If you plan on having your 4-legged friends join you on the water, make sure you have everything you need to keep them happy and safe on the boat! Here are a few tips to make sure your adventure with your pet is a great one:
1. Their Needs Are Similar to Yours
Food, water, and potty time are all things that you’ll need on a boat trip as well as your dog!
Water & Food
If you are boating in saltwater, bringing plenty of water for your pup seems like an obvious choice and you should do the same when you are boating in freshwater. Make sure you have their water bowl ready for them and filled throughout the trip. Also, don’t forget to bring snacks! They’ll get hungry too.
Pee-Pads
It may also be helpful to place a puppy pad on the boat if you plan on spending a long day out on the water, so your dog has somewhere to “go” that’s easy to clean up. Think of it as if you are going to the park, you don’t want to leave their excrement or pee behind for others to step on.
2. Keep Their Safety in Mind
Life Jackets
Everyone onboard the boat needs a lifejacket, and your pet does, too! Even if your dog is a great swimmer, there are other conditions you should be aware of like strong currents nearby or simply the fact that they might be tired after a long day of sun exposure.
When you buy a PFD (Personal Floating Device) for your dog, look for brightly colored ones that are easy to spot and have a handle on top so you can help pull your pup out of the water.
Safety Plan and Gear
You should have a plan for what to do if your dog goes overboard and implement it immediately. Where on the boat is the best place to stand to call for your dog and pull them out of the water? If they are injured, do you have a first aid kit on hand that you can use? If they are far away, make sure you have a strategy to pull the boat closer to your pet without them getting near the engine rotors.
Most importantly, make sure you both have fun! Bring a leash to keep them closer to you, fetch toys for fun in the water, and maybe even a floaty toy to spoil your 4-legged friends.
Upgrade Your Boating Experience
Upgrade your and your pet’s boating experience with a new, better-equipped boat. Choose from Fish Tale’s wide selection of pontoon boats, bay boats, and deck boats from top manufacturers like Grady-White, Robalo, Chaparral, and Premier Pontoons.
We serve Southwest Florida with boats for sale in Naples, FL, and boats for sale in Fort Myers. Learn more about our different locations and boats online and come visit us for a tour of our lot. You can also contact us with any questions or inquiries at (239) 463-4448.