Dog on board

[jclays]

My dog use to do his business on board boat in the trays with the fake grass for dog use when he was a pup. He is now 2 and won’t use then anymore. He will hold it. Once up to 36 hours. Or he will find a spot on the deck when we are not watching and relieve himself.
Those of you with dogs. How do you train or retrain your dog to use the potty trays after the off season?

 

[Comodave]

I have 2 90 pound labs now. The 1.5 year old puppy so far doesn’t like the boat. So much so he leaves claw marks on the dock trying not to go on the boat. Our 11 year old lab loves the boat and if I say go on the boat he trots down the steps and goes right on board. We trained him to go on astro turf. He goes on command, “go on and go to the bathroom” means to go pee. “Go on and go poop” is pretty self explanatory. He doesn’t really like to go on the boat so he usually just waits until we dock. But he will go onboard if we tell him to. We started the command method with both dogs when they were brand new. We use the commands year round so they are used to them. Occasionally I have to say “now” if they are farting around and I want them to hurry up.

 

[cfr]

thats why from old times only cats are allowed on board.....i like dogs but still a strong believer they should live on land and have the place to run and exercise not a natural habitat for any dog like in small condos.

 

[mvweebles]

....... Occasionally I have to say “now” if they are farting around and I want them to hurry up.

Uggghhhhh.........<groan>

 

[rslifkin]

We're waiting to see how the puppy does in terms of bladder stamina as she grows up a bit more (she's 10.5 months now). I'm not sure we could get our older dog to use turf. He'd have to be pretty desperate, and I wouldn't want to make him wait that long.

Our older dog can hold it for 12 hours easily, so normally it's not a problem to get him off the boat often enough. We just don't go places where we can't get the dog(s) off the boat.

 

[jclays]

As I opened with.. he used to use the Astro turf/tray ment as a doggy box. He now doesn’t. He loves the boat. He is a 2 year old 85lb lab. We go to the boat 4 times a week but now will try to hold it until he gets to shore.

 

[N4061]

Not very much luck with two different dogs from pups to 15 year old. One liked the boat as long as it was tied to the dock, once the motor started she protested and would hold it until we reached our destination - not good. The second dog protested 24/7 and would only "go" when we walked her along the marina. She remains a nervous dog today. On the electric boat she calms down and sleeps during shorter harbor cruises.

John T.

 

[Comodave]

We used to have a big black lab, he was 122 pounds, he didn’t want to use the pen at home to go to the bathroom because I put pavers in the pen to stop him from digging. I called the vet and asked how long he could go without hurting him. He said that he would finally go when he had to go and it would not hurt him. He waited 36 hours before he broke down and went in the pen. After the first time he had no problem going in the pen. Our current puppy didn’t want to go in the pen, he wanted to go in the grass. So we sat in the pen with him for 22 hours before he broke down and went. Now he has no issues with the pen. So you have to have more determination than the dog and wait him/her out.

 

[Rsysol]

Our lab was trained on board to use the pad. No issues for 1 1/2 years until a camping trip spoiled him and he refused to poop on the pad, peeing was no problem.

We did a 30 hour run and that cured him, but treats have been the tool we use, he now loves his potty treats and goes poop nearly every morning after eating.

Keep at it, he will come around.

We do a heavy salt water wash every day along with buckets of fresh water from the shower so the pads are fairly clean as well.

 

[Steveg353]

To get our pup going onboard using a tray/pad, I sopped up another dogs pee with a pad and put under the artificial turf in the tray. My dog went instantly to cover the other dogs "aroma". She used tray with pad and turf from then on!!

 

[JHeide]

My dog use to do his business on board boat in the trays with the fake grass for dog use when he was a pup. He is now 2 and won’t use then anymore. He will hold it. Once up to 36 hours. Or he will find a spot on the deck when we are not watching and relieve himself.
Those of you with dogs. How do you train or retrain your dog to use the potty trays after the off season?

I use a product from Doggie Lawn. Love it and recommend. Once a month more or less depending on need they mail me piece of sod in a box. Dog took to it right away. We have a very small dog and the little box I get is $35 a month or something. They have bigger sizes.
The sod is hydroponically grown, no bugs or mites etc. it’s crazy but it works. After about a month the grass dies and starts smelling so tada a new box arrives.
We have since switched to their product called Bark Potty. Same concept, but it’s shredded bark in a 18”x30”(x2” thick) box. No issues with dog getting the idea. Includes poop bags. Smell doesn’t for some reason become a problem til about 6 weeks. Tada, new box arrives. You can order bulk for a discount and get six months or whatever you need at once.
I’m not a rep, just a client. It’s genius.

 

[Ric]

Our dogs are now 6 and they were trained to the tray mats when pups. They still use them onboard, although now that they are over 50 pounds their aim isn't perfect. But better than motoring ashore in the rain.

 

[captmikem]

I had a Jack Russle Terrier that sailed around the world with me. I had a 3 ft length of 2" hawser on the back deck he would use. I would toss it over the side occasionally (tied to 20ft of line). I first started with it on the foredeck but did not trust him up there when it was rough and pitching so moved it aft. He never complained.

 

[psneeld]

After a 6 day ferry trip to Kodiak, Alaska, asked a vet how long will a dog "hold it" as the first day letting the dogs out for walks inside the car deck, almost no dogs went at all. No grass, dirt, trees, fire hydrants..... only cold steel.

The vet said they can hold it for days if not fed and watered too much or even as much as normal as they are getting often a lot less exercise. At least 2 days and 3 days is not unusual. Foes depend somewhat on their age and health, but as den animals it's in their genes.

Through the years I have heard and seen examples of this. Always cracks me up when I am visiting people that feel they have to walk their dog every 3 hours or so.

 

[long-cours.62]

For our, no stress at all on board it was her "house" .
Puppy no problem to do all on the deck , when she became adult it will became more complicated some time she do and some time she refuse but when she refuse she also refuse to drink , it mean she make the relation drink and pee !
On the last boat we find the solution with synthetic grass and it work well.
Also when lot of snow on the deck no more problem to do