I am thinking about doing a solo with my dog but have reservations on portages. She is an extremely well trained, little female English Black Lab.

My only concern is the portages. I would hate to have her off leash and meet people but I would hate to have her on leash while I have a canoe and pack, going through the rocks and have her pull me on my face!

Guess I could double trip it and tie her off. Of course, I could always not bring her.

Or, since I have an injured elbow, just do a base camp with no portages...no portages? wouldn't that be weird!

What are your thoughts?

Baxter has done about 5 trips with me. He is not real good with strangers so I use a training collar during portages. I travel early and late season so we don't often run into other people. When we do meet people on the portage I get way off the trail and make him sit at my side.

I would not consider taking a trip without my friend. He rides very well in the canoe. He gets in and out of the canoe only when told to. He is mixed breed, mostly Shelty. He weighs just over 40 lbs.

I do double portage and he just loves the walk. There are only a couple of times I have tied him up at the landings while I load or unload.

Baxter has his own pack and carries his own food. He also wears a Doggie Flotation Device.

I agree with your concern about having her leashed while carrying a canoe. I would not do that.

Feel free to email me if you want any other information.

Thanks for your reply PJ...that is a very nice looking dog you got there!

Appreciate your insight and experience. I have been looking at lesser used EP's but they all involve kick butt portages...a no portage EP/basecamp might be in order...something I have never done.

Belle, (my dog) carrying her own food?!?!? I can't get her to wear her neoprene vest on Dec. duck hunts!!

I have not taken my dog... wandered same thing many a time.
I Love dogs have two labs. Raised many litters. One thing I will mention is once in a while while portaging canoe or pack, a dog from another canoeing party comes running up the portage and scares the hell out of ya. Not that I mind, cause I like dogs, but just saying it's happened more than once. One of those things where you look up from under the canoe and WOW there is a pouch coming 20 mph right at ya, haahha.
I would like to take Molly my black lab, will check her out in canoe soon. she has never been, but was waiting for water to warm up before I tried it, as dont want swamped in cold water. She is a small labe at 70 - 75 lbs My male is right at 100 lbs
SunCatcher

Sun, good point about cold water. Probably still a little chilly up there.

The dog encounter on a portage is exactly what I want to avoid! I could see my little lab doing that!!

I try extremely hard not to let my dog scare someone on the portage. It has happened once or twice. I apologize, get way off the trail and make Baxter lie down at my feet. If I know there are others on the portage I make him walk behind me.

Water temperatures don't concern me. I wet foot it. If my feet don't freeze off I figure his won't either.

Baxter does not mind carrying his pack. I have no problems getting it on him. When I hold it in my hand and tell him to come he knows it's time to have it put on. He stands still while I strap it on.

I would have second thoughts about a 100 lb dog in a solo canoe. I notice when Baxter shifts his weight from one side of the canoe to the other. One reason I'm glad I don't have tractor seat. I just slide over a bit to compensate.

Sometimes, on calm water, I will heal the canoe over a bit to increase rocker which makes it more responsive to correcting strokes. Sometimes Baxter doesn't like that and he'll slide over to level the canoe out. Smarty-pants.

You could ask Butthead what he thinks about traveling with Baxter. He'd be a little less biased than I am.

After the trips I have done with PJ and Baxter I too am somewhat biased! I only see him for a trip or 2 a year, yet he remembers me, and will take direction/orders from me in PJ's absence.

butthead

Someday when my chocolate lab passes on (she is 8 now) I will be in the market for a new dog. I am definately going to get a smaller "canoe partner". I just dont feel comfortable with "hoss" jumping out of/into the canoe. I have a hard enough time keeping a solo canoe turned upright as it is. Thinking of getting a small spaniel.

After looking at your pics butthead I think I will be loading up the truck and heading north this next week; the dog will be coming.

No plans, no reservations, no worries!!!! Have to see what fate has in store for me!

I've always soloed with my dog. He is off leash on the portages and is indifferent to people. Doesn't go up to them. In fact people have called him and he still doesn't approach them.

