Golden moments – Dogs on board: Book Ends

Golden retrievers Maggie and George can’t see, but that doesn’t stop them enjoying a laidback yachting lifestyle, snoozing and being pampered on their Heesen superyacht. Life on board the 50-metre aluminium, semi-displacement Heesen motor yacht Book Ends is bookended by two furry friends — Maggie and George. The dogs are sister and brother, respectively, from the same litter. Maggie and George are English cream golden retrievers, a variation of the standard golden retriever breed, which are known not only for their pale cream-coloured coats, but for being friendly and intelligent dogs who make good family pets. In the case of Maggie and George, they also make for calm and cute furry crew members on board Book Ends.

Unlike typical goldens, this breed of retriever was originally bred for its good looks rather than its working abilities, which means these dogs are often more relaxed than other types of typically high-energy retrievers. As dogs go, Maggie and George are quite low-key, which can fit well with spending time on board a yacht. “They have always been low energy dogs, unlike any of the American goldens I have had over the years,” says Amy Book, owner of Book Ends with her husband Bob.

Maggie and George primarily accompany the Books on board Book Ends when the yacht travels over from its home port in Florida to the Bahamas. “They travel with us to the Bahamas in the winter and like to sleep in our room,” says Amy Book. The 10-year-olds spend a lot of their time on board dozing, making the most of Book Ends’ full-beam owner’s stateroom.

With their lovely cream coats and sweet disposition, it’s no surprise that the dogs often turn heads ashore when they step off the boat. “They do attract attention when I walk them as they are very well-behaved,” says Amy.

Both of the dogs have had vision problems over the years, which adds to their sedate nature. “They are both blind — Maggie became blind at five but always had vision issues, and George became blind over the course of this year,” says Amy. There are some safety precautions put in place to keep the dogs safe when they are on board, such as making sure small gates are closed to the steps down to the water so they don’t fall in.

While their time spent on board is usually blissfully uneventful, the dogs have had their accidental moments of excitement. “Once when I was out, two of Book Ends’ crew members took Maggie and George for a walk,” says Amy Book. “As the crew members were walking and talking, Maggie got too close to the edge of the dock and fell in the water! The crew rescued her.”

This was not Maggie’s only close call. Once, while staying at the Books’ home in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, Maggie fell into the canal next to the house. Neither of the Books were home at the time, but Maggie was able to dog paddle for at least an hour until one of the neighbours spotted her and jumped into the canal to save her. “How can you not love a dog who has such a will to live!” Amy Book exclaims.

Beyond Maggie’s occasional spills into the sea, she and her brother George live a leisurely lifestyle on board Book Ends, one that’s filled with snoozing and pampering. They certainly know how to ease into rest and relaxation and enjoy the superyacht lifestyle on their Heesen yacht. “They don’t like the water or the beach and are happy just being around people where they sleep peacefully most of the day,” says Amy Book.

The yacht’s crew also like having Maggie and George on board, and, most importantly, the Books enjoy having their much-loved dogs join them on Book Ends’ Bahamian sojourns. “I like having their company,” says Amy Book.

Words by Risa Merl