Dog Watch

A shortened watch period aboard a vessel, typically divided into two shifts from 16:00 to 18:00 and 18:00 to 20:00, to allow for a rotation of watch schedules. 

The dog watch is a unique division of the ship’s watch system, designed to ensure that crew members do not stand the same watch every day. By splitting the usual four-hour watch into two shorter periods, the dog watch shifts the rotation of subsequent watches, preventing the same individuals from always being on duty at the same hours. This system helps distribute night watches more fairly among the crew. The origin of the term is uncertain, but it may derive from the idea of “dodging” a full watch or from an old nautical term related to standing guard. The dog watch is particularly important on vessels with continuous operations, such as naval ships and merchant vessels, where maintaining a constant lookout and operational readiness is essential.