how to transport bird dog on airboat.

[139sst]

HI guys, Just wondering for those of you that duck, snipe, quail, and dove hunt out of your boats what is the most safe way to transport

your dog. my boat is set up single driver up front and double in rear with small deck up front. I would hate to leave my dog at home.

Thanks in advance for advise.

[Whitebear]

Make sure your cage and wire cover all the openings to the prop in the hull. Leave the dog free and untethered to enjoy the boat ride. If the dog is caged or tethered you may kill your dog if you ever sink the boat. It has happened.

[MJD291]

I have mine ride on the footstand with me so I can hold on to his collar when needed. It keeps him safe and within eye sight. Be careful about having your dog ride on the front deck. I hit a patch of mud after coming off water that slowed the boat but not the dog and he flew off the front and then my boat ran him over because I was unable to stop. Also like Whitebear said don't tie him up either. I had a friend and his dog was tied in the boat and it got wrapped up in the throttle cable while he was idling in deep water and the dog gave the boat full throttle then let off and sunk the boat and it killed the 2 dogs tied to the boat and the 3 hogs that he had just caught and had hog tied in the bottom of the boat. If you do bring a dog keep his and your safety in mind.

[plumcrazy]

i ride mine on the footstand also keep
lead on her and set on it so i can secure her when i stop

[rbjscott]

My dogs for the most part ride on the foot stand between my legs. I always have check cord or lesh on them that I sit on. Had a couple that rode on the deck. My first Lab hated Nut-rats and he would jump off and it was on--Dead rat. "E collar" stopped that. The one I have today loves to fish. When we come back in after hunting if the water is out and see fish I let him to out chase fish. Last season he caught 4 Reds and 9 Catfish. Really fun to watch I woud never restain the dog where if the boat sake he could not make it. Quik knot or cage flotain

[Striker543]

Loose in the boat, but would not recommend doing without a well trained dog. Make sure the prop is well protected so the dog can't get into it. Start them young with someone close by to grab them if necessary, but for the most part, they will learn on their own from the school of hard knocks and from visually seeing your instructions. Mine thought it might be a good idea once to jump off the boat at a coot she wanted to retrieve - after she chased the boat for 20 minutes wanting to get back on while we idled away, she decided to never do that again.

The dogs we've had have all enjoyed riding on the bow - face in the wind before the hunt, butt in the wind after they get wet.

[akblackdawg]

I do restrain my dog. Back when I had a mud boat, my dog was riding the bow and flew off it, got ran over, bump-bump. Lucky he was not hurt, prop almost got him on the mud motor. I use a light cord and a snap swivel with a eye made of bent over metal, a good jerk and he could straghten it, and he has. Wanted something that would give with a real good pull to minimize risk. Don't want to drown him in a sunk boat, but take it easy and careful when he is with me. He loves to ride the bow.

In addition you need to get some mutt muffs, earmuffs for dogs. If you dog is whistle trained and handle, be sure and protect his hearing. No good to train a good handling dog to have him go deaf. Bud

[catchment38]

Please dont let you DOG ride un tied if you like them. Not good, A lot of ya'll run the rivers etc. but common sence works. I've rode dogs pretty much all my life on my boat in the glades and never had any trouble. Chassing deer with a dog un tied would be a joke, same if they saw a duck or a water bird. Just my thoughts. Also ran deep canals, if any one s never been there.

[139sst]

Thanks for the tips, looks like I will try the footstand method while sitting on the lead.
anybody going snipe hunting on the first? I can't wait!

[Duece]

Where the hell do you quail hunt that you need an airboat????

Duece

[139sst]

Duece, if I take you can we use one of your pointers?

[plumcrazy]

another thing to consider if your riding with other boats, my pit likes to catch loud stuff like my bike the vacume cleaner and airboat props , i swear she will jump right in the back of a boat, when some one cranks up, so i only take this dog on solo runs now, ive seen three dogs killed by airboat not a pretty site, best airboat dog ive had was a lab sure miss that one,

[Big Casino]

Full cage down low, like WhiteBear suggested. Be cautious of a bird dogs hearing, very sensitive to high freq noise damage like AkBlackDawg said.

