Do Y'all Leave the Dog at Home even though you know it'll break their heart?

[luvtheBU]

I got an older boat now, the upholstery isn't immaculate, she's like one of the kids would ya leave her at home or would you let her go with ya? She loves to swim, and before we had a real boat and while hubby was being coerced we would float the river and her happy butt would lay in the raft till it was time to get out and swim. Now that we have a real boat I don't think I can leave her at home and I probably won't so I was just wondering if there were any other pooch lovers that let their dogs go with them.

[jetskipro550]

My parents dogs went out on the old boat one time and my dad and I spent a good hour removing hair from the carpet. We have a strict NO dog policy on our boat now

I will gladly take my dog to the water and swim with it, but NWIH will it get near the boat!

[Bill_AirJunky]

Depends on what we're doing on the boat. Just hangin out, swimming, etc. with my wife & I, then yea, we bring the dogs. No rips or tears in the upholstery, but cleaning up the dog fur is a chore.

Their sad to see you go, but they never hold a grudge when we get home.

[WakeGirl]

We used to, but haven't in some time. Not as much because we were concerned for the boat, but because it became a safety issue. We have labs & yes they love the water, but the problem comes when they also realize that they need to be a protector. The last few times that we took our blacky out, she started jumping out on the platform when the rider or skier fell. She was so worried about the person back there that she'd pace back & forth in the boat, following them side to side & when they fell she got to where she wanted to go in after them. So at that point as a driver I've got other potential boats to deal with, finding out whether or not the rider/skier is okay, making sure that everyone else in the boat is okay (if you've got small ones then this is large), and the dog that wants to be the great protector. In addition to this, she was getting tangled in the rope & just search that particular issue out & you'll see that it's not a minor thing at all. At a certain point it becomes a major safety issue because it takes attention away that you as a driver need to be giving to something else in the equation.

It's one thing if you've brought them up on the boat & they know what to expect & how to act, something else entirely to throw them into the mix with no experience when you yourself are just learning the boat.

[luvtheBU]

We used to, but haven't in some time. Not as much because we were concerned for the boat, but because it became a safety issue. We have labs & yes they love the water, but the problem comes when they also realize that they need to be a protector. The last few times that we took our blacky out, she started jumping out on the platform when the rider or skier fell. She was so worried about the person back there that she'd pace back & forth in the boat, following them side to side & when they fell she got to where she wanted to go in after them. So at that point as a driver I've got other potential boats to deal with, finding out whether or not the rider/skier is okay, making sure that everyone else in the boat is okay (if you've got small ones then this is large), and the dog that wants to be the great protector. In addition to this, she was getting tangled in the rope & just search that particular issue out & you'll see that it's not a minor thing at all. At a certain point it becomes a major safety issue because it takes attention away that you as a driver need to be giving to something else in the equation.

It's one thing if you've brought them up on the boat & they know what to expect & how to act, something else entirely to throw them into the mix with no experience when you yourself are just learning the boat.

You have a very good point I think her sweet little butt will be staying home the first couple trips and then on the evening cruises or the morning cruises I'll take her out when it's just Dad, the baby and I. I think seeing the teens out there in the water would probably stress her out. No matter what I'd make it up to her.

[luvtheBU]

Depends on what we're doing on the boat. Just hangin out, swimming, etc. with my wife & I, then yea, we bring the dogs. No rips or tears in the upholstery, but cleaning up the dog fur is a chore.

Their sad to see you go, but they never hold a grudge when we get home.

I love that pic, that's right where my choc lab would be.

[Lance B. Johnson]

sometimes we do and sometime we dont. just depends on what our plans our. Family trip, yes. Going out specifically to ride, no.

[davemac]

In all honesty, how could you leave a dog home and deprive them of such a smile? The lake is where their best memories are made. One benefit of a dog is that in less than two years they are legal to be your spotter (in dog years)...like my old best friend, Henry, here. He never liked to swim, but loved to chill in the boat. Jim (in the avatar), on the other hand, would swim across the Atlantic.

Edited June 25, 2009 by davemac

[Bobby Light]

Depends on what we're doing on the boat. Just hangin out, swimming, etc. with my wife & I, then yea, we bring the dogs. No rips or tears in the upholstery, but cleaning up the dog fur is a chore.

Their sad to see you go, but they never hold a grudge when we get home.

Bill that is a freakin awesome picture, some lucky dogs there.

[malibudog]

I will never be able to give my dogs half as much fun as they give us - so hell yes, they are goin, and lord forbid the boat sinks and my wife has to make a choice to save the dogs or me.

[WakeGirl]

In all honesty, how could you leave a dog home and deprive them of such a smile? The lake is where their best memories are made. One benefit of a dog is that in less than two years they are legal to be your spotter (in dog years)...like my old best friend, Henry, here. He never liked to swim, but loved to chill in the boat. Jim (in the avatar), on the other hand, would swim across the Atlantic.

We got the second dog (a ridiculously goofy yellow lab named Sam) to keep the blacky (Lucy) company when we were at the lake. I would take the yellow in a heartbeat since I think that he'd be way too chicken to get off of the floor (he's no protector ), but that would mean taking Lucy too & she just positively loses her mind on the boat.

