It’s not unusual for boats around here to have four-legged crew members. Most are dogs, rarely there’s a cat, and more rarely there are both. Thus, we’re not surprised to see a considerable amount of advice on the Internet as to how to handle a canine sailor when at sea.
This includes what to do if Fang or Fluffy slips or jumps overboard, which apparently happens more that one would think. Getting a wet, rapidly peddling dog back into a boat, especially in a choppy (or worse) sea, can be very difficult and dangerous.
Necessity being the mother of invention, there are now canine life vests that supply added pet buoyancy and have handles that can be grasped or hooked. (Brooklin, Maine)