Traveling Safely with your Dog by Boat

Are you planning on taking a trip out to the river or lake this summer and you want to take your dog?  You are not alone; 2.5 million people visit Lake Havasu, 3 million people visit Lake Tahoe, and 9 million people visit Lake Mead each year.  And while not all people (pet owners even) visit these destinations with their dogs, a good amount of them do.  So what can you do to make sure your dog has a fun and safe time while visiting the water with you?     

Traveling by boat

There are three basic things that your dog will need while on a boat or splashing around the water with you; a life jacket, sun block, and plenty of fresh water.

Life Jacket:  Many people are in the dark about the importance of life jackets not only for their dog but for themselves as well.  

According to the U.S. Coast Guards Boating and Safety annual accident statistic report, “Almost three-fourths of all fatal boating accident victims drowned, and of course, eighty-four (84) percent were not reported as wearing a life jacket.”  

Its dangerous to assume all dogs are naturally good swimmers.  While they may naturally dog paddle, many dogs are in fact not good swimmers.  But even a strong swimmer can get tired from a long swim, get injured, or be overwhelmed by a current or rapid.  Remember, even a U.S. Olympic Gold Medalist like Michael Phelps could be overwhelmed in those conditions without the help of a life jacket.



         Sunblock: Dogs can (and DO) get sun burned, especially on the water. Of course, white dogs and dogs with short hair are more susceptible to getting burned, but almost any dog can get burned on their nose and burn the pads of their feet on hot asphalt. If your dog is white and short haired, be sure to cover him in sunblock.  And if he is getting in and out of the water, be sure to reapply throughout the day.  For all other dogs, you might want to consider giving your pup a dog hat.

Fresh Water: Dogs lose a lot of body fluids when panting.  Always bring plenty of fresh water for the dog on the boat and ensure your dog drinks plenty of it during the day. You may not be able to use a water bowl so you should bring a water bottle with a sports top or a dog water bottle designed specifically for dog drinking on the go.

It’s a good idea to keep your dog in the shade as much as possible to further avoid sun burns and dehydration.  As always, please keep your dogs safety in mind during any water activity and happy splashing!