Summer (a.k.a “Summer Breeze) & Emmie (a.k.a “Emm-Dawg”) are our resident boat dogs! Summer (left) is 3 and Emmie (right) is 9 and they both are pure-bred Labrador Retrievers. They are fairly small labradors, weighing in around 50-60lbs. We committed to buying a boat hoping our dogs would be just as excited about our dream as we were. The day they stepped foot onto our boat was the first day they had ever been on a boat and boy, did they seem excited! From that day on, the dogs haven’t shed an ounce of anxiety or fear. They love dinghy rides, letting their ears flap in the wind in the cockpit, swimming, bird hunting, sunbathing out on deck and maybe their most favorite, eating the leftovers!

 

Emmie, who is 9, is our ball-chasing girl. Even though she is 9, she doesn’t quit, especially if there is a ball involved, add in some water, and this girl is obsessed, but due to her age, she does pay for those crazy ball sessions later. At first, Emmie was a bit hesitant about the companionway stairs, but now, she goes up and down without a problem. Sometimes Emmie will mind her manners and bark when she is down and wants to come up, or when she is up and wants to come down! Once we give her the command to “come!” she comes. We do worry about Emmie’s age as she will be over 10 when we leave Maine next summer, but we are hopeful she will live her old dog years with the ones she loves the most. Emmie loves to find a tight place to curl up when we are heeled over on a passage, but when we’re on the hook, she loves to sunbathe up on deck!

 

 

Summer, who is 3, is quite a funny little lady. I think in Summer’s past life, she was a huntress and a napper. She loves to watch birds, seals, rodents, cats and anything that peaks her interest. She loves food. She loves naps. And only runs when she absolutely has to, usually for small wildlife. She barks at people who have hats on. Summer will surely be the perfect boat dog. Though, we joke and say Summer will probably be our first real-life M.O.B (man overboard) drill when she jumps off to chase something in the water. Summer has really enjoyed being on the boat and loves to go on dinghy rides. If anyone goes for a dinghy ride without her, she cries.