Liveaboard Dog

Can you guess who has the most important job on the boat? Nope, it’s not me. And it’s not my husband. And no, it isn’t even Honey.

Have you wondered where we store dog food in a tiny boat? Or if we schlep gigantic bags of kibble from the store on our backs? Or if poor Honey is even being fed properly at all (don’t ask her; she lies). Wonder no more. Today I reveal how it takes a village to feed a …

Honey is a hog. A blanket hog. But we may have found an answer.

Dogs used to live in houses outside in the yard. Now many people have invited their dogs into their houses. And onto the furniture. Are we going back the other way? With our new tiny boat, have we moved back into the doghouse with our dog?

I know you’re hoping for cute pictures of Honey on exotic beaches or barking at pelicans. But life on a boat takes lots of training. For us. And for the dog.

Honey sleeps. She eats. She runs around and plays. In many ways, little has changed for my dog since we moved aboard a boat. But some things are very different.

As we got closer to moving aboard a sailboat, I worried more and more about Honey. How would she move around the boat? Deal with cramped quarters? Cope with the stress of moving aboard? I don’t know why I wasted my time. Honey sails better than I do.

One of my biggest worries about setting sail with Honey is reuniting if we got separated. If the worst happens, I’ve found the best way to keep Honey from staying lost while we’re traveling. And it’s probably a good idea for you too.

My dog Honey has acted differently lately. She’s doing things she’s never done before. And I’m worried. Do you think my dog needs a psychiatrist?

During the long wait to buy our new sailboat, I’ve had plenty of time to say to myself, “MY DOG. AM I CRAZY TO WANT TO LIVE ON A SMALL BOAT WITH A BIG DOG?” Yes, yes I am crazy. But I’ve also thought of a few reasons everyone should sail with a dog.