How to Make Your Barge Pet-Friendly

Making your barge a comfortable, roomy place to live can be a task in itself, and that’s before you’ve even begun to try and make it a pet-friendly space, too.   

However, there are lots of tips and tricks to make your barge a cosy, liveable pet-friendly home without having to compromise on space. Travelling with your pet aboard makes all the difference!

Firstly, there are a few essentials you need to have onboard or do to ensure that your pet stays safe, including:

• A lifejacket (or a pet flotation device) - most come with a handle to help you pull your pet out of the water if he were to jump in.
• Be sure to close hatches to the engine room and other small nooks you don’t want your pet to explore.
• You’ll definitely need a litter tray for cats and dogs onboard.
• Make sure you have plenty of bedding - even more so in the winter when it could be a little chillier inside your narrowboat.
• Plenty of all the usuals such as food and water bowls, poop bags, pet food and grooming equipment.
• Collar and lead with waterproof ID tag.

It’s also useful to lay down a piece of indoor-outdoor carpet so that your pet will be able to keep a solid footing on smooth or slippery flooring.

Tips for boating with pets

• Make sure you always have sunscreen onboard. Pets can get sunburn too! Consider buying a lightweight sun-proof jacket for pets with short hair and make sure their water dish is in a shaded area, so your pet has a reason to get out of the sun periodically.
• Keep an eye on your pet at all times and keep a fishing net handy to rescue pets that have fallen overboard.
• Always make sure you have plenty of toys on board to keep your pet entertained.
• If you’re moving around on your narrowboat i.e. visiting or relocating to a mooring that you’re not familiar with, ensure you keep a copy of your pets vaccination and health records handy.
• Ensure safe and easy access to your barge and provide any ramps, where necessary, for your pet to get on and off the boat.

Wondering where to head to on your next narrowboat adventure? Read our Guide to the UK’s Best Mooring Spots.

Header Image Source