Pontooning Pets Helpful pontooning hints from the staff of the Pontoon Boat Guide.

When we talk about how perfect the pontoon boat lifestyle is for the entire family, we're usually thinking of moms and dads, grandparents and children of all ages. Yet we would be remiss if we didn't mention that pontooning is something your family pet will enjoy too — provided he or she is the outdoorsy sort.

In fact, for many of us, we can't even think of a family activity without considering how our beloved four-legged family members can participate right alongside us. So consider this: While pets clamber aboard everything from offshore cruisers to sailing dinghies, a pontoon boat actually has the most user-friendly design for critters who might have to ease into their sea legs. The broad, flat deck and wide-open layout ensures that your pet will have plenty of room to stretch his legs, lie down and feel comfortable under way, on the hook or at the dock. In fact, he may find that your pontoon boat is every bit as pleasant as his living room setup at home!

Pets, like people, need to avoid getting too much sun. And they need shelter in the event of inclement weather. So you'll find that your pontoon's Bimini and available camper enclosure will both come in handy… your pet can lounge in the shade on a hot summer afternoon, he can snuggle with the kids if on-water conditions get a bit too brisk, and you may just find all of them napping happily together when all that fresh air catches up with them.

You're going to need a few things if you'd like to introduce your pet to pontoon boat living:

• A doggie (or kitty!) PFD. Pets can accidentally go overboard just as people can, and you'll want to make sure your furry friend can stay afloat without getting too tired or panicked. Check out your nearest local retailer; West Marine, for example, offers PFD options for large and small pets.
• A long boat hook. In the event that your pet goes overboard, you'll want to have this nearby so you can hook the loop on the top of your pet's PFD and more easily pull him toward the boat.
• Food/water bowls. Your pet will need plenty of fresh, cool water as well as some food, especially if you're planning a long day on the water. Regular bowls will work on a pontoon boat thanks to that nice flat deck, but you may want to consider travel bowls that have a more lightweight, easy-to-pack and easy-to-store design. This editor dearly loves her set of "Outward Hound" canvas bowls; they zip together for easy storage. You also can find nifty water bottles with flip-down drinking trays.
• et boarding ladder/ramp. You can train your pet to climb back aboard your pontoon boat; this comes in handy if your dog (less likely your cat!) enjoys swimming with the kids while you're at anchor. He can get into and out of the water whenever he likes. You can check out one neat version of a doggie boat ramp here.

Once you have the gear you’ll need, there's a few additional steps you'll need to take before you're ready to cast off the docklines with your pet.

• Make sure your pet is comfortable with the water. Boating is never going to be much fun if your poor dog or cat is scared to death. If you're not sure, take him to a pond, river or lake and let him — literally — get his feet wet. Or start with a backyard wading pool.
• If you're sure that your pet enjoys the water and being outdoors in new environments, then let him check out the boat. Just allow him to do it on his own terms first; give him plenty of time to sniff around and explore, and perhaps take him to the boat a few times before you actually go out.
• Practice a "pet-overboard" drill, just as you would execute man-overboard drills for the two-legged members of your family. If your pet accidentally goes overboard, you want to make sure that everyone on board knows exactly what to do.
• And remember: Treat your pontooning pet as if he were one of your children. Never leave him unattended on the boat, on the dock or anywhere near the water; make sure he has shelter, food and plenty of water; and HAVE FUN TOGETHER! After all, that's what pontoon boating is all about, no matter how many legs you have.

For more tips, Boat U.S. has a great "Boating Pets" section on its website. You can learn about everything from special boating-related pet commands and pet seasickness meds to where Fido and Fluffy can do their business on board (yes, really)!

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