Venturing off into the wild unknown with furry best friend in tow is a dream for many paddlers. Often, the reality falls somewhat short. Untrained, a canine canoe tripper is likely to disrupt your tranquil experience by barking during wildlife observations, dashing after chipmunks along portage trails and anxiously awaiting the return to shore.
Dogs aren’t born to act like stalwart Lassie, but you can train this behavior. A patient, controllable and confident dog will complement any on-water adventure. All that’s necessary to prepare a dog for canoeing is a bit of specialized training and a proper introduction to the activity.
LAYING THE FOUNDATION
To ensure your dog is ready to board a canoe, ask yourself whether your student can sit patiently and quietly for more than 10 minutes while you sit beside the dog. Often sitting down beside your dog results in a happy and playful response, which will be unwelcome afloat.
With both you and your dog sitting on the ground, provide distractions. Toss balls, have children run about, move a paddle side to side and then pass it over the dog’s head. Distractions will appear while paddling and your dog must ignore them. This stillness without restraint will take practice.
If your dog is easily excited by simple distractions, spend more time working on foundational obedience skills before paddling together. If your dog is able to remain quiet and calm, you’re ready to introduce the canoe.
WHEN HAIRY MET SALLY
Start by introducing the craft on land. Stabilize the canoe and teach the dog to confidently enter and exit on command. Many dogs won’t want to lie down in the craft and limit their field of vision until they feel more comfortable, and that’s okay.
Next, sit down in your boat with the dog and mimic paddle strokes. Tilt the canoe side to side to simulate movement. Exit the canoe and walk away, ensuring your canine pal stays in the boat. The dog should not exit until told to do so. Consider where the dog will sit to distribute weight properly with passengers and gear and teach the dog that this is his place. Have your dog repeat entering, exiting and waiting in the boat several times over different training sessions before moving to the water.
WATER WORK
Move the lessons to shallow water and repeat entry and exit etiquette. Sit in the canoe, rock it gently and pass your paddle over the dog’s head. Add more movement by stepping out and gliding the canoe by hand around in the shallows. Dogs often react when the canoe hits a rock or the shore so practice pulling ashore while encouraging the dog to remain still as everyone exits. Reward good behavior verbally and with an occasional treat. You want the dog to associate the canoe with positive experiences.
After a few training sessions in the shallows, you can take to the water with a confident dog. Paddle on calm water before venturing too far from shore. Enter current only with sufficient river skills—a capsize in whitewater could easily turn a dog off of water adventures for life.
EXTRA TIPS
Some canines are not brilliant swimmers and even the best have limited endurance, so put a PFD on your dog. Never leave a loose-fitting slip collar or a long lead on a dog on the water because a capsize could result in the dog becoming entangled in gear or debris. Also, condition your dog to swim alongside the craft as if at heel. In an emergency situation the dog should be accustomed to staying with the canoe even if swimming is required.
Mike Stewart is one of the most sought-after dog trainers and breeders of sporting Labrador retrievers in North America. www.uklabs.com
This article originally appeared in the Canoeroots Early Summer 2016 issue.
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