|
While several products are available for dogs to regain
entry onto a boat, few offer connectivity to every boat gunwale thickness
(metal, wood or fiberglass).
Others: Most all other dog platforms are metal and are
designed to fit over the top edge of a single thickness boat gunwale.
Doggy Dock:
-
It floats. You won’t see your
investment sink out of sight if mishandled!
Others: Most all other products have a ramp or single
stand that is constructed of metal and have some sort of expanded metal hardware
cloth. This isn’t good for a dog’s paw as there is the possibility for injury.
Doggy Dock:
-
The ramp is a flexible fabric called “superman mesh”. The deck is a molded
plastic resin with ridges for added traction and through-holes for water
drainage. There is nothing that can catch a claw or cause a paw to
become entangled or carpet that can become waterlogged and rot or mildew.
-
Tubing and fasteners are stainless or galvanized steel. There is no painted metal
that can rust.
Others: Some platforms may or may not have a ramp and
simply hang out over the side of the boat. This is a cantilever situation that
can cause the boat to tilt under the dog’s weight and exertion of jumping into
and climbing out of the water. Attachment is generally via tubing and clamps
that may be prone to coming loose. These often require height adjustments to
allow for various boats having taller gunwales above the waterline.
Doggy Dock:
-
The unit floats and is independent from the boat.
It remains a
consistent height and is always in relation to it’s mounting device.
-
While on the platform the dog’s weight and exertion are supported by the
flotation and little energy is transferred to the boat.
Attachment
is accomplished via ropes inserted into Cal/Grips and can’t come loose. You
won’t feel like you are about to capsize!
Others: Some platforms have steps that are like ladders
and the distance between risers is fixed. You’d have to first teach your dog to
climb a ladder and then there is no allowance for different size dogs. Some
have the steps mounted to “poles” leading to the platform and may not be very
stable. Others have the steps mounted between two sides. Either requires the
dog to uncomfortably find the steps “in the blind” since they are under water.
Doggy Dock:
-
The dog is guided to the deck between the flotation tubes and simply swims
forward until feeling the gentle slope of the ramp underfoot.
Getting out of the water is as simple as walking up a bank at the waters
edge. Training is fun sport for your dog.
Others: Some metal platforms offer optional “tree stand
mountings” that require the deck to be rigidly secured to the tree with hardware
in order to keep it stable.
Doggy Dock:
-
Doggy Dock remains stable on it’s own flotation platform. No
special hardware is required. Simply attach with rope via the provided
openings in the deck’s leading edge.
Others: Some ladders have to have
different flotation bags purchased and attached to the bottom of the device
depending on the weight of the dog and may weigh 40 pounds.. If the
support doesn't match the dogs weight, the dog has a hard time using it.
You'd need different floats for different size dogs.
Doggy Dock:
-
Doggy Dock's float tubes are extremely buoyant.
Large to small retrievers have no problem. It even supports the weight
of two dogs coming up the ramp at the same time!
-
Doggy Dock's materials are tough yet lightweight.
It weighs less that 20 pounds!
For dogs trained and experienced in using Doggy
Dock, it provides an excellent escape route when the owner is absent or
not aware that the dog is in the water and may not have any other way to reach
safe footing and shore.
|
