We've owned our dog for less than 3 months. This is the only dog I've ever had. We have had him in the canoe 3x; he does not like to get in but does great afterwards. He will be in front of me in the bow in an SR 18.5. I have camped with him twice and each time he was great. (He is great in general.) On portages, he will be leashed and walked either by our older daughter or by me, I think.

Do you have any tips for me? Anything I might have forgotten? We leave for our trip early Saturday morning...

I have a little plastic bowl handy for the dog to drink from while traveling in the canoe if it is sunny and hot and a long way between times when you can get out of the canoe. Otherwise they get thirsty and try to lean out over the side of the canoe.


Good Luck. He may require that you need to make some changes to your routine or plans but I think everyone will be glad he is along.

They have collapsible bowls too. How long is your trip? My first trip with the dog I made a short one. Don't make your paddling time to long with out giving the dog time to get out and move around. The pup is alot like a kid.
Have a great trip.

I'm sure it will be a great trip.

It may be a little late but did you take him in to the vet to get any applicable vaccinations? Lyme and giardia are the two big ones I can think of. Also make sure to be current on your flea/ticket and heartworm meds and make sure to make him part of your regular tick check.

In addition to walking on portage trails make sure to get him lots of exercise. If possible let him run around to burn any energy. A tired dog is a good dog and an even better canoe dog.

I think alot of dogs have issues with getting in a canoe. They are leaving firm footing and trying to get into something with unsure footing. It makes dogs a little hesitant. Sometimes just picking him up and setting him in is easiest but you can try to work on the training in this area and see if you can teach him how to do it. Just make sure you make the canoe the best place to be that should make it a positive experience.

All I can say is take lots and lots of doggy treats to train and reward the behavior you want, including getting in the canoe. Piwi loves them and does learn by reward. Love goes a long way, but treats are key too!

Thanks, these are helpful. I will bring his own water bottle that has the attached bowl thing for him to drink from in the canoe. I didnt think we'd need a bowl with the lakes being all around but didn't think about in the canoe. The water bottle thing is pretty cool; the "bowl" folds back over the bottle for storage and it will fit nicely in my extra fanny pack bottle holder for portaging.

We will have two kids along so I think we will be stopping enough already.

He has had the Lyme vaccine and is current on heartworm and frontline. Last doses were June 15. I did not know there was one for giardia. I will have hubby call about that in the morning. But yeah probably too late.

The trip is five days, four nights.

We have two baggies of freeze dried chicken along for treats. I had extra after making my own freeze dried meals, and he likes them so that will work out nicely.

We do pick him up to put him in the canoe, and then give him a treat.

Thanks all! Anyone else...feel free to add.

When I train retrievers to get in and out of duck boats I start on dry land. Put your canoe on dry land and make sure it doesn't move around. A lot of praise when he does what you want. Put some dog cookies in the canoe to encourage him.
Good luck.

Booker's all ready for his trip! We have daily bags of dog food, a dog PFD, something to drink out if in the canoe, and a yoga mat, cut in half.

We almost brought a sheet for in the tent like someone mentioned, but he'll stay with my husband constantly and won't go in the tent alone, I don't think.

I'll tell you all how it goes when we're back in July!

Have a great trip!

I hope you're having a great time! When you get back, please let know how it went. What worked and what didn't with the dog?