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How to take a dog on a boat

A boat is a moving, tilting floor surrounded by cold water, and a dog has no idea why it is there. The fix is the same as for any new place: small steps, paid generously, with the safety gear on from the start. This page covers the jacket, the dock, the shade and the harbor.

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A man sits on a blanket by a river holding a tennis ball up for a yellow Labrador.

Last reviewed October 10, 2026 · by the Dogtown team

Before you start

Before you start, fit a life jacket and make it boring at home

Buy the jacket before you book the boat; the AKC's boating guide notes that most rental boats do not carry dog jackets, so bring your own. Fit is the safety feature. A canine hydrotherapist quoted by the AKC warns that a worn-out life jacket can be dangerous and that it should fit snugly around the neck. Choose one with a sturdy handle on the back, because lifting a wet dog out of the water by the collar is slow and risky.

Then make the jacket ordinary. Put it on for a minute, treat, take it off, and build to wearing it through dinner and a walk around the block. Check the straps and foam before each outing, as the AKC advises. The people aboard need the same habit: the Coast Guard's boating safety program points out that most boating drownings happen on nice days, and that the best life jacket is the one you will actually wear. An owner in the water cannot help a dog.

  • A dog life jacket, snug at the neck, with a lifting handle
  • Worn at home until the dog ignores it
  • Straps and foam checked before every trip
  • A life jacket for every person aboard, worn

The steps

Teach the dog to board, settle and come ashore in seven steps

The AKC's method for boats is gradual: start with the boat on land or beached in shallow water, let the dog get on and off by itself, reward two paws aboard and then four, and move onto the water only when the dog boards and stays without fuss. If the dog shows distress, go back a step. Lifting a frightened dog aboard teaches it that the dock is a trap, and you will be lifting it every time after that.

Boarding from a dock adds a gap and a step down, and both shift as the boat moves. One person aboard steadies the boat and takes the leash; the other walks the dog to the edge, asks for a wait and gives the boarding cue. The ramp to a floating dock changes angle with the tide, so walk it with the dog at low water and at high water before the first real trip.

  1. 01

    Put the jacket on at home, then again at the dock, before the dog ever steps aboard.

  2. 02

    With the boat tied up and the engine off, reward the dog for sniffing, then for two paws aboard, then four, and let it step off again.

  3. 03

    Teach a wait at the dock edge and a boarding cue, with one person aboard to steady the boat and take the leash.

  4. 04

    Aboard, settle the dog on a non-slip mat in the shade and pay it for lying down while the boat is still tied.

  5. 05

    Take a ten-minute trip in calm water at low speed, and head back before the dog looks ready to leave.

  6. 06

    Offer fresh water from a bowl often on warm days, and plan a bathroom break ashore or on a pad aboard.

  7. 07

    Coming in, keep the jacket on, clip the leash before the dog moves, and give the cue to step off only once the boat is tied.

The harbor

In Gloucester harbor, plan around the forecast, the cold water and the harbor's own rules

Read the National Weather Service Boston forecast before you load the dog, and save the first trips for a light-wind day. The water is the bigger issue. The NWS warns that cold shock can be just as severe in water of 50 to 60 degrees, with gasping and rapid breathing in the first minutes, and tells people to dress for the water temperature rather than the air. A dog that goes over the side is a reason to bring the boat around, not to jump in after it.

Moorings, speed and anchoring in the harbor are the harbormaster's business, and we do not repeat those rules here; call the harbormaster's office before your first trip with a dog. On the Rockport side, the town's beach regulations bar boats from landing on or launching from a beach except in an emergency, let kayaks and paddleboards launch only with the lifeguard's approval, and bar boating within 150 feet of shore at low tide. Read them before you plan a beach landing.

  • A light-wind day on the NWS Boston forecast
  • A plan to recover the dog with the boat, not by swimming
  • Harbor rules from the harbormaster, asked in advance
  • No beach landings in Rockport outside an emergency

Mistakes we see

Mistakes we see: the tied dog, the bare deck in July and the sip of harbor water

Never tie the dog to the boat. The AKC is explicit that a dog tethered to a boat, kayak or raft can be trapped and injured if the craft capsizes. Hold the leash while boarding, then rely on the jacket and a settled dog. The second mistake is a dark deck in full sun with no shade, which turns a calm August afternoon into a heat problem; the AKC tells boaters to carry ample water and watch for overheating in strong sun.

