In addition to my first note. I've been considering getting a lab pup some time soon. That would put him about 4 months old when I go on my trip. I would be working with him till my trip in May. As soon as ice is out here, I will try to get him used to being in a canoe. I would keep him on a leash on portages and on a long leash in camp to give him freedom to move around.

The only experience I have with Lab's is through a buddy. He waited until that dog was almost 12 years old before it could be outside without a lead. The reason I mention this is if it is a male and full of vim and vigor, good luck keeping him quiet, still and obediant!

But if he does well in the canoe and doesn't bark all night long, and everything else you mention holds true, then go for it. I love taking my two Aussies but they are velcro dogs - they don't let me out of their sight. Plus amazingly, they ride really well in the canoe.

I'm just really leery of a young lab backcountry, a lot of opportunity to get in trouble.

My opinion is if your dog doesn't bark and you trust it to walk down the street with you without a leash, then it should be fine in the bwca. If if it chases noises into the woods and barks all night, you might ruin yours or someone else's experience.

A lab at 4 months will be a handful to sit still in a canoe-even with lots of training. I am sure you could control him on land etc. with leashes.

Your plan to get him trained and used to a canoe is a good one, but remember at 4 months he is still a big puppy and could create problems. Be sure to get him a lifejacket. Dogs succumb to hypothermia too and the water in May will be really cold if you happen to capsize from him jumping around.

Personnally-I think this is an accident waiting to happen with a 4 month old puppy. If you do it let us know how it goes.

I think you will be fine, depending on his size, if he is still pretty small it might work out great, I took my Golden when he was about 6 months old at the end of May. He wasn't big enough to put us in serious jeopardy of capsizing if he wanted to chase anything into the water.

He loved it, and was quiet, but he did get cold at night, because he wouldn't stay out of the water. I would suggest bringing a home made slanket/snuggie cut out of a cheap fleece, and possibly stitched up at the end to make a doggie sleeping bag of some sort, and then keep him between your feet while paddling, and have a pad or extra jacket for him to lay on cause the bottom of the canoe can get cold to for extended periods of time.

If he is an incessant barker, then don't bring him.

I would personally wait at least a year before trying it with him. I'm a big fan of camping with my dogs, but there is already a lot to manage in the BWCA, and chasing after an energetic puppy might push you over the edge. Portages will be a hassle, and at that age, no dog is great on a leash. He can't be running and pulling and criss-crossing in front of you when you're loaded down with packs or a canoe. You've got to carry his food, worry even more about ticks and skunks, and keep him still in the canoe during windy days. Plus, you'll need a tent that's big enough for him to sleep in, and at that age, a little oversight on the ongoing potty training. In a year or so, you can outfit him with a nice Granite Gear backpack (they make great ones for dogs) and let him help carry stuff. Plus, he'll be much more mature and secure. That's my 2 cents.

I have a lab, she is 7. I am barely beginning to consider a canoe trip with her. They just have a lot of enrgy and curiosity. I know she wouldnever bite or hurt anyone, but as she is approaching, will they be so confident? I doubt it. I took my lab backpacking when she was one year old, and it was fun, but I felt like I was torturing her by keeping her leashed. I left her off once and had to chase her up a pretty steep incline in South Carolina.

My advice? Get a rescue lab that is about 6 or 7 and start living the pooch-in-the-canoe dream! They need good homes anyway.

I brought our lab, Slim Jim, when he was about 6 months old. We went to Perent Lake and he was pretty good in the canoe. It was a bit hairy at first but he settled down after the first 1/2 hour or so and it was fine. Of course, Perent is an easy lake to get to with only one short portage so I did not get a lot of experience with leashes, etc. He was good in camp and he slept in our tent at night so he kept out of the water and stayed warm. Most days he would curl up on the floor of the canoe and sleep while we explored or fished.

I love taking my dog. The wheaten pictured is Wally and he was an outstanding canoe dog. Quiet, slept in the canoe and stayed around camp. His replacement is Ruger and he needs some work but will get there. I would be cautious going with an untrained / untested dog in colder weather. I would wait until warm weather to make a maiden voyage. Keep working with your dog and make sure he is well trained and behaved.

I think the first month or so is hard enough on a new pup. He or she has to get used to a new home, owner, routine, etc. I personally would give yourself and your new pup a year to adjust, grow, and build a relationship before hitting the BWCA. But in the end it's your call.

C

I don't go without my dog Baron, he's a 5yr old german shepherd. The first time I took him to the BWCA he was 6 months old. I agree with most of what has already been posted. I would add that before going to the BWCA to take him to a small lake or pond and see how that goes and make your decision based on how he does. It may take a few times to get him used to staying still in the canoe.

We took our Corgi the first time when he was 1-2. We were a little scared at first, but he exceeded our expectations and has not missed a trip since. We've found that, since it is new territory to him too, he sticks to us even more than at home. He rides really nice, sticks to us on portages and doesn't bark - Even when he meets another dog. He's been a dream companion. I'd say that, if you're confident your dog can do the same, then go for it. Otherwise, you're asking for a LONG trip.

A good dog can add a lot of fun to a trip, but they must be well behaved and not bark.

Love that picture Moosetrack.

Just a follow up to my previous post, showing our little monster.

Nice pic Sloth. Maybe this will convince my fiance to let me bring in our corgi now!

We took our 5 month old Golden Retreiver on a 3 day trip and had a blast. We had to help him get in and out of the canoe, and it took him a little while to get use to it on ethe first day. The only problems we had with him were the flies really liked him and he found a cat hole at one of the campsites.

I went up in 2004 with my girlfriend and she had a small terrier that was not happy to see people. We would let him run ahead of us when on the portage but had to grab him if others walked by. My only fear about bringing a dog up is how they will react to strangers. Could be a bad start to a canoe trip having your dog taking a bite out of someone.

I have had a yellow lab named ginger on every trip for 28 years. Every one has been well behaved ,loved being in the canoe and rarely barked. Some advantages to having a dog with is we feed any leftover food to the dog , she cleans the camp of any bear attracting smells resulting in no problems with bears. Only twice in dozens of bwca trips have we had a bear in camp, both times returning from fihing,and our lab chased it away. Our dogs have been great canoeing companions. tg

IMHO, the BWCA is a poor place for the first test to learn how a dog behaves in the wilderness. Imagine discovering on the first night that my dog keeps me and neighboring campers awake all night.

You might consider a "test" one-nighter at a local park just to learn what to expect.

Of course, out of respect for fellow campers I have always left my dogs at home.

How about canoeing with a cat! :-)

I used to take my dog up with me. She was a well behaved Springer Spaniel and I didn't need to leash her on portages. That said, she was kind of a hassle to bring and I saw way less wildife when she was with. She didn't seem to particularly care for sitting in a canoe, but she was fine on shore. We saw absolutely no wildlife (chipmonks,mice,squirrels) while camping. I currently have a different dog (springer also), and I don't have any plans of ever bringing him on a trip. Call me selfish, but I go on trips for my enjoyment not to babysit a dog.