Sea Dogs

Over two millennia ago, fishermen in Mediterranean areas of Europe bred dogs to assist them with fishing. Breeds such as the Portuguese Water Dog and Spanish Water Dog were developed to herd fish into nets, retrieve dropped fish or tackle and to carry messages between boats or to the shore. The fishermen would give their dogs haircuts or ‘clips’ that were specially designed to aid the dogs’ swimming and keep them warm. Perfect for providing companionship, sea dogs later became popular as military mascots and were initially used to lead patrols onto foreign land in order to warn of dangers and locate food.

Sea dogs have been used as mascots by military organisations including the US Navy, the US Marine Corps and the US Coast Guard, with the US military introducing mascot dogs in the late nineteenth century. Many were awarded ranks and decorated for their services, particularly during the World Wars when, in addition to building morale, some dogs became instrumental in identifying the locations of hidden enemies and protecting troops.

One of the most famous sea dogs is Sinbad, who was adopted as the mascot of a US Coast Guard ship in 1937. Following both promotions and demotions, Sinbad ended his US Coast Guard service at the rank of ‘Chief Dog’, equivalent to Chief Petty Officer. Sinbad served for eleven years, ending with his honourable discharge, or retirement, from service in September 1948. Sinbad starred in a biographical film entitled ‘Sinbad: Dog of the Seven Seas that relays his international escapades, and he was also featured in a comic book and other publications. Sinbad died in December 1951 and was buried beneath a monument in New Jersey.

While dogs are still used by the military and other water-orientated organisations, they have also become popular travelling companions for sailing enthusiasts around the world. Although some breeds may not take to boating life as easily as others, many dogs become a natural addition to the crew, and certain breeds are renowned for their suitability as sea dogs. The Schipperke is a breed originally used for barge dogs that have become renowned for its excellent adaptability to life on the water. Other favourite sea dog breeds include Retrievers, Setters and Newfoundlands, but as long as a dog is a good swimmer and loves the water it is likely to make a great sea dog!

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