Farley’s Friday: I’m about to get wet.
dogs
Farley’s Friday: Dogs in Restaurants
Farley here.
I really like Florida. It so warm that most restaurants have outdoor patios AND they let me join the party. It’s all so civilized. Finally a place that understands I belong with my humans all the time.
I mind my manners. I don’t beg. I don’t pester other diners. And I don’t play with other dogs that happen to be there. Kristina always orders a bowl of ice cubes for me, which keeps me entertained as I try not to let them slide out from under the table.
I do my best to look refined and dignified and so far, I haven’t been kicked out of anywhere.
The best is I hint to Kristina that she should order something with good leftovers for me. I don’t get to eat it until we get back to the boat and it’s in my bowl, but that’s okay with me.
Did I mention, “I love Florida.”
Woof Woof.
Thanks for reading . . .
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Farley’s Friday: Happy American Thanksgiving
- Ooooh. Ate too much. Must . . . nap . . . now . . .
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Farley’s Friday: A Dog Underway
Farley here.
Well, I’m on the water, moving south.
Before we left the dock, I helped Matt get the sails rigged. We started early, just as the sun was coming up. Matt and Kristina wanted the sails up before the wind picked up. I guess it’s not great to have full sail up when the boat is tied to the dock.
I tried to tell Matt what the fastest way to get this done was, but he never listens to me. I know how the sails to go on, he just doesn’t understand dog speak. Plus if he was faster, I would have the trampoline back.
Our first day on the water was cold and Kristina was overprotective. She made me wear my harness and tethered me to the cockpit just because I kept trying to go lie on my trampoline. How embarrassing. The other dogs don’t have to wear a harness when they’re on the Intra-coastal waterway.
But best of all, I saw my first dolphins and barked at them. I had to let them know I’m the boss.
Woof, Woof.
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Farley’s Friday: My Sailboat is Launched
Farley here.
I’m a happy dog. Mattina is in the water. I barked the whole time we were in traveller lift waiting to set sail. I was just too excited to contain myself. I couldn’t control my behaviour and jumped off the boat right as Kristina and Matt were letting the lines go. Alas, the dock hands were too quick. One of them grabbed my harness and lifted me back on board. I don’t know what I was thinking.
Now that we’re in the water, Kristina and Matt aren’t on a deadline and I get more attention. I’ve already had three walks today!
To celebrate, I rolled all over my trampoline. I love my trampoline.
Then, I ran below and played on the bed. I’m not allowed to do this, so don’t tell Kristina, but sometimes a dog just has to express himself.
Woof Woof.
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Farley’s Friday – Dog in a Boatyard
Farley here.
I’m in Florida. Bad weather is coming, but we’re in a safe place. It’s hot here, much hotter than Winnipeg, Manitoba.
We left Winnipeg on Sunday and arrived in St. Augustine, Florida on Tuesday night. That means I spent 3 days in a car. Booooooring.
Kristina seemed excited that we crossed 9 States. All I saw was the inside of the van, a few trees, and hotel rooms.
So what can I say about Florida. That grass is weird and makes my feet itch.
I’ve got a nice yard for the week while my owners stay in a house. I get to chase squirrels, and they are inside and very tired. Too much work on the boat for them.
So what’s a dog life like in a boat yard, you ask. The rocks hurt my feet. The ground smells of odd things. I mentioned it is hot, so I either spend my time under a boat, and anyone’s boat will do, or I hide in my boat. I let my owners have the starboard side, but the port side is all mine.
The boat yard people are very nice and they like dogs. Me especially. Because I’m so cute, you know.
The draw back – I’m down from 3 walks a day to 2. What’s up with that? I can’t wait until Matt and Kristina are finished ‘working’ on their boat, launch it, and I get 3 walks again.
I get lifted and carried a lot. The boat is up on the hard and I need help getting on. Matt’s very good about it.
There’s a mean dog on the boat beside us, and I had to snap at him to tell him to leave me alone. Now he just stares at me. It’s a bit awkward.
My owner’s bring ice to the boat to keep my water cold. The house has a fridge that makes ice cubes. Heaven for me. I love ice cubes. I never get any while sailing, so I’m having as many as I can right now. Once we’re under way my owners are always talking about power consumption and say we can’t have an ice cube maker.
Soon, the boat will be in the water, Kristina will put me back to the top of her priority list, and I can keep watch for dolphins.
Woof woof.
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Farley’s Friday: A Bad Hair Day or Getting A Dog Ready to go South?
Farley here.
Look what Kristina did to me! My hair was flowing. It made me handsome. After my hair cut, I look funny. Let’s just say Kristina isn’t the most talented groomer. She cuts my hair herself because there are no groomers where we are going. Am I supposed to believe the Bahamians don’t have dogs?
She says she’s getting me ready for the Bahamas. She blabbed on about how hot it is down south, how there are ticks, and how sand sticks in my hair. At least she listened to the vet when he said she shouldn’t cut my hair too short or I could get sunburnt, otherwise; I might be bald.
