We (Amanda and I) took our Siberian Husky Piña Colada and our Yorkie Louie for an exciting Kayaking trip at Shingle Creek Regional Park - Steffee Landing in Kissimmee, FL. Our original plan was to rent a canoe instead of a kayak because we wanted to be together on the same boat. It was our first time canoeing with dogs, and it got a little freaky.

The canoe tumbled! We nearly capsized!

There we were: Amanda, Louie, Piña, and me, successfully starting sailing on a canoe in a beautiful swamp in Florida, with a high possibility that alligators may be nearby, ready to eat us. I was in the back of the canoe, Amanda was in the front, and Piña and Louie were in the middle.

One thing about canoes is that any movement you make makes the entire canoe wobble side by side. In general, if everyone in the canoe is behaving and keeping a relatively stable center (not leaning too far to any side), the canoe has no reason to capsize.

However, someone in our canoe was not cooperating, and as you can accurately guess, the culprit was our husky Piña.

He was moving from side to side, making the canoe wobble so much that it made us very nervous.

It was so funny because Amanda was freaking out, shouting to our Husky:

"Piña stop moving!"

"Piña, stay!"

"Piña, stop it, please!"

On one occasion, our husky Piña moved so suddenly that the canoe shook drastically, leaning too far to the right. We all lost our balance, and our poor five-pound Yorkie Louie got very scared. I managed to counterbalance to keep the canoe from capsizing, but remember that we were in a Florida swamp.

The scenario that played in our heads was alligators eating all of us if we capsized. We decided to head back to land to switch to kayaks.

A double kayak for the husky

After we arrived on land, we switched to a double kayak for Piña and me and a single kayak for Louie and Amanda. The double kayak proved perfect for the husky because it allowed more control, and Piña had enough space to move around without the risk of capsizing.

After that, it was smooth sailing for the entirety of the trip. Piña kept moving a lot on the Kayak, but it was easier for me to maintain balance while continuing padding. Although Piña initially looked a little stressed, he eventually enjoyed the journey.

He said hello to other kayakers, drank water from the swamp (thankfully, he didn't get sick), and carefully looked at everything around him. Every time he came to the back of the Kayak and sat in front of me, I gave him a piece of cheese to reward and encourage him to be part of the fun we were having.

On the other side were Amanda and Louie (our Yorkie), and he was very relaxed on the Kayak, lying peacefully. It was a unique kayaking experience with our exceptional and well-trained dogs.

Here is a video of our kayaking adventure with our husky and Yorkie

GUIDE: How can you Kayak with your husky?

Now that we have shared our kayaking experience with our dogs, we will guide you step by step on how you can make a kayak trip happen with your husky.

Step 1: Master kayaking on your own first

If you have never kayaked before, DO NOT try to kayak with your dog for the first time, especially with an untrained Siberian Husky.

You need to be confident in the water. You need to trust in your ability to operate the kayak fully and be a master at remaining calm.

By remaining calm, I mean you need to assess the situation and calmly come up with a solution instantly without screaming or losing your center. It is crucial because when you add your dog (especially a Siberian Husky) and desperately start screaming at your husky to calm down while you are in the water, it will amplify your nervous energy tenfold.

The consequence of that nervous aura you emanate will make controlling your husky way more challenging, and they could jump out of the kayak in fear. You will be fine if you remain calm and peaceful, breathing while fixing the problem.

Real-life example

We came to an area where the water was very shallow during the kayaking trip mentioned above. At that moment, without warning, my husky Piña jumped out of the kayak, and half his body was on the water (although he could still stand). I calmly grabbed him by his collar and helped him return to the kayak. I did not scream or shout at my husky and did not punish him in any way. I calmly guide him back to the kayak and continue our paddling journey. It could have ended worse if I had lost my cool and desperately screamed and jumped out of my kayak.

Thankfully, I have lots of experience kayaking (river, open beach, and white water), so I understood exactly how to keep the kayak afloat. For that reason, it is essential to kayak a few times, learning all about paddle strokes and maneuvering a kayak completely.

Step 2: Train your husky with a perfect recall

Kayaking with a Siberian husky requires your husky to have complete confidence in themselves and their master (you). The best training you could do to build that trust and confidence is to train your Siberian husky to be off-leash and with a perfect recall command.

