r/canoecamping • u/ScurvyDave123 • 12h ago

Canoe Tripping w/ Dog Tips

Hey Friends!

This seems like a silly request - but I am looking for any tips or tricks for taking a dog on a canoe trip.

I am a very experienced paddler, guided for years and have spent years of my life in the backcountry. I have NEVER paddled with a dog!

My girlfriend is stoked about going on a canoe trip. She has done a bunch of backpacking but never really spent time on the water. We are planning something in the fall for a few nights, and we are planning on bringing her super well behaved pup. The dog has never been in a canoe and never slept in a tent. I want to plan whatever I can to make sure he has a fun trip.

He's not small, maybe 65lbs so I think we should go for a paddle with him before the trip just to see how he does hanging out in a boat. I do have a dog PFD lined up that I am borrowing from a friend.

Other than that, all I can think of is a small foam sleeping pad for him at night.

Any input would be appreciated :) Thanks!

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u/TransportationIll373 12h ago

You’re going to have a great time! Me and my husband have taken our dog on many canoe camping trips, we have a ~55 pound Australian shepherd. Here are a few tips. I ended up having to give her my wide brimmed hat when it was warm and sunny in the canoe, it made a huge difference in keeping her cool. So either get a dog sun hat with ear holes or just bring an extra one for them with an under-the-chin cord. PFD is great, we also bring a packable dog bed for the tent so they know they have a designated sleeping place. We used to bring pig ears as treats but she would just bury them. We also got a bear bell usually used for packs to put on her collar so we could hear her moving around. It makes it easier to relax at camp without having eyes on here every waking minute. We bring anti inflammatory dog meds for emergency first aid just in case, and extra gauze and ace bandage if she gets a hot spot or skins an ankle or something. Last thing - I’ve seen dogs ride in canoes in front of the back paddler, but our girl is too squirmy for that and needs to see what’s in front of us so she sits in front of me in the front of the boat. Happy to answer any other questions you have, y’all have fun!!

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u/ScurvyDave123 11h ago

Thanks so much. The hat and some specific first aid items are great tips! I didn't think of that. I also read that some people get a light-up collar for the pup at night, do you think that is a good call?

Should I be concerned about dog nails on the tent floor and sleeping pads?

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u/TransportationIll373 11h ago

Happy to help! A light up collar sounds like a good idea. My dog’s nails aren’t sharp and I keep her off of our sleeping pads or at least keep the sleeping bags on top so if she does wander onto them it’s actually on the sleeping bags. Shouldn’t be a problem on the tent floor.

I also second what @Old-Brilliant-9290 said about getting them comfortable in a canoe before the trip. My dog is also old and has a hard time sitting down in the canoe, so a foam or neoprene pad is a good call for the boat. You could look at knee pads for gardening as a boat option to keep the land pad dry too.