Dogs in your boat

[AuMDLST]

+1 Iceman

The Lab gets water time doing what he's supposed to do - retrieving birds!

[Gasman87]

how the heck could i leave this behind ?????

[Northof49]

Goldens appear to be a popluar dog with Nautique owners.
I am getting pressure to allow the, currently 3 month old golden, in the boat this coming summer so she, along with our 8 year old lab, can have some fun in the sun on the beaches up the lake.
I grew up with goldens and they were all trained that they can not go on the seats, only the floor and we never had any problems with nails. The dogs were always picked up and placed in the boat and then picked up and taken out...they were never allowed to get in or out by themselves...and I will continue this practice with the new puppy as that is usually the only time when the nails come out.
I guess I am giving in to my wives question about "dogs in the boat" with this thread!!

[Chexi]

Yeah, don't stress out about the nails. I've had an 80lb lab in and out of my boats for 8 years now. My dog usually comes out on our 08 210 about once a week, and we haven't had any problems. No protection needed

Also, if you can't afford $200 for a simple vinyl repair, you shouldn't own a boat in the first place. Let the dogs have fun

Affording a $200 repair and wanting to subject myself to one are two totally different things. Besides, if my lab were not a spaz, I would be more willing to let him in the boat, but the simple fact is that if my Nautique comes out, there will be people riding behind it. My goldendoodle is fine in the boat (alone), but he does not like swimming. I don't want to take just one (because the other then feels slighted... believe me, it's true). When they are together, they compete (both males) and cause a raucus. As a result, every time I have tried having the dogs in the boat, it was not the fun we all expected. It was work and it was annoying... two words I do not like associating with boat (when I am using it).

If you have very well behaved dogs that are not spazes and want them in the boat, hey... it's your boat.

[jpduster]

disney space buddies


I would love to take my dog in the boat, does anyone know where to get one of these dog space suits?

[nautique210]

[ATTACH=CONFIG]6113[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]6112[/ATTACH]
I would love to take my dog in the boat, does anyone know where to get one of these dog space suits?

is that USCGA? lol

This is our third golden. Hes about 9 months and already has learned car manors, Im sure after a month we will have a system down for the boat and wont have to worry about him. Cant wait for summer, should be lots of fun!

[Chexi]

My lab has had perfect car manners since the day I got him at 7weeks old, but he is still a spaz in the boat when pulling a rider (he's 7 years old now).

[ers906]

being a veterinarian, you have no idea how many times I get asked for tranquilers (doggy valium) over the course of summer so people don't have to worry about their interiors. of course drugs that sedate a dog and water/boats are not a goood mix (go figure). Teh best thing that I have found is to keep the dogs nails expremely short (dremel works best, dont twice a week so the quick resorbs and you aren't causing the dog to bleed every time you do it). Round the nails off and it isn't any more traumatice than our calloused feed banging over the vinyl. As for the activity level on the boat, you have a couple of options. Go on a ten mile run with the dog before giong on the water, which would most likely do just enought to mellow the dog out but drain you for the next five days, or play fetch for an hour before having the dog come aboard. One last thing, PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE put sunscreen on your dog if it has a light hair coat or if you have them shaved (I don't really recommend that). We are seeing a ton more skin cancer these days than previously, and like in people it can be fatal (or at a minimum, extremely expensive). Hope this is helpful.

[SkiTower]

One last thing, PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE put sunscreen on your dog if it has a light hair coat or if you have them shaved (I don't really recommend that).

Wow! Sunscreen on a dog...wonder if they'll sit for it better than the kids?

[cubalakeny]

Leave this one home? Never gonna happen.

[AbunDiga909]

We have two large labs and although it looks bad when they're walking, remember they walk on their paws, not nails. The shoes are not necessary even though they'd help. The hair is a pain to vacuum but just one more small drop in the large bucket for things us anal-boat-users have to worry about.

[kmgs]

FURminate your dog...

Nautique210, I've got two Goldens - Connelly (5) and O'Brien (6). We go for a two week camping "vacation" where the dogs come in the boat several times a day with us to different beaches or just swimming. Really stressed at first and went overboard trying to protect "the boat", you can't imagine how active these dogs are together. I am quite anal, ok, I am VERY anal with the boat. Laid down towels, wiped the dogs off on the swim platform, made them swim before getting in to get the sand out of their paws (ok, would actually pull off the beach 50 yards while they ran on the beach and made them swim after the boat to get the sand off of them, wife did not like that). Finally realized my efforts were not making any difference. Just came to the conclusion that they were having fun, we were having fun and I would just have to spend more time cleaning up the boat when I got home. It's Feb and I am still getting hair out of the boat from last summer. My input FWIW, have a blast with your dog, he (she) won't hurt your interior, get a good vacuum, a hair brush and stress out about more important stuff, life's too short.

For the shedding problem, take your dog to PetsMart and get the "FURminator DeShedding Treatment"....the treatment is amazing...!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uZ_1UqTlx2o