Best Breed of Dog for Canal Boats

[carlt]

I've inherited a half share in a Bolognese.

Bloody hopeless!

 

Have you tried eating it with a spoon as well as your fork?

[wotnot]

definatley not a labrador!!! They love to swim, chase ducks etc are too big etc. We have a lab, oscar lovely chap very friendly but on a boat he would be a nightmare.

 

I'd be wary about having a long coated German Shepherd. Our two Labradors were playing with one and it fell into the canal. I used to think all dogs could swim but this poor thing just about sank due to the waterlogged coat, so I had to go in and rescue it.

 

I think dog training is more important than the breed. You see working Labradors totally ignoring guns, birds, other dogs noises etc. until sent off.

[Supermalc]

 

Fantastic Nigel - just brilliant

[carlt]

Fantastic Nigel - just brilliant

You can see that it's not really poo though.

[andywatson]

 

Rare dog that.

The only one of it's kind.

[Supermalc]

I'm amazed the forum knockers haven't castigated me for the deliberate mistake yet.....

[carlt]

I'm amazed the forum knockers haven't castigated me for the deliberate mistake yet.....

I thought you'd just added a fat dog in the interests of fairness.

 

"Other pooches are available" sort of thing.

[Supermalc]

I thought you'd just added a fat dog in the interests of fairness.

 

"Other pooches are available" sort of thing.

 

Yes, but you are usually onside

 

Unlike some

[SteveE]

You can see that it's not really poo though.

 

Looks like bolognese to me!

SteveE

[carlt]

Looks like bolognese to me!

SteveE

Note to self: "If ever invited round to Steve's for italian, suggest (no insist) we go to restaurant"

[Lol]

It's a Joey dog!

 

I hope Im not the only one (but suspect I am) but what is a Joey dog (thinking kangaroo, dumb one off freinds, an idiot up North.....)????

[carlt]

I hope Im not the only one (but suspect I am) but what is a Joey dog (thinking kangaroo, dumb one off freinds, an idiot up North.....)????

 

Sorry, I was referring to the "Joey Boat" a wooden day boat used on the BCN. Same dimensions as a normal narrowboat but it's a double ender ie you can lift the rudder off one end, take it to the other and the bow becomes the stern. Saves turning the boat round.

 

Well I thought it was funny

[Lol]

Sorry, I was referring to the "Joey Boat" a wooden day boat used on the BCN. Same dimensions as a normal narrowboat but it's a double ender ie you can lift the rudder off one end, take it to the other and the bow becomes the stern. Saves turning the boat round.

 

Well I thought it was funny

 

Oh yeah, derrrrrrr

 

Nice one

[Supermalc]

Note to self: "If ever invited round to Steve's for italian, suggest (no insist) we go to restaurant"

 

Well I think this is funny

 

Honestly........had me in stitches.....

 

Imagination is a wonderful thing.........sometimes....

[purplehaze]

I'd be wary about having a long coated German Shepherd. Our two Labradors were playing with one and it fell into the canal. I used to think all dogs could swim but this poor thing just about sank due to the waterlogged coat, so I had to go in and rescue it.

 

I think dog training is more important than the breed. You see working Labradors totally ignoring guns, birds, other dogs noises etc. until sent off.

 

Totally agree re training but we inherited a dog with major problems, he chewed up the kitchen/lounge/carpets/mobiles/remote controls/the iron and a carpet or two only five months old but with very very bad habits. We spent a lot of time training him with major improvements but with with a few issues still unresolved tea towels are still a problem! Now he is 8 a loveble rogue, very good temperant, great with people a smashing dog but as he loves water (big time) not a dog for a canal boat

 

By the way he has joint problems and has regular hydrotherapy sessions to help him, apparently he is the only dog who really wants to get into the pool, also of interest is that dogs that have epilesy, which oscar has, seem to improve if they go swimming they don't know why but it does. I must say, touch wood, that oscar has had less fits (despte medication) since swimming, an unexpected bonus, as dealing with your dog having a fit is very distressing coupled with the real concern that they might not come out of it. Sorry if of topic

[Supermalc]

Totally agree re training but we inherited a dog with major problems, he chewed up the kitchen/lounge/carpets/mobiles/remote controls/the iron and a carpet or two only five months old but with very very bad habits. We spent a lot of time training him with major improvements but with with a few issues still unresolved tea towels are still a problem! Now he is 8 a loveble rogue, very good temperant, great with people a smashing dog but as he loves water (big time) not a dog for a canal boat

 

By the way he has joint problems and has regular hydrotherapy sessions to help him, apparently he is the only dog who really wants to get into the pool, also of interest is that dogs that have epilesy, which oscar has, seem to improve if they go swimming they don't know why but it does. I must say, touch wood, that oscar has had less fits (despte medication) since swimming, an unexpected bonus, as dealing with your dog having a fit is very distressing coupled with the real concern that they might not come out of it. Sorry if of topic

 

Excellent......well done.

 

Sorry to harp on about it, but why oh why don't people go to dog training classes when they get a dog. This includes most of my friends, some who actually took my advice and went......once or twice.

