Dogs on Board...

[TickTockTrent]

Hi everyone, I am writing a piece on dogs on board and would love to get an insight into the various breeds currently out there living afloat.

 

Love to hear opinions on why certain breeds are well suited in your opinion and any characteristics or challenges you've had.

 

I know we all think our dog is the best in the world, and of course, we are all right!

 

No advice needed as such, just a straw poll really on what dog you have and why you think it is the best (or not!).

 

Thanks so much!

 

G

 

 

[Nightwatch]

We presently have two Jack Russell's. They are sisters from the same litter. They are 19 months old and have lived on the boat since puppies.

 

Prior we have had two Staffies and different times.

 

Both breeds are boatable. JRTs as they are small and manageable, Staffies as they can be a deterrent to potential boarders. But knowing how friendly Staffies are their bark is worse than their lick.

Both breeds, we have found, are very alert to sounds outside after bedtime. And let us know in their own way. George the Staffie would grumble until asked to shut up, the JRTs naturally bark annoyingly and always get the last word.

There is some strength in the notion that one of the designer (crossbreed) non hair dropping breeds would be advantageous on a boat.

 

Any breed of dog is suitable for boating. Depends on the owners preference.

 

Not sure if this is what you wanted. Good luck.

 

Martyn

[BruceinSanity]

We've boated with this lady many times (she's our daughter's dog):

 

 

She's a Doberman X GSD X greyhound (we think) and to be honest is a bit oversize for boating but absolutely loves it.

 

In the past we've had Samoyeds, which are great dogs but leave soft white underfur over everything.

[patty-ann]

 

She knew how to relax!

 

Molly, Finnish Laphund was my companion of the waterways..heavy dense coat with moulting issues but would never bark without cause..she ignored all boat noises such as ducks clearing hull. However I think perhaps smaller dog/non moulting best as towards her end i struggled getting her up and down the steps. She loved the boat and would stand on a wooden box looking out on sentry duty. Seen lot of Westies on boats.

[junior]

Hi everyone, I am writing a piece on dogs on board

 

 

Can i ask first what this piece is for?

[NickF]

Labrador for me every time, sure footed, good swimmers, good natured dogs.

[carlt]

I lived aboard with a lurcher for many years ..

 

Apart from their ability to curl up into a very small space, considering their stretched out size, the great advantage with mine was that while boating along I could spot rabbits in an offside field, put the bows into the bank and he'd be off,

 

About a minute later he'd be back on board with our tea

 

.

[Alan de Enfield]

We have a Pug.

 

Upside :

Great character

Good friend

A good size for a boat.

Can be carried on & off the boat easily

 

Down side :

Pugs sink when they fall in (they are Brachycephalic)

He snores

[David Mack]

Labrador for me every time, sure footed, good swimmers, good natured dogs.

Another vote for a lab.

 

 

[BruceinSanity]

OTOH, I have seen a boat with three Newfoundlands on board, stabled in purpose built hutches at the back of a cruiser stern.

[patty-ann]

OTOH, I have seen a boat with three Newfoundlands on board, stabled in purpose built hutches at the back of a cruiser stern.

Yep Ive seen them

[Keeping Up]

All our dogs, mostly lab crosses, have loved the boat. The first time we took our latest dog, Jessop (successor to Telford) on the boat he fell off the stern within a minute. We'd put him on a long lead so then we could haul him back on board; he immediately re-created the incident in studied slow motion until he fell in again which meant he knew exactly what had caused him to fall in and could therefore avoid making the same mistake again. He hasn't fallen in since although that's only about 3 weeks of travelling. He loves the water though, and as soon as we're moored up he can't wait to dive into the canal.

 

The most sure-footed dog we had was a deerhound/setter cross who despite his size would happily walk the length of the gunwales without a second thought.

 

We soon discovered that Jessop wasn't used to the absolute blackness of the countryside at night, thankfully he now sleeps happily through the night since we fitted his cabin with an LED nightlight.

[RufusR]

We have an American Bull Boxer (Sometimes called Bulloxer , see pick in avatar ) called Rufus

 

We live aboard and were worried about him adapting when we moved on as he hates water , he wont even walk in puddles if he can avoid it but he has taken to the boating life like a duck to water and has really chilled out which is great as anyone familiar with the breed will know they are mad as fish and very very strong and boisterous .

 

upsides :

Gorgeous dogs , soft and very loving

Huge personality ( very playful and talkative fun to have around )

very protective , fantastic guard dog

needs lots of exercise ( healthy for you )

 

downsides :

Quite big for a boat ( takes up alot of space on the bed lol )

Huge personality ( needs constant play and attention )

Very Protective , ( can be over protective if not careful )

needs lots of exercise

 

wouldnt change him for the world

[Phil Ambrose]

Our original crew comprised in size order a GSD, a Beardie, a Brichon Frise and a Yoodle (Yorkie min.poodle cross)

Each dog a wonderful individual and each dog the best in it's own right.

Sadly the years have seen them off and we are now skippered by a Golden Cocker and s weirdo called Monty whose dad was a Westie and mum was a Chinese Crested Powder Puff crossed with a Sha Pei.

Again both these dogs are the best.

I don't think any one breed is best suited to boating, they all seem to adapt to a boating lifestyle really well.

Those of you who remember Paul NuLife4-2 boated on a coastal/estuary basis and was off shore for long periods at times.

I asked Paul how his Lab Charlie coped with comfort breaks. The solution apparently was a very large litter type tray which Paul cut and placed large lumps of turf in.

