Alright have you guys ever done it? I am thinking about doing it tomorrow because it is going to be beautiful!

i have seen pictures.... got life jackets for them? and tie them to the canoe, give it a go. would love to hear how it goes.

Tying to the canoe would scare me incase it tips over. Have seen it before but have not tried it. Let me know how it goes because I'm thinking about it too!

I wont tie them, just because if they do manage to jump...well I don't want them to get hurt or because I know that tipping is a good possibility!

Do you think they really need life jackets? i hadn't thought of that.

i would get the jackets for them, i guess i did not mean tie them to the canoe but at least have leashes on them in case they do go over you can grab the leash.

bahaha okay. No worries. I am checking out the pet stores around us right now! I wouldn't want my babies going unprotected.

I'll take plenty of pictures!

Before taking my Siberians on the water, we practiced obedience in the canoe while it was on dry land in the backyard. Our canoe is made of royalex and it flexes. This can be unnerving for a dog that does not expect it. It also helps to have a canoe that is wider and more stable so any movement by the dog has less of an effect on the boat.

For the first few outings I recommend taking nothing, like fishing gear, in the canoe. If the canoe does tip and you all get wet, you won't lose anything. Once the dog is more comfortable in the canoe, you can start bringing other gear with you.

It is also wise to at least make sure the dog can swim before taking him on the water, likewise wearing a life jacket. In the event of an accident, the dogs can benefit from a life jacket as much as their humans.

Have fun and share the pics!

I know this is a crazy old post, but what brand of life jackets have you guys found works best? We want to start taking Achilles kayaking/canoeing, but we also want to ensure that we have our pup safe while on the water.

When you get life jackets for dogs, you need to confirm that the particular jacket works for the dog you have. That is, put the jacket on them and put the dog in a body of water deep enough that the dog cannot stand - as with young children, some life jackets will work and some will cause them to be face down.

I researched this thinking we might get Ami on the sailboat. Sorry to say, that is probably not going to happen. Mr. Dog thinks I am trying to kill him, just taking him on the dock, let alone the boat   And a sailboat, unless in a broad reach, sails at an angle to the water, Mr. Dog would be sliding all over...and the sun...just not going to be a nice experience for a wooly husky.

Oddly enough, we just got back from a weekend canoe trip. We took Delilah, and she loved it. The boys didn't get to go.