Greyhounds on boats

[Chertsey]

Swimming lessons, now there's an idea.

[Guest]

Sorry you lost your dog.

Never owned a Greyhound yet, but my son has one and it is a fantastic dog. Seen lots on different boats, and talked to the owners who all seem to have good things to say about greyhounds on boats. Good luck.

I think we have had 58 different greyhounds on our boat, as far as I can remember 55 loved it. The ones that did not get on with boating included one of ours, Jelly Boy Ty who had a bad time before we got him and was basically scared of anywhere new. Zillions of dog photos on the blog, http://indigodream.wordpress.com, easiest probably just to type dog blog into the search box. The one page I can direct you with a wide range of photos is a sad one but the photos tell a great story of Greyhounds on various canals: https://indigodream.wordpress.com/2012/12/08/dog-blog-moors-gem-lou-1112002-8122012/

 

Most of what I could say about greyhounds would apply to any dog. A new greyhound is unlikely to have recall, may well be keen and will be basically a 4 year old puppy as the world outside the race track is very different. You will see a wide range of views on how to train dogs and most work, not everybody would agree but personally I think dog training classes are excellent, some believe in Greyhound only classes, we have tried them (excellent school in Essex) but prefer a training school which has mixed breeds so better for socialisation. The majority of our hounds reached the stage that we could leave them off lead on lock flights etc but you need to keep a keen look out. Not that much different to any other dog but think 300 yards ahead rather than 50 yards. Coming down Audlem at the start of this week the dogs were so tired that they worked on a three lock cycle, first lock out with me and ran to lock 2 where the promptly got back on the boat and fell asleep. By lock 3 they were awake and agitating to get out so they came out and ran to the next lock by which time they were ready for their next snooze.

 

Obviously helps that we have a cruiser stern and a few other adaptations which were put in for our old Lurcher, Indie, though sadly she never saw the completed boat. Obviously the best option is to get rid of your trad stern boat, otherwise how is your boat laid out? If they can, Greyhounds will happily sleep for 23½ hours a day so possibly less of an issue then with some dogs. There will be an initial flurry where they want to see everything but them most will happily settle down. If they can see you then they will be happy so is there space for a bed just off the back deck? Greyhounds at pace are a thing of beauty, at slow speeds with steps etc they can be a bit ungainly but you just need to work with that. Please get in touch if you have any questions. Nowadays I don't frequent CWF that much so a PM is good or may be better still to message Sue via facebook or leave a message on the Blog,

 

Swimming. Hmm. There are Greyhounds which will walk round puddles, very few are enthusiastic about water. We give our hounds swimming lessons, basically moor up somewhere like higher up on the Thames, pick up the dog and walk into the river with them till the water is chest height on me. First time you let them go they try to run on the surface, once they get back to land you find any recall they may have had has vanished (just imagine local dog walkers creaisng up with laughter at this point). By the third time they do a very effective doggie paddle. We have only had three falls into the water, all by the same dog, yes out of 58 only one has fallen in and managed it three times.

 

 

I know what you mean about space. When our old Lurcher died we went back to Battersea and asked for another one, our spec included the words SMALL and FEMALE. Battersea looked us up and said we have the perfect dog for you called Blue, HE is a LARGE greyhound, trust us he will be perfect. When we got him home (we have a very small house) initially it was a shock, this boy is big! A week later we got Indigo Dream and then we had initially just one Greyhound on a narrowboat and the space worked well. I must admit it gets crowded with 7 or 8 on board but 2 greyhounds fit perfectly on a boat.

 

 

Photos are from the Middlewich branch, River Thames and finally Worksop lock on the Chesterfield

Brilliant post and pics

[PaddingtonBear]

 

 

 

uote name="Chertsey" post="1876058" timestamp="1472832490"]Swimming lessons, now there's an idea.

What does that mean? Neither of us can swim so how will that work?

[RLWP]

uote name="Chertsey" post="1876058" timestamp="1472832490"]Swimming lessons, now there's an idea.

What does that mean? Neither of us can swim so how will that work?

 

It means she doesn't mind if she drowns, and apparently doesn't care if you do - but the dog!...

 

Richard

Edited September 2, 2016 by RLWP

[Chertsey]

uote name="Chertsey" post="1876058" timestamp="1472832490"]Swimming lessons, now there's an idea.

What does that mean? Neither of us can swim so how will that work?

Oh god, this is what I get for telling you your password.

 

If you read the long post from the Indigo Dream man, he says how he teaches the *dogs* to swim. It would be good to know whether Little Ricky is capable of it in extremis, at least.

[PaddingtonBear]

Ricky is the most amazing friend and companion and despite his issues he has recently had several 'light bulb' moments and We are now beginning to trust each other so much so that he is able to come off the lead more often. That is not to say that he did not come off the led before and now we are at Alvecote we have discovered what an ideal dog environment it is and the boy likes nothing more that a blast up the towpath opposite the Barlow (well sleeping 22 hours and going to the shop excluded)

[RLWP]

Oh god, this is what I get for telling you your password.

 

If you read the long post from the Indigo Dream man, he says how he teaches the *dogs* to swim. It would be good to know whether Little Ricky is capable of it in extremis, at least.

 

You could try it on PB - what have you got to lose?

 

Richard

[RichardN]

 

You could try it on PB - what have you got to lose?

 

Richard

He learns to fart like a greyhound?

[Hartlebury lad]

We have just picked up a rescue greyhound today.

 

I really hope "Tiller" takes to the boat. He is a beautiful; two year old pretty boy ex racer. 4mph will be a significant change.

I have a good feeling ......

 

 

 

[paddy r]

We have a greyhound and lurcher,they both are fine of the lead round locks although we do check for small fury's before letting him go.the one and only down side is being in a small cabin with a greyhound with gas! he can take the varnish off!

[Chertsey]

Aha, that is interesting because Ricky (he will forgive me mentioning it) does not seem to do that.

 

Not much could be worse than when I shared the back cabin with the cat and the litter tray was under the cross bed. About five o'clock in the morning I'd be woken by his scratching in it and know it was time to start the countdown to the noxious fumes wafting up. Also, that cat, one night when we left him in the back cabin and went to the pub, I came back to find he had shown his displeasure by peeing copiously in the middle of the bed.

 

The dog is a breeze in comparison. As least we can stop him catching rabbits and bringing them in to die under the floor.

[RLWP]

Aha, that is interesting because Ricky (he will forgive me mentioning it) does not seem to do that.

 

Not much could be worse than when I shared the back cabin with the cat

 

Try sharing a room with a cat that brings in live shrews at 3:00am, lets them go, chases them for a few minutes then kills and eats them

 

Richard

[WhiteSuit]

We have a greyhound and lurcher,they both are fine of the lead round locks although we do check for small fury's before letting him go.the one and only down side is being in a small cabin with a greyhound with gas! he can take the varnish off!

We have just picked up a rescue greyhound today.

 

I thought all dogs did that. At least that's what the wife told me'!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

I really hope "Tiller" takes to the boat. He is a beautiful; two year old pretty boy ex racer. 4mph will be a significant change.

I have a good feeling ......

 

Indeed a pretty boy, I am sure he will take to it like a duck to water. Other similes are available.

 

If we pass the home visit this is our new best mate.

 

Edit to try and post picture the right way up but I am a techno failure

Edited September 3, 2016 by WhiteSuit

[WhiteSuit]

Paddy r

I thought all dogs did this, at least that's what the wife told me!!!!!!!!!!!!!