Bubba (90 lb. yellow lab) on the ICW

[Ernie Rogers]

We are planning an ICW trip this summer from our home port in Galveston Bay to Panama City, Florida and wanted to get some advice from people that have done a trip like this with their large dog aboard. Are there adequate stopping places along the way for pee and poop stops? Have you been able to train a dog this size to use an astro turf door mat on board? Are we kidding ourselves?

All responses will be appreciated.

Ernie Rogers
s/v More Good Timin'
Hunter 46

[Terri]

Hi, I've had friend's who've tried to do the astro turf thing...didn't work as dog was older. Maybe if trained from a pup, dunno. I would imagine alot of these "dog walking" trips would be from boat to dinghy to land...not so easy with a 90 dog. Wish you luck! Have any friends who can take him in for the summer? Terri

[Ernie Rogers]

Bubba is 8 so like they say, "new tricks" may not be in his future! hahaha. Thanks for the reply.

Ernie Rogers

[Veranda]

How are you planning to get Bubba from the boat to the dink and vice versa?

We have 2 older dogs onboard. We got trapped in an area with no shoreline available for a couple of days due to horrible weather. I snapped their leashes on them and "walked" them to the bow every couple of hours after the first day had passed. I used all the same words I used to use on land when we were going for a walk. Finally each one of them did their business and the rest is history. They've had "bow movements" on their own ever since .

Bill
s/v Veranda

[Ernie Rogers]

Good advice! Necessity is a good teacher.!

Our boat has a walk-thru transom, so getting him on and off the dinghy is not a problem.

Thanks for the good advice.

Ernie Rogers