Tips for Canoeing with Kids and Dogs

13 Jun 2016

Most recreational canoeists are enthusiastic, nature-loving, adventurists who love nothing more than to get out onto the open water and paddle about to their heart’s content. They love canoeing so much; they understandably want to share their love and experiences with others, including their children, and if they have one, their pet dog. 

But paddling away from shore with young kids or a dog in your canoe presents a unique set of safety challenges. Whether you’ve got your young ones or a furry friend on board, there is much to consider and prepare for well in advance of leaving shore.

There are five universal safety tips you need to be aware of and adhere to before embarking on a canoe trip no matter who is joining you. 

Keeping Rover Safe and Calm

If you’re planning on bringing a dog out onto the water, know that he/she needs to be psychologically prepared for the outing. The animal needs to be comfortable physically sitting in the canoe, and it needs to be in a relaxed state of mind. An important note: not all dogs like being in the water.

There are a few things you need to do to ensure your dog is at ease:

Stable footing inside the canoe 

If there’s one thing no dog likes, it’s unstable footing. That presents a potential quandary. The interior of most canoes are slick, and they become increasingly slippery when wet. Try laying a large rubber bathroom mat with suction cups designed for the floor of a bathtub inside the canoe. It may be the perfect solution to keep your dog dry and make him/her feel balanced.

Get your dog familiar with your canoe on land 

If you’ve never take your dog out on the water in a canoe before, allow the animal to become familiar with your canoe while it’s on land. Let the animal get inside of it, explore and sniff at it. The more familiar your hound is to your canoe, the less likely the animal will be afraid to sit in it.

Dog food, snacks, and fresh drinking water

You wouldn’t want to go hours upon hours without something to eat and fresh water to drink, would you? Of course not. Neither does your dog. Be sure to bring an adequate amount of food and water for the animal to consume whenever it pleases.

A life jacket

That’s right. Contrary to popular belief, not all canines are Olympic swimmers or enjoy swimming. You can buy a life jacket designed specifically for a dog and one that will fit your animal.

Teaching Your Child about the Joys of Canoeing

Introducing your child or children to canoeing is a terrific thing to do that will undoubtedly ignite a lifelong curiosity and fascination in them for nature and paddling on the open water. Of course, caution and preparation are the orders of the day if you’re bringing a young child on your canoe trip. Be sure your child has the following:

A life jacket

No child or youth should be on any watercraft without wearing a snug life jacket or personal flotation device (PFD). The advantage of your child wearing a life jacket is in the event they are unconscious and are thrown into the water, a life jacket will keep them afloat on their backs. 

A whistle 

There isn’t a summer season that goes by when we don’t hear or read about an unlucky traveller or hiker who gets lost in the woods. You don’t want this happening to one of your kids, but if they were to wander off and become disoriented, it’s better they are equipped with a whistle they can blow on until you find them. 

Extra clothing and sunscreen 

The weather can be unpredictable, you don’t want your little ones shivering because they find it too cold, or for them to suffer sunstroke and sunburns from being exposed to hours of sunlight. Prepare accordingly for each scenario.

Enroll your child in a beginner’s canoeing course 

Kids love to learn, and signing your child up for basic canoe training taught by a certified instructor can make all the difference when you embark on a family paddle.