{"id":13970,"date":"2017-09-30T16:00:57","date_gmt":"2017-09-30T23:00:57","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/community.nrs.com\/?p=13970"},"modified":"2024-08-27T08:58:01","modified_gmt":"2024-08-27T15:58:01","slug":"on-boating-and-dogs-with-emerald-and-hank","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/community.nrs.com\/duct-tape\/2017\/09\/30\/on-boating-and-dogs-with-emerald-and-hank\/","title":{"rendered":"On Boating and Dogs with Emerald and Hank"},"content":{"rendered":"

Introducing your dog to boating early helps water time be just another part of dog life rather than something to be afraid of. In my opinion, as soon as a dog is ready to be adopted, it\u2019s ready to try out boating. Just like with kids, however, you\u2019ll want to adjust the intensity of your day to the age and heartiness of your puppy. An eight-week-old puppy probably isn\u2019t ready for big swims, extreme temperatures or long days without snacks, treats, and getting on shore to run around.<\/p>\n

Meet Hank: A poop-eating, water-hating, rescue short-haired border collie, living the Idaho river dream.<\/p>\n

The first and most important part of training Hank to be a boat dog was emphasizing that boats are for sitting, not for roaming. A well-allocated package of hot dog bits went a long way in helping me train him to always sit or lie down when the boat was in motion.<\/p>\n

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(Hank):<\/strong> So no joke, there I am, a sixteen-week-old puppy just living the cow dog dream. January\u2019s snow is starting to recede, I\u2019m learning all about the smells of dirt and mud and all the turds that have been frozen all winter are starting to thaw. It\u2019s just dinner, run, chew up Mom\u2019s shoes, repeat. Sometimes, I even get to spend long afternoons napping on the deck in the sun. The only water I knew was the water in my dog dish, exactly how I liked it. Because to be honest, while I may have been transported to Western Montana to live with this river guide in the middle of some college town, in my heart I\u2019m a ranch dog. At least I was, until Ms. Kibble Dispenser decided we were going boating.<\/p>\n

Ugh, boating. I don\u2019t want to even think about the river right now, being all comfy curled up on the couch. But Mom says I have to start paying my way around here, so I guess we\u2019re going to tell you \u2018How to Introduce Your Dog to Boating\u2019. I wanted to make sure you get the REAL story, so I\u2019m going to help her out.<\/p>\n

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Canine Flotation Device<\/a>
\n<\/strong>This may seem like an odd concept for you. Dog lifejackets? But aren\u2019t all dogs great swimmers? I mean, it\u2019s called Doggy Paddling for a reason, right? Wrong. Well, kind of. Some dogs are great swimmers but not all dogs are. At the same time, when I\u2019m guiding, guests give me that same excuse all the time: But I\u2019m a strong swimmer. I believe you. And your dog probably is, too. But no one, or dog, is a good swimmer in cold water, in class III+ rapids, if your swim takes longer than you expected or if you fall out of the boat and, god forbid, hit your head on something.<\/p>\n

We need to take the same precautions with our four-legged boating companions as we do with our two. Dogs can still enjoy pawing around in the water (and running) in their CFD, it just gives them a little help\u2014and helps the humans out too. Ever try hauling an 80-pound, soaking wet dog onto a raft from the water? It\u2019s not easy. But with the grab handle on most CFDs, the lifejacket just became a harness and made helping your dog re-enter the boat ten times easier. Not to mention the little pocket, which is a perfect size for treats and poop bags\u2014leave no trace!\u2014and it blocks a little sun for your fair-furred pups.<\/p>\n