What I Did This Summer: Canine Canoe Adventure in Nova Scotia Part 1

by Kevin Roberts

Published: August 21st, 2017

what i did this summer canine canoe adventure in nova scotia part 1

When you’re inspired to take your dogs across the country to canoe in one of the most beautiful settings in Canada, a small idea turns into a big reality!

Sometimes while scrolling through your Facebook news feed, you get an idea in your head… and sometimes that idea takes root, and begins to grow. It occupies a small piece of your mind, always present while you are at work, at the gym or shopping for groceries. You speak the idea aloud, and it begins to form into reality.

That is how my husband and I ended up driving across the country to paddling the back country of Nova Scotia with our three dogs. And it all started with a little idea.

We’re no strangers to canoeing with dogs, but bringing three dogs on a multi-day canoe trip certainly has its challenges, especially when it comes to weight. A canoe is limited in its capacity. All together my dogs weight close to 200 pounds. Their food and gear need to be taken into consideration as well. Here’s the canoe equation: The longer the trip, the more food, and hence the greater the weight.

Due to irresponsible owners ignoring leash laws and stoop and scoop laws, park administrations across North America have been imposing limits on canine visitors. Some parks do not allow dogs anywhere other than the parking lots, some places have banned dogs from the back country! Thankfully, Nova Scotia welcomes canines and their humans.

Prepping for Paddling

It takes more time to plan a canoe trip (complete with canines) than it does to actually do it!

Pouring over maps, reading literally everything I can about the area, and dehydrating meals all are done in the months leading up to the trip. Taking dogs on such a journey adds an extra layer of preparation.

While meal planning for the dogs, I find it easiest to pre-pack their food in sandwich baggies. Each dog gets a premeasured amount, and any supplements or vitamins that they need are added to their own baggie.

Now, as any dog owner knows, what goes in, must come out. So once I feed the dogs a meal from the baggie, I just use the same baggie to scoop up their poop. Remember, this is back country, which means leave no trace camping. And yes, we carry the poop out when we depart! Let me tell you, those handy locking seal sandwich bags are excellent for keeping poop from stinking like poop. Here’s something I learned along the way: remember to let a little bit of air out of the bags before you seal them, and ALWAYS store the smaller poop bags in a larger bag.

Our dogs need to be prepped physically and mentally before the trip. When we arrive at a portage, everyone is asked to carry their own weight. For the dogs, that means carrying their own food and waste. Well-conditioned, healthy dogs can carry about 30% of their weight in a proper fitting pack. Always ensure your dog is well conditioned to wearing the pack, and gradually working up to the expected weight. We start pack prepping four weeks ahead of any big trips, gradually getting the dogs used to carrying the extra weight on their walks.

To get the dogs mentally prepared means brushing up on the skills to keep us safe in the canoe. In big wind or big waves, our dogs need to respond as fast as possible to what we ask. We keep training sessions short and fun, and focus on the behaviors we want in the boat. Lay down is the big one, but so is STAY, as in don’t jump out yet, stay in the boat!

We also encourage the dogs to relax. For us, we work on this simply by rewarding them when they offer us a relaxed body position. A dog laying down and rolling over on its hip indicated they are relaxing, so we like to encourage this state of mind. Hyper dogs in a boat – this mix never ends well.

Once we are all prepped, mentally and physical, it’s time to hit the water!

Up Next: We’re Nova Scotia bound!

Kevin Roberts

Kevin Roberts lives for adventure. Together with his pack of rescue dogs and his husband, he spends as much time outdoors as possible. Kevin lives by the motto: "Get outside and play with your dogs!

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What I Did This Summer: Canine Canoe Adventure in Nova Scotia Part 2

He’s all packed up and ready to canoe in Nova Scotia with his dogs (and hubby) in tow. Here’s what Kevin Roberts did on his Totally Canadian Canine Canoe Adventure! Hitting the Water Our dogs love to be out on the water. We think that after a winter of hard work skijoring, our team likes to take it easy and be paddled around. Or maybe they just like to take in the sights and sounds of the wilderness. Either way, the dogs are always as eager as we are to hop in the boat. On our first day out, the skies were overcast and there was just enough wind to keep the bugs at bay. In total, we paddled 20 kilometers (about 12.5 miles) the first day, and tackled three portages. As hard as it is to believe, I preferred the overcast weather – it’s perfect because the dogs didn’t get too warm, and the light breeze kept the black flies and mosquitoes at bay. Related: Hot Dogs and Campfire Safety

Dave Bautista Teams Up With the ASPCA for Giving Tuesday

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Drug That Could Extend Lifespan of Senior Dogs Enters Clinical Trial