We used to duck hunt the lake near Harney Pond canal alot. Raised black labs, hunted and field trialed them. Getting one to stay put were told was never an issue, or we wouldnt be hunting them. But If you do need to control yours or just feel more comfortable doing it, then definately do not tie or box the dog. Just use a slip cord or check rope. It's a 3' or 4' piece of small diameter cord with a bowline tied on one end, nothing on the other. Make a loop thru the bowline and put that end around your wrist. Slip the rope under the collar and just hold the other end in your hand or fingers. Make it as long as you need for the boat. Make a shorter one when walking or hunting the dog in the heel position. Its also great to steady a dog after the shot, if pup needs help being steady. To launch dog, just open your hand and cast the dog... rope slips out from under collar as he heads for that "last bird down" ...... same thing if boat ride goes bad

Good Luck!!!!!

[Bruce]

i got a cur dog and hell climb right up and sit between ur legs and wont move til you say so no need for a lead but hes well trained to mind or he gets a lesson taught

[Jimmy Rickards]

Make sure your cage and wire cover all the openings to the prop in the hull. Leave the dog free and untethered to enjoy the boat ride. If the dog is caged or tethered you may kill your dog if you ever sink the boat. It has happened.

X 2

[swampjunkie]

put a door mat with carpet on your front deck if you have a solid grass rake. It doesn't move but gives a dog great traction
and is cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter for your dogs pads. You can get one that covers the front deck 4x6
and cut to fit your deck and it stays put while traveling 70 behind the truck. I think some training on the boat without the motor
running at home would go a long way in keeping your dog safe. Show him what is expected of him and he will get it cause everyone wants to go airboating.

[rbjscott]

For new dogs I close the bottom of cage with shrimp net and zip ties--Just in case.

[139sst]

Really appreciate all the tips , I didnt realize there were that many bird hunters on here.
I really like the check cord with the loop knot and the floor mat suggestion. Working on
the dog handling, using Richard Wolters " Water Dog" and Ten Minute Retriever. The dog
is a Boykin Spaniel and not many around here for reference. Thanks.

[FLCGC4H2O]

My lab rides on the bow against the grass rake untethered. I don't use him to duck or snipe hunt because most times it is shallow and warm enough to use waders. Snakes and gators will cause more in vet bills or me digging a hole, so I don't use the dogs in FL.
If your metal works are good, it should be fine, but you can't expect a good duck dog to hear whistles after being in an airboat awhile.

[Duece]

My lab rides on the bow against the grass rake untethered. I don't use him to duck or snipe hunt because most times it is shallow and warm enough to use waders. Snakes and gators will cause more in vet bills or me digging a hole, so I don't use the dogs in FL.
If your metal works are good, it should be fine, but you can't expect a good duck dog to hear whistles after being in an airboat awhile.

Hunted waterfowl in FL for over 25 years and NEVER had an issue with gators or snakes...

Duece

[Striker543]

My lab rides on the bow against the grass rake untethered. I don't use him to duck or snipe hunt because most times it is shallow and warm enough to use waders. Snakes and gators will cause more in vet bills or me digging a hole, so I don't use the dogs in FL.
If your metal works are good, it should be fine, but you can't expect a good duck dog to hear whistles after being in an airboat awhile.

Hunted waterfowl in FL for over 25 years and NEVER had an issue with gators or snakes...

Duece

Nor have I ::knock on wood.:: But, we generally hunt shallower water when it's not real cold out and check the slough with the spotlight while it's dark to make sure any big gators aren't too close.

[NotAGuide]

If you have room, its nice having them right next to you.

[AK.airboater]

great photo! that should work as good or better than mutt muffs, ya think?

[139sst]

Not a guide, that is perfect. unfortunately I dont have anywhere near that kind of room. What are the specs. on your boat? I have always been an aircraft guy but may have to start a carmotor project.

Thanks

[bkmail]

Our lab hangs out in the boat under the cab. She learned long ago not to screw around on the bow or hang over the front.....I taught her early when we had a jetboat. She'll start to creep up on the front and look back at me, all I have to is signal by hand and she disappears into the bottom of the boat again.
She also knows better than to hop out on her own, I've made her swim a ways and she was happy to get back in and stay there.
It's all about owner control and discipline in my opinion. Leave them untied cause if you sink it would suck to drown your pet.
If you can't contol them, then don't bring them......just like kids!
BK