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A Sea Dog's Tale: The True Story of a Small Dog on a Big Ocean
A family with wanderlust, a sailboat to carry them across oceans, and an 11-pound dog to watch over them… These are the elements of this delightful memoir of adventurous living.
Young newlyweds Peter and Dorothy Muilenburg found their way from New Hampshire to the Virgin Islands. He had been a civil rights Freedom Fighter, jailed in Mississippi while protesting racial injustice. In St. John, she founded the Pine Peace School. They both taught. On an East End beach, he built a sailboat strong enough to take them anywhere, and they put to sea with their two young sons. But their crew was not yet complete. Santos, a schipperke, came to them as a tiny puppy and sailed with them all his life—75,000 deep-sea miles—four times across the Atlantic, crisscrossing the Caribbean, coasting the U.S. eastern seaboard, exploring the Med, ranging up African rivers. A lightning rod for trouble, he survived a kidnapping, hurricanes, raging surf, being lost overboard at sea, and was twice given up for dead. And he watched over his family with fierce and abiding devotion.
If you want to see the world—really see it—go by sailboat. And if you want to absorb the world through every pore, take a venturesome dog as your guide. The bright spirit named Santos became a legend to millions of readers through the pages of SAIL and Reader’s Digest magazines. Now Peter Muilenburg—a wise and observant chronicler with a true wanderer’s desire to engage the world on authentic terms—has written this captivating story of familial love and adventure, unforgettable people and places, and an amazing schipperke who has sailed right into the sea dog hall of fame.
Young newlyweds Peter and Dorothy Muilenburg found their way from New Hampshire to the Virgin Islands. He had been a civil rights Freedom Fighter, jailed in Mississippi while protesting racial injustice. In St. John, she founded the Pine Peace School. They both taught. On an East End beach, he built a sailboat strong enough to take them anywhere, and they put to sea with their two young sons. But their crew was not yet complete. Santos, a schipperke, came to them as a tiny puppy and sailed with them all his life—75,000 deep-sea miles—four times across the Atlantic, crisscrossing the Caribbean, coasting the U.S. eastern seaboard, exploring the Med, ranging up African rivers. A lightning rod for trouble, he survived a kidnapping, hurricanes, raging surf, being lost overboard at sea, and was twice given up for dead. And he watched over his family with fierce and abiding devotion.
If you want to see the world—really see it—go by sailboat. And if you want to absorb the world through every pore, take a venturesome dog as your guide. The bright spirit named Santos became a legend to millions of readers through the pages of SAIL and Reader’s Digest magazines. Now Peter Muilenburg—a wise and observant chronicler with a true wanderer’s desire to engage the world on authentic terms—has written this captivating story of familial love and adventure, unforgettable people and places, and an amazing schipperke who has sailed right into the sea dog hall of fame.
272 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 1, 2012
10 people are currently reading
42 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
August 29, 2025
A Must for a Schipperkee Owner
What an adventure of a Schipperkee’s life on a boat with owners who let Santos develope his life what it was meant to be—- fearless, protective & devoted to his family!
What an adventure of a Schipperkee’s life on a boat with owners who let Santos develope his life what it was meant to be—- fearless, protective & devoted to his family!
August 19, 2023
A true story about a Schipperke Dog who lived with a family that sailed the world. I have a Schipperke so I already love the breed. I fell in love with this little spitfire of a dog.
August 16, 2014
I found out about this book thru one of the sailing mags we subscribe to and purchased it on my nook for 2 reasons: 1st, my love for dogs, and 2nd, love of sailing! I had no idea what an impact this book would make on me. Having finished reading it a few nights ago I'm still thinking of Santos & his family. This book made me smile, made me laugh, & made me cry. It's truly a book of journeys that I will forever remember and I highly recommend it!!
October 19, 2013
What a treat. My aunt suggested I read this. She and my uncle sail and frequent St John. I love sailing but I've never been to the Virgin Islands, nor am I much of a dog person, having never owned a dog. However, after reading this book, I'm considering getting a dog and sailing around the Caribbean. Read this story and you might too.
June 29, 2016
Family is everything
A fabulously written account by a master of the English language. Peter Muilenburg has most certainly an impressive command of English vocabulary. A first class story of love, family, adventure and the passion for blue water sailing. I too, loved Santos through this story...cried when he died.
A fabulously written account by a master of the English language. Peter Muilenburg has most certainly an impressive command of English vocabulary. A first class story of love, family, adventure and the passion for blue water sailing. I too, loved Santos through this story...cried when he died.
January 4, 2013
A wonderful, wonderful story! Having been to St John made it even more special to me, but as a dog lover, I could not put it down. Peter is an excellent story teller, and Santos a very very special spirit! Thank you, Curtis what an awesome book!!
November 24, 2013
This book brought a smile and tears to my eyes! A must read for dog lovers! Since I bought this book while in St. John and now that I'm home I imagine sailing the blue seas with my pups!
August 22, 2017
A must read for anyone living with a Schipperke.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews