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Dear Zelda, Friends have invited my husband and me to join them for a fishing trip on their boat next month. They have a dog that plays with our dog and they included our dog in the invitation. Now I don’t think the boat is very big so I’m concerned about safety issues for our dog. ‘Potato’ is a big, 80-pound bulldog and can’t swim. He goes everywhere with us so we’d like to include him on the fishing trip. Do you have some advice you could pass along to us? Staying Afloat Dear Staying Afloat, Ship ahoy and oh boy, your bulldog ‘Potato’ is in for some fun. Of course, you have to prepare Potato for his nautical adventure. Sure, we’ve all seen those skateboarding, surfing bulldogs, but you don’t find many Olympic swimmers in our breed, which can potentially make boating dangerous for us. The first piece of advice I’d give is that you go online or to your local pet store and locate a personal floatation device for Potato. Even if he could swim, it’s still a smart safety item for all dogs. My favorite PFD (personal floatation device) is the Pet Saver Life Jacket. It comes in all sizes, is made of tough denier nylon fabric, and its bright orange color will make it easier for you to keep and eye on your sweet Potato. One of the best features on this life jacket is the convenient top-grab handle. Should Potato fall overboard you can get a grip on him in a hurry and tow him into the boat. Personally, I’m into comfort and the Pet Saver Life Jacket also has a black neoprene belly band that keeps my tummy warm when I’m in the water. Once Potato is used to his new PFD it would also be good to familiarize him with the boat before your fishing trip. Let him explore the boat while it is still docked. Turn on the engine and let him get used to the sound and smell. Ask your friends to take you and Potato for an introductory cruise. This will also let you test boarding the boat. You mentioned that your friends have a dog so they may already have a doggy boat ladder. At 80 lbs. Potato isn’t an easy ‘lift’ so practice and be prepared. Another suggestion is that you arm Potato with the proper identification tag that includes your phone number. If your boating destination is a marina, bring along a copy of vaccination and health records. You might want to call ahead to any marina or park where you plan to visit just to make sure they are pet-friendly. Finally, going potty on a boat can be a possible problem for your pooch. If your fishing trip doesn’t include land stops where the two pups can do their ‘business,’ you might bring along a port-a-bull dog potty for Potato and his pal that simulates grass. Check out the Pup-Heads Portable Dog Potty. That’s it mates. Full speed ahead. Hope your fishing trip is reel-fun! Zelda
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