Dog Paddling Tips - How to take Rover boating safely

Sat, 08 Aug 2009 16:09:00 GMT

Some days on the river, it can feel as though the paddling world has gone to the dogs—and we say why not? An instinctive swimmer, man’sbest friend is a model boating companion, unlikely to Bogart the last beer and entirely incapable of critiquing your stroke. We asked a few experts for adviceon how to keep Fido healthy and happy on a paddling trip. They came up with thefollowing tips for all of your dogged pursuits.

Water dogs come in all shapes and sizes. Paddling photographer Michael De Young’s first dog Fisher, a golden retriever, was ano-brainer for canoeing. But, generally, even though dogs such as New foundlandsand Labradors have been bred especially for their resilience to cold andswimming capability, you don’t need a special breed.

Train ‘em young—in and out of the water. Sure, the doggie paddle is easy to master, but dogs can and do drown. What’s more, whether it’s staying center in a tipsy canoe or paws up on a dry box, teaching Spot to sit still can prevent flips—a dog that learns a solid "down" command is even better. "It takes practice," DeYoung says. "It’s a goodi dea to start them out on a lake or flatwater paddling when they’re about six months old." Playing fetch in the water develops swimming skills and fitness, he adds.

Give them traction. De Young goes so far as to lay a rubber mat on the slippery bottom of his canoe, which helps keep his current canine Kyia, a black Lab/Great Dane mix, out of the bilge. A bit of industrial carpeting affixed to the deck or dry box can offer stable footing for any four-legged passengers on board.

Teach your pooch specific boating commands or gestures. It will pay off when you hit rolling rapids or windblown waves. Older dogs can learn new tricks—just don’t be overly stubborn. Some dogs never dig paddling,and an inadvertent swim could be just the beginning of your woes. "Unless they’re well-acclimated water dogs, you’re asking for trouble," says paddler Brad Tyer, who has canoed with his dogs in Texas, Montana, Arkansas,and elsewhere. "My general attitude is take them out and get a few pictures and then leave them home."

Your dog is an excuse to buy more gear. Pack for Lassie as you would for yourself: A dry bag for food with a hard-sided container inside to keep critters out; a folding bowl for water; a doggie-flotation device for rapids or unanticipated problem sections (best to get the dog used to this before it’s needed); a towel; a leash; and first-aid kit including tape and bandages, dog thermometer and ear drops.

Got a Yak - at last

Thu, 06 Aug 2009 16:12:00 GMT

Well it's happened ..........I finally got my Yak.

It had to be a compromise, room for wife or grandson had tobe allowed for. So after much looking on the web and at Kayak shops, Ieventually opted for a FeelFree Gemini.

This is slightly different from the Perception Gemini.

It is early days for me, so I can't make an informed orexpert judgement yet. It floats, doesn't topple me out and seems easy to paddle- so far so good.

At 12' 9" x 32" and 57 lbs it would seem to bemanageable - except when you try to hump the thing up on the roof of aDiscovery when it becomes an awkward, slippery little sucker. This doesn'tquite seem enough to describe the slapstick comedy of me trying to get itthere, while the wife stood by laughing, until I gave up and asked for help.

Anyway I'm afloat and I /We enjoyed the experience,butalready I can see more expenditure on the horizon.

The question is how long before I get somethingsleeker/faster/solo, more suited to fishing or play? I can see at least twomore kayaks might be required

I also have to get better at paddling. We were on the waterat least two hours and had a lot of fun, but except for the odd hundred yardsor so in a straight line the rest of the time was spent paddling in a series ofarks (not quite circles) each ark curving a different way to compensate. And alot of the time we would clash paddles, which really slows you up.

Further exploits will follow as I progress or not with theYak.

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Dog Paddling Tips - How to take Rover boating safely

Got a Yak - at last