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Posts: 305
Location: Illinois | I have had a dog for about a year and a half. He was a stray but listens well. I wouldn't consider him "trained" but I would like to start bringing him out with me. I know to make sure the boat is free from hooks and such. Is there a process to getting your dog used to the boat? My wife thinks he's going to jump in but how do you know until you give it a go? Anybody help me out on dog / boat training. He's a good guy and would be a good boat companion from time to time. Anything else I need to consider? hj |
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| Assuming he/she obediently follows comands like sit, stay, and no...you shouldn't have any real problems. You might bring along a dish for water, unless you make periodic shore trips. I take mine in to shore to cool off once in a while, let him swim a little bit.
My Lab loves to go fishing. Sits up on the casting deck with me, pays keen interest to all the ducks & geese.
Brian
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Posts: 1936
Location: Eau Claire, WI | I'm no expert but here's some of my past experiences...
My previous dog "Bandit" (male black lab) was good as gold in the boat and quite honestly didn't give a rip about me casting lures.. He would give the fish kisses when I got it in the boat..he didn't have a preference muskies, panfish, bass....he licked them all.... 
Now my current dog...Mande (female yellow lab) is trained very well for both obedience and hunting... Problem is that she absolutely loves to retrieve anything that is thrown or casted (get the picture) Even better if it happens to be around water...
That being said I usually take one of her toys along and throw it at the landing for her a few times before getting in the boat, it takes some of the edge off but it still takes her a while to settle down. To her anything related to boat/water is all FUN...
With her topwater baits are the worse...she barks when I cast them and wants to dive in after them in the worse way... When she was a pup I barely caught her when she was headed in over the side after a Hawg-Wobbler... From that point on I have kept her tied whenever I'm throwing topwater... I just don't want to chance it in case she runs out of patience watching... worse thing I can imagine is a dog with a mouth full of musky bait... 
My suggestion is to start slow... some dogs get a little scared when the boat picks up speed, other just love it as much as sticking their head out a car window...
Mike (Extreme One) Koepp's Lab "Sandy" jumped on the back of a released musky last year and tried to bring it back for him...:) They can do some silly sh..t
Go slow and make adjustments as needed. |
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Posts: 2361
| bring shade of some kind, you may be able to stand out in the sun all day, but dogs really prefer to have a choice, regardless if they can jump in and get wet, pretty hot on the deck of a boat in the sun. |
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| my advice is to do everything you can to train your dog well before ever going out in the boat. bring a chew toy, and definitely bring him some water! (as someone mentioned) also, don't forget to hit the shore when needed - if you're hitting the bucket or over the side of the boat, he's probably got to go too...
my yellow lab Knick loves it - he mostly sleeps up on one of the rod lockers, with occasional interest in what i'm doing. surprisingly little interest in fish in the boat. the key is that if he's wandering somewhere he shouldn't be, i can tell him "no" and point where i want him to go and he will. i can't imagine anything more chaotic than a muskie in the boat at the same time as an independent minded 85lbs. of fur! i actually don't worry too much about hooks - i keep my "loose" lures on a bait hanger, and the ones that are on rods i just tell him to stay away from.
i love having him along when i'm fishing alone, it's "someone" to talk to during those endless slow hours. 
the only time he showed any "nerves" was smashing my way through 3 footers early this spring. the combination of the bouncing plus cold spray left him not knowing where to go. he stood up because he was nervous, which of course made his balance worse. i just called him back by me and had him sit tight back by the tiller. i actually think that was a good experience - he calmed down and learned it will always be "alright".
check out my pride and joy in the pics!
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Posts: 5874
| Nice looking Lab, Lambeau!
My Blue just turned 6 months yesterday. I'm hoping to introduce her to the boat in the next few days. Now that is gonna be a trip! |
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Posts: 2691
Location: Pewaukee, Wisconsin | My yellow lab goes with me all the time.
Yes, she did jump in after a released muskie that was 10ft out, the muskie gave a sudden splash as it went deep. The dog jumped off the back of the boat and was swimming around dunking her head under the water looking for the muskie.
Top water is very hard on any dog.
I let her swim as I cast when I am alone and in a safe area. She know the the drill and what is expected of her. Very good dog, listenes to everything I tell her. Exceptionally good dog. I am lucky, but I put plenty of time in with her. She goes everywhere with me.
Sunday she will be with me and Mark in the WMT.
A dog will learn the layout of the boat and you can pattern them. Know your dog and watch what she does while in the boat. Sandy has never got hooked, she is very predictable and has her times when she gets wound up. When a fish is hooked, she has to watch everything, if I yell back, she will stay back.
Yes, they love to lick fish, all fish. Her head will be in the net with me until I say, back, then she waits till I am done and licks the tail as we take a picture. See PHOTOS pages on my web site, I am sure she will be in plenty of them.
When your dog listens to you, its time for the boat. Great partner. Bring food, treats and stop off at shore once in a while. I now will let her jump out of the boat and go to shore as I fish so she can do her thing. She knows the drill, go to shore, due her duties in a area you can do this(brothers house, our cottage, friends, marsh, ect.) Then I call her back to the boat and she come up the back of my Ranger with help from me. Grab the back of the neck and lift, the dog will do the rest.
Now she is comming with me on some guide trip because the repeat clients like her, they say, "can Sandy come this time", you bet !!!
With some work I think most dogs can become great boat partners. You got to love it !!! |
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Posts: 1185
Location: Wishin I Was Fishin' | The more time with you in the boat and the earlier the better.
My chessy(Mercury) has to stay tied or he is in the water, no problem with throwing baits as he has been seeing it since he was a pup. He got hooks in him a few times, learned his lesson, and leaves them alone now.
Hard for me not to bring him. He spends the whole week of Canada in the boat all day, every day. I think he likes the trip as much as I do.
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Posts: 1120
Location: West Chester, OH | We have 3 Australian Shepherds. Hannah & Breeze, age 7, love to ride the boat but are distinctly disinterested in the fishing aspect. Ryder, 5 months, is yet untested.
A previous Aussie, Lucy, was dubbed “The Old Fishin’ Dog” by my father. She LOVED the whole experience – riding the boat, watching the baits, seeing the fish, etc.. The sound of line peeling from a spool would wake her from a nap & bring her running underfoot – butt wiggling furiously. Cast from the dock & she’d tear the cottage apart trying to get down there. She never actually jumped from my boat, but would go off a dock or a pontoon w/o any prompting, so I always considered it.
I’d say that if your dog is housebroken, moderately obedience trained & likes to ride the car, that you’re in business. If your dog likes just hanging out w/you, then time in the boat is just another opportunity to do so. Make it a positive experience.
As already mentioned, you’ll need to keep the dog watered & provide some opportunity for shade. It varies from dog to dog - Hannah will lie in my shadow for shade. Breeze likes a lot more sunshine. - but generally a dark coated dog will wilt faster. (We show agility & I’ve seen dogs run under an obstacle for shade & refuse recall.) And the dog also needs to go ashore periodically for relief – more troublesome on waterfront that is primarily private or shoreline that is very rugged. Careful w/those hooks!! I have no rod storage, so the only rigged rod is the one in my hands & there are no extra baits left out.
Good luck & have fun.
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Posts: 305
Location: Illinois | Thank you very much for all the info, gentlemen. I've got a small, relatively underpressured lake that I will take him to this weekend for a test run. Thanks again, hj |
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