[txdyna65]

We always take our dog with us, he really enjoys being in the boat and we enjoy his company. Like you said, he is family and we hate leaving him behind. He doesnt shed much and Im going to clean the boat after we use it anyways, so no big deal.

[CRASH]

Our kid goes out alot he loves the bu

[Bill_AirJunky]

So do you guys let your dogs jump in & out of your boats? We have a couple of times, but getting them in & out of the boat is a PITA. We've done the arm behind the head thing but that doesn't always go well. A floating ramp of some kind might be better, but then I have 3 WET dogs in the boat which is even more of a PITA!

Our guys don't usually swim when they go for a boat ride. Although they will swim around the dock all day long. Jessie is jumping off the dock for distance & Frankie will swim 4 or 5 laps around the dock without touching the shore, probably 15 minutes long!

[WakingMeHappy]

We have a 6 month old Sheltie named Kiwi. I wasn’t sure how she would handle the boat but when my daughters said “pleeeeease daddy”, how could I say no? Well, the pup did great. She’s small enough she doesn’t get in the way and we just have someone hold her when the boat is moving. I don’t think she would try to jump out but no sense in taking chances.

[martinarcher]

Our kid goes out alot he loves the bu

I've seen Bill's pic, but that one is great too! Can he get up on the platform by himself or does he need help? Our lab sounds like Tracies new kid - he's a big sissy.

[skyskier]

My German Shepherd pup chewed some vinyl while I was out for a swim. Puppies like to chew.................especially German Shepherds. I already knew that. My bad.

Btw, puppers on a boat without a life jacket makes me nervous.

[SCOTTDOMINE]

Depends on what we're doing on the boat. Just hangin out, swimming, etc. with my wife & I, then yea, we bring the dogs. No rips or tears in the upholstery, but cleaning up the dog fur is a chore.

Their sad to see you go, but they never hold a grudge when we get home.

Yes, when just the wife and I are out, the dogs come w/ for some rest and relaxation. If we head out w/ our boarding and surf crew or w/ friends for the party cove, then no, they have to stay at the pad. You're right, they forgive quickly when you get back home, but it is tough to say no to those faces

[luvtheBU]

I'm sooo glad I found this forum, y'all are fantastic!!!!! I love those pics of the pooches, I am trying to figure out how to get her back in the boat after a swim. The raft was easy we just beached it on an island and she would get out and swim then get back in the raft.

[davemac]

I'm sooo glad I found this forum, y'all are fantastic!!!!! I love those pics of the pooches, I am trying to figure out how to get her back in the boat after a swim. The raft was easy we just beached it on an island and she would get out and swim then get back in the raft.

My golden just swims to the (fiberglass) platform. A quick tug on the back of his neck and he pops right on, and does the obligatory "shake" on the platform.

[luvtheBU]

I'm sooo glad I found this forum, y'all are fantastic!!!!! I love those pics of the pooches, I am trying to figure out how to get her back in the boat after a swim. The raft was easy we just beached it on an island and she would get out and swim then get back in the raft.

My golden just swims to the (fiberglass) platform. A quick tug on the back of his neck and he pops right on, and does the obligatory "shake" on the platform.

The shakes are so fun huhh, nothing like a shower of hair. That will probably be how she gets back in, shape her fat butt up a little, too many rendezvous in the garbage, she is an escape artist too, somehow she conveniently gets out of the yard to go on the neighborhood garbage hunts.

[CRASH]

Our kid goes out alot he loves the bu

I've seen Bill's pic, but that one is great too! Can he get up on the platform by himself or does he need help? Our lab sounds like Tracies new kid - he's a big sissy.

If we are weighted for surfing he comes right on by himself. But otherwise i just grab the back of his neck and he is on.

[Darwin]

My avatar shows how I feel about bringing my dog. He doesn't like to swim but he loves coming with us. When we are cruising slowly through a cove he'll stand up front with his paws on the bow. It's pretty cute. I don't let him do that when we are at speed cause I'm afraid some rough water will launch him. Sometimes he'll sit in the back seat and watch me wakeboard. He's a schnauzer so he doesn't shed-- that's a bonus.

There are only two issues that bother me with our dog: the heat and jumping out of the boat when we dock.

1) June and July in Oklahoma are usually crazy hot. It's approaching 100 right now at 11:20AM. Even with the bimini up my dog is obviously uncomfortable. So he stays home pretty much all of June & July.

2) When we dock he gets excited and wants to jump on the dock before we are ready. We remedied that by assigning my daughter to dog duty. She holds him until we are ready for him to exit.

[SacRiverRat]

I think the key thing here is that "it depends on the dog.."

Some are chill, and know their place.. some jump around, bark at folks in the water, and overall just add stress to the outting. I love Dogs, but to think the Dog is sitting at home mad about their owner going out on the boat is pretty silly..

[Winz]

Dakota (our yellow lab) has recently joined us on the boat. In fact she learned to swim this summer while we had her out on the lake. She has been a great boat dog and earns her keep on the water by sitting on the correct side of the boat when we surf and keeping the pesky geese away while we are chillin. She won't jump into the water unless called in.