Keeping dog warm-boat mounted kennel

[anthropisces]

Our lab is a valued family member and loved like anyone else. She was born May 3rd 2019 and retrieved a half dozen ducks her first season. She readily swims in cold water but last year I found her shivvering at times although she wore a close-fitting wetsuit vest.

I bought a Momarsh enclosed blind for her but that didn't seem to do much.

Since I expect to be out on a newly acquired, 18' aluminum boat this season I'm thinking of something more substantial, that she can go into and that will afford some real protection.

She will probably be a lot more cold resistant this year, having put on considerable bulk compared to last season. But I still want to take as good care of her as possible out there and make if fun for both of us.

Has anyone seen any boat mounted kennels like that?

[vandeman17]

I have not but I do think you are correct in that she will be better prepared this season for the cold with some more bulk as well as body maturity. It also can help to get her in the water prior to season to acclimate her body a little bit. If you are hunting out of a boat, bring a little heater that will keep you both warm when needed 

[Stein]

I would just put your truck kennel in the boat, get the insulating blanket and you should be fine.

Does your dog sleep outside?  My family hijacked my hunting dog and she now sleeps on their bed and never gets a great winter coat so we use a neoprene vest most of the year.

[anthropisces]

She sleeps in our beds. But she'll be outside a lot of the day all year. She is undeterred by cold water and frequently does training drills icy water.

But I don't want to test her toughness. I want her as comfortable as I can make her without going completely overboard.

I suppose I'll head in the direction of a normal kennel and insulating blanket. Are those blankets waterproof? What is a good blanket and kennel? (I've got a cheepie plastic kennel now).

[Stein]

I have a cheapie two piece bolt together one I bought from Amazon and a blanket cover I got from the bargain bin at Cabelas.  It's pretty much waterproof I think.  It would keep the dog out of the wind, but I don't know how much heat it will hold in. 

Our lab is the same way, fearless jumping in ice but then cold.  For real cold days, I have a small blanket I throw over her when she is in the blind.  She pretty much doesn't like it but will put up with it.

I did some reading and it sounded like the problem with sleeping inside is more light related than cold.  Their mind keys the winter coat in depending on how many hours of light they eyes see a day, not the temperature.  The reasoning is that dogs in Florida get a winter coat.  Its' what elk do to get in the rut, so it's plausible I suppose.

I don't know if it's true, but I do know house dogs don't get as heavy of a coat.

She will get a thicker coat next year for sure as well as more weight as mentioned, so it won't be as bad.

[hollymaster]

I throw a heavy fleece blanket over them and a thick pad to lay on (preferably wool).

[BD1]

Not sure I would want my dog in a kennel mounted to the boat. If something happens and the boat rolls over or sinks...the dog is gone and maybe you too trying to get her free. This if probably dependent on the size the boat too. The mini heater seems like a good idea. My dog is like our third child so I am probably hyper vigilant...if I think my dog is having any issue I head home. The kennel covers are very effective...toasty warm. Good luck this season!!!! 

[magnanimous_j]

Not sure I would want my dog in a kennel mounted to the boat. If something happens and the boat rolls over or sinks...the dog is gone and maybe you too trying to get her free.

That's a good point.

What if it wasn't mounted, but just a plastic dome with no floor that could be placed over a blanket or something?

[Dukalr]

Forget about putting another thing in your boat like a kennel.  If your boat is anything like mine or most duck hunters you already have too much gear in there.  Lol!  What I’ve found works just about better than anything is to keep the dog #1, out of the water when not fetching, and then #2 bring along a automotive chamois or Absorber (kinda a mix between a chamois and a sponge) to wipe the dog down real good once they get out of the water.  It usually doesn’t take very long to do this, and I’ve noticed my dogs stop shivering pretty quick once you get them towels down. I usually try to do this once the water starts to get near the freezing mark, and rarely need to above that.   I’ve seen video from a lot of dog trainers that say this is the best thing for them and I have to agree.  The quicker you get the water back off, the faster they warm.  Anyways, just my 2 cents.  Good luck!

[Stein]

You could always add seat heaters to the boat.   

[metlhead]

I've not really seen a need for anything other than my dog's vest. He shakes vigorously once out of the water, is dry very quickly, and tells me he's ready for more. We get up and he gets to run around now and then. Extreme cold on the east side seems to bother him even less. I was worried about it his first year, but he doesn't seem to care. So, we just hunt.

[Pnwrider]

You could always add seat heaters to the boat.   

Don’t knock it til you try it!

[Cougar Gold]

Make sure the dog wears a neoprene vest.

[Special T]

Forget about putting another thing in your boat like a kennel.  If your boat is anything like mine or most duck hunters you already have too much gear in there.  Lol!  What I’ve found works just about better than anything is to keep the dog #1, out of the water when not fetching, and then #2 bring along a automotive chamois or Absorber (kinda a mix between a chamois and a sponge) to wipe the dog down real good once they get out of the water.  It usually doesn’t take very long to do this, and I’ve noticed my dogs stop shivering pretty quick once you get them towels down. I usually try to do this once the water starts to get near the freezing mark, and rarely need to above that.   I’ve seen video from a lot of dog trainers that say this is the best thing for them and I have to agree.  The quicker you get the water back off, the faster they warm.  Anyways, just my 2 cents.  Good luck!

This is good advice...

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[anthropisces]

That is indeed good advice about drying her off and I'll emphasize that.

She wore a vest last year but is much bulkier now. I'll go and see if I can find one that fits closely.

The vest must after all fit closely or it is all but useless.

I've had custom wetsuits made for freediving by Polosub in europe and surfing suits by the Peru Company "Boz". I'd really like to measure her up and get a suit that is only open where it needs to be. I wouldn't worry about the dog overheating because it wouldn't be an overly thick suit.

But this year may indeed be a lot different because she was less than a year old last year so I suppose we'll adapt accordingly.

I'm not worried about the boat flipping over and having a trapped dog because a million things can happen and I can't cover them all. We love our dog as you do but I think that a well designed place for the dog in the boat could make things safer rather than more dangerous. Putting too much stuff in the boat is indeed a concern but again, a well designed place might keep the boat better organized.

I've got four decades running boats but only one season of duck hunting under my belt and it was not from a boat.