Kayaking?

[Elysia]

For those of you who have brought your corgi out kayaking--how young did you start them and how did you train them to get comfortable? Do they ride on top, or in your cockpits?

I have an almost 4-month-old pembroke corgi, Milo, and I just bought my first kayak a few months ago--a current designs kestrel (roto-molded day trip/rec kayak). I would love to get him out on the water, but don't want to scare him away forever if the experience is bad--any other tips or suggestions you guys could give?

Thanks!

[Michael Romanos]

Clogs, who is my deputy Moderator, takes her Rosie kayaking and she puts a dog life jacket on Rosie. Clogs hasn't been around this site for a couple of weeks. pehaps you can send her a private message.
I am planning to go on a four or six day kayaking trip down part of the beautiful and pristineWanganui River (New Zealand) around Chrismas time and I am going to make enquiries if my Corgi, Taylor can come along. I'm sure he'll love it - once he gets use to the feel of a boat. He has never been boating and he doesn't want to swim but he can swim quite well.

[colbycorgi]

Hi there,

I know its not completely the same, but we take our corgi, Colby out on our boat and hes still a baby too.

He is just 6 months and we started at about 5 months.

We have a power boat, a 16ft Ranger Bass Boat that we take on various lakes in our area.

We purchased a life preserver from Petsmart. It is made by Outward Hound. Not really a plug, just that I tried another brand in 2 diff. sizes and didnt find it to be made nearly as well.

We let the dog hang out in the boat in the yard for a few days before his maiden voyage. Scoping it out, sniffing etc. We ran the motor and played with all the controls and noise makers.

The first day out was a riot...he spend most of the time barking at everything and listening to his own echo....

And one thing I learned was if he wants to jump in...let him!!

We just made sure to keep a leash on him too as now it became a game of water chase me!!!

I almost had a heart attack when he first went in, but he surfaced fine and after that every time got easier....he seems to like it alot...although some of his pics tell another story....

Best of luck and I hope this was helpful??

Julie

[lricch565]

Colby sure does look like he is having fun.

[Michael Romanos]

Colby is a sea urchin! A happy chappie.

[Clogs]

Originally Posted by Elysia

For those of you who have brought your corgi out kayaking--how young did you start them and how did you train them to get comfortable? Do they ride on top, or in your cockpits?

I have an almost 4-month-old pembroke corgi, Milo, and I just bought my first kayak a few months ago--a current designs kestrel (roto-molded day trip/rec kayak). I would love to get him out on the water, but don't want to scare him away forever if the experience is bad--any other tips or suggestions you guys could give?

Thanks!

Hi Elysia - hope you see this. We took Rosie on the kayak as soon as we were able to. In fact she was probably about three to four months old when she first went. Initially, she rode just in front of us, between our legs, but now travels in her own little cockpit at the back. We have Viking Espri kayaks.

She always wears a harness and she is linked to us with a rope. That way, if she does fall, either deliberately or accidentally, or if we get tipped out, she is easily retrieved. She doesn't seem to mind falling out and it has never put her off. She [i]hates[/] being left behind if one of us goes out alone!

Here is a photo of her behind my husband. Taken before we got the life-jacket. It isn't the cleaest, as it is a small snip from a larger photo, taken from a rocking kayak!

[Michael Romanos]

Lovely photo. Clogs. I'm going to find out if I can take Taylor on the four day Wanganui (or Whanganui) River trip. May have to get permission from DOC (New Zealand's Conservation Department) as some of the stay overs are on DOC-controlled land and the concern is wild life ie almost solely birds. My wife, Leigh works for DOC as a PA so I'm hoping that DOC might grant us a dispemsation on the grounds that Taylor is not a threat.

[Clogs]

Hah. I wish you luck. Meant without tongue in cheek. I also have a friend who works in DOC and the rules be the rules. The problem with dispensations is that it tends to undermine the blanket "No-dog-go" zones that DOC has set up. If one owner is granted dispensation, they're all clamouring at the door.
Same with campgrounds. We get sometimes turned away, even though the manager can clearly see and often says, that Rose is not a problem. But if they let one in, all are wanting it too.
*sigh*
One of the downsides of being a dog owner, I guess.

[Michael Romanos]

Clogs - I can only do but try. The alternative is YOU looking after Taylor for four/five days. So wish me luck.