David Bahnson noticed that his dog Susie fitted comfortably into a space in his kayak. When Ginger joined the family, the idea developed: create a boat arrangement that allowed both dogs to come along.
The resulting photographs are wonderfully direct. A person paddles; two golden retrievers sit in their own openings; the group moves through the same small patch of water together.
David Bahnson’s kayak for Susie and Ginger
The 2015 story about Bahnson's kayak described how he adapted the craft for his dogs. It was a project shaped by his experience, his boat and animals he knew well.
The photographs are not construction drawings. They do not establish how another hull would behave after alteration, what load it could carry or how an animal could be recovered if something went wrong.
The appealing design question is broader: how can equipment respond to the companions actually taking part in an activity? Bahnson's answer was individual, and another paddler may need an entirely different one.
Let the dog’s response set the starting point
Some dogs are relaxed near water; others prefer a dry path and a good sniff. Let the animal's behaviour guide the first step rather than assuming a dramatic paddling photograph is the right goal.
Begin with calm familiarisation around suitable equipment on land. If the dog is anxious or unwilling, there is no need to turn the outing into a test of determination.
For a first experience on the water, seek advice from a qualified local paddling provider about appropriate equipment, conditions and whether the activity suits your dog and your own skills.
Capacity, conditions and a straightforward return
Ask how the boat's capacity accounts for people, animals and equipment, and discuss appropriate flotation and recovery arrangements. A dog's ability to swim does not answer every question about being on open water.
Choose a short, manageable outing with a straightforward return. Consider weather, water conditions, landing places and whether dogs are permitted at the launch and destination.
Keep drinking water available and plan time to rest. The dog should be part of the experience, not an extra item fitted into whatever space remains after the human plan is complete.
A short outing can be the right adventure
The first successful outing might be a few quiet minutes, followed by a comfortable stop ashore. A longer distance is not automatically a better experience.
Our Aspen the Mountain Pup story makes the same point through land-based photographs: companionship is what gives the scenery its warmth. If your dog prefers walking, choose that version and enjoy it.
Bahnson's kayak is memorable because it is such a specific expression of wanting to spend time together. You can borrow that intention without borrowing the design. The right adventure is one in which both the person and the animal have a good reason to be there.
The Lilica story turns attention from travelling with a pet to thoughtful ways of responding to dogs encountered during a trip.
Why the boat needed two dog-sized openings
The extra openings look like passenger seats, but Bahnson explained that they were shaped around dogs rather than human paddlers. There was no need for the legroom a person would require in a triple kayak. Susie’s fit in the baggage compartment suggested the first adaptation, and Ginger’s arrival prompted the next. That sequence makes the project easy to understand: a change in the household led to a change in a piece of equipment they already enjoyed.
Bahnson described his dogs as used to travelling with him in cars, aircraft and boats, and said they had covered many miles paddling together. The photographs show the outcome of that particular partnership rather than a starting point every dog owner must match. For a reader, the most transferable idea is to design the day around known companions. A familiar shore, a brief outing or time together on land may express exactly the same intention as an unusual custom boat. The length and novelty of the trip matter less than whether the people and animals are comfortable taking part.
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