Canine canoeing
Take your pooch for a paddle
BY SHEILA ASCROFT
Farley learned to canoe last spring. Well, he’s not actually using a paddle, but he has developed his sea legs and a penchant for gunnel watching. Farley is a mini-Schnauzer and
definitely not a water dog. Unlike Labs or Newfoundlands who are renowned for swimming, this six-year-old says no thanks – the closest he comes is wading only up to his belly and no deeper. So how does he do in a canoe? For starters, he probably won’t jump out into the water. He loves to be with his “pack,” even if it’s just two humans, and even if we’re afloat. It took a bit of little trial and error, but we found out what works. Unlike the first short ride when
he quivered on the deck as the boat unexpectedly rocked, his second trip was pure pleasure – paws on gunnels, checking out paddle splashes and ripples, ducking under shoreline branches, woofing at the sandpipers tipping amidst the rocks. Now he knows the drill and when he sees the life jackets come out, he runs onto the dock in anticipation.
WHAT WORKED
The first step was persuading him
to get in the canoe. On the dock, he was uncertain of this unstable object bobbing in the water so we used his profound trust in us – and his favourite treats! We took a stable, wide-hull canoe and left the turn-on-a-dime, white-water model behind.
10 ottawaoutdoors
A thick towel on the bottom of the
canoe (a rubber mat will do, or even a piece of industrial carpet) kept his paws from slipping on the fibreglass and provided a place for him to sit or lie down. Dogs don’t like to sit in bilge water any more than people. Next was convincing him to
stay in the middle section of the canoe, not crawl in my lap while I’m paddling, nor growl and try to attack the paddle as it comes out of the water. We praised him highly whenever he did the “right” thing. And a floating toy tied with a long string to the centre thwart held his attention as he watched it bob, bob, bobbing along. We brought an extra water
bottle for hot days when he gets as thirsty as the paddlers. If you’re not drinking from that river or lake, neither should your dog. And if your dog is sun-sensitive, don’t stay out too long on those perfect summer
days – and drape a towel over the middle seat so he can get some shade underneath. We took plenty of rest stops so
Farley could get out and explore the shoreline, have a pee and then be content to canoe some more. It’s good practice for him to get in and out with no dock. If he poops, bag it and pack it out – good etiquette matters on all waterways! This spring we are considering a
PFD (personal floatation device) for Farley, because he detests swim- ming so much he’d be safer with one if the canoe did tip. That’s a start. If you want more
waterborne adventure with your pooch, check out Dog Paddling Adventures
www.dogpaddling
adventures.com for
organized, dog-friendly trips. «oo
~ When Sheila Ascroft isn’t paddling she’s biking, or walking Farley and some of his friends through Rideau River parkland.
www.ottawaoutdoors.ca
PHOTO CREDIT: DLEWIS33-ISTOCKPHOTO.COM
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