Our Top Tips For Boating With Pets

Our Top Tips For Boating With Pets

If you love boating and have a houseboat holiday coming up, there’s no reason to leave your dog behind. We’ve got three dog-friendly houseboats available to hire. When travelling with pets, especially on the water, there are some important things to consider ensuring your holiday runs smoothly.

Our aim is to provide the best experience possible for both you and your furry family members.  Not all animals enjoy floating accommodation, and this can reduce your enjoyment of your holiday.  If your pet is not an inside pet at home, they are not suitable to bring aboard a houseboat.

Here are some important questions to consider carefully before houseboating with your dog:

Does your dog follow commands?

Is your dog comfortable in new locations?

Is your dog afraid of the water?

Will your dog be able to eat, relax, and sleep as needed if weather conditions aren’t ideal?

Does your dog get spooked easily?

Now once you’ve considered your answers and you’ve decided that bringing your pet along is right for you, we’ve got some helpful tips to help you plan your trip.

To ensure your dog’s safety we do recommend packing a dog life jacket. Even if your dog is a proficient swimmer at home, it’s important not to underestimate the current and the need for a life jacket. A sudden fall into the water can cause panic and a life jacket can help give you some peace of mind.

Plan regular stops to the mainland so that your dog can do its business. And always remember to pick up after your dog!

Excessive sun exposure can cause issues for your dog so keep your pooch cool and ensure that there is always a shady area onboard for your pet to rest. Boat surfaces can get hot, so this is important! Always have fresh drinking water easily accessible and don’t encourage drinking salt water from the ocean.

Pack your dog’s favourite toy so that you can keep your pup entertained while onboard. Think ahead on ways to keep your dog happy when they aren’t playing on the beach. Some dogs will be happy to lounge around with their owners, but others might need some entertaining so think of this when packing your bags!  

If you need a pet-sitter, there are several good pet motels in the area. We reccomend: Valley View Pet Resort, Cabarita Beach Pet Resort and Gold Coast Pet Resorts.

Book one of our pet friendly Houseboats: Wanderer, Marie Claire or Wavebreak.

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