A new and revolutionary drug that could possibly extend the lifespan of healthy, senior dogs, is now entering a major clinical trial. It also has a first patient - an 11-year-old Whippet named Boo. Going by the codename LOY-002, this drug is designed to provide a few more years to senior dogs of most sizes. It is the product of a startup biotech company called  Loyal and is the fruit of their hard work and arduous research. Celine Halioua, the founder and CEO of Loyal, said that the company is working hard to develop several products aimed at the longevity of dogs. One of their initial projects, the LOY-001, was a drug aimed to extend the lifespan of giant and large dog breeds. In November of 2023, this project received the support of the FDA, paving the way for the company's further successes. The underlying mechanisms of aging were the first focus of the company as it developed LOY-001. The drug works by reducing IGF-1, an insulin-like growth factor that is a key biomarker hormone that drives cell growth. It is believed that this reduced the lifespan of extra-large dogs. Similarly, the LOY-002 project aims to extend the lifespan of normal-sized dogs, by improving their metabolic health and thus delaying the onset and the impact of diseases that come with old age. “LOY-002 is a slightly different mechanism [than LOY-001] for senior lifespan extension. It’s a little bit more of a reversal mechanism. It’s not going to make a 10-year-old dog a puppy, but we’ve seen a rescuing in age-related functional decline in dogs that have been treated with this drug,” said Halioua in an interview with  dvm360.The newest study for LOY-002 is expected to last 4 years, and include one thousand enrolled dogs. “It will be one of the largest veterinary clinical studies that, as far as we know, has ever been run,” added Halioua.The first ever receiver of the drug, Boo, was enrolled into the program in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, at the Animal Hospital of Dauphin County. There, an associate veterinary and STAY study investigator, Coby Rudakewiz, became a part of the program for the first time, witnessing its incredible potential. “I’m genuinely excited to be able to share what we’ve seen as a life-changing product to dogs of all sizes,” he said.“This is what it’s all about - keeping dogs feeling their best to enjoy a long life with their owners who love them.”“The launch of this study brings us one step closer to helping senior dogs have more, healthier years with their families…The scale and complexity of STAY reflect Loyal’s commitment to creating demonstrably effective and safe products,” Halioua added. “This is a massive undertaking that wouldn’t be possible without the partnership of the many veterinarians and technicians operating the study in their clinics, and the participating dogs and owners helping advance therapies for all dogs.”For the time being, the company is working hard to receive conditional approval for its revolutionary drug. This would allow them to begin offering it through veterinarians as soon as 2025. This could mean a world of difference for many senior doggos and their families. Seeing your senior doggo enjoy a few extra years without the issues common to old age is nothing short of true happiness, and would mean that the company’s hard efforts were not in vain. Ultimately, this innovative drug gives us hope for the future and makes us wonder what other ground-breaking drugs could we see in the years ahead.

A Pennsylvania Dog Shocked Its Owners After Eating $4000 in Cash

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Scientists Finally Know Why Cats Love Tuna So Much

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More And More Pets Are Having Allergies, Trupanion Reports

The time when spring blooms and summer comes to the doorstep is an idyllic period for most, but a lot of people dread this time of the year because of seasonal allergies that cause s lot of sneezing, headaches, and all-around discomfort. Now, it seems, it’s not just us humans that can experience nasty spring allergies – data indicates that our four-legged best friends are also affected by them. Dogs, in particular, are very susceptible to  spring allergies and are increasingly treated for their symptoms, such as itchy skin.Are All Dogs At Risk for Spring Allergies?It is important to be aware that the trees and flowers that bloom in spring can be a source of allergies for your pet. Not only are spring allergies very uncomfortable for dogs, but they can potentially lead to many secondary issues, the most dangerous of which is a skin infection.And if you think that chances for a spring allergy affecting your dog are low, consider a recent report issued by the pet insurance company Trupanion. They claim that there was a 45% increase in allergy claims for insured pets over the course of four years since 2019. This means that allergies are on the rise, both for pets and their owners. In fact, as  Axios reports, according to the insurer Nationwide, spring allergies are at the top of the list of health conditions that end in vet visits. Another key fact is related to allergy drugs. Since two of the major allergy drugs were released in 2013 and 2018, more than 20 million dogs have been treated by them, in an effort to battle spring allergy effects. Of course, if you suspect that your pet is suffering from a spring allergy, it is key to visit your vet as soon as possible. Depending on the effects, your vet can prescribe topical, injectable, or chewable treatments that help reduce  itchiness and other issues. And, considering that such allergies are seasonal, be ready for them with the arrival of spring and the blooming of trees. Learn to spot the symptoms such as itchiness, and to react quickly!

What Size of Cage Does My Hamster Need?

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ACANA™ Pet Food Team Announces Nationwide Kitten Cuddler Promotion

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“One-of-a-Kind” Cat With Two Noses Searches for Her Forever Home

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Yes, the flat-faced pooches we know and love have not only myriad health issues but also shorter lives.

