We got our dog knowing that we'd be leaving Australia behind and moving onto a yacht full time within the first few years of having her. Before we made that decision, we considered the pros and cons of having a dog on a boat. It wasn't an easy decision but in the end we decided it was worth it, and while the cons still play a part, we don't regret the decision!
Here's a quick summary of our initial thoughts along with a few things we've discovered now that we've lived aboard the boat with our dog for almost 2 years.
Positives to having a dog on a boat
Starting off with the good things, here's some of the positives of sailing with dogs. For more information on these, I've done a more detailed write up that only explores the benefits.
When you're out and about together people often assume you're a local or expat living in the community which has its benefits.
The dog's need to exercise is motivating. Everyday it pushes you to get out, be active and explore the places you visit.
Dogs offer a special kind of companionship that can be invaluable if you're having a tough time.
Yachting with dogs can offer an added layer of security for the yacht. The barking can warn you that there are people approaching and some ill-intentioned individuals may be put off if they can see a dog roaming around.
Dogs are a fantastic ice breaker. You'll find that locals and other cruisers approach your more frequently to start conversations because they want to say hello to the dog.
For the dog, they get to have an active life where they spend most of their time around their humans. To us that's better than being left in a house or backyard all day as happens with many suburban pets.
For the humans, it can add an additional level of enjoyment and fun that you wouldn't have if you weren't sailing with a dog.
Negatives to having a dog on a boat
Now to the cons of having a dog on your boat. Each of these is either manageable or something you need to accept as part of the trade off of having your four legged companion aboard.
Some countries have strict biosecurity and importation requirements for dogs that may mean you need to cross them off your cruising destinations list.
There are additional costs on top of what you'd usually expect having a dog, such as rabies titer tests, travel vaccines, vet visits for health certificates and pet permit applications.
Leaving your vessel in a marina or shipyard and flying elsewhere becomes more complex and expensive as you need to decide what to do with the dog during that time.
You need to clean more frequently, mostly due to the dog fur, and be aware of loose hair getting into critical systems like bilge pumps and electrical components.
You need to be aware of their safety and take additional steps that wouldn't otherwise be necessary such as buying a dog life jacket, adding netting, training them to behave safely and coming up with a dog overboard procedure.
Dogs have their own set on belongings that you need to have aboard including food, leads, toys, bowls, brushes, bedding, life jackets and backpacks, first aid and medication. If you're short of space, that can be inconvenient to manage.
Summing it up
For us getting a dog was the right choice and we think the pros outweigh the cons. If it's something you're considering doing, make sure you check out our guide to having a dog on a boat for a detailed look at how we handle various aspects of having a dog aboard, from import and toileting to toys and adventures.
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