Once you and your husky practice training exercises to build trust and communicate appropriately in different situations, you both will be ready for a kayaking trip. Your husky will know that coming back to you means safety and will trust you to show them the calm, relaxing, and peaceful way out of unforeseen situations.

Step 3: Take your husky to the beach, river, lake, or pool

Before attempting kayaking with your husky, visit a pool, beach, river, or lake and create a positive association with the water. Make the water a fun and rewarding activity, and use it as an opportunity to increase the bond with your husky.

If you notice that your husky hates the water and will not go near it, then kayaking may be too risky.

If that is the case, spend more time around water, and if you are up to it, take the opportunity to teach your husky to swim.

Step 4. Supplies for the Kayaking trip

If you want a safer kayaking trip, here is a list of things you should have:

• Dog life vest - it is good to invest in a life vest if your husky decides to jump overboard.
• Hands-free leash - we highly encourage always having your husky tied to a leash. We recommend the Sparkly Pets Hands-free dog leash to strap the leash around your waist and on the dog life vest. That way, if your husky jumps out of the kayak, you have a hold of them and can pull them back in immediately. Be warned, though, that if your husky jumps out and you are not ready for it, there is a possibility that you will be dragged to the water, too.
• Martingale collar - If you don't want to use a lifevest, we recommend you at least have a martingale collar. Be warned that you should keep the hands-free leash as loose as possible to prevent the martingale collar from becoming too tight around your husky neck.
• Waterproof cover for your phone - this item is necessary to keep your phone safe from the water and take pictures and videos.
• Water - you must always have water for you and your husky. Only leave your home with enough water supply for the kayaking trip. It is of the utmost importance that you always keep your husky and yourself fully hydrated. Make sure to bring a portable water bowl for your dog.
• Treats pouch bag - we recommend carrying your dog's favorite treats to use as rewards for your husk. We recommend the Royal Care Silicone Dog treat pouch to make the treats easier to carry (it is also fully waterproof).

Step 5: Getting inside the kayak

You and your husky are ready to start your kayaking trip. We highly recommend that you rent or buy a double kayak.

1. The first thing you will do when you arrive at the kayak location is spend 10 - 15 minutes to let your husky explore the surrounding area with you. Walk around and allow your husky to get acclimated to the water.
2. Next, you will let your husky play and smell the kayak you will use.
3. Proceed by getting inside the kayak. In this step, using treats is very beneficial. Encourage your husky to get inside the front part of the double kayak on their own (use treats as needed). If your husky refuses to go in alone, you can use a small amount of leash pressure to encourage them to get in the kayak.
4. Do not forcibly pull on the leash or scream at your husky. Quietly stand inside the kayak, slowly and carefully pulling the leash until your husky is inside the kayak. For this, we highly recommend you use the martingale collar to prevent your husky from slipping out. Once your husky is inside, praise it with treats and let your husky know how amazing they are.

Now, you will proceed to get the kayak on the water. Ask for assistance to get your kayak in the water if anyone is available.

Step 6: Paddle to destination

You are in the water with your husky, and it is your job to keep the kayak from capsizing and calming your husky. To do this, simply paddle consecutively following a path while allowing your husky to enjoy the ride.

Maintain your balance at all times and keep yourself calm. If you notice your husky gets nervous, you are going to call them to your side (the back of the kayak), ask them to sit, and once sitting, you are going to give them a treat from the treat pouch (attach it to your life vest for convenience).

Continue your paddling journey, and remember to keep calm. Do not scream or shout at your husky because it will make it more nervous. The calmer you are, the more at ease your husky will be.

Step 7: Keep your husky hydrated

Now and then, you are going to give your husky water. Ensure your husky is always hydrated, and monitor its breathing. If you notice your husky is breathing too fast, it could be overheating, and you need to immediately give it water and get under shade for a few minutes.

Remember to keep yourself calm and balanced at all times. If your husky jumps out of the kayak, calmly put the back inside and continue your journey.

Building a Stronger Relationship with Your Husky

Kayaking with your husky dog is a fantastic experience that will help build a stronger bond with each other. Undoubtedly, it is a great activity to do with your husky. Now, go to Google Maps and search for the nearest kayaking location to begin your paddling adventure.