My buddy Abe.

Good dog. Beautiful canoe! :)

Cary

That's how it starts! And that lucky dog looks like he has one sweet ride!

Let us know how the rest of the steps go!

Step 2 will be to do the same thing out on some pretty shallow water. Right now he thinks it's a game where we just jump in and then jump right back out. He's very good in a car after he gets over the initial excitement of going for a ride, hope that translates to a canoe.

Good first step. I'd probably work with him laying down in the canoe on dry ground next, that way he starts to realize that getting in the canoe isn't a game and that it means its time to lay down and play it cool. Lots of rewards as he lays down and chills out.

The goal would be for him to hop in, find his designated spot in the canoe, and settle in on his own.

Looks of it we are still at Step 1. I pulled the canoe out again this weekend and he went straight into game mode. I sat in the canoe and told him 'get in the boat' like last week and he'd run up to, around, and even over it and then run off again. He knew what I wanted but without a reward like last week there was no way he was getting in that boat.

JD

I've run into the same stuff with my dog.

He can jump in the canoe just fine but at home with the canoe in the yard there is just no motivation anymore now that the fun has worn off. But when he knows we are getting ready to push off from shore he hops right in no problem. I think its all about the proper motivation.

If he's comfortable with the canoe maybe it is just time to get out on the water with him. Make it some place where its not a huge issue if he goes crazy and dumps you over. I like taking my dog to a local beach later in the evening when there aren't any swimmers and work with him on things there.

I suspect you won't have any serious issues with him dumping you. Just keep in either between your legs or in front of the bow paddler if possible that way someone has control of him if need be. While on the water work on getting him to lay down and chill or at least find a spot for him where he'll chill even if its not laying down. Just need to find what works for you and him.

My dog won't actually ever lay down in the canoe. He always sits up front with the bow paddler (usually my wife). He'll sit way up front and act like a hood ornament for the canoe. Not the traditional way of doing it but it works for him. He likes to be able to survey the lay of the land and sniff at any smells being carried by the wind. Having him upfront also seems to minimize the impacts of any movement he does make.

A well trained canoe dog is so much fun!

I trained my Golden Retriever with a blue foam pad that's in her section of my canoe. When it's time to go, I point to it and tell her "go to your mat" and she jumps in and settles right in.

She is always the first one to get in the canoe and the last one to get out, and on my command -- conversely, I am always the last one to get in and the first to get out. I have never (and don't plan to) allowed her to get out before me whether on land or water. I don't even want to introduce to her the idea of jumping out of the canoe while we're out on water.

Good luck with your training and keep us posted!

quote jdevries: "Looks of it we are still at Step 1. I pulled the canoe out again this weekend and he went straight into game mode. I sat in the canoe and told him 'get in the boat' like last week and he'd run up to, around, and even over it and then run off again. He knew what I wanted but without a reward like last week there was no way he was getting in that boat.


JD "

One word: "leash" :)