input from all of you and no, I did not post here simply to get viewers to our site, although we welcome anyone who is curious to check us out We here are all very excited to embark on this journey of a lifetime.

 

[tpatelmd]

I have to relate this story of our 3 year old, 6 lbs yorkie. This summer we had planned a 2 week trip to the Channel Islands off the California Coast. They do not allow any pets landing on the Island. Before heading out, I had tried to obtain astroturf from the Home Depot but it was a special order and I would have to buy much more than I needed (plus it would arrive after our departure). We sail out of San Diego by the way. I bought a piece of grass sod from Home Depot for $3 and took our dog to it in our back yard regularly for a week. I learned that he likes a "fresh" area to do his thing so as time went on he would not want to use the sod. We even took the sod to the boat to let him try it out. What a mess from all the mud. I nixed the idea. After some research we mail ordered a UGODOG potty tray & took off on our trip. We lined the bottom of the tray with a pad impregnated with some kind of smell. Did not work. So here we are, anchored at a cove trying to convince our dog to use this tray which is out on the foredeck, when my 14 year old son says something like... "if we can't take the dog to the shore, maybe we should bring the shore to the dog." I went to the shore in the dinghy with an empty coffee container and returned with it full of dirt, pebbles and sand. I spread it out under the grate, and on top of the pad, replaced the grate and viola. Sure there were a few misses, but over all the dog used the UGODOG regularly 3 times a day. We would leash the dog and walk him out to the foredeck just like we would take him out at home. The smell of the dirt under the grate was the attractant.

Now I can continue to plan my cruising life 4 years from now.

Tushar

 

[bobmcgov]

Ya know, forget the dog. I don't want to be cooped on on a boat with a seasick pit bull/mastiff who might just go psychotic & start eating crew members around Jamaica. Sounds like the new Stephen King movie: "Idealistic young medicoes set off on the journey of a lifetime with their faithful dog Cujo. As they pass the Bermuda triangle, a strange light begins to grow n Cujo's eyes. Their dream sail is about to become a nightmare."

Invest in a decent burglar alarm. Eats less, doesn't crap on the decks.

Buoyancy matters. Can pit bulls swim? Cuz these dogs can't:

Don't sail with one of these. All the experts agree.

:laugher :laugher :laugher

 

[CalebD]

Train the dog to tail while you are pulling in the sheet on the winch. Maybe you could train the dog to bark at the winch or crank it too! Shouldn't be so hard. Cezar Milan says dogs like to have jobs. Too bad he is not a cat expert also.
Felines are natural hunters though so if you can train your cat to go after flies, mosquitoes and no-see ums then you may not need as much screening while in the tropics. Cats will instinctively go after mice if they are not too fat and lazy. For the bigger rats you might consider bringing along a Maine **** cat 'cuz they are bigger still.
On the other hand, all of these animals can get just as seasick as you can.

On a somewhat more serious note, I just finished reading the biography of Beryl & Miles Smeeton "High Endeavors", who sailed their yacht 'Tzu Hang' around the globe with their Siamese cat 'Pwe'. Their cat died on land after they sold their boat at the old age of about 20 years. It also fell overboard once but they rescued it.

Good luck however you work it out.

 

[LarryandSusanMacDonald]

We have friends who cruise with animals (other than the Captain). One was kind enough to contribute a page on our web-site, The Frugal-Mariner (this will take you to it.)

Another, has a lovable Sheltie on board, We met and became friends with them during our current cruise. The have a section of their blog which gives advice on cruising with dogs. Check out Moondance.

 

[tdw]

Cats will instinctively go after mice if they are not too fat and lazy.

On the other hand, all of these animals can get just as seasick as you can.

I'm still trying to understand why cats only chase the thin energetic mice. I'd have though they would be harder to catch.

Ref seasick - never though that cats would get seasick until mine did....not nice...not nice at all.....

 

[CalebD]

Fat and lazy as in the cat, not the mice Fuzzy! I know you were just having fun and your comment was quite funny... thin, energetic mice, LOL.

Actually, I found Larry's link to the Frugal Mariner web page quite comprehensive. I hope the floating MD's can figure out how to deal with Fido and the feline at the same time they've got it made.