Boat Pets
- Thread starter Riverbed
- Start date
I love dogs; always had one as a child. Our three kids did a great job of raising kittens to cats and pups to dogs. That was then. Times have changed. The numbers are too big. The neighbor's dog is one of too many to be allowed to have the run of the neighborhood. We have lots of dogs in the area. Everyone walks their dog on a leash and carrys a plastic bag. I don't own a dog now. I am to occupied for it to be fair to the animal.
Not everyone thinks the same way. No surprise there! We have dogs running loose on the piers and docks in the marina. The transcients often arrive with Bowser but leave their manners at home. Often we have the dogs droppings all over the place because the visitor stayed out late on Saturday night and the poor beast can't make it to the doggy break area. I always challenge the owner with "Gosh, you aren't going to make a lot of new friends here letting your dog do that." I think that is reasonably non-threatening, don't you? As often as not I get a real growler of a response. An attractive lady who appeared to have the de rigueur Saturday morning hangover responded with "F#% you, I am not here to make new friends!" I was shocked - but not surprised! I often do get some sort of aggressive reply. I told her she won first prize as it was the most amazing response I had received in many years. These little episodes have become a form of entertainment for some of my dockmates. I think they have taken to betting on the results.
Over 20 years in the marina we have only had one very bad incident; and it was really bad. A German Shepard that had for years shown every sign of fear and the attending aggression finally lost it and tore into a marina employee who was just walking by. I happened to see it and called the marina office and they called 911. The owner, the boat and the dog were soon gone.
The unfortunate things that I've seen involving boats and dogs could have been easily avoided if the owners had been more caring and attentive. Their pets are not a shared responsibility.
Please believe me, none of the above is meant to be negative. I hope your dogs are as cute, fun and well behaved as can be. Good luck!
Not everyone thinks the same way. No surprise there! We have dogs running loose on the piers and docks in the marina. The transcients often arrive with Bowser but leave their manners at home. Often we have the dogs droppings all over the place because the visitor stayed out late on Saturday night and the poor beast can't make it to the doggy break area. I always challenge the owner with "Gosh, you aren't going to make a lot of new friends here letting your dog do that." I think that is reasonably non-threatening, don't you? As often as not I get a real growler of a response. An attractive lady who appeared to have the de rigueur Saturday morning hangover responded with "F#% you, I am not here to make new friends!" I was shocked - but not surprised! I often do get some sort of aggressive reply. I told her she won first prize as it was the most amazing response I had received in many years. These little episodes have become a form of entertainment for some of my dockmates. I think they have taken to betting on the results.
Over 20 years in the marina we have only had one very bad incident; and it was really bad. A German Shepard that had for years shown every sign of fear and the attending aggression finally lost it and tore into a marina employee who was just walking by. I happened to see it and called the marina office and they called 911. The owner, the boat and the dog were soon gone.
The unfortunate things that I've seen involving boats and dogs could have been easily avoided if the owners had been more caring and attentive. Their pets are not a shared responsibility.
Please believe me, none of the above is meant to be negative. I hope your dogs are as cute, fun and well behaved as can be. Good luck!
- Joined
- May 12, 2005
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- 17353
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Most definitely! He's like an AMEX card, we never leave home without him!
- Joined
- May 12, 2005
- RO Number
- 17353
- Messages
- 1,267
Very nice. Second pic is...well...pretty darned cute!
Paul
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- Mar 3, 2006
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Doggies Drool!
Back Off Pooch!
Watchkeeping is so tiring!
This is what happened to the last pooched that messed with our cat onboard!
Guard cat that can't stow an anchor line!
Then there's the mutinous dawg that jumped ship summer before last....
Back Off Pooch!
Watchkeeping is so tiring!
This is what happened to the last pooched that messed with our cat onboard!
Guard cat that can't stow an anchor line!
Then there's the mutinous dawg that jumped ship summer before last....
Patrick Griffin
Member
- Joined
- Jan 1, 2000
- RO Number
- 2910
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- 108
We don't leave home without our dogs as well.
- Joined
- Mar 20, 2001
- RO Number
- 3854
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- 1,385
Actually, he loves the water, and swims like a fish; just doesn't like to get in the water. He has to be coaxed or shoved. Same at home in the swimming pool.
Once he's in, he's just fine.
No vest for him, he swims fine. It's only 20-30 yards to the beach, and he can walk the last 10 yards. We DO have one, but only use it for deep water.
