Jack Russel Terriers On Boats

Well, we're still here in Friday Harbor. We've pretty much settled into
life at the dock. Up in the morning for an "early walkies", boat
projects, a longer walk into town after lunch then, dinner and dvd's
until 2130 when it's "late walkies" before bed. The Sibs love walkies
and, since we've started using those Gentle Leader halters, we're
enjoying them much more too. What a difference those have made. They
still try to take us for walks instead of the the other way around but,
not as hard and, when we pull back, they know we mean it!

Other observations about JRT's on boats:
- JRT's are hyperactive 2-year olds with ADD. They're very bright
and very curious; a leaf or feather blowing by will send them into the
stratosphere. Because their attention span is measured in seconds (or
fractions of a second) we've begun varying our walk training to keep
them next to us when we walk. We walk fast for a few steps then, slow
for a few steps then, Tim Conway's old man slow for a few steps then,
stop and turn right then, ... well, you get the idea. As soon as they
start to get in the rut, we change the pace. They're actually starting
to look up at us for direction as we walk along.

- JRT's don't play well with 'lesser' dogs (or even other JRT's!).
They are not team players. When we take them to the dog park (a great
place for doggies to play) they immediately start to whip the other dogs
into line. It's usually Deja that starts this then, Sonny comes to her
aid. Because there's two of them, they team up against any dog that
shows weakness or is too submissive. It's got to be instinctual, I'm
sure no one trained them to do this. On the other hand, these are not
wimpy dogs. They're not dogs that will allow themselves to be pushed
around by other dogs. Their pride just won't allow it. If you want a dog
that will lay around and piddle when the newspaper boy throws the paper
against the door, JRT's are not for you. If you want a dog that will
follow a badger into its den and stay there until dragged out, maybe
JRT's are.

- JRT's are adaptable. One of our concerns about having dogs on a
boat was getting them to pee and poop on deck. When we're under way for
a long day or at anchor and it's gushing rain, they need to be able to
go and we're not going to be able to row them to shore every time. A lot
of dogs are so habit bound that if the location isn't exactly right, if
the grass isn't soft enough, if some other dog has or hasn't been there
before, they just won't go there. Our dogs don't share that problem.
Each of them took to the idea of going on deck right off. We set a
welcome mat sized piece of astroturf on the bow for them to use and, do
they ever use it! I'm putting on a plastic glove or bag every day and
picking up poops off the mat (and elsewhere on deck). Dog poop in fact
has become a constant obsession. Are they pooping enough, is it the
right color, size, is it too hard, not hard enough, what's that green
thing in there, is this his or hers? We each carry around two poopybags
with us whenever we take them out for walkies and restock our supply at
the dispensers located around town (Friday Harbor provides these Doggy
Doo dispensers throughout the marina and downtown area). It's a constant
irritation to observe how many dog owners won't use the bags provided.
We've even seen poop at the base of the dispenser stand!

- JRT's sleep alot. For all their high-energy exuberance during play
and walkies, when we come inside the boat, they're both more than happy
to snooze until it's time to go out again - at least as long as we're
here with them. If we leave them alone too long, their need for
diversion will make them find ways to occupy themselves. Probably not
ways that we'll be happy with when we return. We've started to zip them
up in their crate if we're going to be gone for more than just a few
minutes. This is a new phenomenon. When we first got the Sibs we could
leave them uncrated for hours while we went shopping. Not anymore. I
think they were being on their best behavior like when our kids would go
over to spend the night at a friends house. How they'd help clean up
after dinner or, even help with the dishes. They'd never do that at
home. I think the Sibs acting up when we leave means that they think
this is home now and they don't have to behave. How's that for spin?

- JRT's love attention. Each of them welcomes as much oohing and
ah'ing as they can get. Deja was quite shy when we first got them and
would often pull back from people's hands or even growl at them when
they would try to pat her or scratch behind her ears - especially
children. She doesn't do that anymore. She'll even nudge Sonny out of
the way and get to the front of the line. They're both convinced that
the word 'cute' was invented just for them. For example a stranger's
"Isn't that a cute pair of shoes?" will get them up and wiggling for
attention. Not to mention the multitude of "Oh, what cute doggies!" they
hear as we walk around town.

That's it for now, time for afternoon 'walkies'.

David and Christine and the Sibs
SV Raven
Juneau, AK

Currently lying Friday Harbor, WA