 

Fair enough, 30 or so years ago, the knowledge was really only know to a relative few. But with tv and books galore, it really should be the norm, not the exception. Why in society do we tolerate unwanted behaviour from dogs. (OK from some people too, but that's another story)

[waggytails]

I am a dog sitter and have also fostered numorous dogs and I think a Collie Cross is a good bet. Although I am a little biased as I have a Collie Cross Whippet and like the reply further up they are very agile. Mine loves staying on my friends boat. They are not to big and mine doesn't leave hairs wherever she goes. Hopefully you will rescue one. Personally I think getting a pup or young dog is best. Good Luck

[tillergirl]

My advice is don't go for a breed that naturally likes water so I would'nt go for the likes of spaniel etc. We have two border collies and both of these love going boating and are quite content to sit prow or stern and watch the world go by.........they hate to get their feet wet!! Hope that helps

[Yoda]

I have found this thread very interesting. People recommend dogs they own for the traits that their dog has. No suprise there but to recommend a dog that doesn't like water, very strange until you really think about it. So the type is,

 

Short haired, hates water, good with other dogs, does not chew, does not bark or pine, eats little but brings home rabbits and is easily trained to bite BW management.

 

That should sort it. About genetic engineering.....

[Supermalc]

I have found this thread very interesting. People recommend dogs they own for the traits that their dog has. No suprise there but to recommend a dog that doesn't like water, very strange until you really think about it. So the type is,

 

Short haired, hates water, good with other dogs, does not chew, does not bark or pine, eats little but brings home rabbits and is easily trained to bite BW management.

 

That's Barney to a T......except he didn't bite the management, but the worker.

 

Don't know what happened and he did only nip him, however I talked to him afterwards and he has dogs of his own. Never ever done anything like that before, or since. However when the lock house was first let, the new owners dogs were untrained and dangerous (they have since been put down, as they couldn't be rehomed when the couple split and she went to a council flat). They were being taken for a walk, and the tennants didn't know we'd arrived. They chased Barney who ran to my boat, and had we not galloped up, would have torn him to shreds. It was his first encounter with unsocalised dogs. So a few years on, I think???? he was trying to be the 'guard dog' getting himself 'onside' with the pack.

 

He is clever enough, and always tries to get himself to the top by either being the guard, or breadwinner, not by fighting.

[Ernie]

I am getting a Jack Russell pup tomorrow and have already been told off for getting a dog rather than a bitch, supposed to be easier to deal with, since when were males less hassle than a female, canines must be different to human beans

We have two, a dog and a bitch. Lovely dogs - we have had many different breeds over the years but the Jacks have been the most fun.

 

God help anyone breaking into the boat when we are out, they would defend their home and the rest of their pack (us) to the death.

 

We keep both on the leads at all times. If the boy dog gets off the lead, he dissapears for hours hunting rabits. If the girl dog gets off the lead she is likely to chase anyone or anything that comes near her. They both attended dog training as pups but it didn't seem to work!!!

 

Photo at:

http://www.erniesplace.com/_BoatingDiaries...2_Braunston.htm

[Supermalc]

They both attended dog training as pups but it didn't seem to work!!!

 

Photo at:

http://www.erniesplace.com/_BoatingDiaries...2_Braunston.htm

 

Sorry, but the dog training is for YOU, not the dogs. They already know it.

 

Another important point. If the dog training is not working, find another club that should be more suitable. Just as with people, all dogs are individual, and although they all speak the same language ......... dog, not English, German, French etc. etc. different dogs respond to different methods.

[tillergirl]

Sorry, but the dog training is for YOU, not the dogs. They already know it.

 

Another important point. If the dog training is not working, find another club that should be more suitable. Just as with people, all dogs are individual, and although they all speak the same language ......... dog, not English, German, French etc. etc. different dogs respond to different methods.

 

Totally agree with that. We take young Solomon to training classes (hes a border collie) and hes so NOT focused because of all the other dogs (5 months old and would much rather play). We'll give it a couple more months and if things don't improve we'll need to find a smaller calmer class. As for bitches being easier than dogs thats true. Both are dogs are quite disgusting sometimes. The contents of their bodies a constant source of enjoyment! Never get that with a bitch. But we got a dog instead of bitch when we got Solomon because we've lost a couple of bitches to awful illnesses over the years and it was heart wrenching when we lost them but they are much quicker to house train!! And don't foget an uncastrated dog will go for miles when he smells a honey on the wind

As for Solomon the mutts nuts are coming off in the New Year - calm him down a bit just like Jake the other BC.

 

Good luck with the dog and the training

Edited November 27, 2007 by tillergirl

[Keeping Up]

Sorry, but the dog training is for YOU, not the dogs. They already know it.

 

Another important point. If the dog training is not working, find another club that should be more suitable. Just as with people, all dogs are individual, and although they all speak the same language ......... dog, not English, German, French etc. etc. different dogs respond to different methods.

Yes dogs are different, just like people are. For some the training doesn't work (both cases).

 

We've been trained several times. Some of our dogs have won prizes for it. Our little mongerel Telford is 100% obedient all the time. Yet our lab Molly (you've met her) came from Battersea after 3 weeks in their psychiatric wing, she had so many problems that we wondered if we'd ever sort them out but now she's the most laid-back dog imaginable. Most of the problems we did sort out except Battersea were totally correct in telling us we'd NEVER train her to come back to us, the moment she's let off the lead she goes off to find someone else to adopt her, and they always do (and make a big fuss of her) so she thinks thaht must be right. As a result she has to stay on her lead whenever we moor up, which is a great big shame because she loves running.

 

So don't ALWAYS blame the owners!

 

Allan

[Greygal]

Hello everyone, first post so please be gentle.

 

May I put in a good word for a retired greyhound (or two)? So many misconceptions still abound about these beautiful dogs but they are great boat pooches - they don't shed, they don't smell, they sleep all day, they walk well on a lead and love to get out and about in a new 'sniff patch'. They are not afraid of water but choose not to go in voluntarily and the majority, if suitably socialised, interact well with other dogs and people. You also get the benefit of taking on an adult dog, so no puppy traumas, and you can feel really good about yourself - "Adopting just one greyhound won't change the world, but the world will surely change for that one greyhound."