Canoeing with your dog: another face of Lapland in summer

Lapland is associated with snow. But in summer, when the lakes break free and the day never really sets, Norrbotten becomes a country of water. And a canoe, for a curious dog, is an odd discovery.

Can a dog really enjoy canoeing?

Many do — provided you go about it gradually. A dog who likes water and trusts you will often settle in without fuss. The secret is not the dog's courage, but the human's patience: you don't put a dog in a canoe the way you push it into a car.

First times, step by step

Start on land. Let the dog explore the canoe sitting on the grass, get in, get out, lie down in it, never forcing it. Reward calm. When the still vessel becomes an ordinary place, move to the water, first near the shore, for a few metres.

Teach it a place. Most dogs travel best lying down in the centre, low and stable, rather than standing at the bow. A non-slip mat helps enormously: a canoe's bottom is slippery, and a dog that slips will panic.

Life jacket for the dog. Even a good swimmer tires in cold water, and a dog's life jacket with a dorsal handle lets you pull it out without putting yourself at risk. In Lapland, water stays cold: you don't take it lightly.

The reward

Once these basics are in place, the canoe opens up a Lapland you don't see on foot: silent banks, water birds, sometimes a beaver's track, forests reflected in still water. Your dog, nose to the wind, reads the landscape differently than you do. It's one of the finest ways to share a quiet effort.

A few common-sense rules

Think about drinking water and shade — Lapland summer can be surprisingly warm at midday. Watch for fatigue: a dog that fidgets or pants hard needs a break on shore. And keep in mind that in Sweden, from 1 March to 20 August, dogs must be kept on a lead in nature to protect wildlife that nests on the ground. We adapt to it; that's part of responsible tourism too.

Living it with us

Canoeing is one of the pillars of summer at Skimate. We adapt the outing to your dog's level — a careful first time or a longer exploration of a lake. And when evening comes, the sauna is never far away.

A summer stay with your dog takes planning. Tell us about him, we'll build the programme.