It seemed like a good idea - a little kayak ride with my two Jack Russell terriers that like to ride along, and perhaps enjoy a little swim or splash to the shore.
You'd think I asked them if they wanted a T-bone steak they way they had conniptions of excitement when I asked : "Wanna go in the kayak?" They were on the dock in seconds flat, sniffing around the upturned boat. I hoped they were ferreting out anything that had decided to spend the night underneath its protective shell.
Turning over a kayak with two dogs jumping as high as my shoulders was a feat in itself. Getting on board... well you know that mother with three kids who takes forever to settle them on an airplane? That would be easier! You can reason with a toddler...a puppy ( one is 8 months, the other just 2 yrs) wants every spot from the prow to the stern, and will constantly change that spot every few paddles of progress.
I paddled along the shore, hoping they would jump off, swim the few meters to the shore and just run along. Nope. Pepper fell in five times and wanted back in five times. Max, changed positions when he saw loons, a seagulls, a turtle and fish jumping in the distance.
Our hour long venture ended with exhaustion ... mine! I have to wander what the expedition would have been like if I was in the middle of the lake and discoverd a little garter snake at my feet, like I did last year in the canoe. Maybe we'd see how well Jack Russells can paddle their own kayak while I would be in the water?
You'd think I asked them if they wanted a T-bone steak they way they had conniptions of excitement when I asked : "Wanna go in the kayak?" They were on the dock in seconds flat, sniffing around the upturned boat. I hoped they were ferreting out anything that had decided to spend the night underneath its protective shell.
Turning over a kayak with two dogs jumping as high as my shoulders was a feat in itself. Getting on board... well you know that mother with three kids who takes forever to settle them on an airplane? That would be easier! You can reason with a toddler...a puppy ( one is 8 months, the other just 2 yrs) wants every spot from the prow to the stern, and will constantly change that spot every few paddles of progress.
I paddled along the shore, hoping they would jump off, swim the few meters to the shore and just run along. Nope. Pepper fell in five times and wanted back in five times. Max, changed positions when he saw loons, a seagulls, a turtle and fish jumping in the distance.
Our hour long venture ended with exhaustion ... mine! I have to wander what the expedition would have been like if I was in the middle of the lake and discoverd a little garter snake at my feet, like I did last year in the canoe. Maybe we'd see how well Jack Russells can paddle their own kayak while I would be in the water?