Can I have a Staffy on a narrowboat?

Hi, as a kid my family dog was a Staffy and I have an enormous amount of love for this particular breed and have always thought that when i had a another dog, it would also be a Staffy. I now live on a 60foot narrowboat with my other half in lovely rural Berkshire and am very keen for us to have a dog. My other half also has a three year old daughter who comes to stay with us on the weekends.

It's been suggested to me that a Staffy would not be the best choice of dog to live on a narrowboat as they are not good swimmers. Does anyone else agree with this?

Also, I know they make excellent family dogs but does anyone think there may be a problem with my boyfriends daughter only being around at the weekend?

Please help!

A staffy would be fine on Narrow Boat! Mine adores swimming and even if they don't there not going to necessarily go in the water!! I live in a flat and so don't have a garden, just means extra walks and lots of play. I think it sounds ideal and as for the daughters, unless she hates being licked to death there will be best mates I'm sure!!

Oh hi and welcome to the forum

First of all, hello and welcome to the forum

Staffies are high energy dogs and would probably dash about the boat, possibly falling in. They can swim (mine does anyway) but I'm not sure how happy one would be living on a boat. As for other halfs daughter only being around at the weekend, that shouldnt be a problem. Staffs are generally excellent with children, regardless of whether they see them regularly or not.

I'm sure there was someone on here a while back who did have a staff on a narrow boat! I'm pretty sure that they had a doggie life jacket on every time they were on deck (if that's what you call it on a narrow boat!).

Staffs can swim very well as long as they are introduced to water properly.

I really can't see a problem.

Hi &

Welcome to the staffordshire bull terrier niceboard. We are pleased you have decided to join us, and hope you enjoy your stay. We hope to see plenty of pictures of your staffordshire bull terriers or any other breed you may have in your household

If you would like to enter your dog(s), puppy(s) or another pet(s) you may have into our Monthly Competition, voting starts on the 20th of every month, if you are lucky your dog maybe placed on our Hall Of Fame page on our website.

Just one last thing before you look around could you please just have a quick look At This Poll, we would love to know how you found us.

Here are some links that will get you started with the website:-

Please read the Forum Rules before you start posting.
Here are a list of Tutorial & FAQs that will help you around the forum.
You can ask for help here if you are having trouble doing something on the forum.
If you have any ideas to improve the forum please let us know Your Feedback Here.
We have a Website with alot of information if you would like to view it.

My Samsons a great swimmer but you could also get a life jacket for him there no bigger than a doggy rucksack

Hello And Welcome From Me And Bruno.

Can't Comment On The Situation as i have only had Bruno 15 weeks on sunday, Not sure about water as Bruno doesn't like having a bath that alone going for a swim

Also cant see a problem myself and like as already said unless the daughter doesnt like being licked to death there wont be a prob, As for swimming my Mazda is a great swimmer and will get in any water even muddy puddles Zero's not yet seen water but norfork broads trip soon will sort that!

Staffiexxx wrote: Zero's not yet seen water but norfork broads trip soon will sort that!

Went last year, it was fab, an amazing place for wooflets, proper windy though!

I live kings Lynn so not far and fully agree with the wind before u get to norfolk broads big shock moving from London to here lol!!

I can guess, but also jelous

I can't see any problems harvey is only 18 weeks, but we already know he's a great swimmer as he fell in a friends pond TWICE and had to swim out

Thanks everyone, i'm convinced that a Staffy bitch would make a welcome addition to the family and is well suited to boat life.

Now my next question is about buying a pup! I'm viewing 11 pups born 22/05 in Luton this Sunday afternoon that will be ready to take home mid July. What's the usual protocol for buying pups? The pups are with their mother in family home currently. If i decided i wanted one of them, should i pay a deposit there and then?

some of my friends have narrowboats, I take my dogs with me when I go to visit them and they are fine. Staffs are fine swimming shortish distances, if you were on the move you can easily buy a doggy lifejacket to leave on your dog just for peace of mind if he/she were to fall in. These lifejackets r good because they have a handle to pull your dog out

http://www.innerwolf.co.uk/boating-watersports/dog-life-jacket.html

, I personally have an ezy dog one for when Skibadee goes to the beach.

I live near to King's Lynn too, we often take our dogs including Polly who is just over 4 months old up to Brancaster Beach, She can swim really well, she just followed our other dogs into the water the first time (about 11 weeks old) now she goes rushing in by herself We have to call her out otherwise she would take off after the seals

We have taken dogs on broads holidays in the past and you just have to keep an eye on them in case they go in, as it isn't always easy for them to find a bank to climb out of the water, and would think that would be even worse on a canal, but dogs get used to things and I bet after a few swims it would learn ( for ours the temptation to chase the geese and ducks was just too much on their first few cruises )