One look at our blog or any of our social media and you'll pretty quickly see that we have a dog aboard. Rose is an Australian Shepherd, and if you spend any amount of time with her you'll pretty quickly see how well suited she is to the lifestyle.
On Facebook and in the comment section of YouTube I often see people asking the questions about what it's like having a dog on a boat, so as a pet owner here's my take on some of the frequently asked questions about sailing with dogs.
CONTENTS:
Our adventurous boat dog
General questions about sailing with a dog
Before buying our boat we thought carefully about whether or not to get a dog. We were already working towards becoming full-time liveaboard cruisers so knew this dog would live most of its life at sea. After carefully consideration the three of us agreed to do it, and a few months later this little one came into our lives.
Here are some answers about general topics from moving onto the boat to handling sailing with them aboard.
Can I take a dog sailing?
Absolutely! There are people all over the world who take their four legged friends sailing, including those who sail around the world with a dog. The key is ensuring both you and your pup are prepared.
I don't have a dog, should I get one to live on my boat?
This is personal preference and there are a lot of factors to consider.
It can be a 10+ year commitment
Dogs need care and exercise
There will be additional paperwork and vet visits
It impacts your ability to fly away from the boat
Some countries can be extremely difficult to enter with a pet
It can be added security
There are benefits to your mental and physical health
Companionship
To us the desire to have a dog in our lives and the benefits of having a guard dog aboard offset the inconveniences of additional paperwork and entry processes, but it's important to consider all of the pros and cons.
Rose is not the first dog for any of us so we knew what it was like to own and live with a dog. If you haven't had a dog before I would be wary of getting one if you're living on a boat.
What kind of dog is suited to boat life?
Which breed of dog you choose to bring aboard is largely up to personal preference but it's worth considering their traits. Some breeds are known for being anxious or poor swimmers, while others tend to be adaptable, shed less or easy to train. Some of the things we looked for when choosing a breed were:
Intelligence
Stamina and athleticism
Adaptability
The size and layout of your yacht and tender may be a factor in deciding what size dog is suitable. Some people like having smaller dogs as it's easier to carry them around the boat and put them in the tender. We like having a medium to larger sized dog because she can get herself on and off the boat and can keep up with the physical activities we do.
I already have a dog, should I bring them on the boat?
At the end of the day you know your dog and if you think they can adapt to boat life don't let the paperwork and logistics turn you off. It can be an incredible experience sailing with your dog, and many enjoy having their humans around full time.
How can I get my dog used to living on the boat?
We found exposure to be the best way to do it, especially if you can get them aboard at a young age. When Rose was only a few months old we took her out on a boat for the first time to get used to the movement and water. She was a little uncertain at first but by the end of the day was having a great time.
She was about 2 years old when she moved onto the the yacht. Just by coincidence the first 6 weeks of her living aboard were spent in Gibraltar's Queensway Quay Marina, but that give her time to get used to her new home before we actually went sailing.
How do you handle long passages with a dog?
Rose spends most of her time during long passages indoors or up in the helm, having a cuddle and sleeping. When there are two or more people awake we take her out on the deck so she can get a bit of fresh air and exercise. She gets to wander around while closely supervised and sometimes we'll take the rope and play around a bit. Without a doubt her favourite outdoor passage experience is watching dolphins bow ride the boat!
In terms of logistics, she usually eats dry dog food and we feed her less than normal because she's not exercising. The wee tray gets moved to the rear cockpit and we keep a dog urine neutralising spray aboard in case it's too rough to be able to wash the dish every day. It's never happened, but we do have a set "dog overboard" procedure just in case she slips and goes in.
Where do you exercise your dog while travelling?
How we exercise Rose depends on where we are. If we're in a city we take her for walks to explore the streets and visit the nearest off-lead dog area.
When it's possible to go hiking or explore outdoor areas Rose comes along for the adventure. During these trips she's scaled waterfalls, swum in jungle pools, run up remote beaches and trail-run along hiking paths.
When we're undergoing long passages or ocean crossings we wait for a calm day then pull in the sails, turn off the engines and let the boat drift while she has a swim.
How do you get the dog on and off the boat?
TENDER
We pull alongside the transom and Rose jumps across.
DOCKS:
She jumps across the gap when we tell her or if there's a gangway she uses that.
HARDSTAND:
When we were in Italy they used ladders so we found a second ladder and some wooden planks then built her a ramp up to the transom. In Trinidad they offer stairs so she went up and down those as she pleased.
Pet importation processes when cruising internationally
Travelling internationally with a pet is possible but there are certain logistical hurdles you need to be aware of.
What do I need to enter different countries with my dog?
The pet importation requirements vary country to country so you need to research each of your destinations individually to find out what you'll need.
Two of the most common things we've been asked for are proof of a current rabies vaccination and microchip number.
Here's some of the other things countries have requested:
Rabies titer test
Health certificate
Vaccinations (e.g. distemper, adenovirus, parvovirus)
Disease tests (e.g. leishmaniasis)
Internal and external parasite treatments
Where can I find pet importation requirements?
The best source is a government website for the place you're visiting. These sites can sometimes be obscure to find which is where blogs from past visitors come in handy. We've shared write ups of the places we've been, detailing our experiences and sharing direct links and contact details for the relevant authorities.
