I want to start to kayak or canoe with my dogs this summer... which is safest or more suitable?

Question

Any tips or ideas?

Answer 1

IN experience i would say canoeing is more safe because you can keep your self stable in a canoe by shifting your weight from side to side and in a kayak you just tip and then you have to unbuckle your self so you are held under the water mfor longer.

Answer 2

Pick a large dog.  Sometimes setting on top of a small pooch can be very dangerous in the rapids.  It's best to have a two large dogs because if one gets tired you can jump to the next one, just like the pony express riders.

Answer 3

a canoe

Answer 4

How about telling us how big the dogs are?

I go flatwater kayaking with my 18 pound terrier (very well trained!) in a 12' Wilderness Systems Pungo.  It's very stable, with a big cockpit and plenty of room for a small dog.  If you have very quiet, well trained dogs, you could use a canoe - but in my experience they're a lot more tippy when the dog gets up on the gunwhales to bark at the seagulls.  Better to go with a tandem kayak and let the dog have his own seat.

Whitewater canoeing would be unsafe and kayaking would be impossible - the dog wouldn't be very happy sealed inside under your spray skirt.

I hope you're really good at wet exits and self-rescue techniques.  If you have to worry about righting and bailing your boat, saving yourself AND your dogs if you dump - well, good luck!  I wouldn't paddle alone if I had my dog with me and I'd make sure he had a good doggie life vest.  Practice a lot in shallow water  and paddle near shore so that if the dog has to swim for it, he'll have a chance.

Answer 5

If you take yor dogs, definatly try a canoe first. They are wider and largley more stable. If your dogs are small, you can try a kayak. I take my chihuaua with me all the time

Answer 6

I would try the canoe first, a kayak is shallower and may not have room for a dog or dogs.