This tray lived on the foredeck and Charlie would use this as needed, nose always into the wind apparently. Charlie lived aboard from a few weeks old till he crossed the rainbow bridge last year.

Phil

Edited June 20, 2016 by Phil Ambrose

[Dharl]

We take our Goldendoddle x Labradoodle with us when we boat, first took her at about 6 months old and she enjoys it unless left on board whilst in a lock going down hill (especially if there is a leaky lock gate!). She prefers being lock side with which ever one of us is working the lock and is very good at staying on the towpath side so we can pick her up again once finished!

[TickTockTrent]

Can i ask first what this piece is for?

I'm a freelance writer and this is just some research for a piece in a boating publication. thanks.

[Ray T]

Jack Russel Terrier.

 

Easy enough to pick up as she won't jump off and on the boat.

 

Also easy to recover on the rare occasion she may fall in.

 

Small dog big attitude, good at guarding her boat.

 

 

 

[Guest]

We used to have a Jack Russell cross and he was a great boat dog (we found him in a field.) Sadly he is no longer with us. We have two huge, insane Labradoodles now which despite their size are good dogs on the boat. They can get in the way sometimes, but we wouldn't be without them.

[JayDub]

Hi, my companion on the boat is a Doxipoo, half dachshund, half miniature poodle. He is non-moulting, well nearly,and an ideal size, easy to lift on and off the boat and out of the water. He's been on the boat since he was 12 weeks and takes it all in his stride, fortunately. So far he's only fallen in once, it's only a matter of time before he's in again. If the photo has attached OK you'll see he's all black and remarkably difficult to photograph.

Hi, my companion on the boat is a Doxipoo, half dachshund and half miniature poodle. He is non-moulting, well nearly,and an ideal size, easy to lift on and off and out of the water. He's been on the boat since he was 12 weeks and loves it, fortunately. So far he's only fallen in once, it's only a matter of time before he's in again. If the photo has attached OK you'll see he's all black and remarkably difficult to photograph.

[bag 'o' bones]

We have a wire haired Jack Russel a 'small white fluffy thing' according to a friend. Ideal size for a smaller boat. A mate of mine used to own a boat with an on-board Rottweiler. Not a lot of room to manoeuvre round him!

[lockedout]

So, we have a pair of three year old Border Terrorists, brother and sister from the same litter. They have been on the boat since they were 8 weeks old and are really at home on board. They are a perfect size for the boat, they can always find somewhere to sleep that isn't in the way, they are good swimmers and will make a noise if anyone shows too much interest in the wrong circumstances. They don't leap off too often, they see the boat as their 'safe place' so they will always remain on board or return swiftly if unsure. Being consummate ratters, we need to keep an eye on them on the towpath as they like nothing better than clearing out a rat's nest, we haven't taught them the difference between a rat and a water vole yet, so we keep them under close control at all times unless we are sure the local wildlife is safe.

 

We sadly lost our last boating dog about a year ago, she was a Rottweiler, a lovely dog but a little on the large side for a narrowboat and she wasn't introduced to boating until she was older so she was a little bit nervous, particularly going through locks, she didn't like the noise and the occasional bang.

 

Having all three on board was a challenge at times!

[Phil Ambrose]

Hi, my companion on the boat is a Doxipoo, half dachshund, half miniature poodle. He is non-moulting, well nearly,and an ideal size, easy to lift on and off the boat and out of the water. He's been on the boat since he was 12 weeks and takes it all in his stride, fortunately. So far he's only fallen in once, it's only a matter of time before he's in again. If the photo has attached OK you'll see he's all black and remarkably difficult to photograph.

Hi, my companion on the boat is a Doxipoo, half dachshund and half miniature poodle. He is non-moulting, well nearly,and an ideal size, easy to lift on and off and out of the water. He's been on the boat since he was 12 weeks and loves it, fortunately. So far he's only fallen in once, it's only a matter of time before he's in again. If the photo has attached OK you'll see he's all black and remarkably difficult to photograph.

He is so cute!!!

Phil

[cuthound]

Having read this thread with interest, there really is only one type of dog to have on board, and that is a "cuthound". Buster was a GSD/Collie cross rescue dog from the RSPCA who we got at 6 months old. He had his first boat trip cancelled due to the foot and mouth outbreak in 2001, so his first trip was in the August of that year.

 

He took to boating straight away, and would either help with the locks, staying still until told, despite distractions from people and other dogs, or he would sit in the "Cuthound Seat" over the gas bottles on the semi-trad shareboat we had then, helping Dad to steer.

 

He died just over a year ago, and we now have Zeus, the apprentice cuthound. He looks like it will take the full 5 year apprenticeship for him to become a fully fledged cuthound, as he cannot be trusted to help at locks and barks at dogs on the towpath or on other boats

 

Here are a few photos.

 

The original Cuthound helping Dad to steer.

 

 

 

Catching a few rays on a sunny day.

 

 

 

In the Cuthound Seat with Mum

 

 

 

The apprentice caught red pawed in a chair.

 

Both were large dogs, which is not problem on a narrowboat, providing there is a wider "passing space", such s where the corridor crosses the galley. If not, either you or the dog had better learn to reverse!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Dharl]

This picture shows Poppy the Labradoodle on "gangway duty" of Honeystreet recently.

 

 

 

Tried to get her to sit on the seat in the Semi-trad area, but Mrs Dharl claims that as her own, so Poppy usually peers round the side of the stern as we go along and lies on my feet!

 

 

Captain Poppy at Watford flight!

 

[8 Hairy Feet]

Cocker spaniel obvs...

just the right size, good swimmer if necessary..