Boundary Waters Quetico Forum :: Group Forum: Doggie Paddle :: Portaging your canoe with a leashed dog
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barracuda |
Both of my dogs leash walk on portages, one is young and loves jumping and running everywhere. When we do any kind of hiking he is on-leash to help pace him and prevent his over exuberant greetings. The other, my friendly black lab is getting older and deafer and gets spooked whenever we run into people on the trail. Everyone has been really cool about it but I feel terrible when all of us jump at the sudden dog bark (followed by a wagging tail). She does better when she is right by my side and it helps pace her aging bones. We practiced loose leash walking at home and both have learned to fall in line behind me or walk straight in front when on a trail. Teaching the dogs to walk on the correct side of a tree and walk through mud puddles is the hard part, but both dogs know "wait" and we leapfrog across or I will let them off-leash and have them cross separately and then reconnect. Now that we are practiced, it really isn't a big deal to have them on-leash. I use a thin 6' leash that I can stow in my pocket and a carabiner for quick connects to my belt or pack belt. Neither one pulls hard, though sometimes a little pull uphill is nice. Also will clip leash to a tree branch when getting the canoe into/out of the water sometimes, then leash is grab-able with canoe on head. If the portage is totally empty I might let the dog run or swim some and burn energy or let them off-leash at the landing while loading. |
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Jaywalker |
quote Blatz: I may be over thinking this too much." I don't think you are. You need to think it through and be honest with yourself about how your dog acts on the trail and decide how to maintain control. Aside from the legal angle, I'd say you have a responsibility to other paddlers not to let your dog bother them. My lab likes to meet people too, but I've got enough verbal control to keep him away from people until I've sized up their reaction. |
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justpaddlin |
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TomT |
If she didn't behave like this I would leave her home but I think portaging a canoe with a leash is dangerous. |
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Jaywalker |
I always travel with a 15 foot rope but have never yet hooked my dog up. Without knowing your dog's size, inclination to pull, obedience, or likelihood to bolt if frightened it's sort of hard to say how your method would work. The first thought that crossed my mind is a 7 foot lead puts the dog under the canoe with you. If you bump a tree or rock with the boat, what will your dog do? Seems to me a little longer might be a little safer, and it might be worth doing a quick release (like tucking a loop of the lead into your belt so it can pull out if needed), provided your dog can be recalled. Hopefully others have more scoop on what has worked or not worked for them. |
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Blatz |
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Solobob1 |
That said, in very remote areas, he may be unleashed. |
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mcspin50 |
Last year was the first time I took my miniature poodle mix into the BW. My oldest son's 12-year-old dog had died the past year, and he wanted to have my dog along. I was prepared to have Jiminy leashed on a retractable leash to a skijoring belt that I use when I backpack/hike with him. It was sort of a hassle with all those paddles. Usually I just use trekking poles to help my old knees with the ups and downs. Six paddles are not as useful. :-/ He said to just let the dog off and see how he does. I have to admit the dog did pretty well. He would move back and forth between whoever was ahead of us and me. We hardly met people on the portages, but when we did I think the dog's small size was not threatening or scary to them. But I kept the retractable leash hooked around my waist just in case a situation arose. None did. Maybe I was just lucky. |
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3Ball |
I used a 20' retractable leash. I would attach it to her upon landing. I would then take her up the trail 20 feet or so and tie to a tree leaving the leash chest high. I would then load up with whatever I was to carry. I got back to her and ran the sternum strap trough the handle. It worked great. My pup learned quickly when to pull and when not. An assist up hills is welcome, and yank downhill is not. I didn't leash her every single time, but for busier portages or longer portages I did. |
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ducks |
in the 2nd pic he sat next to me and watched 3 moose take off running |
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dogwoodgirl |
Also, didn't someone on bwca.com lose their dog portaging.....found several days later fortunately, at a campsite. I leash Amelia while taking the packs across and then tie her up while I take the canoe, if I am solo. She pulls too much to have her on leash with a canoe on my back. |
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Blatz |
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x2jmorris |
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PVnRT |
I think keeping a dog under control in the BWCA means not allowing it to approach other paddlers or other paddlers' dogs on portages. Owners cannot predict what will happen when their dog enters either another's personal space or that person's dog's space. Dog owners must consider the negative consequences that possibly may result. Perhaps the human approached by the dog may not be good at reading dog behavior or has previously experienced aggressive dogs. That individual may interpret fido's inquisitive face as aggression. Perhaps this could cause a panicked reaction that results in....escalation. Ugh. Remember, the human did not approach the dog, she was approached. Similarly, my dog minds its own business and is as sweet as plum pie unless she is approached by another dog. When that unfortunate occurrence happens, I feel sorry for the other dog. My dog is always leashed within 6 feet of me. Free roaming dogs have a significant advantage, or so they believe until Miss Molly latches her jaws into their hinder. I come away from these occurrences thinking how inconsiderate these dog owners are. The dogs know no better, but the humans should. |
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Blatz |
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TomT |
She did freak out a bit when we saw a guy with a canoe on his head coming the other way on the trail. she got pretty afraid of that but I just called her past the man and she was fine. I had assumed dogs needed to be leashed on the portages. Good to know I am wrong on that. |