A large dog, shifting its weight casually while, say, watching a passing seagull, can cause a sudden instability that is only seen as humorous, in retrospect, on hot summer days. Notwithstanding dogs that ride on motorbikes, or fit into backpacks, the average family pooch seldom aspires to any transport more advanced than the family car. So be prepared to spend some time getting your dog used to the idea of riding in a kayak. Discourage excited exits in pursuit of wildlife, or at the approach of a cresting wave. Having a large, hairy, wet canine shake itself dry when only half a paddle s length from you, can be distressing.
Training is the answer.
After several carefully disciplined entries and exits from the kayak, you should be able to tolerate your dog doing this. Onshore, never tie your dog to your kayak, in the naive belief that, since they are the two most important items on your trip, it wouldn t hurt to keep them attached to each other. If you do, you could lose both your transport and your best friend simultaneously, in the likely event that a sandpiper lands nearby, or an otter swims past offshore. Remember that beaches are the last great bastions of dead things that have washed ashore . This is one of the main reasons why dogs love the water s edge so much.