Dog Finds A Forever Home After Spending 1,007 Days at Delaware Shelter

Tessy, now a 5-year-old black Labrador retriever mix, spent 1,007 days at a Delaware animal shelter before being adopted into a forever home. This cute pooch arrived at Humane Animal Partners (formerly Delaware Humane Association and Delaware SPCA) on January 17, 2021, hoping to be adopted in no time.Unfortunately, finding her people proved challenging for Tessy. Days, weeks, months, and years went by, and Tessy was still living at the shelter with no prospective adopters in sight. “Tessy is loyal, goofy, snuggly, and remarkably smart,” said Leigh McKinley, a director at the Humane Animal Partners, according to PEOPLE. Like many other shelter dogs, Tessy had some trust issues and was wary of new people and experiences. These problems were the reasons for Tessy’s longer stay at the Humane Animal Partners shelter. “Tessy exhibited fear-reactive behaviors in the form of lunging, barking, and growling towards unfamiliar stimuli. Our goal was to help her overcome those fears and learn to trust humans and her surrounding environment, essentially changing her emotional response from a negative to a positive,” McKinley explained.The shelter used a behavioral modification plan, which consisted of positive reinforcement training techniques to help Tessy overcome her fears. Fixing a problematic behavior takes a lot of time, patience, and effort, but the shelter’s staff didn’t give up on Tessy.“Changing an involuntary physiological behavior takes dedication and consistency to be successful, and while we were determined to see this through, the nature of being in a shelter, with different staff members working with her on any given day, and for varying amounts of time, means the change would take time,” said McKinley. “We also needed to make sure her adopters were the right fit for her. We took a very thoughtful and careful approach to introducing her to people, and it took time for the right family to find her.”Then, almost three years later, all of Tessy’s hard work paid off! After 1,007 days at the shelter, this cute pooch has finally found her forever home. The family who adopted Tessy, met her several times to help her feel at ease. For the adopters, it was love at first sight, and Tessy instantly felt safe around them. “When her adopters Jeanine and Jeff first met her, we all tried to keep a level head about it, not getting our hopes up too high. After their third meeting, though, we could tell Tessy had already established a level of trust with them that we had never seen so quickly before,” said McKinley. Jeff and Jeanine adopted the pooch shortly after the third visit, and the shelter’s staff was ecstatic that Tessy had found a loving home.“It was a rollercoaster of emotions leading up to the adoption day, everything from celebrations to disbelief to sadness, excitement, a bit of anxiety, and everything in between. Mostly, though, we felt proud. Proud of her, proud of everyone who helped get her to this point, and proud of the results,” McKinley shared.  “We all know she’d do okay, we are also quite aware that going from three years in the shelter into a loving home is a big adjustment, and it will take her a while to fully acclimate. We tried to instill in her adopters to be confident and patient but never to be complacent.” the shelter’s director added.It’s important to know that not every visit to an animal shelter ends with ‘love at first sight.’ A lot of adoptable dogs have experienced some level of trauma and neglect, and are generally more anxious inside the shelter. Keep an open mind when visiting your local shelter and remember that each of these pups deserves a loving family and a forever home. Join the PetGuide community. Get the latest pet news and product recommendations by subscribing to our newsletter here.

After 11 Long Years, a Cat That Was Presumed Dead Returns Home

Sometimes, miracles can truly happen when you least expect it! And if a pet story can be considered a real life miracle, it’s the one about Toby, a family cat that - it would seem - lived a life of great adventure. In 2012, Toby, the now 14-year-old cat of the Allan family from Warwickshire, suddenly disappeared after the family moved to a new house. It was a heartbreaking event for the entire family, but their pet was nowhere to be found. After many attempts to locate their cat, they simply had to come to terms with the fact that old Toby was lost, and presumably dead. But this week, after 11 long years, Toby was returned to the Allan family by a local woman. The lady checked the cat’s microchip and was quick to get in touch with Coventry Cats Protection."I never thought in a million years I’d see him again," said owner Justine Allan. "Toby was collected and will no longer have to scavenge for food and sleep in a cold bin store," added the Coventry charity co-ordinator Wendy Harris.Toby suddenly went missing in a chilly December in 2012, after the Allan family moved from Galley Common in Nuneaton, to their new residence at Long Shoot."[My son Charlie] was about 12 when Toby went missing, and he was heartbroken when we realized he probably wasn’t coming back," said Mrs Allan for  Yahoo "The Long Shoot is a notoriously busy road, we just assumed the worst had happened and thought he had been run over.”But almost a decade later, just 5 miles away a local Bedworth lady got in touch with Cats Protection, believing that a stray cat she was feeding was pregnant. A volunteer with the charity went out to investigate, a microchip scanner in tow. "It turned out, not only did it have a chip, but that he was a neutered male named Toby, rather than female as originally believed," said Ms. Harris.Blazingly fast, the charity managed to trace the details of the Allan family on their database, and got in touch to share the splendid news – their missing feline friend was re-discovered!Initially in complete shock, after 11 years, the Allan family rejoiced and celebrated and quickly went out to pick up their long-lost pet. During those 11 years, the family welcomed another pet into their home, a King Charles Cavalier named Bernie. But even so, Toby fits right back into the family dynamic. As if he wasn’t missing for more than a decade!

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