First, the disclaimer: It's your dog, so you have to be the judge of it's environmental soundness...
OK, provided your dog is secure in such an environment it shouldn't be a big issue. Follow safety precautions like you do for people. Don't allow the dog to be perched in awkward places while the boat is in motion (like a sun deck or such). Don't leave your dog unattended. And as a safety precaution, they do make doggie life vests big enough for GSD's to wear, but its only going to help if they have it on. Those plastic pet ramps are great for attaching to the water deck of the boat or a pier to aid your dog in getting back out of the water if they go for a swim.
My dogs love the water. Weekend trips to the sand bar are always enjoyed.
I took my GSD boating for the first time in FL last year. He acted like he'd been born on one. But, that seems to be the norm if you have a working dog w/ environmental soundness, they take everything in stride. However, I kept him on leash the whole time. I didn't trust him not to jump overboard after the pelicans. And I made sure to steady him if we were moving fast over waves/wakes. Although he thought the moving dock that we had to walk on to get to the boat which was level with the waterline was scary, I think he thought we were going to sink into the water. But after one trip over it, he was fine.
BTW, as for the beach... he's been to the beach quite a few times in FL and my only concern was alligators and sharks. I sent him out once after his bumper and as soon as he was out there I saw a fin! Nearly had a heart attack, but it was a dolphin! I only swam him in clear, salt water, didn't send him out too far, and never took my eyes off of him/or the surrounding water.
Have fun!!
Jackie and "Treck"
UCD Maximus von den wilden Rabbits BH, SchH 1, CD, NA, HCT-s, CGC
I don't think the breed has anything to do with it. Any breed with good, sound nerves can learn to be comfortable around water. My terriers, my daughters Pittbull, my other daughters little Chi dog, my GSD, have all been exposed early with no problems. That is unless you consider that my GSD is a LOUSY swimmer. He has no fear, and loves to retrieve in the water, but he's one of these straight up, front feet flailing, rear feet feeling for the bottom kinda dog. He's actually embaressing to watch in the water. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" /> :rolleyes:
Thunder will put his head under if he's got all four feet on the ground, but, with his swimming style :rolleyes: , I doubt he could get his head pointed down for a dive. He usually sinks when he stops to pick up whatever I throw for him. I'm gonna have to start putting one of those cute little doggy life vests on him. Even my daughters 3lb Chi dog can swim circles around him. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" />
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