That you are taking your dog out on the kayak with you is important. Now, if you simply can’t think of going out kayaking without your furry friend, here are some tips to kayak with your pooch –
Try Commands
First thing first – you need to use only those commands that your dog can clearly understand and act upon. “Kayak” or “paddle” could work as a command for getting in the kayak. As far as staying in the kayak goes, once they’re inside you can say something like “sit”, “stay”, or even just hold their collar until they calm down and get comfortable. Don’t put unnecessary pressure on them. If they try to jump out of the kayaking at any point during training make sure to sternly say “No” and bring them back into position calmly but firmly.
Rewards Teaching
Kayaking with positive reinforcement through treats is an excellent way to show approval so that your doggy knows they are doing a great job. This will encourage the dog to continue to participate in future lessons! After your dog has completed a tasks like entering the kayak on command, or staying put while you paddle around for a bit, make sure to deliver praise and tasty tidbits accordingly.
Assess Whether Your Furry Friend is Ready to Kayak with You
As with anything, it is always best to start small and then gradually increase the difficulty of the task at hand. If your dog does not respond well to verbal commands or gets too excited and tries to jump out of the kayak constantly, it might be best to wait until they are a little older or have more self-control before bringing them along on longer trips.
Additionally, keep an eye on weather conditions! If it looks like there might be some chop out on open water, consider hitting up a calmer lake instead so that everyone stays safe during training (and beyond).
Start on Shore
When you’re first getting started, it’s best to introduce your dog to the kayak while it is still on shore. Let them sniff around and explore all sides of the vessel so that they know what it is and aren’t afraid of it. Once they seem comfortable, try luring them inside with a treat or toy until they are sitting calmly in the middle of the kayak. If your pup needs help feeling safe and secure in their new environment, consider using a canine life jacket during this stage (and later down the road as well).
Practice in Shallow Water
After your dog is relatively comfortable sitting inside the kayak on shore, it’s time to move to shallow water. This could mean wading out into a lake with them or finding a spot where you can be paddling around in just a few inches of water. The goal here is for your furry friend to get used to being in moving water and feeling the movement of the kayak beneath them without having too much depth to worry about. Be sure not only praise but also give treats frequently during this stage so that they associate pleasant things with getting accustomed their new mode of transportation!
Float test
Before heading out into deeper water, it is always a good idea to do a float test with your canine companion. Fill up your kayak with enough air so that it will stay afloat and put on their life jacket if you have one (this step is optional but highly recommended). Next, bring the boat over to shallower water and help them get inside before gently pushing off from shore. If everything goes according to plan, your pup should start paddling towards shore relatively quickly – if not, be sure they are wearing a properly fitting life jacket just in case!
Deep Water Kayaking
Now for the fun part – deep water kayaking! After mastering all of the above steps individually, it’s time to put them all together and hit up some open water. Start by getting in the kayak yourself first and then helping your furry friend aboard once you’re settled. If they need help feeling secure initially consider using a leash or tie-out stake until they become more comfortable being out on the water without one. Remember to deliver treats frequently during this stage as well since going canoeing can be pretty scary (and therefore tiring!) For most pups who don’t frequent swimming holes often.
Practice Helpful Commands
There are a few commands that will come in handy while you’re kayaking with your pup. “Sit” and “stay”, as always, should be at the top of this list since they’ll help keep your furry friend calm and in one spot – two essential things when canoeing! Additionally, consider teaching them to turn around so that they can get in and out of the boat more easily (this could come in handy if they ever fall overboard).
Conclusion
Proper training ,giving clear commands an frequently rewarding your dog will make for great paddling experience . Make sure to start small gradually increase difficulty over time. Finally review some helpful tricks or commands like “sit” ,”turn around “,and” stay.
