Outfitting a Sailing Pup - Gear We Use to Keep Our Pup Afloat

Our pup, Ruca, is a 5 year old, 60 pound Boxer, and is one of the best crew members on S/V Wanderlust! She is formally in charge of alerting us of any passing dinghies or critters, barking at the wind, and finding coconuts on shore (all very important jobs).

We sure do love our Ruca pup, and being as she's a hard working member of the crew, we want to keep her comfortable and safe while living aboard our 38 foot sailboat.

Here's some of the gear we use to make sure Ruca is the best sailor she can be!

Food Storage

Dog food has proven to be one of the most difficult things to find and keep as liveaboard sailors. Most stores in the Caribbean carry one or two brands, and of course, not the brand our dog likes. One grocery store we visited only carried puppy chow in small 5 pound bags, or wet food in cans.

Therefore, when we find our dog’s brand, or even something acceptable, we stock up. But where do you store 60 pounds of dog food on a sailboat, without the cockroaches and ants having a heyday? A food vault.

Food vault containers are available from Amazon, or at your local pet store, but you must splurge on the airtight versions for a few extra bucks. The vault locks out insects, and keeps the food from molding in humid conditions. The container is bulky and difficult to store, but it is better than pounds and pounds of ruined dog food, and a hungry pup.

Rigged Up Life Jacket

Even though our dog is a good swimmer, a life jacket is necessary. We make her wear it in case of dangerous, rough weather, or any other unsafe situation where she may go overboard. However in the worst conditions, we make the dog go down below into the cabin, and close the companionway.

To take the life jacket a step further, we rigged it to include extra supports under the dog’s belly. Our dog weighs upwards of 60 pounds, so lifting her by hand is difficult. Without these extra supports, the life jacket is not rated or meant for lifting the dog, and could be very dangerous if the straps break. With extra ropes and a shackle at the top, this life jacket can be attached to a halyard, and be used to lift the dog from the water into the boat or vice versa.

Watch the video of our rigged up life jacket, here!

Waste Bags

OK, most places we travel don’t require us to clean up after our dog. That’s because most places we travel are remote beaches where no other person will walk for days. And to be honest, leaving our dog's waste to disintegrate is more environmentally friendly than bagging it, since as soon as you wrap organic waste in a plastic bag, it becomes non-biodegradable. We would much prefer the waste to degenerate naturally or be consumed by ground feeding insects, than exist for a thousand years inside a plastic bag.

The only reason we need the bags is when we’re in towns or cities, where we are required to pick up after the dog, for other peoples’ sake. We’ve found most communities in the Caribbean have this policy, to keep the city clean and sanitary, just like back home in the US. We don’t want to be caught without a bag in public, so we provisioned plenty before hitting the seas.

Lifeline Netting

We’ve heard that the best sailing dogs are “agile and athletic.” That couldn’t be more unlike our pup. She’s clumsy, uncoordinated, and awkward. So, lifeline netting along the exterior of the boat is a must for us. It has caught our dog from going overboard in more than one rough situation.

Microfiber Towels

We’ll be honest, our dog doesn’t get a lot of freshwater baths. Freshwater is just too limited on our sailboat, and sometimes, all of us have to go without showering. We’ve found the best solution to remove the sand and salt from our dog’s fur is a microfiber towel, and a spritz or two of fresh water between wipes.

Collar Light

A light on your dog’s collar for night beach walks or potty breaks is helpful to keep track of your pup after dark. Remember, there's no street lights!

Storable Bed

Our big dog takes up a lot of space, and that’s one thing we don’t have. A folding, storable bed is ideal for multi-use of our limited spaces. We fold her bed up and put it in storage during the day, then unfold it into the cabin sole at bedtime.

Dock Line Leash

We’ve found any other type of leash to be flimsy and the metals easily oxidized in sailing conditions. So, we made a leash from a dock line, with a stainless steel shackle at the end. This leash has been substantially tougher in seawater and sand.

Proper Shots, Meds, and Documentation

We all know it is important that your dog be up to date on medications and shots, but it is extremely important when traveling internationally. Visit your vet to know which vaccinations or medications may be necessary for certain areas of the world, and make sure you complete all of your documentation well in advance of your travel. Many countries require documentation and health certificates be sent months before your arrival. Educate yourself and make sure you and your dog are prepared to set sail internationally.

Thanks for reading!

Ben, Quinn and Ruca

#apupslife