First time Kayaking

[Discussing Labradoodles & Goldendoodles]

I went kayaking with my Goldendoodle for the first time today.  He is about 6 months old! I got him the Intex explorer k2 kayak from amazon.  It is an inflatable kayak and it is the only one that can really fit a large dog. He is currently a puppy so I think there is probably 40 more pounds to grow.  He did wonderfully!  Stayed completely still but I've discovered it is kinda hard to kayak with him in there because he takes up a bit of space.  This is currently a tandem kayak but it was me and my fiance and Lucky.  Are there larger hardshell kayaks? 

[Wendy and Myla]

We have the Necky tandem - it comes with a childseat, which we removed and that is where Myla sits.  She is 63 pounds.  If Myla and I do not go kayaking, Dh moves his seat forward and goes by himself.  Myla absolutely loves it and often lays down and rests her head on the side and watches the scenery go by.  She seems to know when there are people watching and then will sit up and lap up all of the attention! 

We

[33bn7f8evnuyd]

Thank you. I think we saw that one at Bass Pro shop but didn't think a fully grown doodle would fit. Guess I was wrong. 

[Wendy and Myla]

 DH is 6'3" tall and he has lots of room - it is way easier when she is laying down though!  He has to sit in the kayak first before she jumps in so that he can have his feet positioned on the rudder pedals.  She knows the drill now and when we stop, she has to sit until I get out and give her the command to get out.  When we first started kayaking (she was under a year) we had stopped and she didn't want to get back in when we were ready to leave. We just hopped in the kayak and started paddling away and she ran to the edge of the water and barked and barked until we came back - she has never done that since lol.

[Amy and Annabelle]

Sounds like fun. I have been kayaking with my daughter and son in law. I share the tandem with my daughter. I have never taken Annabelle. She might like it though. I would be afraid she would want to go for a swim and then roll me over trying to get back in. My husband is too tall for kayaks. We have never found one that would fit him. He is 6'6".

[33bn7f8evnuyd]

Kayaking is super fun and kayaks are a lot harder to flip in comparison to canoes. You can train your dog on the ground before going out into the water.   Get in and put her favorite treats inside.  

[Wendy and Myla]

Amy, I don't know how serious you are about kayaking but our kayak (Necky tandem) is totally big enough for your husband.  My DH is 6'3" and the rudder pedals are not all the way forward and he has lots of room before his knee hits.  Our son is very close to 6'7" and he has used our kayak numerous times.  I asked DH if you both could use it with a doodle and he said it wouldn't be a problem at all.  Our kayak is 14' 8" long total and what I love about it is that DH can use it by himself - he just adjusts his seat forward.  When he's by himself, he has tried to put Myla in the front (where I usually sit) but she's not comfortable up there - there's not enough room and you can't take my seat out.  The only time we have to watch Myla is if there are ducks or geese swimming by us - she does bark at them!  One time a loon surprised us by popping up right beside the kayak and doing his very loud call!  Scared us all!!!!

[Amy and Annabelle]

Thanks, I guess we will check them out. We do want a tandem. I'm short, so we only need the leg room for the hubs.

[33bn7f8evnuyd]

What Wendy said is very true.  You just have to get the right kayak.  I've gone to Bass Pro Shop and they have the fishing kayak made by "Ascend" that should work with very tall people because there are no leg restrictions.  They just aren't tandem.  

[Amy and Annabelle]

Thanks, but yes, we do want a tandem.

[Amy and Annabelle]

My oldest daughter just bought one of those origami kayaks. I think people even put their dogs in those.

[33bn7f8evnuyd]

I just googled origami kayak and they are so cool

[Amy and Annabelle]

Yes, she loves to hike in the mountains and kayak in the mountain reservoirs. So she needed something easy to hike with.