Any advice for keeping my pet health records organised?
Here's how we do it; original results and records are kept in the same file that we have our boat documents in. We use an expanding file after the display book we originally used broke apart while trying to enter Trinidad!
A scanned copy of all documents is also saved on the Cloud so that it can easily be printed or emailed when completing pet import procedures. If we didn't have Starlink, I'd have an electronic copy of the documents on my computer or a hard drive as well.
What is a pet passport?
Pets do not have passports in the same sense that people do. There's no universal document or standard format, instead it's country by country. The United Kingdom and European Union have a "pet passport" document that looks similar to a human passport. It's a central place where the pets key information, tests and vaccinations can be recorded. Countries like Australia have no equivalent, owners just get a stack of different paperwork to organise themselves.
One "pet passport" that's often mentioned among travelers is the European Pet Passport. It's handy to have if you're planning on spending time travelling Europe; you can learn more in our guide on how to get one.
I can't meet some of the pet permit requirements, what can I do?
In our experience the best thing to do is reach out to the government vet or authorities in the country you want to enter and ask them for some guidance or an exemption.
When we were sailing to Trinidad there were a few of the time constraints we couldn't meet because we were coming directly from Gibraltar. The government vet was understanding and gave us a waiver provided we met the requirements within a certain amount of time of our departure.
The pet permit requirements are complicated, should I sneak my dog in?
Our advice, no! There can be some severe consequences to sneaking your pet into a country, including fines, refusal of entry and euthanising your pet.
Toileting
Something people are always curious (for some reason!?) is where the dog does their business on the boat. Well, here's our answers.
Where does the dog go to the toilet on the boat?
We use a large round dish with astro turf glued into it. The dish is made of aluminium and has handles on the side; it was made by Tynan and Trent. It sits on the front of the trampoline and once a day it gets thrown over the edge and washed. Rose is happy to use it and we've not had any issues with smells.
How do I train my dog to go to the toilet on the boat?
For us it was quite easy, Rose used her toilet the first day she was on the boat. We put this down to training her to try to "go wees" on command since she was a little puppy, which we did to let her know when and where was a good time to go.
My dog won't go to the toilet on the boat... help!
The advice we've seen from other owners is to wait them out, they will eventually go. One thing we will say is most dogs are clever enough to try it on and have a little bit of a stubborn streak, if they think they can wait you out and you'll eventually crack and take them to shore where they want to be, they will! Giving in could make things harder for both of you in the future.
Pet food
Managing pet food on a boat is relatively similar to dealing with it in a house.
How do you manage dog food while sailing around?
Rose eats a mixture of grain free dog biscuits and fresh meat. The dog biscuits are stored in airtight containers and the meat is usually offcuts or cheap cuts that I buy as I shop for our food. She also eats fish quite happily.
Looking ahead to the future we're planning to go remote area cruising in the Pacific. Before leaving Panama I plan to get a few of the big bags to store as I think it will be difficult to find as we sail through the islands.
Where do you get dog food from?
We tend to buy it from pet stores rather than the supermarket and whenever possible I choose a business that offers free delivery. Here's a few examples:
Europe - Zooplus
Australia - Pet Barn
Trinidad - Paws & Whiskers
Living in shipyards with a pet
To date Rose has lived for over a year in shipyards; 3 months in Italy and almost 12 months in Trinidad.
How do you get your dog up and down from the boat in a boatyard?
When we were in Italy we initially carried Rose up the ladder over our shoulder or hoisted her up using the davit system attached to a dog lifting harness. After a couple of days of this we found a second ladder and some wooden planks then built her a ramp up to the transom.
In Trinidad they offer stairs so she went up and down those as she pleased, which was much easier.
Is there anything I should be aware of while we're staying in shipyards?
When choosing a shipyard make sure you ask about their pet policy as some yards are stricter than others. Once you're hauled be aware of poisonous substances. This could be materials relating to boat building or poisonous baits for vermin.
Pet healthcare and safety while sailing
Here's a few FAQ on pet care while sailing.
How do you find vets while sailing?
I go on Google Maps and check through reviews of different vets in the area. If we're in a yard we'll also ask around to see who other people have used. Generally what I'm looking for is a well reviewed vet who can speak some English, with bonus points if other travelers have had a good experience with them.
Occasionally I specifically need to use a government vet. I usually find them by emailing the government authorities who processed the pet import paperwork.
How do you keep the dog safe while sailing?
Our biggest things are training and supervision. Rose has been trained to behave in a way that's safe around the boat and we are vigilant with watching her. Through those two actions we can mitigate most safety risks. If there is an issue at anchor and she falls in the water Rose knows how to get back on the boat, and when maneuvering the yacht she knows she can only be in the helm or inside the saloon.
What is the best PFD for dogs?
This is something that evolves over time, but jackets like the Ruffwear and Outward Hound options remain quite popular. Based on feedback from other cruisers we have a guide on the best dog lifejackets which is frequently updated.
Can you get MOB devices for a dog?
Yes you can but which one is best changes as the technology evolves. If we were buying again we'd be looking for the most compact device with the best range, battery life and reviews.
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