MacGregorSailors.com

We have a 35 k Alsatian who will go with us on our 26m. Do we buy an inflatable dinghy(600 US) or a product such as Pawsladder to allow direct access from the water.

Richard and Anne and Musti the dog

This should be interesting . . . . How do people get large dogs back in the boat? Out is easy hahaha. I did train my German Shepard to climb a ladder though...

This is a product you might consider. Dive-N-Dog stair platform. Scroll down to see the photos.

http://www.divendog.com/stair.html

Mac Ziggy wrote:This is a product you might consider. Dive-N-Dog stair platform. Scroll down to see the photos.

http://www.divendog.com/stair.html

IMHO it would appear you need a swim deck or a boat with very little freeboard for that unit to work. On a Mac now you have him at the boat and you still have to drag him up the side.
As for the site. . . .I like the part where it says, and rest after a dive without treading water hahahahaha and then shows a diver in of all things a BCD go figure. .

I'm Looking at this just trying to figure how to mount it.

Dog Ladder @ Cabela's




Allan

Here are two others. I've never used either of them,
just wanted to fill-out the list of options.

Paws Aboard . . . $~200

DoggyDock . . . $~300

Looks as if the one by Cabela's is most cost effective, less than $100.

Allan
I don't think it will Matter how you mount that unit, as its meant for a boat with about 18inches of free board not 3 to 4 feet like a Mac.
Sorry bud

Sounds like a job for one of those man overboard sling hoists.

Hopefully these steps will only be used in protected waters as a pooch swimming around is a pretty good attractant for biteys like sharks or in our northern waters crocodiles, it would be bad enough to lose a dog but would be worse for the two legged crew.
Would love to take a hunting dog away this year but don't think I could handle the hassles.
Good Luck

Chinook wrote:Sounds like a job for one of those man overboard sling hoists.

I am with you Chinook. Though that option has been discussed here before and no good place was found to mount it really. Small enough I would use the boom or worse case to save a life just plain drag him up the side of the boat . Hopefully he would be wearing a doggie life jacket.
Small Dog is the word here.
Now Cats ! Cats are different.
A Cruising Animal Vet we meet said its popular to trail a good size rope off one rear corner of your boat. Then help the cat to practice finding it hahahahahaha
They will figure out the climbing part to get back in on their own real quick. Down side is one friend of his has to watch the cat like a hawk because he loves to jump in the water off the bow to try and catch the rope climb back up and in the boat to do it again!
OR spend all summer training your pup to climb a ladder. It can be done my guard dog was trained to do it and a lot more .
Though we were not dealing with water, and the ladder wasn't moving here and there and up and down .

Boblee wrote:Hopefully these steps will only be used in protected waters as a pooch swimming around is a pretty good attractant for biteys like sharks or in our northern waters crocodiles, it would be bad enough to lose a dog but would be worse for the two legged crew.
Would love to take a hunting dog away this year but don't think I could handle the hassles.
Good Luck

Boblee there is just such a film on You Tube . . .needless to say that lab never stood a chance

Richard, if my dog was worth $35,000 I don't think i'd let him near the water!

:]

Maybe a solution would be to train it to swim toward the transom and he could just climb aboard. (probably a helping hand would be needed).
Have a towel ready when he shakes all that salt water all over the cockpit.

I have a yellow Labrador... approx 35-40 kilos. He jumps in and out of the boat off the dock. To get him in the cabin, I get in first, let him put his front paws on my shoulders, then lift him down. To get out, he puts his paws on the ladder and I give him a boost up. As for swimming, he can get out just fine on his own. Getting him back in is tricky. He knows to go to the transom. I sit on the outboard and help him up. He's 9 years old. So far so good.

Leon

Keep a life jacket on him at all times. Doggie life Jackets have handles on them which can be used to lift him out of the water in an emergency. I also keep a boat pole at hand to snag the handle just in case.