Boundary Waters Quetico Forum :: Listening Point - General Discussion :: Best dog for camping/canoeing?
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chessie |
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cyclones30 |
That said....if it was a priority of mine to take her I would train her and work with her and I'm sure it would work. But I hunt with her and don't want to try and take any drive out of her for a pleasure trip. She loves to sleep in tents. A perfect canoe dog would be one that is well trained and content with just chilling in one spot for a while. Laid back |
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okinaw55 |
cyclones30: "I agree w/ the training and all that over a perfect breed or something. I have a GSP and she's extremely well trained but also very active and attentive. Not a good combo for narrow canoes or kayaks....I've never even tried yet cause I know there would be a LOT of sit and stay commands used. And that's before the loons are nearby or ducks or whatever might be. She'd be a perfect dog at camp and on portages....but not in a canoe. Unless she's dead tired she likes to move around. Ha yeah bird dogs are a bit of a challenge in the BWCA. I took my Brittney one year for the most part didn't tip us too much. When we hit the portage though, that's when he would range a bit too far for my taste. |
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sns |
She certainly is keenly interested in all waterfowl, and even more so in any grouse found on the portage. Two things have really helped: One, she carries a pack (saddlebags) and seems to understand that when portaging, we are 'working'. She is pretty easily called off of grouse, at least after that first moment of excitement. And in the (tandem) canoe, I finally figured out that putting a pack next to her, partially confining her to one side, really helps with balance when she is excited. This matters less in the solo, where the narrow bow affords her minimal room side-to-side. In camp, she takes it upon herself to defend camp from camp robbers (photo of her on-point on a squirrel). When she spotted a moose 100 yards across the water from camp, she let it know in no uncertain terms what she thought of the intrusion. All that said, she is absolute terror on pheasants when it is 'go time'! |
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ScottL |
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yellowcanoe |
ScottL: "I think that most people who live with a dog (I don't think of myself as "owning" my dog as she owns a part of my heart and is definitely part of my family.) will respond that the best camping/canoeing/hiking/backpacking dog is the dog that loves to be with you. That canine companion that is as much companion as it is canine. You want a dog that will listen and respond to your commands to keep it safe and to keep it from being a nuisance on the portage trail and to keep it safe in your canoe. If your going to expand your family to include a dog you should be ready to commit the time necessary for you and your dog to learn to work together. If you make that commitment you will develop a bond that will create a companion both on and off the water." nicely put. Your dog is not a tool. |
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northallen |
sns: "I am partial to the Small Munsterlander. |
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sns |
northallen: "I am considering this breed as a replacement to my dear departed German Wirehaired. Looks happy in the canoe. Any recommendations on breeders?sns: "I am partial to the Small Munsterlander." I can recommend a breeder: feel free to pop me an email and I will reply. I also see we live fairly close; if you have not seen any SM's in person & want to do so... |
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jwartman59 |
My chihuahua, RIP, was an excellent canoe dog. At thirteen pounds she was a fearless camp guard. She was a Katrina rescue, she had a huge bite scar on her hind leg that always got comments from the vets. Minnesota winters were not her favorite. She never got used to the cold |
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yellowcanoe |
Nope. Its a Carolina dog mix and hates the water. No swimming. Wading is a maybe but the feet must touch something firm. The best part is the dog loves the canoe and will never leave it even if tempted by a squirrel or a moose. No training at all was needed for the most recent dog. Just likes a nice yoga pad. My former dog, a Golden would leave the canoe in a heartbeat and swim after waterfowl. |
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sedges |
Most dogs I meet in the BWCA are fine and friendly, except the one that peed on my pack. Actually that dog was fine it was the owner that needed adjustment. I find that little dogs have a lot more fun in the canoe because they can move around. Big dogs pretty much need to stay put. |
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missmolly |
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mjmkjun |
A domestic dog has many potential enemies in the woods. |
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4keys |
At home she always barks when someone comes into our driveway, but is friendly when I tell her it's ok. She is aggressive when fox come in our yard, but I don't know if she would ever protect me from a human, and we are not training her that way. So for us a lab works. She lets us know about things, but won't attack everything. |
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missmolly |
Bear vs. German Shepherd I'd go with a sturdy, water-loving breed that won't get cold when wet, but spending time training the dog matters as much as the breed. |
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Duckman |
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missmolly |
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kbobb |
What dogs do you find valuable for canoeing and camping - say especially in bear country, as a sentry? thanks |
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TrailZen |
TZ |
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DRob1992 |
kbobb: "Let me start by saying I have never been a dog/pet person. Could never find the time or money for it. Now I have more time on my hands and the thought of having a dog around has crossed my mind. Something like a German shepherd or similar for "home defense", but not interested in rottweiler or doberman type dogs. I'm far from a dog expert. My wife and I have a German Shepherd. He is currently 7. I met him when he was 4. Just a few notes about our dog (not that this applies to all German Shepherds by any means) ... He is great for home defense. He is highly aggressive (still has his nuts and that may contribute a decent amount to his aggressiveness). I do not believe he would be a problem in a canoe or, in general, on a camping trip. The potential problems would most likely occur on portages where the likelihood of close contact with people is higher. When we take him on hiking trips (which is rare given how aggressive he is), we always use a muzzle and we try to keep as much distance as possible from other humans and pets. If you decide to go for a German Shepherd, or really any dog for that matter, I would take the time to have the dog trained as a puppy. A lot of people kinda go into dog ownership with a half-assed mentality and that just isn't fair to anyone involved. Sorry for the long-winded response. Hope this helps a little. |
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brp |
You also don’t want a dog so small you’re concerned about predators. |
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nctry |
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PeaceFrog |
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Zulu |
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northallen |
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Z4K |
jwartman59: "A lab would be an obvious choice for people in the upper Midwest. Problem is that they are very large and require huge amounts of food. My lab does well in a canoe, even at 100#. He does eat quite a bit, but at least he can portage his own food (and then some). When he first started paddling physically limiting his movement was necessary to keep proper heel/trim but after a few trips he's got it down pretty well. Here he is providing necessary ballast for a solo morning fishing outing in an 18'6" kevlar. *Edit* Normally he does have a pad to sit on, the raw kevlar is somehow abrasive and slippery at the same time for him, on this particular morning it was trapped in a tent with a sleeping person. Spending lots of time with them as a pup is much more important than breed choice, IMO. |
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sns |
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