Kayaks and Doodles

[Nancie & Gracie Doodle]

My husband and I are very interested in buying kayaks. We spent last summer researching them and then put them on hold and are now starting up again. Problem is, we want to purchase kayaks that Gracie Doodle can ride in. We have decided on the "sit on top" kind rather than the one you get down inside. Also, it is recommended that we get 12' because the shorter don't go that fast and you have to work really hard to keep up. Now we need to find a kayak that Gracie can comfortably sit in. Most have all these molded foot stops and circles where you can add a storage tank if you want. Too many lumps and bumps! I want to find one that is rather smooth or flat in the front so she can sit or lay down. We took her last year out in a rental and she was OK for a few minutes and then jumped ship and swam to me on shore! I am sure I can get her to stay once we find the right fit for her. So, my discussion and question is...do any of you have Kayak riding Doodles and if so, how do you do it? Also, what kind of kayak do you have? I know I have seen pictures of Doodles in boats and on kayaks on this website. Would love to hear your advice, stories and choice of kayak. Oh...Gracie is a very tall Standard Golden Doodle and currently weighs 79 lbs. Maybe her size is a problem????

[Melissa, Samson & Shelby]

I hope that you get some replies! We have been looking at sea kayaks and would love to take the dogs. They boat all the time with us.

[Carole (*Koda*Monty*Bindi)]

What a timely discussion! Our family kayaks and I'm always the one left behind on the riverbank when we bring Gaston-Cramer along. We were JUST talking about seeing how he'd be on the river! He too is very tall but weighs just 50 pounds. We were thinking of trying a two-seater. I ,too, will love to see the replies.

[Kai Doodle (Kathy & Keith)]

Keith & I rented a two person kayak last weekend and Kai sat between my legs and loved it! Didn't even have to hold on to him he was very content. I can't paddle right now so he was getting a lot of pats & good boys on the ride. He was out with us for about 2 hours. (We kayak in the Marina Del Rey harbor here in Southern California, so there were lots of boats and their wakes, kayaks, barking dogs, pelicans and seagulls to distract him.) Have you considered a two person and letting Gracie Doodle be the second person? Just a thought. Love your picture!

[Nancie & Gracie Doodle]

My husband asked at this one kayak store about using a tandem and removing the one seat (most of them are removable or you can just slide them out of the way). He was told that it would be hard to paddle as one person. I don't know if I believe that. We went on a Kayak outing that I signed up for through our museum and they put us in a tandem. I talked to the instructor and she said you would just slide the seat all the way to the back out of the way and use the front seat as the main one but you would now slide it back into a more neutral position for balance. As I recall the floor was just a floor and relatively flat. I kept thinking that Gracie could fit in this one. It was made by Old Town but I have never been able to locate one that resembles it. It actually looked more like a canoe but wasn't. So the search for the right kayak continues!!! So, I too am really hoping lots of comments come in! As you can see in the photos, this was a very small rental...probably an 8 footer. No room for a big Doodle at all!!!!

[Adina P]

Our member Trevordoodle and Roxanne Ochs do this I believe - although I'm clueless as to the difference between a Kayak and a Canoe so maybe they canoe?

[F, Calla & Luca]

I thought I remembered a kayak picture and here it is:http://www.doodlekisses.com/photo/kayaks-on-july-4-002?page=1#comme.... I f you search under kayaks there are some more, too.

[Nina, Phil, Harlow & Lacey]

LOL that's the pic that introduced me to Sheri and her kayak reccomendation.

[Nina, Phil, Harlow & Lacey]

Check with DK member Sheri Carpenter. She does a lot of kayaking with her 100 lb goldendoodle Murphy. We are looking at taking up kayaking ourselves. She recommended the two man Perception, TropicII when I commented on a great picture of her and Murphy kayaking.