Dogs and Pets Aboard: A Safety Checklist for Boat Owners

Measure your dog's chest girth, neck and back length, and use the maker's size chart (weight alone is not enough). If you can, try it on in the store. It should sit snug around the neck and chest so a front leg cannot slip through the front opening, a problem the American Kennel Club's water-safety expert says she has seen with loose jackets. Check that straps and buckles do not rub the armpits or belly, and that the foam does not stop the dog from sitting or lying down.

The one feature every BoatUS tester agreed on was a sturdy lifting handle on the back. It is how you lift a wet, heavy dog over the side or onto the swim platform. Grab the handle and lift your dog a few inches: the jacket should not slide up, twist or choke. Choose a bright color with reflective trim so you can spot the dog in glare, chop or at dusk.

Let your dog wear the jacket around the house and yard with treats and praise. Then visit the boat at the dock with the engine off. Keep the first outing short and calm. The AKC advises letting a dog progress at its own pace and never forcing a nervous dog into the water.

In calm, warm water with an easy exit, let your dog swim in the jacket while you stand nearby. Practice lifting it by the handle. If your dog panics or will not swim, that tells you to keep it leashed and away from the edges on the boat.

Use a collar tag with your cell number; Boating Magazine suggests a tag that clips flat to the collar so it does not snag. A microchip registered to your current phone number is a good backup. The BoatUS Foundation tells of a dog found paddling a mile off Fort Lauderdale, about 15 miles from where its owners had been looking. His collar tags got him home.

Carry small dogs aboard. For larger dogs, Discover Boating recommends a ramp. Boating Magazine suggests a ramp for any pet too big to carry under one arm, since it also helps the dog climb back aboard from the water, a beach or a sandbar. Many swim ladders are hard or impossible for dogs to climb. Lay a non-slip mat where the dog rides, and trim its nails so it grips better and scratches less.

Dogs heat up fast on a boat. Dark coats soak up sun, and hot decks and seats can burn paws. Put up the bimini or rig shade, give the dog a cool mat or wet towel, and bring plenty of fresh water and a bowl. Do not let your dog drink lake or sea water; saltwater makes dehydration worse, and Discover Boating warns that lake water can carry pollution and harmful organisms.

Watch for algae blooms before your dog swims. The CDC says harmful algal blooms can kill dogs, sometimes within minutes to days, and there is no antidote. Blooms are most likely in warm, slow-moving water and can look like green, blue-green or brown scum, foam, mats or spilled paint. Keep your dog out of the water, and from drinking it, wherever you see that or the state has posted an advisory. If your dog does swim in it, rinse it with clean fresh water right away so it can't lick the algae off its fur, and call a veterinarian if it vomits, drools, stumbles or seems weak.

Know the signs of heatstroke: heavy panting, drooling, bright red or pale gums, weakness, stumbling or collapse. Flat-faced breeds, puppies, seniors and overweight dogs are at higher risk. If you see these signs, get the dog into shade, sponge or spray it with cool (not ice-cold) water, and head for a veterinarian. The AKC says a vet visit is still needed even if the dog seems to recover.

Short-haired and light-colored dogs can burn on the nose, ears and belly. Use a sunscreen labeled for pets. Avoid products with zinc oxide, which is toxic to dogs if licked.

Some dogs drool, yawn, shake or vomit in waves. Boating Magazine notes some dogs can take motion-sickness remedies, but only use a product and dose your veterinarian approves. Keep early trips short, run in calm water, and skip a big meal right before you leave.

Keep your dog low and inside the boat when you are on plane. A paw on the gunwale and one good wake can send it over. Use a harness rather than just a collar; Boating Magazine notes a harness gives you something to grab, even with a boat hook. When stopped or fishing, a short tether limits how far the dog can roam. Keep the dog away from the helm, throttle and kill-switch lanyard, where a bump can cause trouble.

Fish hooks, lures, bait, fish fins and fishing line are a real vet-visit risk. Discover Boating recommends teaching a solid "leave it" and taking hooks out of fish well away from your dog. Wipe up fuel and oil spills right away and keep the dog out of the cockpit while fueling. Keep it away from hot engine parts, exhaust and the stern while the engine runs. Turn the engine off before a dog swims near the boat, just as you would for a person.

Plan shore breaks on longer trips. Some dogs learn to use a pee pad, artificial turf or carpet scrap in a set spot on deck; practice at home first. Bag solid waste and carry it ashore in a lidded container instead of throwing it overboard, and follow the marina, park and beach pet rules where you stop.

Before you leave the dock, decide who will do what:

• Spotter: one person points at the dog and never takes their eyes off it. A small head in waves is easy to lose.
• Driver: throttles back, turns around and approaches slowly from downwind. The driver puts the engine in neutral or shuts it off before the dog is near the propeller.
• Retriever: grabs the life jacket handle or harness from the swim platform or the low side and lifts. A boat hook through the handle helps with big dogs. Some owners call the dog to the swim platform with a treat.

Nobody goes in the water after the dog. If the dog went over at speed, it may be stunned and unable to swim well, so move fast but carefully.