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Hi,

Looking for suggestions on how people are handling getting dogs (medium to large dog, example lab / labrador ) in and out of the water from their whalers (i.e. not asking about entry / exit at the dock).

I'm wondering about best options when factoring dog's safety, least scratches etc. to boat and convenience.

thanks.

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If I'm not at a dock, I just need to pick up my 65# lab to get her back in the boat. She'll jump in the water from the bow.

I drape a beach towel over the bow for traction and scratch protection.

Dennis

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Years ago I had a golden retreiver and a buddy had a black lab. He screwed a piece of starboard to the swim platform of his 21 Outrage that the dogs used for grip as a "handle". With some coaching they learned how to use the swim ladder and platform. They would launce off the bow, swim arround, up the ladder and do it again. Hours of entertainment.

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Through the years we found out that the best way is to have a dog PFD http://www.google.com/imgres?sa=X&hl=...&ty=85
This is not as much to keep the dog floating it is for the handle on the back where you can lift them out with. You be surprised how the dog doesn't mind having them on and how easy it is to just grab her or him and lift them in the boat.

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Dogs learn to climb a ladder very fast if you attach a backer on the back side of the rungs. On a boat they will require a slant similar to that of a step ladder so you must lengthen the stand off arms.

Buy an inexpensive hang over the side boarding ladder and modify it for the dogs. On land, modify a three or four foot step ladder with a backer and teach the dogs to climb it. You will be surprised how fast they pick this trick up!

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I have a pet step dog ramp for my older dog, it can also be used on the boat as it floats. folds up like a folding table.

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Thanks for all of the replies.


Gamalot - have a couple follow up / clarification questions, please:



wondering if i understand this. Would attaching thin sheet of plywood to the "boat side" of the ladder be what you mean? I'm assuming this prevents their paws from slipping forward and through the rungs?



does this mean add to the gap between the boat and the ladder at the bottom, while keeping gap at the top fixed?

thanks for great tips, if i understand this correctly i will give this a try, starting with a regular ladder in the yard. thanks!

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Yes to both!

The object is to close the back side so paws and legs can't go through and to maintain a slant in the ladder ramp so the dog is not climbing straight up. The front paws hit a higher run and the rears must be able to find one of the lower rungs for them to climb.

My hang over the side boarding ladder came with folding stand off tubes that keep the ladder in a straight up and down position against the side of the boat for humans. By lengthening those the ladder will hang at an angle away from the boat making it easier for the dogs.