Taking a Dog on Your Boating Trip?

Keep Your Pet Safe With These Tips

What’s a boating trip without your favourite people – and your favourite animals?

Dogs love to come out on the boat and be your fishing assistant, backup captain, or simply stick their tongue out and watch the water. Remember, though, that if you choose to bring a pet, you should make sure you do it with safety at the top of your mind.

Read below for our recommendations that can help you prioritize your pet’s well-being safety.

Do Dogs Like Boating Trips?

Yes! Dogs are naturally drawn to fresh air, and they have the instinctual ability to swim – so they’re the perfect non-human companion for a boating trip.

Of course, safety should be your top priority when bringing your canine on a trip near water – even the simplest trips technically have some level of risk.

Must-Know Safety Tips

A Life Jacket is a Must

Even though dogs can paddle their legs to stay afloat, they still need adequate safety gear. Some human life jackets may fit your pooch, but you’d be better off finding a life jacket specifically made for pets.

Make sure that the life jacket isn’t loose, though it shouldn’t restrict your animal’s movement or comfort either. Life jackets should have bright, visible colours with reflective light strips. Make sure you keep your eyes on your animal at all times while it’s swimming, even while it wears a life jacket.

Bring Food and Water

Just like humans, dogs can get seasick. Hunger and thirst can takeover during trips by the lake, and the water surrounding your boat isn’t exactly the best thing to feed your pet. That’s why bringing an adequate supply of food and water is a smart idea.

Be Prepared to Clean Up

Like we’ve said: dogs get seasick too – and we all know what seasickness can look and smell like. It never hurts to bring some kind of bucket or towel to deal with any passenger who experiences nausea – whether they’re four-legged or not.

Bring Sunscreen – No, Seriously

Prepared to be shocked: dogs should wear protection from the sun, just like humans!

Sunscreen protects skin from harmful UV rays to prevent humans from developing sunburns and even skin cancer. There is a difference between human sunscreen and animal sunscreen, though. Specifically, some of the ingredients found in human sunscreen can be harmful or toxic towards animals.

Sure, dogs have fur to protect their skin, but that can only do so much – so we recommend finding a dog-safe sunscreen for long trips in the sun.

Don’t Keep Your Dog at the Bow

It’s important to carefully consider where you’ll keep your pet on the boat. We recommend keeping your animal as centred as possible, or near the sides, rather than at the front. If your pet were to jump or fall in, the front would be a particularly dangerous place for it to do so.

Always Have a Plan

Accidents are bound to happen here and there. Being prepared is what minimizes the damage. If your dog swims too far away from your boat, or comes loose from their life jacket, what would you do? Think about these things in advance so you aren’t overcome with shock and confusion when fast action is required.

Be Careful Getting in and Out

A dog can get ahead of itself when climbing into a boat – or out of it. We recommend holding your dog while slowly entering or exiting the boat. A harness or leash might be worth using, especially if your pet is new to the environment of a boat.

Remember, entering and exiting can both inspire excitement in your pet – so expect your dog to get antsy and possibly act out.

Near Shallow Water? Let Your Pup Play!

The tips we’ve shared above demonstrate a very important message in that safety should be your top priority when bringing a pet on a boat. That being said, you shouldn’t turn away the opportunity to have fun – after all, isn’t that the point of bringing your dog?

Conclusion

Bringing your dog on boat rides is one of the most enjoyable activities, both for sailors and dogs. After all, isn’t summer also called ‘the dog days?’

Make sure you follow the safety tips above, and you’ll be able to enjoy yourself without the constant worry of danger.