Loco’s Kayak Adventure
It was an unusually warm autumn day when I got a call from a good friend of mine and we decided to go on what could very well have been the last kayak trip of the 2026 season. Earlier in the summer I bought a large,…
It was an unusually warm autumn day when I got a call from a good friend of mine and we decided to go on what could very well have been the last kayak trip of the 2026 season.
Earlier in the summer I bought a large, “Sea kayak” that was a two seater. The back seat for myself, the front seat for one of my dogs. Most likely my malamute, Locomotive, as we go everywhere together.
We set sail from a place called Charles Daley park in southern Ontario, on the south shore of Lake Ontario/America.
It was the first time Loco was to be in the Kayak. I wasn’t too concerned as the water was calm, warm, and not that deep. I convinced him to sit in the seat and we set sail. Our journey was to take us under the Queen Elizabeth Highway and up 16 mile creek to a small, deserted island.
A few moments after we embarked on our adventure, I saw Locomotive, my 150lb Malamute reach over the edge of the kayak with one paw.
“No!” I yelled out in my most stern voice.
It did no good. A moment later he had jumped out of the kayak and was now flailing about in the water.
One of the other people in the party came flying over in her Kayak to see if she could help.
“No, let him struggle” I sighed. I felt bad. I felt really bad. My hope was that he would learn from this experience and not jump overboard again in deeper water.
I slowly paddled my kayak back toward shore.
I watched my poor boy, with his leash attached to the kayak struggle and flail about, eyes wide. Panic stricken from his bad decision in life.
The boat slowly beached and he got out, and let out a shake. It took some convincing to get him back into the kayak, but eventually I got him in the front seat. That’s the thing about a dog that basically outweighs you in size and stubborness. When he decides he’s not going to do something, he won’t.
It really hurt me to see my giant, fearless boy sitting in the front of the kayak shaking from fear after his ordeal. I felt very bad, but hoped this painless, but harrowing experience taught him a bit of a lesson.
We set-sail again for a glorious paddle up 16 mile creek. The leaves were just past “peak leaf” which meant they were glorious bright reds, and yellows in a tone that makes me feel so at peace and one with the world.
About an hour after we set sail, our kayak slowly drifted ashore at the little island far from the mainland.
My friend got out and joyfully called out “Come on boy!” Loco swung his head around and looked at me with soulful eyes and stayed put. “Go on, big bro!” I encouraged. Nothing. My friend even unclipped his leash, he wouldn’t budge.
I got out of the rear seat of my kayak and walked ashore, and had to pull him out of his seat onto the island. It worked. He learned to stay put.
Locomotive is a big, beautiful boy, and we have gone on many adventures together. Several boat trips including the Bridge-It Welland Canal shuttle, but never a kayak until today.
My “Big bro” as I call him learned a valuable lesson when I ask him to stay put. Now he does. It was spectacular taking him in the kayak to a remote island. It’s great to be able to let him loose and off leash so he could wander round and explore. It was a wonderful trip otherwise.
