Dogs and Kayaers - what to do?

[YakaRaft]

random, but I really want to get a dog, but am concerned about what to do with it while paddling - I would want to bring it with me on camping and paddling trips, but would feel bad leaving it alone all day and it obviously couldn't come with me on my kayak... what to do?

[stof]

Dogs sleep a lot. Leaving it alone isn't that bad.

And a dog gets a pretty good deal--food and companionship. Asking it to be alone isn't that bad. Hell, it's just a dog.

But, be aware, it's not possible to leave a dog at lots of put-ins. And if you just tie it up all day, it may bark a lot.

My dog loves the play parks.

[GoodTimes]

Get it when it's a lil pup and crate train it. Almost all vets will tell you that crate training is good. When you're boatin' and your pup is in the vehicle it won't be much different. The dilemma comes when it's a really hot day....can't do it.

[dvanhouten]

Hot days certainly suck, but rest of the time isn't bad. I've traveled with my dogs all over the west on many road trips and generally isn't a problem....except when one pee'd in the back seat of my buddies shuttle vehicle....

Ditto on the crate training--good thing overall. Also helps having a truck or wagon for space for dog(s) and gear.

[Mut]

Depending on what type of kayaking you do, your dog may be able to go with you.

I had a dog that would sit by the playhole while I played, and chase me downstream on a run. Just be careful to leave it home on the harder runs. My dog chewed off its leash at vallecito and met me at the put in. He ran around the first couple drops but then scurried down to the creek just above boufount. He ended up swimming boufount and s-turn.

[Tiggy]

Don't get a dog. 15 year commitment. Tears houses up. Can't find a place to rent. When you want to go somewhere, you got the dog. This sounds like a need to nurture thing. Just have kids if you want them that bad, lol.

[gh]

Uh, right. Get kids instead of dogs? Dogs are a 15yr committment and can be a hassle but a good dog will the best friend ya ever had.

[YakaRaft]

If I don't even know what to do with a dog, then kids are definatly a bad idea. Besides, while kids and dogs both shit and drool, kids beg, throw fits, cry, need diapers, get in fights with you, need a college fund, want 1000000000 toys, complain, paint on the walls, and worst of all can't come on kayaking trips when they are a year old!

[Kato]

Get a chesapeake bay retreiver. They are hands down the best water dogs. My buddies have some that come kayaking with us all the time and like to jump off big cliffs. You may have seen Sims jumping a 30 footer into gross resavoir on "The White Album". On harder runs they stay at the car but they come with us on runs like waterton and even Gunny Gorge, which is like 13 miles. As long as your stern with them you can train them to be very obedient and do lots of tricks too!

[bowen]

Its a little challenging to travel with a dog, especially as a kayaker but I wouldn't trade it for anything. Like gh said a good dog is a friend for life and a great travel partner. Having a truck with a camper shell has been huge. I even think that my dog considers the truck more his home than the 4 rooms that I have rented in the last 2 years.

On certain creek runs that have a trail like OBJ, Clear Creek of the Ark, Daisy, Pine Creek Rapid I usually let him run along the side as I boat and we both get a workout. Longer runs like Escalante, The Green, or Callaghan Creek he just hangs at the takeout and guards the beer. When he was at Skook he just hung at the rock and attracts ladies, same at Salida/BV. At Gauley he prefers the take out but you gotta back up in the shade. My dog is one of my main paddling crew and he is the man.

I can't imagine going on a road trip without him. International is a bit trickier but it can be done.

check out his adventures at www.sampsonspot.blogspot.com