The third is letting the dog drink over the side. The AKC's article on salt water says a few mouthfuls may cause only diarrhea, while large amounts can be fatal. The fourth is assuming a dog that rides well in the car will be fine at sea, or the reverse. The AVMA notes that a pet that gets motion sick in the car will likely be sick on a boat, and that your vet can suggest options before the trip.

When to call us

Call us for the days the boat goes out and the dog stays ashore

Some dogs never take to boats, and a long day on the water is not a day to leave a dog home alone. Our at-home dog walking covers the middle of the day: a solo walk of 20, 30 or 60 minutes for $25, $35 or $55, with a photo and a note afterwards. Availability depends on your address and the season, so ask whether we cover your street. Every dog new to us starts with the free evaluation on a weekday morning between 6:30 and 9:30 AM.

For a full day out, daycare at 210 Eastern Ave is $42, in a playgroup of 7 to 10 dogs matched by size and temperament, and the Pup Van collects for $10 each way in Rockport, Gloucester, Essex and Manchester-by-the-Sea. A dog that comes home from the harbor salty can have a bath priced by size from $55, with no evaluation needed. If boarding the boat is where it all falls apart, private training sessions start from $94.

At Dogtown

For the days the dog stays ashore

Midday walks from home, a daycare day on the turf, and a bath for the dog that came back salty.

Dogtown walker and dog on a coastal trail at sunrise in Gloucester Dog WalkingNewFrom $25 · Explore Husky standing on the turf play yard at Dogtown, looking at the camera Dog DaycareFrom $33 · Explore Groomer blow-drying a red goldendoodle in front of the Dogtown Grooming sign Dog GroomingFrom $55 · Explore

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Asked and answered

Questions people ask about this

Short, complete answers you can act on today. More in the full FAQ.

Does my dog need a life jacket if it is a strong swimmer?
Yes. The AKC's boating guide says dogs should wear one even if they swim well, because a jacket gives immediate flotation and lets the legs rest. Waves, cold water and a fall from a moving boat tire even a good swimmer, and the handle on the jacket is how you get the dog back aboard. Fit it snug at the neck and check it before every trip.
Should I clip my dog's leash to the boat?
No. The AKC warns never to tether a dog to a boat, kayak or raft, because a capsized craft can trap and injure an attached dog. Hold the leash while boarding and on the dock, then settle the dog on a mat with its jacket on. If you need both hands, ask another person aboard to take the leash for a moment.
Can my dog get seasick?
It can. The AVMA notes that a pet that gets motion sick in the car will likely be sick on a boat as well. Watch for drooling, lip licking, restlessness and vomiting. Keep the first trips short and in calm water, skip a big meal beforehand, and talk to your vet before the season about options for a dog that struggles.
What do I do if my dog falls overboard?
Keep your eyes on the dog, slow down and bring the boat around to it, then lift it by the jacket handle from the lowest point of the boat. Do not jump in after it, especially in cold water; the National Weather Service warns that cold shock brings gasping and rapid breathing in the first minutes. The handle is what makes the recovery possible.
Are there rules for taking a dog on a boat in Gloucester?
We have not found a city rule written for dogs on boats, so treat the harbormaster's general harbor rules as the ones that apply and ask the office before your first trip. Gloucester's dog regulations still apply on the docks and the shore, where a dog must stay under its owner's control. In Rockport, boats may not land on or launch from town beaches except in an emergency.

More questions? Read the full FAQ

Sources

Rules and dates change. We re-check every beach, licensing and ordinance page each spring and fall; the source above is the current word.

Keep reading

At-home dog walkingHow to swim with a dog in the oceanHow to cool a dog down after a hot walkHow to walk a dog on a rocky shoreline How-to guides All guides

Next step

Jacket on, then cast off.

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