Comments on: I want to start to kayak or canoe with my dogs this summer… which is safest or more suitable? http://oldtownkayaks.net/i-want-to-start-to-kayak-or-canoe-with-my-dogs-this-summer-which-is-safest-or-more-suitable Read all about Old Town Kayaks and which to buy. Sat, 19 May 2012 16:13:23 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7 hourly 1 By: Dog_trainer http://oldtownkayaks.net/i-want-to-start-to-kayak-or-canoe-with-my-dogs-this-summer-which-is-safest-or-more-suitable/comment-page-1#comment-1890 Dog_trainer Tue, 20 Jul 2010 01:05:42 +0000 http://oldtownkayaks.net/i-want-to-start-to-kayak-or-canoe-with-my-dogs-this-summer-which-is-safest-or-more-suitable#comment-1890 How about telling us how big the dogs are? I go flatwater kayaking with my 18 pound terrier (very well trained!) in a 12' Wilderness Systems Pungo. It's very stable, with a big cockpit and plenty of room for a small dog. If you have very quiet, well trained dogs, you could use a canoe - but in my experience they're a lot more tippy when the dog gets up on the gunwhales to bark at the seagulls. Better to go with a tandem kayak and let the dog have his own seat. Whitewater canoeing would be unsafe and kayaking would be impossible - the dog wouldn't be very happy sealed inside under your spray skirt. I hope you're really good at wet exits and self-rescue techniques. If you have to worry about righting and bailing your boat, saving yourself AND your dogs if you dump - well, good luck! I wouldn't paddle alone if I had my dog with me and I'd make sure he had a good doggie life vest. Practice a lot in shallow water and paddle near shore so that if the dog has to swim for it, he'll have a chance. How about telling us how big the dogs are?

I go flatwater kayaking with my 18 pound terrier (very well trained!) in a 12′ Wilderness Systems Pungo. It’s very stable, with a big cockpit and plenty of room for a small dog. If you have very quiet, well trained dogs, you could use a canoe - but in my experience they’re a lot more tippy when the dog gets up on the gunwhales to bark at the seagulls. Better to go with a tandem kayak and let the dog have his own seat.

Whitewater canoeing would be unsafe and kayaking would be impossible - the dog wouldn’t be very happy sealed inside under your spray skirt.

I hope you’re really good at wet exits and self-rescue techniques. If you have to worry about righting and bailing your boat, saving yourself AND your dogs if you dump - well, good luck! I wouldn’t paddle alone if I had my dog with me and I’d make sure he had a good doggie life vest. Practice a lot in shallow water and paddle near shore so that if the dog has to swim for it, he’ll have a chance.

]]> By: buffoon http://oldtownkayaks.net/i-want-to-start-to-kayak-or-canoe-with-my-dogs-this-summer-which-is-safest-or-more-suitable/comment-page-1#comment-1891 buffoon Tue, 20 Jul 2010 01:05:42 +0000 http://oldtownkayaks.net/i-want-to-start-to-kayak-or-canoe-with-my-dogs-this-summer-which-is-safest-or-more-suitable#comment-1891 Pick a large dog. Sometimes setting on top of a small pooch can be very dangerous in the rapids. It's best to have a two large dogs because if one gets tired you can jump to the next one, just like the pony express riders. Pick a large dog. Sometimes setting on top of a small pooch can be very dangerous in the rapids. It’s best to have a two large dogs because if one gets tired you can jump to the next one, just like the pony express riders.

]]> By: smartypants909 http://oldtownkayaks.net/i-want-to-start-to-kayak-or-canoe-with-my-dogs-this-summer-which-is-safest-or-more-suitable/comment-page-1#comment-1892 smartypants909 Tue, 20 Jul 2010 01:05:42 +0000 http://oldtownkayaks.net/i-want-to-start-to-kayak-or-canoe-with-my-dogs-this-summer-which-is-safest-or-more-suitable#comment-1892 I would try the canoe first, a kayak is shallower and may not have room for a dog or dogs. I would try the canoe first, a kayak is shallower and may not have room for a dog or dogs.

]]> By: wasuplat http://oldtownkayaks.net/i-want-to-start-to-kayak-or-canoe-with-my-dogs-this-summer-which-is-safest-or-more-suitable/comment-page-1#comment-1893 wasuplat Tue, 20 Jul 2010 01:05:42 +0000 http://oldtownkayaks.net/i-want-to-start-to-kayak-or-canoe-with-my-dogs-this-summer-which-is-safest-or-more-suitable#comment-1893 IN experience i would say canoeing is more safe because you can keep your self stable in a canoe by shifting your weight from side to side and in a kayak you just tip and then you have to unbuckle your self so you are held under the water mfor longer. IN experience i would say canoeing is more safe because you can keep your self stable in a canoe by shifting your weight from side to side and in a kayak you just tip and then you have to unbuckle your self so you are held under the water mfor longer.

]]> By: vlpracer http://oldtownkayaks.net/i-want-to-start-to-kayak-or-canoe-with-my-dogs-this-summer-which-is-safest-or-more-suitable/comment-page-1#comment-1894 vlpracer Tue, 20 Jul 2010 01:05:42 +0000 http://oldtownkayaks.net/i-want-to-start-to-kayak-or-canoe-with-my-dogs-this-summer-which-is-safest-or-more-suitable#comment-1894 a canoe a canoe

]]> By: Scott W http://oldtownkayaks.net/i-want-to-start-to-kayak-or-canoe-with-my-dogs-this-summer-which-is-safest-or-more-suitable/comment-page-1#comment-1895 Scott W Tue, 20 Jul 2010 01:05:42 +0000 http://oldtownkayaks.net/i-want-to-start-to-kayak-or-canoe-with-my-dogs-this-summer-which-is-safest-or-more-suitable#comment-1895 If you take yor dogs, definatly try a canoe first. They are wider and largley more stable. If your dogs are small, you can try a kayak. I take my chihuaua with me all the time If you take yor dogs, definatly try a canoe first. They are wider and largley more stable. If your dogs are small, you can try a kayak. I take my chihuaua with me all the time

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