Canoeing is a great way to get close to nature in a quiet manner, with often just the wind, the birds and the lovely sound of babbling water filling the air. What’s also great about canoeing is you don’t need to own one. Along most navigable, small- to mid-size rivers, there are outfitters who rent canoes (and give you a lift upstream).
So consider canoeing for you next outing with our dog, assuming, of course, that he or she is already well acclimated to water.
If this will be a new adventure for you and your dog, here are a few pointers:
- Get a floatation device for your pooch.
- Choose a river that’s easy for beginners to navigate. (Check in with the outfitter as they often serve several different stretches of water, some more challenging than others.)
- Keep your first trip a short one, under one hour.
- Bring along a few treats to entice your dog into the canoe should you need to. (Many dogs don’t hesitate to jump right in.)
- Consider bringing along a rubber mat to place on the bottom of the boat to give your dog some traction.
- Most of the time when a canoe tips over, it’s close to shore and the paddlers are rushing to get in or out of the boat. Take your time. And enter and exit the boat at a point along the bank that isn’t excessively muddy or slippery.
Check out this site with some great information for those paddling with pooches. And enjoy the ride!
