Jax' Story: Where I Become a Boat Dog

First house we stopped at.  They had treats.

Counting is not my strong suit, but I know that when we started driving, it was for more than two days.  Sometimes we stayed overnight at a nice human’s house and each time, I thought that was going to be our new home.  

The rumbling box.  The humans gave me treats, here, too.

Sometimes we stayed at a hotel where the humans behind the desks gave me treats.  No complaints about that.  Riding in that little box that rumbled and made my stomach drop was weird though.  We finally went to a boatyard.  I’ve been to lots of boatyards.  Pretty soon we moved onto a new sailboat that I’d never seen before. We slept there!  I got comfy right away cuz I could tell this was home.  My bed was there—my bones were there.  When we went for walks, there were LOTS of squirrels.  Yeah, this was home alright!

My new home.

My humans like to go riding in the dinghy, a LOT!  That is one of my favorite things too because it usually means that we’re going to run around on land for a bit.  When they leave in the dinghy without me, though, I hear a really high pitched crooning sound and when I look around to see where it’s coming from, guess what?  It’s coming from me!  Can’t help it!  Why do they go play on land without me? 

This was not my favorite thing to do.  And no treats afterward.

Sometimes my humans ask me to do things that are a little unusual.  Like riding on a board on the water.  Or jumping up really high or down really far to get onto the boat or into the dinghy.  If I haven’t mentioned it before, I am very good at jumping, so….No Problem-O.  But when we sail, I lay down next to one of my humans.  The boat leans over to one side sometimes which I am not crazy about.  

Scratching behind my ear for doing my business.  Go figure.

Then came some the days when we didn’t go to land at all.   I just couldn’t stand it any more.  I had to go—NOW.  So I did my business on the bow of the boat.  I was so relieved that I got really frisky and the humans were very happy with me too—as if I had done something miraculous.  And I thought, “hmmph, I didn’t see that coming.”   

I really wanted some of that fish.  Didn't get ANY!

Every day the boat moved farther away from the cold and more toward warm weather.  The birds got bigger and bigger!  There were even giant fish in the water!  But no matter—everywhere we went, the humans were nice to me.  I got so I was pretty used to getting treats wherever I went.  A guy like me could get used to humans that are smart that way.

At the house where I stayed a long time.  Lots of room to play!

One time my humans left me for a long time with someone else at their house, on land!  The whole time, on land!  I figured this must be my new family.  She took me for walks many times each day.  Again, awesome, even though there weren’t any squirrels to chase there.  I did find a snake though—that was—hmmm, interesting.

Happy, happy, happy!  I'm really happy here!   

My other humans did come back for me!  I was happy to see them actually;  I ran in circles all around.  Then they brought me back to live on the boat with them.  Sometimes when it was really dark, we went out on the big water, all night long!  No land anywhere!  

That's me, in the cockpit.  I'm good at paying attention.

Eventually, we found land again and it’s warm most of the time here.  I like to belly-dip in the water but the water tastes funny.  You wouldn’t wanna drink it!  I double check every once in a while to be sure, but nope—tastes funny every time.  I am surrounded by water that I can’t drink.  Again, weird.

Don't drink the water here.

Are there things I don’t like about living on a boat?  Well, I wish the boat would stay level when we sail, but I said that already.   There are no squirrels or deer either for that matter.  The occasional lizard zips by.  Once in a while a head pops out of the water—“Turtle!” they say.  I only saw a little head, so not very exciting for me.  

These little guys move FAST!

When my humans jump in the water, I wonder if I should go in after them.  I’ll swim if I have to, but….not my favorite thing.  They still brush me and I hate that.  I HATE IT!  Especially when she gets to my back end.  Nobody, I mean NOBODY should brush a guy’s butt.  Am I right?  

I wonder, does she need me?  Shall I jump in?  I think she should come back right now.

One thing that is really awesome about living on the boat is that I can keep a really close eye on my humans.  They are not going to get lost, if I have anything to say about it.  Occasionally, I find a piece of dried up fish or an old chicken bone when we go walking. Love that!.  And sometimes, I meet one of the “brothers” out on the water.  Other boat dogs, like me!  I get treats pretty often.  Random humans are always wanting to feel my fur.   Sometimes, the smaller humans ask, “Is that a wolf?”  I just wag my tail.

Met this guy.  He's quite handsome, too.

I can tell when my humans are getting ready to go somewhere because they start picking up things and putting them on— sunglasses, hats, bags; it’s all very suspicious for a dinghy ride and walk.  When they tell me I’m going too, it’s like—woo hoo, tail waggin’, jumping, arf, arf…  

This is my, "but I don't WANNA stay behind" face.  

When they say “Jax, you are going to stay,” then I get bummed.  Sometimes I sneak up on deck and try to make myself small so they’ll change their mind.  It never works, though.  They find a treat for me and hold it out to lure me back down below.  I know very well that’s what they are up to; they do it every time.  I know it and yet……hey, it’s a TREAT!   I HAVE to get the treat!   So, down into the cabin I go.  When they come back later, they are always SO happy to see me; I can’t figure out why they leave me in the first place?  Humans.  Go figure.

Me on the beach.  Beaches are sandy.  Sand is awesome!

So, this brings me up to date on my story.  I am now “Jax, the boat dog.”  My humans seem pleased when they say that.  Yup, I’m a good dog.