DOGS & CANOES...lesson

NOTE
This is in reference to the Commander's request about dog canoe training. If any of our Camping Babblers have other ideas - we would certainly welcome them.

ESCAPE CLAUSE
It is understood that some dog breeds would not do well with canoe training. I tend to think that hunting and water dogs would be best - though I could be wrong.

THIS IS WHAT I DO
You need to have a mat on the bottom of the canoe or boat - sometimes two. You can get bath mats cheap at the Dollar Store. Dogs get skittish and loose confidence when they can't stand without slipping. They don't like lying in a puddle of water either - that's why I always have a sponge as part of my canoe kit.

FIRST
You need to familiarize you dog with the canoe; the canoe being on dry land. EXAMPLE - Reese, come. When he comes I take him around the canoe, in different directions a few times. Just a tiny bit playful. He needs to see the canoe as non - threatening and certainly sniff it out. THEN - Reese - in. He may not go the first time. Reese - in. He jumps in, sometimes with a bit of help, and I give him a treat. MAKE SURE THAT THE CANOE DOES NOT ROLL. Reese - out. He jumps out with a lot of praise from me. Reese - in. Reese - out and so on.

NEXT
Reese - down. Don't try to accomplish every thing on the first day - make it a game and your dog will want to take part.

You do these exercises as often as you need to and are assured that your dog will do the command instantly. Lots of praise and some goodies at the beginning. Lose the goodies eventually. Do all this stuff before the trip.

WE ARE NEAR THE WATER

Your dog needs to have a clear access into the canoe. Reese - in. Reese - down. Reese - out. At this time you are at the dock or shoreline - better a dock like situation for stability.

WE ARE NOT ON THE WATER BUT CLOSE TO SHORE - that's for your benefit.
Reese - in. Reese - down. Out we go and paddle a bit. The next command is, Reese - up. Reese - sit. He should be in front of you. Reese - down. I had my dog go down every time we approached shore until I had confidence that he wasn't going to do anything dumb. Your dog must understand In, out, down and sit. If your dog violates any of those commands they need to hear an angry master but lots of praise when they do well.

It really doesn't take long but you must do it well from the beginning. Most of the commands are already known by your dog - we are simply applying them to a different situation.

THE TEST
A small excursion of some sort to get a good idea how your dog is going to perform. It doesn't have to be a long one - it could be a jaunt in the bay. After that, you expand until, in my case - it was fabulous to have Reese as a companion. Sometimes he would stand at the bow like a ship's captain. He looked really great and I was really proud.

I do have a dog vest and a dog pack.

When you have this down - we need to talk about, "So, what happens if the canoe goes over [for whatever reason]?" And there are a few other situations to consider.



Looks great doesn't he?

 

Reese needs medication to get him through the car trip [trip - not meaning to be funny]. He can't heel worth a dam. BUT...he scores really high on the other matters. So...I'm content with his few deficiencies. To be frank - he has a lot less than I do. Work with what you have.

Patience and Praise are the key the words. It's worth it. If your dog can sit - start there. The issue is that she must be able to be in a stationary position. Keep trying...you might find it just works after she has been sitting for awhile - she may lay down for her own comfort.

The next question is - could you see the instructions clearly, did they make sense and what can I say to improve the lesson plan? By the way...he is never satisfied...he's always trying to improve.

 

Dancer, the steps that you have written out look like they would work well, and are similar to things that I have done when teaching a horse to load and ride in a horse trailer. Certainly a very different thing; but stiil, the similarity was there. The directions are easy to understand, and allow for plenty of time to teach just about any dog how to ride as long as they are correctly learning each step. So, all in all, Dancer..........Well done!

I do have just one little question about the whole procedure though. I have heard that once you teach a dog to ride in a canoe, that they are just like your kids after you teach them to drive the family car. The dogs love it and want their own canoe. Do you think this is possible, and how do you then deal with that issue when it comes up??

 

Reese is fine. Hyper in the car - the word is a good adjective. The medication is purely to quiet him down when we are headed north. An hour or two after we arrive he is back to his normal self.

Reese just jumps in and jumps out in one motion - as simple as that. If I can get a dock like situation it makes it easier but even then he is okay. He has climbed over the pack and headed to the front when coming close to shore and has jumped given the command.

 

Reese, and all dogs, want to please. So if we are smart we use treats sparingly, praises abundantly. Well...like I said in my introduction, "...he just can't paddle." I'm not to sure if it is the canoe proper he really gets excited about; I think it is more about being with me and exploring the canoe camp sites I pick. He's a fabulous companion, always at my side and comes immediately if I call or signal him. [I use sound and sign commands.]