The Art of Having a Boat Dog with Captain Clark
- Feb 7
- 3 min read
Yachting is an exercise in precision. Cushions are fluffed with intention. Champagne is poured at exactly the right angle. Lines are coiled just so. It is a world curated for perfection.
And then comes a dog.
A living, breathing contradiction to everything pristine. Fur replaces formality. Play interrupts protocol. And the yacht becomes something more than just a vessel. It becomes a home.
Meet Captain Clark.
"Captain" Clark is only 2 years old, yet she has a house and a yacht, a private chef, a stewardess and deck crew that help to take care of her, walk her and love her, and a place at the helm next to her owner Captain Kelly Gordon.
She is living the life, but it wasn't always easy. Having a dog onboard requires planning, intention and patience.
Life on the water is dynamic. Ports change. Weather shifts. Crews rotate. Days stretch into months at sea. Captain Clark brings consistency for the crew, but she needed a routine that worked for her too.
Clark’s ease onboard did not happen by chance. A boat dog is not born knowing how to navigate slippery teak decks or respond to docking maneuvers.Watching Clark move confidently through her environment is a study in what’s possible when a dog’s physical and emotional needs are prioritized.
The most important piece? The same that applies to humans at sea: safety first.
A boat dog also needs to understand boundaries and respond to commands. This was extremely important before Clark stepped onto the boat. She was specifically trained for a marine environment.
She has been trained around lines, guests and an ever changing crew. She has been exposed to docking days when the entire boat is focused, and she knows that it is not time to play, it is time to find her designated safe space.
Through her training she has developed confidence on board rather than anxiety. It has taken time, repetition, patience, reassurance and trust, but Clark has grown up knowing that while the locations may change, the routine will always remain the same.
Her meals arrive on schedule. Her bathroom breaks are thoughtfully planned (via floating solutions or shore access), and both rest and play are woven into the day for her. Just as parents structure a child's day, a boat dog requires the same structure.
Then there are the safety items. A properly fitted, dog-specific vest with a secure handle is key. These life vests ensure that Captain Clark, or any boat dog, can be lifted quickly from the water in the case of an emergency. Non-slip deck surfaces help prevent injury during rough conditions. Dog specific sunscreen exists and is important, particularly for their noses and paw pads, which helps when the deck gets hot. Shaded rest areas and constant access to fresh water are essential, particularly in climates where deck temperatures can rise quickly as dogs do not regulate heat as humans do. This preparation and care allows a boat dog to thrive, not just survive.
So should you consider a boat dog?
Her crew says "ABSOLUTELY".
Clark's presence has absolutely boosted the morale on board. She has become family for her team, a form of onboard therapy, and a sense of home during demanding days and long trips away.
Captain Clark is not just a boat dog, but a reminder that perfection is not what makes a yacht extraordinary. Connection does. That even in an industry defined by polish and precision, there is space for wet paws, quiet companionship, and unconditional loyalty. And sometimes, the most important crew member isn’t the one at the helm, but the one who teaches everyone onboard how to slow down, breathe deeper, and remember what home feels like, even in the middle of the sea.