I have to say, my ears feel lighter and cooler with shorter hair, but that’s the only good thing.
Now I have to wait until spring before I can have long hair again. Kristina is crazy with the clippers once we are living on Mattina.
So, am I still handsome?
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Farley’s Friday
Farley here.
Kristina still won’t write my blog, so here I am typing again. She clipped my nails this week, so it’s a little harder for me to hit the keys accurately. Good thing there is a delete key, and it’s bigger than the others.
So I’m celebrating. Today is my 4th year anniversary living with Kristina and Mathew. Can you believe how time flies? My friend Kermit the Frog says, “Time’s fun when you’re having flies.” I don’t really get it. Who wants flies?
So this week, I jumped of the back deck and look what I found. SNOW. The smells are incredible. I chased a deer and one rabbit, but they’re too fast for me.
The snow sticks to my fur and gets between my pads. All I have to do is sit and look pathetic. I hold up my paw and my owner picks the snow out of my pads for me. She’s so easy to train. I lower my nose and lift my big brown eyes at her, and Kristina does whatever I want. If any anyone needs help on training their owners, just let me know. Mine gets a gold star for her behaviour.
A couple more weeks of cold weather in Winnipeg and then I head south to start my cruising season. I’m glad I got the chance to see snow. I’d forgotten it existed.
Happy Snowball Chasing.
Woof Woof,
Farley
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Farley’s Friday – Grooming While Cruising
Farley here!
My owner, Kristina, has decided she doesn’t have time to write about me. She’s too busy writing her book. So . . . I’ve stolen her laptop and am going to write my blog. My paws are a bit clumsy, but I can do it. I know I can.
How do you like my hair cut above? Too short, I think. But it’s too hot in the Bahamas for me to have long hair. Plus, I get covered in sand and get itchy. I just wish Kristina had taken lessons in clipping my hair. Once she gave me a bald spot on top of my head. Good thing I’m a dog and don’t care.
So what’s in my grooming kit?
- Nail clippers (Kristina does this weekly so the quick recedes, and she doesn’t hurt me.)
- Large scissors
- Small scissors blunted at the end (for around my eyes and ears.)
- Toothpaste and brush (Not my favourite, but if I get an infection in my mouth, Kristina can clean it.)
- Clippers (For my winter haircut)
- Brush (One suited for my coat – you might be different and need a specific kind.)
- Comb
- Ear cleaning fluid (I hate this, but I get ear infections from too much time in salt water and this prevents them.)
- Cotton swabs (For cleaning the inside of my ears without hurting me.)
- Shampoo
- Conditioner (It’s embarrassing when she conditions my hair, but at least I smell nice.)
- Towels (So I don’t have to use human towels. They get testy about that. They also get annoyed when I’m wet and jump in their bed.)
Woof Woof.
Here’s what Kristina has already written about me. Lucky me – she may have given up writing my blog, but she does spend a lot of time getting my stuff ready for sailing.
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Going Sailing: Medical Kit For Dogs
Our dog Farley, spends his winters in the Bahamas on our Lagoon 380 S2.
We’ve entered the part of the year where we need prepare for the season. This includes provisioning for Farley. In Going Sailing With Your Dog? I gave a high level list of what to bring on a cruising boat.
Today I’ll focus on his medical kit.
Before entering the Bahamas, Farley needs to get a health certificate. This has to be done right before we cross, so I don’t leave anything critical until then. Sometime during the summer, I have a discussion with Farley’s vet about what he needs for the upcoming season. If your dog required any medication, it’s best to order early. Sometime the vet won’t carry a six month supply.
For Farley we bring
- Doxycycline – for lyme’s disease. This horrible disease can be cured, but only if you have the right medication.
- Advantix – some years are worse than others in the Bahamas for ticks.
- Heartworm pills
- The cone of shame, both a soft one, as shown in the photo and a hard plastic one. They can be stored flat underneath a bunk.
- Ear cleaning fluid. Farley tends to get ear infractions when he swims in salt water. The fluid seems to held reduce this.
- Antibiotic ear drops – for a serious infection
- Antibiotic eye drops – for a serious infection
- Muzzle – in case of severer injury, it might avoid a dog bite.
- Shampoo – think lots of sand! I put this under medical and not grooming as I believe it keeps Farley from having skin issues.
There are items from our medical kit that we could use for Farley. This includes large bandages, scissors, gloves, and antibiotic cream. I never give Farley medication from our kit unless a vet tells me it’s okay.
Before I leave for the season, I talk to my vet and make sure I can contact them while I’m away. There are vets in the Bahamas, and my experience there has been very good, but when sailing away from civilization, sometimes the only way to get a consult is through email
Please remember, this is what I bring based on what Farley needs. It’s best to consult your vet to get the right things for your dog.
If you have other items you bring, please let me know.
