Boating with pets is a ton of fun and a great way to bond with your furry friends! However, to successfully introduce your pet to the joys of boating, you’ll need to take things slowly. For helpful step-by-step instructions on how to get your pet acclimated to riding on the water, check out our guide below. 

Practice with Your Pet 

To avoid an anxious pet, you’ll want to introduce boating to your animal very slowly. To start, we recommend taking your pet onto your boat when it's docked or sitting at home and allowing them to explore freely, making sure to offer plenty of treats and praise as they walk around. 

We advise keeping your pet's first experience aboard your boat short so as not to overwhelm them and ensure they have a positive experience. You may need to bring your pet aboard several times before they become comfortable with their surroundings. Once your pet responds positively to being aboard your boat, feel free to take them on a ride out on the water. Just make sure to keep the trip short and offer plenty of praise to avoid overwhelming your animal. 

Prep for Your Trip

Before your pet can take their first boat ride, you’ll need to make sure you have everything you need to ensure their comfort and safety while they're on board. For starters, make sure your pet has a fitted life jacket to protect them from falling overboard, as well as a few treats and toys to help keep them occupied while you’re busy. You’ll also need to make sure your pet has a safe, shady place to get out of the sun, and access to food and water at all times. Finally, don’t forget to bring along some cleaning items to help pick up after your pet when they inevitably need to use the restroom. 

Looking for the perfect boat to take you and your furry friend for an exhilarating trip into open waters? Then be sure to visit us here at Roger's Performance Marine and browse our massive selection of top-of-the-line models for sale! Our locations in Centerville and Hurricane, UT also offer convenient financing, trade-in, and repair services for you to take advantage of, and proudly serve the nearby cities of Salt Lake City and St. George, UT.