What I've learned about fishing with dogs is that the smaller ones stay on the hook better and catch more fish, especially on trotlines.

If I'm fishing, my Beagle Lacie is with me. She has been hooked twice. Once when I was swinging a bass into the boat caught on a rattle trap. She went for the fish and ended up with a trap in the nose. Had to cut it out. The other time was a sand bass. The fish came off about the time I was swinging it into the boat and all she saw was the slab and took a bite. This time she had a mouth full of treble hooks. I had to have my partner drive back to the ramp while I tried to hold her and keep her still. Had to get the side cutters out of my toolbox because the ones in the boat couldn't cut the hook.

She has now learned to let me take the fish off the hook before she gets to play with it. She only likes the smaller fish. Lucky for her that is about all I catch. The bigger ones seem to slap her around too much. If it gets hot, I just put her in the lake for a while so she can cool off and then it's back to fishing.

I will frequently bring along Zeus, my 80 lbs Yellow lab. He will reach into the bait tank and try to grab a shad (keeps him entertained, but he no longer eats them). He practically hangs off the bow, until it gets rough, and then he lays near on the walkaround path (catches some spray) or lays by our feet.

We have a swim platform in the back, which makes it easier for him to climb out of the water and pull him into the boat), he will jump in and swim with my two boys while we drift live bait or slabs near the front of the boat.

Too bad I don't duck hunt, because he loves to watch the ducks.

Started taking my yellow lab when we got her at 2 months old.
She lays on the back deck or if it is hot under the console. Only thing I have to watch is throwing a lure.She wants to go get it.
Took her out once when she was about 6 months old and she jumped off the back of the boat while I was fishing along
the bank. She swan to shore while I was trying to call her back.
She gets on shore and shakes off and goes on a potty break.
She finished and swam back to the boat. I had to help get her back in and then we were both wet after she shook. Pretty funny especially now.
Always have plenty of water and I have a rawhide or something for her to chew on.

My beagle goes nuts when he hears me start to load the boat up. He barks the whole way to the lake in the back of the truck. He wants EVERYONE to know he's "going to the lake". He likes to lay under the console if hot also. I keep him off the front deck because I'm always worried about hooks. He doesnt even try now. Not interested in the fish at all. Ducks are another story. The only time he's every jumped in was the very first time I took him out. Drove to our first spot and before I could get the TM in the water i heard a "Splash". Started heading for open water. Got about 20 feet away from the boat and wised up. made a u turn and I pulled him in. He's never jumped in since.
Great fishing partner. I guess you cant have a brand new Ranger and do this though. Luckilly I'm not as concerned about some hair in the boat or him on the seats.

I wish I could, but my dog would not stay in the boat.

My brother took his Border Collie with us on a fishing trip one time. It was summertime on Ray Hubbard, about 100 degrees. My dad gave us some Pimento Cheese sandwiches for lunch. We didn't know what kind of sandwiches they were until we unwraped them in the boat. GAG! The dog got the sandwiches.
To make a long story short, later that day the dog RUINED the boat and my brothers Bronco on the way home. I have tears coming from my eye's just remembering that day and writing this post. It still cracks me up.
I don't think my Akita or my Maremee Sheepdog either one would work too well in my boat.

I have a 4 year old boxer that I got from Steve from Steves custom props, I took her with me and the wife last sunday just to see how she would do, and she did great!! so I am planning on take her with me again, it was not hot sunday so she just layed on the floor of boat while I was fishing and she sat between me and the wife while we was on plane going from point to point! but she did very well, try it with your dog she may just like it.




Mavs

That's a FANTASTIC looking dog!

I have taken several dogs many times over the years and it is tons of fun. 1 time I left my dog in my truck with it running and he locked the doors on me while running around inside watching me. Fortunatly the windows were down about half way so it was no big deal. But just take your time and remember take care of the dogs needs first. I usualy only have 1 rod out at a time and double check EVERYWHERE for loose hooks. A dog with a hook in their paw is no fun!!! As for shade if mine gets to hot he will usualy curl up under the console. But if things are to bad for the dog put it on the trailer. As for going potty take a leash and beach somewhere and walk him.

Thats all I know. I don't have kids so I take a Dog.
For some reason I dont have a pic of him in the boat but here is my puppy Moose
He is a Great Dane and St. Bernard Mix. and he is 7 months old

Second Wind, a similar thing happened to me when my black lab was about five months old. I took him fishing with me for the first time and when we were about 20' from a bunch of reeds, he jumped in the lake and swam for the reeds, I think he thought that they were on land. He got tangled up in the reeds and couldn't get out, so I had to jump in the cold water (it was mid-April), get him out of the reeds and put him back in the boat. Our fishing trip was cut short because I was soaking wet and the temperature was about 55 degrees. The next few times we went fishing I tied his collar to a seat pedestal so he couldn't jump out.

After he was about a year old, I trained him to jump in the water on command, and when he was ready to get out I just grabbed him by the collar and pulled him into the boat. That was especially great during the summer because he would get hot sitting on the deck of the boat. I would tell him to go swim, he would jump in, swim around a bit and cool off, then I'd help him back into the boat.

I take my dog Sally-Doodle (Weinner Dog) and she love it. Gets excited when I catch one and loves to sight fish. She did fall out of the boat once about 2 years ago, now I carry her water bowl and she does great.

Ok well after my last post here I called in sick on Friday the 31st and took my Lab/Coon Hound Mix to Lewisville for some fishing. Here are a few pics...
Here we are idling out past the NO WAKE bouys and out on to the main lake .

He loves going fast on calm water!

And here he is I just put the boat on the trailer and he calmly awaits the ride home .

Capt. Peanut is on every trip unless its to cold or he chooses not to go. He once balked on me after nine straight days and or nights of fishing. I got in the truck and he laid down in the yard, a sign he doesn't want to go. I opened the front door and he shot back in the house.

i have a olde english bull dog and i take him about once a week and its pretty funny to watch him inbetween my legs while making a run. it tries to attack/eat the air. as far as your other ?s here it goes....

1.shade? under the console.
2.bathroom? take a few shore breaks to let em take a leak(or other)
2a.if it dose go ''potty'' in the boat while wrestling that lunker to the boat just splash water on ur front deck and scrub it out with ur hand(kinda grose but im a simple guy and it works no smell or stain. just do it asap.
3. make sure there are no loose hooks in the floor and keep ur rods that are on the deck on one side so you can watch out for possible dog hookings.
4.some dogs will love it some will hate it. you will be able to really tell after 3-4 trips so keep em happy.
5.what to bring.......
1. toy/bone
2. water bowl small size works well
3. a snack
hope this helps and to take a look at my puppy on the boat with me and a bass on fork go to http://codymaloneblog.com/?paged=2

hope this helps you out some.