Where you're allowed to paddle with a dog
Before you take your dog on a trip, check what areas the route runs through, because the rules vary. In national parks and reserves the law forbids bringing dogs into areas under strict and active protection, and because most trails run precisely through such zones, many parks declare in their rules a ban on dogs across the whole area open to visitors. So before you set off it is best to check the rules of the specific park or reserve on your route. In landscape parks it is more relaxed – you can bring a dog, but on a lead. In ordinary forest areas a dog must not be let off the lead. The exceptions to the bans in parks apply in practice only to assistance and rescue dogs, not an ordinary four-legged companion on a trip.
A buoyancy aid for your dog
The basic piece of kit is a dog buoyancy aid. If the dog falls overboard, it will keep it on the surface, and a strong handle on the back lets you pull it firmly back into the kayak or onto a jetty. The size is chosen mainly by the chest girth measured at the widest point, plus the neck girth and the length of the back; the aid should fit snugly but not restrict movement. It is good for it to be in a bright colour or with reflective elements, because that makes the dog easier to see on the water against the movement of the boat. And this matters: you don't put the aid on the dog for the first time at the water's edge, but get it used to it beforehand, at home.
How to get a dog used to a kayak
A dog gets used to a kayak gradually. First it gets to know the gear on dry land – let it sniff the kayak and climb in without moving off. Then comes the water by the bank and short, calm outings, and only at the end a longer route. Before a trip it is worth the dog knowing and following the basic commands: sit, down, quiet, stay – a sudden movement or a dog's panic can capsize the kayak. It is also good to make sure the dog can manage getting out onto a steep bank on its own, and to get it used to moving water.
Safety: heat, water and where the dog sits in the kayak
The greatest danger on warmer days is overheating. A dog does not cool itself through the skin like a human – it regulates its temperature mainly by panting, which works poorly in the heat, and overheating can be life-threatening. On the water the sun reflects off the surface and heats you twice over, so on hot days it is better to paddle in the morning or late afternoon, take breaks in the shade on the bank, and have your dog's own drinking water and a bowl – the dog should not drink water from a river or lake. In the kayak itself it is safest to paddle with two people, in a boat with a large cockpit, with the dog at the feet of the person sitting at the front, on a soft, stable mat. On a kayak or inflatable dinghy such a mat also protects the floor from claws.
Good manners on the water
When you get out with your dog onto the bank, keep it on a lead – the banks of rivers and lakes are habitats for water birds, and in the breeding season a dog running loose scares them and can destroy nests. You clean up after your dog, don't trample the vegetation, and don't disturb others on the water or on the bank.