We've worked out a solution to this by using the "chicken ramp" system. We actually had a doggy ramp, very expensive but not long enough, and one night we forgot to tie it securely OR bring it in . . . it fell in off the stern and friends retrieved it for us days later. But not before we'd built our chicken ramp. Hans bought a composite piece of wood, maybe 3/4" thick, 18" wide and 8' long. It's made of maybe 1x2s . . . We nailed cross pieces about 8" apart for the whole length, and covered it with indoor outdoor carpet. Dory runs up and down with glee -- it's a game to her! Here's a link . . . http://www.pbase.com/image/22469088 Granted, this chicken ramp has lasted a year and is getting water logged so we'll have to resolve the issue of permanence. But it's an easy enough thing to raise and lower it off the end of our boom . . . tie it to the top step of our ladder off the transom, and the far end we have a loop that we tie to the boom. Our feeling is that to give the dog a sense of control (and fun!) is far better than trying to raise and lower him OUT of control! Peggy Bjarno "Aqua Vitae" 1986 Albin 43' Kent Narrows, MD > From: Martin I Veiner <veiner@juno.com> > Subject: T&T: Re: Canine Lift System? > It was not a good trial. It took two strong men to get him out of the > cockpit and down to the swim platform, and the reverse process of getting > him out of the water back up to the deck took three of us, not to mention > that it traumatized the dog.

We know a dog in Catalina that plays ball all by itself. Starts on the top deck of a 40 foot trawler. Throws ball in the water. Lets it drift aways then jumps afer it. Collects ball swims back to boat. Climbs almost vertical ladder to cockpit. Gets into cockpit and climbs vertical ladder to top deck. Has to park ball in space between ladder and wall so mouth can be used for climbing. Gets to top and does it again. Dogs are very adaptable if you give them a chance. Our dog does not like to swim but will almost inevitably try to use its 12 foot jump to bridge the last 20 feet of approach when coming in for the early morning "walk". We dock and then haul the dripping beast out. It shakes then goes off and does its thing as if nothing happened. And it is pretty consistent...does not learn to wait another 10 feet or so...just can't resist. It is what makes a dog a dog. Yeah we could probably train it to not do that...but why? Jim > -----Original Message----- > From: trawlers-and-trawlering-bounces@lists.samurai.com > [mailto:trawlers-and-trawlering-bounces@lists.samurai.com] On > Behalf Of Peggy Carr > Sent: Sunday, June 06, 2004 8:43 PM > To: trawlers-and-trawlering@lists.samurai.com > Subject: T&T: Re: Canine Lift System > > > We've worked out a solution to this by using the "chicken > ramp" system. We actually had a doggy ramp, very expensive > but not long enough, and one night we forgot to tie it > securely OR bring it in . . . it fell in off the stern and > friends retrieved it for us days later. But not before we'd > built our chicken ramp. Hans bought a composite piece of > wood, maybe 3/4" thick, 18" wide and 8' long. It's made of > maybe 1x2s . . . We nailed cross pieces about 8" apart for > the whole length, and covered it with indoor outdoor carpet. > Dory runs up and down with glee -- it's a game to her! Here's > a link . . . http://www.pbase.com/image/22469088 > Granted, this chicken ramp has lasted a year and is getting > water logged so we'll have to resolve the issue of > permanence. But it's an easy enough thing to raise and lower > it off the end of our boom . . . tie it to the top step of > our ladder off the transom, and the far end we have a loop > that we tie to the boom. Our feeling is that to give the dog > a sense of control (and fun!) is far better than trying to > raise and lower him OUT of control! > > Peggy Bjarno > "Aqua Vitae" > 1986 Albin 43' > Kent Narrows, MD > > > From: Martin I Veiner <veiner@juno.com> > > Subject: T&T: Re: Canine Lift System? > > It was not a good trial. It took two strong men to get him > out of the > > cockpit and down to the swim platform, and the reverse process of > > getting him out of the water back up to the deck took three > of us, not > > to mention that it traumatized the dog. > _______________________________________________ > http://lists.samurai.com/mailman/listinfo/trawlers-and-trawlering > > To Unsubscribe send email to > trawlers-and-trawlering-request@lists.samurai.com > Include the word Unsubscribe (and nothing else) in the > subject or body of the message. > >

Maybe it's a morning hygiene thing? Ron Rogers ----- Original Message ----- From: "Jim Donohue" <jim_donohue@computer.org> | | Our dog does not like to swim but will almost inevitably try to use its | 12 foot jump to bridge the last 20 feet of approach when coming in for | the early morning "walk". We dock and then haul the dripping beast out. | It shakes then goes off and does its thing as if nothing happened. And | it is pretty consistent...does not learn to wait another 10 feet or | so...just can't resist. It is what makes a dog a dog. Yeah we could | probably train it to not do that...but why?