If your dog is your best friend, it's understandable that you would want to bring him or her along with you when you go boating. As you probably know, dogs hate being left behind, and that look on their faces as we drive away for a day of fun and relaxation is a bit too much to take. But don't assume that dogs can't go boating. In fact, dogs are great boating companions, and there's nothing strange about taking them along with you. Just make sure you prepare ahead of time, and everything will be fine.
1. Dog-proof the boat: Before you do anything, take a look around your boat for anything that would hurt the dog. Stow all gear and sharp things, especially fishing hooks, safely in their containers. Meanwhile, check for things that the dog might disturb, and stow them safely away.
2. Make a potty area: You can either get one of those special set-ups from the pet store or make a special area out of weighted- or taped-down newspapers. Make sure the dog goes right before you leave, and don't forget to bring some plastic baggies and a waste container.
3. Bring lots of water and food: On a hot day in the sun, dogs need lots of water. So make sure you bring a bowl to put water in, plus more water than you might think is needed. You don't have to keep water in the bowl at all times, as long as you remember to give the dog a chance to drink every half hour or so. The same goes with food. Just put some food in a bowl when you think your dog is probably going to be hungry.
4. Get a special doggie flotation device: You can get these devices in boating stores, at pet stores, or online. It's best if it has a handle on the back so that you can pull your dog out of the water if necessary. Before you go boating, have the dog wear the flotation device around the house for a while so that he can get used to the feel and smell of it.
5. Let your dog get used to it: Before going out on the water, let your dog hang out on the boat for a while. When the motor gets running and the boat starts rocking around, dogs aren't quite sure what's going on. So the slower you acclimate them to these conditions, the better. On the other hand, there are some dogs who do perfectly fine with being on a boat. You won't know until you actually get going.
6. Bring some doggie Dramamine: You probably aren't going to need it, but just in case your dog has a very negative reaction to the motion of the boat, you might want to have a little extra Dramamine that will make the sickness go away and hopefully cause your dog to curl up and take a nice, long nap on the boat.
Caterina Christakos is a published author and reviewer. Read her latest reviews of pontoon boat dock options and small pontoon boats.
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