[Rhodes22-list] Dogs from Nel

[canport at comcast.net]

Our Austrailian Silky Terrier  - 12 lbs,  13 yrs old, loves the boat.   Loki was 4 years old when he started sailing.  Our vet suggested I take him to the park and gently swing with him on my lap, to help him adjust to movement.  
Regarding the "duty"...
I am trying to get Loki to relieve himself aboard... because we leave Saturday for a 6 week cruise that may involve extended sails.  (Lake Michigan sailing from Holland Michigan to the North Channel)
Again, vet to the rescue....   we took a 15 inch long 1 inch diameter tree branch with bark.. and exposed it to the dogs urine.  Then, took the same stick over to the neighbors dogs.    Now, the  stick is in Loki's area of the yard, and he does 
"mark" it.    Next step, of course, is to bring the stick to the boat.  

I intend to sew a mesh bag with string so I can hang it over the rail when it's not being used.
I'll let you know if it worked.

PS... I don't have a Rhodes, but I'm on the list because of my invention -  CAN-PORT,  the holder for cans of varnish so they don't spill aboard.

Good luck with Rio!!!

Nel Osterwald

-------------- Original message -------------- 

> Our dear old friend, Major, a chocolate lab, has gone to where ever 
> good dogs go when they die. He was 13. I don't like doglessness and 
> in my entire life I've spent very little time without a dog or two 
> around the house. So after a few days of mourning, we went out and got 
> a new puppy. I've had a long string of very large dogs--labs and 
> shepherds--but we decided to make life a little easier and get a 
> smaller breed this time around. We picked out a 10 week old miniature 
> black poodle and named him Rio. (see attached) 
> 
> Because of Major's bigness, we didn't take him sailing much, but we 
> hope to get Rio acclimated on the sailboat and I was wondering if 
> anybody had some good advice on dogs aboard. West Marine sells doggy 
> floatation vests with handles on the top to easily get them in or out 
> of the water. (not doable with a big lab--he had to learn to get up 
> the boarding ladder!) Not to gross anybody out, but I'm wondering 
> about training him to do his little business on the fore deck where a 
> bucket of water will wash it away. Any thoughts from you dog-owners 
> out there? 
> 
> Slim 
> 
> 
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Subject: [Rhodes22-list] Dogs
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