We're thinking of taking our dog with us on a 3 day canoe trip at the end of April. He's young....four months and this will be his first time.

And tips, tricks or suggestions?

thanks

Island campsites. All of the smells and surroundings will have a tendency to distract a pup...at least you'll have a natural "invisible fence"!

PaPaddler

What type of dog? I took my pup (chocolate lab, 2 years) into the interior for the first time this past summer. I got one of those doggie life jackets for her to be safe, just in case she fell out of the canoe or more likely jumped out in the middle of the lake. I'm guessing if this happened, there would be no way to pull a 80 lb dog soaking wet back into the canoe without capsizing it - she would be following us swimming to shore in my mind. Thankfully this didn't happen. I found she didn't like to be in the bottom of the canoe especially when wet - I got one of those cheap blue foam mattress pads and cut it in half, and kept her laying down in front of my feet while paddling. I made sure she was still and didn't move around shifting our weight. A pockeful of treats was good reinforcement. Out of respect, I'm sure everyone will tell you to keep your dog on a leash on all portage trails, as well as pick up after it obviously. I used those biodegradable dog waste bags to pick it up and disposed of in a thunderbox. That said, it was nice having my dog along for the trip!

he's a boxer he'll be around 30lbs when we take him i would guess. And we plan on getting him a life jacket too

Here's a thread that I think ran the gamut on pros and cons of dog tripping.


http://www.network54.com/Forum/352882/message/1233768553/DOGS

Don't think for one second that all dogs like to be in a canoe out on the water. It took me many days on the local pond just to get Casey (woof, woof) to stay in the canoe without wanting to jump out and swim to shore. After that it was a matter of training to get him to stay still without constantly moving from one side of the canoe to the other.
Now, some ten years later, he is my closest companion. An excellent canoe dog.
An untrained dog in a canoe is recipe for bottom side up.
After you have your friend canoe trained then you can train him all the other things he will need to know - least of which is to come when he hears the whistle. People that scream at their dog to come are very annoying.

Irresponsible.

Too young.

Start with training.
Then do daytrip hikes & paddles.
Then decide if it's a good dog to bring camping once it's no longer a puppy.


I'm very wary of folks who want to take their dog camping before their dog has been further than the back-yard and around the block. It makes me think the dog is an affectation, that the owner is doing it because of some perceived Man And Dog Duo romance.


The biggest problem tripping with a dog is other people. I don't know anything about your dog when I see it bounding down the portage trail. It could be wild for all I know. I'm going to take care of myself, which may mean I'm going to hurt your dog. Now you have an injured or dead dog you have to get out of the part and I'm not helping. People trip with their kids. The last thing a parent needs is to worry about someone's dog mauling their kid's face. Now you may say, "My dog would never..." I don't know your dog. I don't need the hassle or worry.


So for my sake, your sake & the dog's sake do not take your dog tripping until after it's trained and mature and familiar with the outdoors.

First train your dog to you. You have to have control and the dog must listen to you "ALL" the time. Nothing worse then trying to find your dog in the woods or control it when it sees something it wants to check out.

Now, if your dog is trained (I mean really trained) and you can walk, hike or bike with it in the woods (without the dog running more then 2 or 3 feet away from you) start training it for the canoe. I was able to train my mothers dog for the canoe in about 3 hours. The dog more then likely will want nothing more then to get out of your canoe and tip you so if you can do it in a pool or small pond, dog beaches can be great too. Try to do it away from the shore though so the dog knows it is going to have to stay. I do most of the training from the water and only get in the canoe when the dog is almost ready to laydown and go to sleep. Just you being in the canoe and moving around will scare the dog more. Plus if you are in the water you can be right beside the dog and he/she can see you.

I tried training my last dog to the canoe and after 2 days I gave up. There was no way she was going to sit in it ever. So make sure you do this before getting all the way to Algonquin.

Tips:

1) Having a nice pad or soft area for your dog will help and more then likely on those flat lakes he/she will just sleep till you get out.

2) Water and food is a must cuz a few dogs I have had will want to eat or drink to ease their tummy.

3) One thing you may want is some kind of bug screen for your dog when in the canoe. Funny how the bugs will go for the dog over you and it has no where to go and can't move cuz you yell at it.

4) Get your dogs vaccination for raccoons. Even if your dog doesn't see one just their droppings are enough to make your dog very sick. Last time I think it cost me about $70 but not sure.

I know there are more but I just can't think or them right now. Just make sure that your dog is really trained. A lot of people think that their dogs are but then find out the hard way.

I forgot one of the most important ones..

5) *** DO NOT *** tie your dog into the canoe. This could be bad for 2 reasons.
one.. if the dog does see something and goes in after it you will too.
two.. if you tip the dog will be under water cuz you tie is going to be too short for the dog to get his/her head out of the water.

I have the echo the comments of everybody else, until your dog is fully obedient it should not be camping in the interior where you likely will not have it on a leash.

I brought my dog at about nine months. She had already been to numerous obedience classes and was under full control. For off lead commands the dog should be able to do following:

Come on one call
Stay
Heel
Leave it - when dog is sniffing, looking at, interested in anything, I say leave it and it walks away. Very useful if sniffing mushrooms, staring at an animal and wants to chase, etc.
Too Far - When you are portaging you don't necessarily want the dog heeling. I let her walk out of a heel but is not allowed to far form my side, i.e. 10 feet. Once I say "Too far" she comes closer and continues.

On another note, with all due respect, I have been far more annoyed in Algonquin by poorly 'trained' children or even adults than I have dogs. There was only one time I was upset by a dog wondering on my campsite either interior or campground. As for humans this has sadly happened numerous times. Further to that, the noise from children has been more of a nuisance to me than dogs have been. And like dogs owners, nobody thinks their children are a nuiscance to others or could do what they end up doing.

