Summer is finally here and many people will seize the opportunities presented by warm and long days to take the entire family, including the dog, out on the boat. The people will all wear lifejackets to combat the potential hazards of waves, falling overboard, and anything else that could befall a person on a boat. Logic would hold that safety precautions should be taken for dogs as well.

For starters, any dog that is going to be out on the boat for the day needs to have a personal flotation device (PFD). These are available at a variety of stores, both online and otherwise, including REI, Petsmart, and Petco. It may seem silly to equip a dog that can swim with a lifejacket but people that can swim wear them so the logic is still the same.

Just as people frequently don’t like wearing their lifejackets, dogs don’t either. It’s, therefore, a good idea to let the dog get accustomed to the lifejacket on land before attempting to get them on a boat. Letting the dog wander around in their lifejacket for a little bit at a time is much more likely to convince them that it’s not evil. Once the dog is happy in the lifejacket, it is then safe to allow him or her to wander into the water a little bit.

Once the dog is comfortable with his or her lifejacket, it is time to see how the dog will respond to water. Many people already know how their dogs respond to water. It is important to note that even dogs that are reportedly “water dogs” do not like water some times. Do not force a dog into boating or swimming. This will not accomplish the desired goal of getting the dog to go into the water happily. A good way of acclimating a dog to water is letting it get just its paws wet and gradually convincing the dog to get into the water more.

After the dog is happy on land and in water, it is a good idea to test the dog’s reaction to the boat. Many dogs might not like the noise of the engine or the sound of the sails flapping. If the dog simply does not like boating, as evidenced by shaking and excessive panting, it might be a good idea to leave the dog home and not subject it to an afternoon of unhappiness.

A boat needs to be pet-friendly. There needs to be a stable portion of the boat where the dog can maintain stable footing at all times. The dog also needs an area that is shady to cool off. Dogs, much like humans, can suffer from sun stroke. Another way of helping the dog cool off is by wetting down a bit of the deck. The dog’s paws are a source of heat relief so if they can cool off, much of the dog will cool down.

For more information on boating with dogs or other pet information, please visit http://sanfranciscoveterinarianclinics.com/articles.aspx

Joseph Devine

Tags: San Francisco Veterinarian, Bay Area Vet, San Francisco pet care, San Francisco Vet, San Francisco Vets

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