Spring has sprung, and that means summer is just around the corner. If you are a boat owner, you know exactly what this means. It’s the time of year to enjoy countless hours of fun in the sun and enjoy beautiful weather out on the water with your family and friends – and your canine companion of course!

Boating during the warmer months also means lots of playtime in the water. Just like humans, our doggo friends enjoy a refreshing swim when it’s hot. And, just like humans, require safe access into and out of the water. While it may be tempting to simply strap a life vest on your dog and set him into the water, this is not safe for you or for your dog.

If you’ve ever jumped out of a boat that has no access ladder to easily get back in, you know exactly how difficult of a task this is. Due to the differences in human and canine anatomy, it is even more difficult – if not impossible – for your dog to accomplish this. Your dog’s center of gravity and even the color he sees are completely different from you.

As a boat and pet owner, it’s important to prepare for the possibility that your dog may fall off the boat or jump into the water at will, so it’s absolutely important that he has a proper (and safe) way to get back on board. Human boat ladders are not designed with use for dogs in mind. It is not a safe option for your canine friend, and using traditional boat ladders as a means for getting your dog in and out of the water can result in injury, or something much worse, for both you and your dog.

Considerations When Choosing a Dog Ladder

Before you head out onto the water with your furry friend, it’s important to stop and ask yourself if your boat is equipped to safely take him out on the water. Unfortunately, this is often one of the most overlooked aspects of boating safety for pet owners. Trying to get your dog in and out of the water without the proper equipment can often feel like more of a rescue operation than a fun day of play.

It’s important to ensure your dog’s safety with the best dog boat ladder to guarantee safe and easy on and off-boarding for your canine companion.

When shopping for a dog ladder, there are certain important considerations to keep in mind to ensure you make the right purchase for your application. The dog boarding device must be dog friendly so that your dog doesn’t hurt himself, or, not use the dog ladder at all.

A dog-friendly ladder must:

• Extend far enough below the water surface for the dog to get all four legs on it. In most cases, the low point should be 16 inches below the water surface for large dogs and as little as 8 inches for small dogs.
• Have a reasonable ascent angle. The ascent angle should be 45 degrees or less for steps and 25 degrees or less for ramps. A shorter step height is better for small or older dogs with arthritis.
• Be sturdy and do not move when the dog steps on and applies its weight.
• Provide good traction for the dog to climb. The steps should be wide, deep, and flat with plenty of holes to prevent standing water. Ramps need cross-direction ribs and drain holes.
• Have an integral toe plate on each step to prevent the dog.s foot from sliding off the backside.
• Provide good visibility with yellow being the best color for any dog ramp or steps.

From a boat owner’s standpoint, the right dog boat ladder should:

• Eliminate the need to lift the dog out of the water or be there to help by providing a safe and easy way for dogs to get on and off a boat.
• Be easily deployed, installed, and adjusted without tools or heavy lifting to save time and effort, and ensure a longer dog swim season.
• Be easily removed, stored, or transported without taking up too much space or being too heavy or cumbersome.
• Not scratch or damage the boat finish or components by avoiding products with sharp corners or metal parts contacting the boat. Contact components should be rubber or plastic.
• Be easily cleaned by using a hose or pressure washer to maintain a clean and visible surface, especially for yellow dog ladders.
• Provide years of enjoyment by being made of non-corrosive and UV-resistant components, with stainless steel hardware, and spare parts, and technical support readily available. A good dog ladder should not be considered a disposable item.

Importance of Choosing the Right Dog Ladder

One of the biggest mistakes pet owners make when purchasing a dog boat ladder is that the ladder doesn’t fit their boat. This can be especially true for dog ladders designed to attach to a traditional boat ladder. If you buy the wrong type of dog ladder for your specific vessel, the ladder may be unusable, or worse, become a safety hazard.

WaterDog Adventure Gear® offers dog ladders designed specifically to fit fiberglass boats, pontoons, hunting boats, and fishing boats.

WAG Fiberglass dog boat ladders:

• Suitable for most fiberglass boats or boats with a human swim ladder.
• Provides a stable and dog-friendly method for your furry friend to get from the water onto the boat.
• Easy-to-use design allows your dog to come and go without requiring assistance from you.
• No need to drill mounting holes in your boat, as the SLM-12 clips onto the human swim ladder.

Custom designs and the Model PM-12 (platform mount) are available for those willing to drill holes for direct attachment to the boat’s swim platform. 

WAG Pontoon dog boat ladders:

The WAG Boarding Steps™ Model HSM-10 is an excellent choice for pontoon and deck boats as a dog ladder. Unlike other options for pontoon boats, such as ramps or platforms, the HSM-10 provides a stable, dog-friendly, and easy-to-use method for your furry friend to get from the water onto the boat. With the set-and-forget design, your dog can come and go as they please without requiring you to lift them.

The HSM-10 also keeps the boat swim ladder open for human use. It attaches to the deck of the boat over a section of the pontoon or hull, with adjustable legs that rest against it. If your boat has a bow or stern platform that is not over a pontoon or hull, you may want to consider our Model PM-12 (platform mount) or Model SLM-12 (swim ladder mount).

WAG Hunting dog boat ladders:

If you’re looking for a reliable dog ladder for hunting boats and blinds, WAG Boarding Steps™ Model LM-6H is an excellent choice. It provides a stable, dog-friendly, and easy-to-use method for your dog to climb into the boat or blind on their own, without any need for assistance. This means you won’t have to interrupt your hunting to help your dog back into the boat.The LM-6H (lip mount) easily hooks over the gunwale or transom lip of your hunting boat or blind, while adjustable legs rest against the hull for additional support. If your duck boat or blind doesn’t have a lip, we can customize a platform-mounted H-series ladder for you.

WAG Fishing dog boat ladders:

The WAG Boarding Steps™ Model LM-6 is an excellent option for fishing boat dog ladders. It provides a dog-friendly, stable, and easy-to-use way for your dog to get from the water into the boat, unlike other fishing boat dog ladders, ramps, or platforms. With the set-and-forget design, your dog can come and go as they please without you having to lift them.

The LM-6 (lip mount) is designed to hook over the gunwale or transom lip of the boat, with adjustable legs that rest against the hull. If your fishing boat has a human swim ladder, you might want to consider our Model SLM-12 (swim ladder mount).

Conclusion

There’s no doubt that dogs love water, and you may find it difficult to prevent your pet from jumping right in when you’re out on your boat. It is likely that your boat has a ladder intended for human use, but it is never a good idea to rely on it for safe use by canines. You may not want a boat ladder designed specifically for dog use because of the cost, the required space, or for aesthetic reasons. While this is understandable, it’s important to keep in mind what it can compromise for the safety of your beloved pet.

As a pet owner, you know just how much your furry “child” means to you and your family. It may also be tempting to just leave your pet at home, but both you and your dog will miss the fun of puppy playtime in the water.

WaterDog Adventure Gear® dog ladders are designed to be the most dog-friendly solution available. They are safe and sturdy with no compromises.