Dogs on boats...
 

I know that plenty of you guys take your dogs out on your boat. Our first two Labs went with us on all but the hottest days. We're on our third Lab, who is a year and a half old, and has been going out on the boat with us since he was only a few months old. Like our first two, he gets really excited when he sees dolphin. He puts his front feet up on the gunnel, and I have to hold him back. But our first two never did this...

Yesterday we were floating in the Sound when a dolphin briefly came to visit. He got excited as always, but after the dolphin had been gone a half a minute or so I relaxed my grip on his leash. He was up and over in a second! I managed to catch his leash (it's about 15 feet long) and called him at the same time, brought him back alongside the boat, and it was all my wife and I could do to pull him up and back into the boat. It gave me quite a scare. Not certain what would have happened if I hadn't had the leash on him. I'm not sure he'll jump overboard again, but I'm not sure that he "learned" anything from the experience, either.

Any of you all had issues with your dog going over when he shouldn't have? How did you teach him to stay in the boat? After they had reached ages 3-4 years, we let our first two wander around the boat loose, and they never jumped out. I've trained dogs (my own) for many years, but I can't wrap my mind around how to train this guy NOT to jump out of the boat. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Now that he jumped and was able to get back aboard, I would think he may do it again. I don't think you can train him not to do that. However, you can train him not to get up on the sides which would probably keep him from jumping over.

My dog has not jumped. We did "push" her off a couple times so we could swim to the beach.

Always keep the life vest on her. It also makes it easier to pick her up.

http://i947.photobucket.com/albums/a...ole/bailey.jpg

rkc

If you have a boarding platform on the back of the boat you can always train her to go to the platform by being there with some treat/meat/whatever. But in all cases, like RKC said.. ALWAYS keep the life jacket on them. It's just good sense. Dogs get tired just like people, and they can drown.

Thanks, RKC. I'm going to have to work on not allowing him to put his front paws up on the side -- just like your dog is doing -- unless he gets "permission." It won't be easy, as he is used to jumping in and out of the boat at the dock. But it's got to be doable, just like any training, I guess, with the right kind of positive techniques.

Definitely YES on the vest. I'll be buying him one before our next outing. That handle would have made it a little easier to get him back on board, although there is nothing easy about pulling 80 pounds out of the water and into the boat. I appreciate your input.

Good ideas, Destroyer. I have a swim platform -- the human kind -- and no doubt I could coax him to swim toward it, but I don't know if it would be easier than lifting him from the side. I guess if I'm standing on it I can lift him and try to swing him into the boat, but then again I don't know if I want him swimming anywhere near even a still prop. I've seen dog boarding platforms but they only seem to be workable on boats with less freeboard than our V's.

closest i ever came to drowning was trying to put a black lab back in a 13 ft whaler in 10 ft of water.

Don't want to sound cruel, but if he did it again, I'd take my time about loading him back up in the boat. Let him get tired of swimming, maybe real tired.

A dogs reasoning is pretty simple. If it's enjoyable they'll keep doing it.
if it's an unpleasant experience, they won't. Kind of like us I guess.

My bro-in-law had a Jack Russell that jumped out of a V20 going across Tampa Bay years ago. We don't know how long he was swimming because no one saw him jump but when we back-tracked and finally found him he was luvin that boat. I mean luvin it. He never jumped out again.

Pipe I agree w/what said about not allowing this guy to put his paws atop the gunwale since he's proven he will go...let your wife take the wheel, keep the trianing collar on him and ride around w/you conentrating on giiving him that little jerk w/strong command NO and he'll get the idea...then later on, give him the permission as you mentioned...I like the vest, too!!...

20+ years ago I hooked up a 25lb jack Fish in FL in a 16' jon boat...1st time I got him to the boat, 3 Jack Russells and 1 Black Lab went into the water...fish ran...w/landing net, scooped up Jack Rusells and behind the neck levered lab all back into boat...2nd time fish to boat, only 2 Jacks went in and by the 3rd time, they had figured out better not do that again...Chinese Fire Drill for a little while...

I glad ya got yer guy back in the boat...:clap:

Carbinebo, there's something to be said for that idea, if I can figure a way to do it in a controlled manner.

Reel, I was waiting for you to weigh in. I've seen the pics of your girl in the water around your boat. Did she jump out on her own, and what was the best way to get her back in?

Dude try having a 80# Golden that jumps in for crab traps!!!! God only knows what he thinks they are!!! He used to chase a flying cork as well!!! Keyword being used to......

Here's how I broke it, very simple.... He likes to ride on the bow and I let him but I would get up by him and everytime he saw one I would put a treat in front of his face and lead him back down to sit or off the bow altogether. I took several attempts but now when he sees one he looks back to me and I call him down or just say "stay in the boat". Almost like he's askin for permission but the key is now that he sees those things he is distracted because he thinks its treat time.

I didnt take long and while all dogs have their own disposition they can be persuaded the same way we can.....with food!!!!!

Hope this helps and the key factor is being persistant with the training. Doing once or twice a month when you get the boat out isnt going to work. Next time out practice it for 15-20mins, give em a break, then practice again. It wont take long I promise, they just need that reiteration