First Trip on the Water
Life vest on, nose to the wind — Arlo’s first time in a kayak. Calm, curious, and completely at home on the open water.
New experiences are the whole point right now, and water was a big one. We buckled Arlo into his life vest — non-negotiable, even for a strong swimmer — loaded up the kayak, and pushed off to see how he’d take to it.
He took to it immediately. Once we were moving he settled into the bow like a figurehead, ears up, watching the shoreline slide by and the clouds pile up over the far hills. A few curious leans over the side to sniff the water, a little splash, and then right back to taking in the view.
It sounds like just a nice day out — and it was — but it’s also training. A working dog that stays calm and balanced on a wobbly kayak in open water is a dog building real confidence. Every new surface, every new environment he handles well makes the next one easier. First trip on the water: an easy pass.
