I’ve been pretty limited in paddling. I have dogs and had to arrange for someone to let them out if we’re gone a long time. Yeah, they’re big dogs, so nature needs to be addressed outside.
Why don’t I take them w/us? Too big for kayaks. Canoe? Did I say they were big dogs? They could upset the boat. But that’s not what upsets me.
What upsets me the most is this!!!
My dogs absolutely sink. My dogs SINK…yet this happens?
Are you thinking about trading the dogs fir cows?
Could…no one would get mad if I eat a cow.
elephants can swim too. But if my dog goes overboard, he goes right to the bottom.
Reminds me. A mother and son in new kayaks were not wearing PFDs. The mother capsized, but at least the dog had a PFD.
Yeah, I have preservers for the dogs…but they are very big dogs. They’re trained not to chimpout, but in a canoe going through any class 2 sections, they can contribute to dumping the canoe.
Then I’ll have to wrangle a boat and a dog(s).
some dogs are river dogs and some aren’t, kinda of like people in that respect
I miss working with cattle. They are smart, we have just bred them to be docile.
I will never forget a video of a golden retriever leading a group of cattle to safety in a flood. They were all swimming together.
I got a mental picture of a blue heeler launching itself after them. yeah, looked up and they too can swim. Seems like everything can swim but my dumb dogs.
I adopted a Border Collie that was a year old with no experience. She was afraid of the water. Once we left her on shore and paddled away with the other 2 Corgis in the boat. It was her decision to enter the water and start swimming. She became a really strong swimmer. She had big feet.
I had a Border Collie that was fearless in the water. She would swim in surf in the ocean and swim any rapid around. She earned the Otter dog merit badge. My current BC only has attained the Beaver merit badge but she has been on all kinds of boat trips. At 6 months she was on a week long river trip in a canoe. Now I like drift boats. She had special spot on the power boat and likes sailboat. Beginning swimmers get the Muskrat merit badge.
It helps a lot of dogs to teach them to swim with a life jacket. It helps build their confidence. I had a Corgi that lived to be in the water. His life changed when I put a life jacket on him.
Some breeds can indeed swim very well.
My breed is heavy boned, heavy muscled dog. It’s the bully breed. I had a lab/boxer mix and he could beat the water into enough submission that some would say it’s a ‘swim’. Not these guys. put them into the water and they sink like an anchor.
I do have life jackets for them, but unless I’m in my big boat, I don’t bring them out. That’s not their environment and I respect that. Sometimes I think it’d be nice to have a lab, but the akc/breeders have so screwed up that line, not worth it.
I’ll stick w/these two then once they’re gone, I’ll do the lone ranger thing. No more horses, dogs, cats, family…just me and the water. And I’m OK w/that.
I live with 3 dogs. I work with horses every week and time with animals makes it much easier to be around humans. Animals are honest and very intuitive.
I used to be like you–I’d ride every single day. Man, I miss those times. Every time I think about going back there, I remember how dry it is. And the fires.
Then think of how at peace I am on a great lake. Never have to worry about getting snagged or running aground on those.
Well guess you 2 options. Put up with the situation you created or get rid of the dogs. I vote for option #2. Then get an more manageable dog & a PFD for the mutt.