In Venice, children and dogs grow up around small boats, and it isn't unusual to catch glimpses of both on the city's canals: 

Yesterday afternoon, these children were playing in a small boat alongside the Campo San Barnaba.

A few blocks away, by the Tramontin squero or gondola boatyard, a small dog stood watch on the bow as a woman piloted her boat down the Rio di San Trovaso. Here's a close-up of the dog:

See the Maggie in the Piazza San Marco during Carnival post in our Maggie in Venice blog for photos of costumed Carnevale performers befriending a Bearded Collie.

Dogs are everywhere in Venice--even on boats. We saw this boat (and dog) coming toward us as we were crossing a small bridge, and Durant snapped a photo after the boat emerged from under the bridge and continued down the canal.