"
I have been far more annoyed in Algonquin by poorly 'trained' children or even adults than I have dogs.
"

Word.

Never actually had a bad experience with a dog while tripping. Passed many on the trails. Every time I see on off-leash I am prepared to take action if it looks anything but happy/friendly.

I just worry about people who seem to want the dog to go tripping before the dog has any say in the matter or has demonstrated the proper disposition. Pet ownership should be first about the pet, not the owner - imo.

I have a cat.

Never mind the dog; bring your cat. They wont jump in the water and are too light to tip the boat!



Jeff P
http://algonquincanoeing.blogspot.com/

Bad idea .....our 8 month old might (and that's a big might) be ready by August. Her mother will hopefully help to provide an example.
Training a dog properly and socializing it with humans and other dogs takes about a year.
Preacher, I've always thought you were a cat person.

Formerly Foxco, Now dmf

Southern Georgian Bay
Ontario

It seems that it is clear, an untrained dog could be a nightmare anywhere, in Algonquin, worse, in the interior fatal.

Just curious how many dogs you have injured/killed....bad experience as a child or something?

My guess is your dog id too young to be off leash in the park. Not becuase it would hurt anyone just because it is not courteous to other users and it is illegal. Id be less worried about the dog mauling someone as im sure you are a good dog owner and dont train your dog like some owners. Id be more worried about your dog jumping up on someone witha 50pd canoe over the head tripping them and having them fall and break something. Legally you would be liable for a fine as dogs are to be on leash at all times and the medical liability for the injured party, rescue etc..

That said your best bet is to trip with a leash, not a elasticy retractable one or a long one a short lead that makes your dog heal the entire time on portages. another great thing is to get them their own pack and make them carry the bug spray and their dog food. This always slows them down and after a few trips you can condition them to undertsand when the pack goes on they work and walk to the other side of the trail and wait for you to take the pack off. This worked great for my husky. Eventually I taught her left and right, and no one could find a trail better.

It will take you years to get a good portage dog so just use a leash, and be consistant make no exceptions and in a few years it will be all good.

Chris

lol - if I were to bring my cat tripping I wouldn't get very far. On day 14 of a two week trip I'd still be at the access trying to coax Sebastian down from the first mature pine he'd have climbed up. Love to have him with me, but just too much work.

I do bring one of my two dogs though (45 pd ausie sheperd), but generally only when solo canoeing in the offseason - as she tends to bark, is a digger and a tad hyper (Ausie sheperd). I use a 2' x 2' square section of closed cell foam for her to lie/sit on in the bow, her own fleece blanket on top of that (keeps it off any water) and a raincoat or tarp section for those rainy days on the water. SHe's not a water dog but doesn't show any inclination to jump out when enroute, takes to basic commands well, can sleep for hours in a boat without whining/complaining and has no issues getting in or jumping out on her own. I don't use a life-jacket for her.



I wouldn't generalize about your dog - you need to test your 4 month old in your loaded boat in an area with a number of distractions on shore to see how he/she responds. If he fares well and is 'good' on the leash then by all means take him along.


I've encountered a few unleashed and hyper dogs in the park, even one that jumped into my kayak seat all wet and muddy, then proceeded to jump up on my bare legs and scratched them in his exuberance of being out there. No owners in sight - they appeared a few minutes later so I entertained the dog down by the landing. I'm very tolerant of such behaviour but I know others who won't be - just make sure your dog is under control during the portages and while at the campsite.

EGB, heh! I love dogs & all animals. There isn't a single one of them that's more important than me. If there's ever any doubt with any animal, you gotta do what keeps you safe.

@EGB - I can't speak for Preacher but I've had negative encounters with several dogs. I love dogs but any unknown dog gets treated as dangerous until it can convince me otherwise. Kids might be loud and annoying but I've never had one bite me (except my nephew).

I believe strongly in dogs having off leash time but too many owners have a negligent attitude towards this. I've been chastised at the Toronto Beach for being with my then three year old son while a dog ran up to him. Dog owner didn't realize that "off leash" didn't mean "out of control" or "responsibility free".

Dog was nice though, can blame him for having a stupid owner.

The whole off-leash/on-leash thing has always bothered me a bit.....if there are only two of you, portaging with a dog on a leash at the same time is a safety hazard.
At the same time, not everyone thinks that your Rover is a loveable, playful mutt. They should be on a leash. Rover, I mean. Not the people Rover might encounter.
I sheepishly admit that ours has rarely been on a leash in the park. We always have it with us, though, and she comes about 95% of the time on command. Her daughter is getting there with that part of her training.
I steadfastly maintain that you can't take your dog into the interior (or anywhere, for that matter) unless it is properly trained and socialized.
From the looks of Preacher's cat, he should get it some exercise.

Formerly Foxco, Now dmf

Southern Georgian Bay
Ontario

I wouldn't recommend killing someones dog if it is running free to anyone. I agree that dogs should be on the leash. Hurting or killing someones dog might also put yourself in the hospital or worse tho

I couldn't imagine tripping without my dog now, she has become the perfect tripping companion, but it takes time to groom them as such. I worry that your dog might be a little young. Take this summer to let the dog develope strong swimming skills and progress to short paddles around the lake or day trips. By next summer you should be in good shape. As for the dogs behaviour on the trail I always keep a leash hooked to my waist by a carabiner. In busy areas I keep her hooked to me. It can be a little awkward carrying a 70lb pack,50lb canoe and having a 70lb shepard tied to you but people on the portage are appreciative and I always get lots of compliments on her behaviour. I pulled the canoe out the other day to clean it up, set it down on the lawn and when I turned back there she was sitting in her spot in the canoe with the biggest doggie smile ever, ready for another season of adventures!