Wally always went on trips with me. He would run along portages beside me on the portage and slept in the boat on a pack. He was a Wheaten terrier and weighed about 35 pounds. Dumber than a box of rocks but a perfect tripping partner.

Well, you made me laugh!

Got a floor of gear laid out and the lists being made and checked. Guess I'm going just don't know where or what day i'll get up there.

quote muddy: "After looking at your pics butthead I think I will be loading up the truck and heading north this next week; the dog will be coming.


No plans, no reservations, no worries!!!! Have to see what fate has in store for me!"

Don't blame me Muddy, it was like that when I got there!
Have a fun and safe trip!

butthead

If you "solo" with a dog, is it still a solo?

Most dogs are better company than any of my ex-wives.

I've always wanted to solo with a dog. I had the perfect one to go with but sadly he passed in 2009. My current dog would love it but maybe too much for his own good.

He listens well until he sees wildlife ie: rabbits, squirrels, deer. Then he bolts for them and gets so excited I can't control him. My greatest fear would be him chasing a deer - or worse, and becoming lost.

Sadly I decided it's not worth the risk with this boy.



That's "Cooper" on the left and my border collie "Murphy" who I lost a couple years ago. Cooper is an Australian Shepherd.

quote TomT: "He listens well until he sees wildlife ie: rabbits, squirrels, deer."

One answer: training collar.

Baxter is "resued dog." I got him when he was about nine months old. He had not been treated well by his previous "owner." The first time we met he tried to bite me. To say he was a "project" is an understatement.

I read a few books on dealing with problem dogs and we worked and worked and worked. He got better and better.

I never want a dog that can't be trusted off lead.

Baxter gets to come to the office with me everyday. (One of the benefits of owning your own business.) One foggy morning, a few months after I adopted him, as we were walking from the house to my truck to head to work he took off chasing something. We live in the country and I had no clue where he went. I was pissed.

At lunch break that day I went to Gander Mountain and purchased a training color. I read the instructions and watched the video on how to humanely use it. If the dog jumps or yelps when "shocked" too strong of a level is being used.

Today Baxter rarely needs to have the collar on. When I do put it on him it's when were doing something he loves to do...walks and hikes. He sees it as a sign that it's time to do something fun. His collar has a buzzer...meaning when I hit the buzz button on the remote it makes a buzzing noise...no shock. 99% of the time when I need to hit a button a buzz is all it takes.

Training kids and dogs takes both positive and negative reinforcement. Much more positive than negative. For Baxter, the training collar has worked very well when a little negative reinforcement is needed.

Back at home.

We (Belle and I) had a great trip. She had a blast, was very calm in the canoe and didn't say one word of complaint. Possibly my best canoe partner yet!!!

My only complaint was I had a hard time keeping her from chasing the loons while we were on shore. The e-collar wasn't working correctly or that would have been the solution.

Couldn't help but post a pic of my pup!

Freddie, my 15 year old beagle and myself went on a six day solo in late May to Newton Lake. She did very well on the one portage we took. I kept her on the leash until I had just the canoe. Then she walked by herself but wouldn't yield to four guys pushing a motorboat over the portage. They were nice about stopping for her but I will need to hold onto the leash and the canoe next time.

The dog carrier opens me up for ridicule but it keeps her clean and comfortable and fits inside the tent. I line the inside with two old down vests which she appreciated when it got down to 28 degrees two of the nights. I use a Coglan's insect net made for baby carriages to wrap around the carrier when the bugs are bad and a water resistant backpack cover for rain. The door of the carrier isn't attached when it is in the canoe in case of a capsize.

She goes in the carrier on her own accord when in camp for shade or insect relief.

If I wanted to I could break the kennel down and fit it in a #4 portage pack to disguise it.

I hope I can bring her on a 12 day solo to Lac LaCroix this August unless she opts to go to a pet spa and get pampered for a change.

