It's no secret we love having a sailing dog aboard our boat!
Since moving aboard our Leopard 45 catamaran we've experienced a range of benefits associated with having Rose, our bona fide boat dog. Some, like additional security for the yacht seemed obvious from the start, but there were others we didn't expect going into this. Having now lived aboard the boat for two years with our Aussie Shepherd, here's 9 benefits we've experienced a result of having a dog aboard.
1. People assume you're a local
When sailing to a new country (read how to do that here) our accents are one of the first things that make it obvious we aren't locals. But, having a dog seems to change that perspective.
We've noticed in quite a few places that despite our obvious status as foreigners, when we have the dog with us we get asked how long we've lived there for rather than being asked if we're there for travel or a holiday. Many are surprised when we say we're cruising the world on a yacht as they assume that having a dog with you means you probably live locally.
The benefits of being perceived as being local are we don't get annoyed on the street in touristy destinations and places that visitors might be told they can't go or need to pay for entry, we'd just enter because of the dog. For example, in Gibraltar we could go jogging in the evenings along Queens Road inside the Gibraltar Nature Reserve. At the same time we saw other people being turned back and told to come the next day during paid hours.
2. Provides motivation to exercise
When the weather is bad, you're not in a good mood or you've spent the day working on the boat it's very easy to lose motivation and not exercise. That's not really an option when you have a dog. Instead you need to get out everyday and go for a walk or run.
Where we exercise our dog varies depending on where we are. It could be a run through the jungle to a crystal clear waterfall, walk through the nearest nature reserve, visit to the local dog park or beach, or a stroll through a historic city. In any case it adds to our experience, forcing us to get up and get out on days when all other motivation has been lost.
3. Special companionship
Life aboard a boat can be lonely at times. If you're cruising alone, or in a place or headspace where it's harder to socialise then having a dog aboard can provide a valuable source of companionship.
Our dog is an Australian Shepherd and as with many of her breed, she's intelligent with a big personality. Having her around for cuddles, to play with or to talk at often makes it feel like we have another crew member aboard.
This point doesn't just apply to dog though, as I've heard it echoed by many different people who are cruising with pets.
4. Helps with bureaucracy
Navigating through the bureaucracy of boat life can be a pain at times but having a nice, friendly dog can be very helpful. If the people you're dealing with are dog lovers it instantly puts them in a good frame of mind which is what you want when working with marinas, shipyards, customs and immigration.
In Europe we had a situation where we had checked out of a country but needed to stay on the customs dock for about an hour so we could get our tenders organised; we'd just unpacked our sea container which had our aluminum tender in it, and we already had an inflatable rib so were trying to move the two tenders to a shipyard that was 1 day sail away. The customs officer looked at us very seriously over the counter and replied that the dog was welcome to stay and if that meant we had to, that was alright as well.
On the flip side there are some places where dogs aren't well liked and may cause unease with customs officials. We haven't experienced that yet but the feedback we've had from others is it often speeds the process up, as the officers are keen to complete their business and move on from the boat with the large dog.
5. Four-legged boat security system
One of the more obvious benefits of having a dog aboard is they can act as a boat security system.
Having a larger dog aboard has been a visual deterrent that's stopped people from tying on or trying to board our boat without our permission; they aren't keen to try it in the face of a barking, possibly aggressive dog. The two times someone has actually got on the boat, both of which were in Gibraltar, it was the dog that alerted us to the situation.
It's also been useful in the shipyards as the dog barking is often linked to someone being under the boat. To date it's never been anyone with unsavory intentions, but it's useful knowing when someone is down there as it's usually a tradesman, curious local or other cruiser come for a visit.
6. Meet new people easily
Dogs are a brilliant ice breaker so having a dog on a sailboat can really open up your opportunities to socialise with new people. We're always having people approach us to ask about the dog, some who have seen her on social media and others who just think she's a nice or happy looking dog.
My boat life journey actually started with a 5 month wait in Europe due to our Leopard 45 catamaran undergoing ongoing warranty works down in Cape Town. During that time almost everyone I met and befriended was through the dog, either near my apartment or down at the dog park.
7. Amazing dog lifestyle
While there are dogs out there that find being aboard stressful, there are many more who enjoy being on the water and around their owners almost 24/7.
Our dog is always outside exploring new areas and she spends most of her time with us, rather than being left at home all day like many dogs living in suburbia. We really think she's living her best dog life as a result of us choosing to have a dog friendly boat.
8. Added daily joy
Every day our dog does something that makes us laugh or smile and that's joy we wouldn't have if she wasn't around. It's different to the joy that people or children can add, but can be experienced with cats and other pets as well.
For us, sailing around the world with a dog adds to our experience and makes the tough times easier, improving our mental health. This was especially important during the 2+ years we spent dealing with ongoing warranty issues aboard our Leopard 45 catamaran.
9. Think about travel differently
Having a dog makes you think about travel a bit differently. Instead of just doing mainstream activities, you need to look for things that are dog friendly, and thus often off the beaten path. As a result of looking towards nature and abandoned places we could experience with our dog, we've seen and done things many cruisers wouldn't such as exploring the Northern Defenses in Gibraltar and hiking up waterfalls in Trinidad.
Summary
Sailing with a dog around the world isn't for everyone but if it's something your considering then it's important to know about all of the pros. We find that many people tend to focus more on the cons but there absolutely are some great benefits to sailing with a dog.
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