Dogs have served as pets on sailboats, Coast Guard and Navy ships, and square rigs. But how do you know if your dog would make a great companion for coastal sailing?

Look for These Water Dog Characteristics

Does your friend jump into the water or not? To find out, play a game of fetch with a rubber ball. A great water dog looks for the ball with pleasure every time! But if he or she walks away from the game, he leaves Fido with a friend before setting sail.

If you’re looking for a new canine companion, check out this short list of well-seasoned boat dogs:

* Portuguese water dog
* English Springer Spaniel
* golden retriever
* Labrador retrievers
*Border Collie
*american spaniel

Consider buoyancy and dog health

Not all dogs are the same, which means some swim and some don’t. The less body fat, the less buoyancy. A chubby dog ​​can float like a cork. Dogs bred for waterfowl recovery have more body fat. On the other hand, skinnier dogs like Doberman Pinschers or Boxers tend to sink like a stone.

Older dogs, overweight dogs, or those with health problems could be in trouble if they fall overboard. All dogs experience fatigue after short periods in cold water, high waves, or strong currents. Those who are out of shape or unhealthy succumb much faster.

How to choose a life jacket for dogs

The US Coast Guard sets standards for personal flotation devices (PFDs) for humans, but not for canines. Each owner must make their own decision as to whether to carry a life-saving device for their dog. Here are three facts based on tests conducted by Boat US:

1. Dog life jackets keep the dog in a horizontal position, without tilting its head back. This position keeps the canine in the normal swimming position, where the dog lifts its nose to breathe.

2. Most dog life jackets buckle across the chest and around the neck. For comfort, look for a vest with chest straps longer than 1″.

3. All dog life jackets come with a lifting strap on the back. Work out a recovery method in case your dog falls overboard. You can disconnect the counter from the mast boom and connect the lower snap shackle to the rear strap. Prepare ahead of time to be ready for the unexpected.

Take care when choosing a canine companion to bring aboard your small sailboat cruiser. After all, he or she, like any sailing crew, will depend on the skipper for safety at sea.

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