The Best Boating Dog – My Top Five Reasons

Captain Dennis Mykols

Published: Wednesday, March 28, 2018

In keeping with this issue’s theme on pets, I thought to discuss what breed I think is the “best overall boatin' dog”: the Miniature Schnauzer.

Okay, I know right off the bat, you think I'm nuts. Of course, you will think the Lab is the best and, in some respects, I could not agree more. BUT, hear me out on my reasoning.

Tail (or lack thereof). Ever get whacked by a three-foot-long Lab's tail going the speed of light? My little Schnauzer has a clipped tail. It still wags like crazy, but harmless. One point to the Schnauzer.
No slobber! My son, Don, had a Bloodhound named Gus, and I have never seen him without a 6-inch drool hanging from his mouth, including when he ran up to greet me. Then, after petting him, comes the almighty shake; throwing any drool left that did not already get all over my clothes high in the air to be sure he got you good. Schnauzers don't drool. Lick you to death, yes, but drool, no. Another point to the Schnauzer.
Size matters! Ever try to get a 90-pound Lab or Bloodhound back in the dinghy after he jumps in after ducks? I have. Don and I had Gus and our male schnauzer, Nugent, in our dinghy and in goes Gus. I thought my son was going to drown trying to push that big, wet hound back into the dinghy. Alternatively, my little dog is 15 pounds dripping wet. With the handle on her life jacket, I can scoop her with one hand as she goes floating by. Yet another point for the Schnauzers.
Want a lap dog? Try that with a Lab. Our male Schnauzer was not much of a lap dog. Too macho, I guess. But Beemer, our female, fits very nicely on my lap while I drive the boat. Point to the Schnauzers.
And, finally, shedding hair! Schnauzers just don't. Game-Set-Match. My reasons the Schnauzer is one of the best loving pets you can have on a boat.

I hope you enjoyed this little tongue-in-cheek story, and pictures. Don't get me wrong - I think the Lab is one of the best dogs to play in the water with, along with a lot of other breeds. Dogs on boats just go hand in hand!

This article first appeared in the Spring Issue (Mar/Apr) 2018 of Great Lakes Scuttlebutt magazine.