Pets/mess - obvious questions??

[pwfl]

Can anyone with experience of living onboard or extended cruising on sailing boats with pets, please tell me how you deal with your cats/dogs waste?

Where do they go? What if it's rough? Cleaning up after them?..... residual smells?........etc.. etc......

We'd love to have a cat or small dog onboard our little boat, but that's probably the main question that's stopping us at the moment.

Any inside info, on that or any other practical aspects to consider, would be much appreciated.

Thanks

[WayneS]

I know a man who can answer this. Come on Keith, you can do it

[kgi]

Thanks Wayne stitched me up again!!! Well my experience with two dogs onboard was to take them out in the boat when it is real calm and let them get used to the idea of them being on a boat for days at a time. once they are used to the boat introduce them to the foredeck or other area you want them to use, keep taking them up there even when they start whining, eventually they get the message and do what they need to. the lumpy bits you pick up in a tesco carrier bag, or sainsburys if you got more money than me, deposit said deposits in your own head then wash where they have just been and disinfect, dog pee seems to play hell with varnish so take that into account when selecting an area. if they still wont go, wait until the dog does what he needs to then collect a sample and put in the area where you want them to go, j cloth for the pee and a ziplock to put it in works, apart from that wait until the dog goes in the garden dig up the patch of grass he just used and put that down where you want them to go, never had to resort to this but i know people who have, hope this gives you some ideas keith, PS dont bite your fingernails!!!!!!!!!

[WayneS]

Sorry Keith, had to do it. Having taken your two dogs across the Atlantic you had to know. (and before anyone asks, no, his girlfriend went as well so no funny cracks here please)

Cheers

Wayne

[kgi]

Thanks Wayne up to this point i had some street cred, now look what youve done!!!!!!!!!!!

[Fingers2]

For those little accidents inside get some WHITE vinegar and decant into a garden sprayer (the little hand type) after cleaning up the mess give a quick spray with the vinegar onto the spot do not wipe it off this will kill the odours left and stop them going in the same place again DO NOT use on wipe clean surfaces this is for the capets etc and the floorboards underneath. The vinegar smells lingers for a short time (about an hour)

[snowleopard]

i heard of someone who trained his dog to use a doormat on the deck and towed it astern (the mat that is) to wash it. all was well until he took the dog ashore to visit a high official and there was a mat just inside the front door...

Dogs? Cats? Why not a Bird in a gimballed cage?

[ccscott49]

You can't give a bird a cuddle and they won't bring your slippers! Or wag their tail and welcome you home!

Sounds like you ain't met the right bird yet.

[ccscott49]

tee hee /forums/images/icons/laugh.gif

[poter]

A mate of mine lives in a large flat in Putney and has trained his two dogs to go on a piece of artificial grass. If you drill a hole and attach a lanyard you could then wash this overboard.
Just a thought.

poter

[katholdershaw]

See me respoonse to Dogs in the Med.

Dragon Lady