Has anyone taken their dog(s) on a canal boat holiday?

[TheFantasticMrsFox]

Having finally tracked down a company that will allow us to take all three (after several phone calls where I was dismissed out of hand and one where it was as if I had admitted to a thundering dose of the clap) we are going on a canal boat

Is there anything I should specifically bear in mind? All three are well behaved but likely to spend a lot of time in the water given half a chance. Will happily sleep in a cage so no worries there, used to visiting pubs etc so no need to leave them alone.

I envisage long peaceful strolls down tow paths, with them gambolling happily by my side. Evenings will be spent in pub gardens with them all lying attentively and quietly at my feet

What could possibly go wrong?!

I am very
Can I ask the company you're using please?
I've never done it but I'd love to.Our little dog comes camping and I can't see it would be any different.
Its a lovely sociable thing walking along the towpath -I love to do it whenever I can -but I do keep him on lead,since I worry about finding it hard to get him out if he went in unless its in an area with a sloping bank.

My parents had canal boats for most of my childhood and we had our Labradors on them every holiday. Be aware that the canals narrow at bridges so the bank is right next to the boat, and that presents an easy opportunity for dogs to get off. Ours was known to hop off at one bridge, take himself for a wander along the towpath keeping pace with us then hop back on at the next one. Getting off canal boats is very easy, especially at the back where there is usually just a platform, so keep them at the front where there is usually more of a barrier if they're likely to leap off unbidden.

There are things to chase everywhere (ducks, people etc) so lots of things they might jump into the water after. Canals are often shallow at the sides, in many places too shallow to get the boat alongside, so you may have trouble getting them back on if they do get off. If you have a harness or similar that they're happy to wear, that makes it much easier to haul them back on board rather than just a collar.

Shut them down below in locks, unless there are enough of you to keep eyes on them at all times - locks come with all sorts of attendant dangers and also often have roads nearby.

Canal water is often dirty and minging.

I'm sure you've thought of this already but towels, towels, towels, more towels and then some towels...

Tow paths are narrow and therefore entertaining if they're in the habit of carrying sticks (yes, dearly departed Ddog, I do remember you swiping 2 very unamused people into the water with a large stick that was slightly wider than the towpath...)

I'm making it sound awful but actually it will be brilliant - new walks everywhere, lots of new people to make a fuss of them... I'm quite jealous now, my parents sold their boat years ago. Have a lovey time :)

*lovely, not lovey...

I lived afloat for 15 years with a dog, and the main things to be aware of are dogs falling in near the prop while the engine is running, that could kill a dog obviously , dogs falling in when in tunnels or locks (the dog can get crushed between the boat and the wall in a tunnel, and the currents in locks are very dangerous). I would keep the dogs shut in or tethered while cruising, or if you want a dog on your roof you can fix a long line along the roof and tether the dog to that, so that they can run up and down, but not sideways and so can't fall in. Although as its a rented boat that may well not be possible I suppose? You can get doggie life jackets with a handle on the back, very handy if your dog does fall in, canals can have steep sides and so be tricky to get a dog out of. Make sure that when you pull in near the towpath the dog does not jump out as dogs are often lost that way, if the drivers don't notice and carry on down the canal. Can't think of anything else! -oh, up to date jab for leptospirosis.

We have taken 3 dogs on a boat on the Broads, so it can be done! We bought life jackets for all the dogs as it's not always easy to get out at the side of the river or canal. It was an awful lot easier to get them out when they did fall in (which they did, albeit only once each!). There were lots of lovely walks, and it was great fun.
We didn't actually use the dogs' lifejackets often but I'm glad we had them.

We used to go a lot when I was a kid and took our GR.
He fell in all the time, especially when someone got off the boat and he wanted to follow. I remember my Dad almost drowning rescuing him.
Mind you, my brother fell in a lot too

Great, thanks all :)

The boys are trained gundogs so should be well behaved and under control The Pig is not so keen on water and prefers to lower herself in gently like a Victorian lady so hopefully no flying leaps overboard. We were going to get her a life jacket anyway but they don't seem that expensive so may suggest we get three, just for hooking out ability :o

Interesting about keeping them below decks at locks, I had no idea they could be so dangerous

DH and I had sort of imagined that one of us would probably be on the towpath most of the time with them, rather than lounging peacefully on board.

bloodywoman we are using Black Prince :)

Our family dog used to love the canal boat, he also loved the water! We eventually figured if we let him fall in on first day, he sort of got over the need to do that, and was much calmer for the rest of the time! ??
My current youngster tends to throw herself in if she gets the chance, silly idiot!

Our dog loved canal boat holidays. Apart from the locks, which she hated. She was completely fearless of everything else she ever came across, so just be prepared for slightly out of character fears as they encounter new things. She used to love swimming, but getting out of a canal is really difficult so I echo previous suggestions of life jackets with handles, or some other way of hoiking them out of the water. After the first year someone made a step for our dog so she could climb out with a little more grace!

Our dog loved the car and saw the boat as one huge car, so she loved it. Unfortunately she saw other people's boats as an extension of ours, so we had to keep a v close eye on her or she'd end up sloping off to join other people for dinner. Lastly, canal tow paths can be full of grouchy fishermen and cyclists ready to knock both you and your dog in the water. With well trained dogs you might not suffer as much as we did, but there were some bits we couldn't wander as freely as we'd have liked. Also, some bridges have v easy access from the tow path to a main road, again not likely to bother well behaved dogs, but just worth bearing in mind as our dog got into 'holiday wandering' mode.

Having said all of that, we did four holidays like this and they really were the best dog-friendly holidays ever. Enjoy.

I am almost exploding with excitement :o

DH has concluded that life jackets are a good idea. The fear that the boys will be emasculated and appear as if they are afraid of water has been overridden by the ease of a hook- I may even fashion myself a dog hooking hook before I go

Seriously, I can't see what's not to like. After years of French campsites I am looking forward to seeing some British countryside and pubs Even 10yo DS has been slightly mollified by the promise of occasional wifi :o

Where are you going? This www.webbaviation.co.uk/n-wales/pontcysyllteaqueduct.jpg is incredible, but I think one would want dogs below decks!

Funnily enough sirvix that's exactly it! Chirk is one of the few yards that will allow 3 dogs and DH is from the area originally (he actually did a lot of restoration work at Chirk Castle so he's quite excited at the prospect) :)

It is lovely there. My Dad would stop the car when we were small and make us all get out and just gaze at it! I have never been over in a boat, but I have watched them. And walked lengths of the path near the Chirk aquaduct. Good old Thomas Telford, he made some stunning pieces of engineering.

I've been over the aqueduct, amazing, especially with modern trains going alongside, but bloody heck it was nerve racking, just like a few tin baths stapled together and you could see through the gaps between them and watch the water escaping!! Ekkk! And des dogs below and well secured so they can't get out by accident!!