I didn't take my dog to WCPP on my twelve day. But did bring her on my BW eight day and plan on bringing her on my August 20 day trip. The WCPP has no woodticks that I've ever seen so that's a plus. It's a lot tougher going up there though and Bernice carries her own packs. Even the dog double trips! I find the pack is almost as good as a leash.

quote PJ: "

I would have second thoughts about a 100 lb dog in a solo canoe. I notice when Baxter shifts his weight from one side of the canoe to the other. One reason I'm glad I don't have tractor seat. I just slide over a bit to compensate."

Very good point I found out. You could use a tractor seat but so much nicer having a bench seat and just adjusting seating position get the boat right.

I'm curious, zulu, what kind of canoe is that? I'm unfamiliar with it.

Hi Amok - The canoe is a Souris River Quetico 17 in kevlar.

Thanks :) Nice lookin' canoe!

OK had Molly out 4 times "learning the ropes" of canoeing.
Took her camping last weekend, one night to see how she would do in a tent. she did fine.
Also, I have some braided slip collar leads (leash) that I use. Lightweight made out of plastic rope, braided. I am taking three with me so if I need to tie her up, I can. I been practicing getting canoe off of truck and portaging down to local lake and putting in and then going back to vehichle for gear, all with her tied to my belt. She does wonderful. She is 9, and I think we are going to do well on the trip. Either way, she is going and I will find out.

SunCatcher

Good luck and have fun!

best canoe dog ever. part chihuahua. she was a katrina rescue dog. she actually watches the skies for eagles.

Those of you who have soloed with a dog, what canoe did you use? Is a solo canoe big enough for the additional passenger and gear?

Bell (old worn out company) RockStar.
Worked Peachy

SunCatcher

I used a SR tandem paddled backwards. It was my dogs first canoe trip and I wanted a little more stability. My dog did wonderful and I hated the tandem as a solo. Next time I will be using a solo canoe with my dog.

Lots of variables to try out to get the right fit.

Just like Muddy I used an SR 17 paddled backwards. I used a 280cm kayak paddle. It worked great in the narrow Moose River and fine on the lakes as long as it was loaded and there wasn't a great deal of wind. I had a ton of weight in it for 11 days. Once all the gear came out and there was some wind it was very difficult to paddle.

I may rent a solo next time or buy one if it is something I am going to do regularly.

Zulu, that looks like a really nice set up for your dog.

I'm hoping to find an outfitter that has both the Prism and a SR16 to see which one would work better. My dog is midsized, about 50 lbs and great in the canoe.
I duct-tape a piece of blue foam (cut off from one of those cheap sleeping pads) in the bottom of the canoe for her.

ooraminna - I don't know how sensitive your dog is to biting insects but I had to cover mine up with insect netting a few times. While on the water the horse and stable flies attacked her on occasion and she was miserable. I tried to swat them with the nine foot kayak paddle while underway but couldn't use a light enough touch without hurting her. Once I looked up and four stable flies where having a scrum on top of her head. When I crawled up to shoo them away a huge bump grew out of her head like on a cartoon!
I used an inexpensive insect net designed for a baby carriage made by Coglens. She didn't mind it over her at all.
I also bring a breakdown kennel and waterproof cover in case it rains. That may not be an option for a dog your size but a tarp might work if your dog gets cold when she/he gets wet.

I know two canoeists, my dad and my brother-in-law, who lost their dogs in western Ontario. Both made the mistake of leaving their dog on an island and both dogs went swimming to find their masters. Amazingly, both were eventually recovered, albeit tick-bitten and emaciated. So, if you travel with your pal, keep him close.

@zulu Freddy has it pretty good :)

SunCatcher

quote SunCatcher: "@zulu Freddy has it pretty good :)


SunCatcher"

I think you're right Paul!
Do you think one of those tent air conditioners would be going too far? She got a little warm in the tent during her afternoon naps.

Really great photos Zulu!!!!

quote muddy: "Really great photos Zulu!!!!"

Thanks Muddy. The dog is going to turn 16 this January so I am taking more photos of her lately.

Zulu,

Molly is a little spoiled herself...she was asking if you would portage that tent air conditioner for her? Even though she is only 9?

SunCatcher

Molly needs a "Husker Red" collar to match her bowl and your packs.

We will be needing the heater instead of the AC in a few weeks.