Paddling with your Pooch:  How safe is it to kayak with your dog?     by Janice L. Green

Years later, I can still vividly recall the horrific growls and screams, similar to a child screaming in fear, and the last agonizing whimper, when everything went deadly silent.

Listening to the father explain to his young daughter, what happened to her beloved pet, was heart wrenching. I was gripped with a mixture of emotions, watching the little girl cry, as her father carried what was left of the bloody animal, off into the woods to bury it, after their dog was mauled to death, by a coyote.  Apparently, he wasn’t aware of the dangers of leaving his dog tied up, and left unattended, outside their tent at night.

The previous morning, I saw the same family kayaking with their dog, which leapt off their kayak; swam to shore, and took off into the underbrush, after a rabbit.  Shortly afterwards, the father trailed behind in hot pursuit, when his dog refused to come.

This wasn’t the first or only time I saw this occur, which made me wonder, “How safe is it to kayak with a dog? Is it possible to keep you, and your dog safe, and your dog under control, at all times, while on a kayak?”

Kayaking has increased in popularity in the past several years. More recently, kayaking with your dog has sparked interest in many individuals. Some dogs are well trained, while others misbehave, which is why, it is not all that cut and dry, as to whether it is safe to kayak with a dog. How well trained your dog is, and how experienced of a kayaker you are, may determine whether or not it is safe.

Needless to say, your dog must have a lot of training, before you take your furry friend with you, out on your kayak. To increase your safety, you’ll need to teach your dog, how to get in and out of your kayak, from the shore, and from in the water.  

Before you take your dog out on your kayak, you must also feel comfortable that it will sit still and obey your commands, no matter how wound up it gets. If your dog doesn't already know what “sit” or “stay” means, it is probably not a good idea to take your dog kayaking with you.  Nor do you want to head out for a lengthy paddle, until you see how settled your dog is on the water, while sitting in a kayak.

Steer away from kayaking at popular destinations, where there is an abundance of people, fishermen, and noisy watercraft, which could frighten your dog, or rile it up. If your dog does move unexpectedly, there's always the chance that he'll tip your kayak over. It is important to see whether you can maintain your balance, if your dog shifts its weight, which is harder to do during rough weather conditions.

You also need to maintain control of your kayak if you encounter gusty winds. Can you safely paddle with your dog in your lap, during windy conditions, and keep from capsizing? Your dog may slip off because there’s nothing for it to grip onto, especially if large waves are crashing onto the kayak’s slick surface.

Hold onto your kayak if you capsize, to keep it from blowing away. Buy a paddle leash and attach it to your kayak.  That way, if your dog cannot swim any longer, you will at least have one hand free to rescue your dog.

Invest in a doggy life jacket that has a harness, with a handle you can grab onto. Most dogs cannot easily pull themselves out of the water, onto a slippery kayak. If you did capsize, are you able to get back on, and keep stable, while your dog tried to climb back on by its self, if it was too heavy for you to lift?

It’s not a good idea to take your dog kayaking, if it has never swam in the ocean, or in lakes before. Some dogs take to swimming naturally, while others are unsure how to swim, and have to learn how to swim, just like anything else. Do not put your dog in an open hatch compartment, in case you tip over, and your kayak fills up with water, and sinks.

How well does your dog obey your commands? Will your dog obey your command to “sit” or to “come”, or would it jump into the water after a bird, or take off after a bear feeding along the shoreline? If your did dog run off, would you chase after it, only to discover you’re lost, or someone made off with your kayak, while you were looking for your dog? How would you get back to the launch, if your dog was reluctant to get onto your kayak, and you were miles away?

Inquire about the rules for dogs, whether or not dogs are allowed on the water in a boat, and if they prohibit water body contact. At some destinations, you’ll receive a hefty fine, for water body contact.  At the majority of lake destinations that allow dogs, they are required to be under the control of their owner, at all times, and to follow leash restraint policies. (Do not leash your dog to your kayak, (or to you), in the event you capsize, and sink.) In an effort to maintain the number of lakes that admit dogs, be sure to obey the rules. 

Train your dog not jump into the water, if a fisherman tosses out a lure, so your dog doesn’t mistakenly think he was playing fetch. Train your dog not to urinate or defecate on the sand where people sit. Bring baggies with you to dispose of its waste, so their feces won’t contaminate the water. (Animal feces may contain E. coli, which is a deadly form of bacteria.) You also need to teach your dog not to drink from the lake, or ocean water, which could be contaminated from high levels of bacteria, or pesticides from rain runoff, that can cause eye infections in dogs, or make it sick.  Bring water and a dish for your dog to drink out of.

Keep your dog on a short leash when you are not on the water, to prevent it for getting bitten by a rattlesnake. Rattlesnakes often forage for prey in rock outcrops, along the shoreline on a lake, (or along a river bank). Dogs are much more likely to be bitten by a rattlesnake, than their owners, because of their close proximity to the ground and their curious nature.

Be aware that, sea lions are capable of grabbing a dog out of a kayak. In recent years, sea lions have identified kayaks as a source of food, due to the growing trend of fishing from a kayak.  Sea lions that are accustom to kayakers, frequently pop their head up next to your kayak, to see if you have any fish. What would you do if one grabbed hold of your pretty pooch, (or if your dog jumped in after the sea lion), only to discover a few seconds later your dog is gone?

Do not bring your dog kayaking with you, if your dog exhibits behavior that is unfriendly to strangers, especially on a kayak group outing, where someone else may also be bringing their dog. As the owner of the dog, you are responsible for any damages caused by your dog to others, or to their property.  Take into consideration, while you may know the general temperament and nature of your dog, someone else’s dog may exhibit aggressive behavior towards yours.

Inquire beforehand to see whether anyone is uncomfortable, if you bring your dog to a kayak group outing.  Kayaks can be easily tipped over by a dog, trying to climb onto your kayak. If someone else’s dog swims after yours, can you maintain your balance, if their dog attempts to climb onto your kayak? Would you be able to come to someone’s aide in the group, if they capsized, with a dog sitting in your lap, or with a 70 pound dog sitting on the bow or in the hatch of your boat? 

These are only several of the concerns to take into consideration before you kayak with your dog. To answer the question, “How safe is it to kayak with your dog?”, only you can make the determination whether you feel it is safe for you to kayak with your dog. The more time you spend training your dog, and the more experience you have kayaking, the safer it will be for you, for your dog and for others sharing the same waterway with you. 

© 2005 Janice L. Green  All Rights Reserved.