Boating With Your Dog Tips

February 20th, 2009 Posted in Boating

Boating is a wonderful summer activity and there is no reason why your dog cannot enjoy it as well! This activity though will require that your dog has become very confident and comfy with going in water and being around water. You have to also keep in mind that your dog is not used to being on a surface that is “moving” or “unstable” as a boat can be cutting through the water or being stationary with just the waves to rock it gently.

First and foremost, you need to equip your dog with a life jacket. These jackets help keep your pet buoyant and could save their life! You can aquire these jackets in pet stores, boating stores or Marinas, and online pet supply web sites. No matter what breed or size or even how water savvy they have become, do not assume that your dog is champion swimmer! The best swimmers have either come close to drowning or have drown or become lost in water.

When arriving at the beach, make sure your beach allows dogs. If you have access to the internet you can easily go to www.dogfriendly.com and find out dog friendly beaches and places in your area. You will also want to keep a watch out for beach hazards such as venomous jellyfish that can have painful and even deadly stings, strong tides which can overwhelm even the largest and strongest dog, and sea lice. Sea lice is a parasite that usually attaches itself to fish so they can feed upon it’s blood. They are common in warm waters and usually has a season that runs April thru August.

Sea lice travel in clouds or blooms in the water and your dog can be infected with them while playing in the waves and water. Sea Lice can be extremely irritating to a dogs skin because it has cells that sting with venom. Make sure that when and your dog exit the water you rinse thoroughly with clean water. There are products you can use on both yourself and your dog to ward off Sea Lice. It doesn’t matter about how large or small or what type of boat you happen to own, you should always let your dog become accustomed to the boat before you even cast off. The first few boat adventures should be short ones!

Another tip is to provide shade on your boat for you and your dog so that your dog does not get over heated during their boating outing! It is important to still pay attention to strong tides, water parasites, jelly fish, and other marine wildlife that may be dangerous while you and your dog are cannon balling off your boat! You may want to pick up your dog some cheap dog clothes or just any kind of dog clothes to keep your dog protected and safe from dog parasites. You will also want to visit this page.

Make sure that you also bring your own drinking water. It seems like this trip is beginning to be nit picking, but I assure you that you will want to do this because especially with lakes, there are lots of water borne parasites and bacteria that can make you and your dog very sick and can be deadly as well. If you take these precautions and you are patient with your dog on their first few boat trips, this is definately going to be a fun and special experience for both you and your canine companion!