Kayaking with your dog

[Odie222]

Any fellow doggie kayakers out there? What do you like for padding the boat? I have been using a towel, which once wet certainly helped keep him cool in the summer, but it obviously doesn’t stay in place/gives him no traction, and is majorly sucky in the fall/spring when I actually want some insulating properties so he doesn’t get cold.

I’ve been looking at this (http://www.cloud10gear.com/beach-pad-dog-bed-for-canoe-or-kayak/) but it seems more for sit on tops (I have a current designs solara) and other than the front strap doesn’t seem to have any attachments.

Thoughts on marine sheet foam?

[LearningBearWithMe]

No insight I’m afraid, but I’m sure glad it appears you’re talking about REAL kayaking! :winkgrin:

[fordtraktor]

Yes, I was totally disgusted by this thread for a moment! :lol:

[tabula_rashah]

LMAO!!

Okay, okay… mind out of the gutter now…

So how do you keep your dog from tipping the kayak over?

[SuckerForHorses]

[QUOTE=LearningBearWithMe;8082128]
No insight I’m afraid, but I’m sure glad it appears you’re talking about REAL kayaking! :winkgrin:[/QUOTE]

@fordtraktor;8082139

Yes, I was totally disgusted by this thread for a moment! :lol:

[QUOTE=tabula rashah;8082251]LMAO!!

Okay, okay… mind out of the gutter now…

So how do you keep your dog from tipping the kayak over?[/QUOTE]

I’m so glad I’m not alone, and in good company here!

OP, sorry, no suggestions otherwise.

[LauraKY]

Well that was a “wait, WHAT moment!”

Oh a real kayak.

[PNW_AMTS_Dealer]

I got a kayak last year and LOVE it. I’ve been paddling the local rivers. I just adopted a very sweet border collie a few weeks ago who wants to go everywhere with me. I was just wondering if she could ride on my sit on top model. I guess that answers that. I’m going to have to design and make a cushion for her, a $100 for that store bought one seems crazy expensive.

[Corbyville283]

I have a plastic kayak with a very open cockpit. I bought it on purpose to fit me and my dog - a particolour cocker spaniel. We made quite a dapper picture in the kayak with him wearing a very spiffy hat. He was quite comfortable sitting between my legs and watching everything as we approached. Unfortunately he’s long since left us and my current dog, an Irish Red and White Setter, is way too big to fit into a kayak with me.

[Odie222]

I didn’t even think my thread title would inspire so much . . . gutter minds!! :lol:

And yes I mean real kayaking. I have a 40 lb wheaten mix and an open cockpit kayak that he fits comfortably in. tabula rashah, I’ve not really had any issues with him tipping the kayak. He LOVES to swim so I was concerned about jumping out, but he pretty much only gets out if he can see the bottom, or I lift him out. I worked with him to sit or lay down and he loves it.

https://www.facebook.com/sarah.hinchliffe.7/posts/694781500878 Not sure if that will work, but some pictures of a kayaking dog :winkgrin:

[normandy_shores]

![](‘m just starting out, so no help. We just bought some cheapie 10’ kayaks at costco. Our pups don’t yet have life vests and we only just got the kayaks, so for now we’re just introducing them in our yard…

Molly just wants to make out with Geoff:

[IMG]http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y48/allymrtn/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zpssp95majy.jpg)

Now she’s getting the idea:

[IMG]http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y48/allymrtn/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zpsouqqtrer.jpg)

Max takes a turn:
[IMG]http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y48/allymrtn/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zpsjmyai8mm.jpg)

[BEARCAT]

We use foam on top of the coolers in the raft and the dog likes to sit on there.

[djangology]

I used a grippy foam material I had laying around the house. It was somewhere between yoga mat and the thin grippy mat you’re supposed to put under area rugs.

I just used a hot glue gun to “install” it. Not super durable, which was fine- I just redid it a few times per season.

[Kadenz]

[QUOTE=djangology;8087455]
I used a grippy foam material I had laying around the house. It was somewhere between yoga mat and the thin grippy mat you’re supposed to put under area rugs.

I just used a hot glue gun to “install” it. Not super durable, which was fine- I just redid it a few times per season.[/QUOTE]

AH-HA! This is a great idea!

DH and I are just starting taking our 2 dogs (1 at a time, so far) on canoe trips and I have been looking for what to put down in the middle of the canoe for the dog to sit/lay on. I feel like yoga mat might just be the way to go.

Anyone know if hot glue works on an aluminum surface?

[INoMrEd]

Odie222: Your dog is so very cute wearing the safety orange life vest (with the handle on it). Just in case you need to pull him out of the water!

[arapaloosa_lady]

I’m really creeped out that anyone’s mind even went in that direction…

[QUOTE=tabula rashah;8082251]
So how do you keep your dog from tipping the kayak over?[/QUOTE]

Train them to have a good sit-stay. My dog likes to sit between my knees so she doesn’t slide around, and that also helps with keeping her centered.

@INoMrEd;8087653

Odie222: Your dog is so very cute wearing the safety orange life vest (with the handle on it). Just in case you need to pull him out of the water!

Definitely a MUST when kayaking with dogs. My dog jumped out one time when I was just dozing off in the kayak at sunset, and it was really nice to have the handle to help her back in the boat. She knows how to swim & wasn’t going far, but it’s hard for them to get back in the boat from the water.

I never padded the boat really. I had one of the floating cushions that I sat on, and then another one for my dog to sit on. Not the most secure set-up but the water was relatively flat.

Kayaking is super fun!! I borrowed my parents’ kayak last year, but they took it home when they realized I let my dog on it. I’ll buy my own when I have somewhere a little more permanent for storage - and I can’t decide what kind I want!

[Ms_Red_Britches]

I’ve taken my 65 lb catahoula kayaking! She LOVES it!

We just went to our local flooring guy and got a few pieces of scrap carpet and cut it to the shape of my boat. I have an Ascend D10T sit on top. Worked great!

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10103595989450345&l=1fac27c595 (Please let me know if the link doesn’t work!)

Be sure and get a life jacket for your pup, and I kept my old girl on leash, just in case something caught her attention.

She was great, though I will be a little more cautious about the water we bring her to in the future. The gators were eyeballing her and made me VERY uncomfortable!

[Chall]

Link does not work.
I’d be afraid of gators for me!
But I guess they provide great incentive for working on your paddle speed :eek:

[TBROCKS]

[QUOTE=LearningBearWithMe;8082128]
No insight I’m afraid, but I’m sure glad it appears you’re talking about REAL kayaking! :winkgrin:[/QUOTE]

snicker
So it wasn’t only me…

[ilmjumper]

My pott hound juts lays down between my feet (sit on top yak) course, i’m short so I use the closest foot pegs and she has lots of room. she’s very mindful of her feet and claws and we haven’t really experimented with any type of padding for grip…she just gets in and lays down. Now SO’s dog like to stand up and is very grippy with his toes so we do use a old camping mat in his area (foam with a little padding). Most of the time we’re island hopping so it’s short paddles to open beaches and they know all they have to do is chill for a lil while and then they get to jump off…we haven’t tried a long distance trip with them yet.

We actually do some Stand up paddling with the dogs too! Little more of a work out for your core when there’s something else moving around on your board lol

[Ms_Red_Britches]

Dang it. Let’s try this one…

https://www.dropbox.com/s/00s134qd9stq8r7/2014-08-02%2008.41.36.jpg?dl=0