: Hi Fred ~ I often paddle with a friend who brings along her large Golden
: Retriever. She puts Max in the front seat of her Wildeness Systems large
: open cockpit tandem, and he behaves admirably. She has not had issues with
: steering, but she does sit in the back. The freeboard at times is lacking
: in bumpy/windy conditions, but they tend to stay closer to shore. He never
: paddles; preferring to snooze with his head on the forward deck.
: I have heard that a pack of well trained Chihuahuas make for nice moveable
: ballast.
: Kyle

Thanks for the responces.
I'm really not as worried about how my dog will behave as much as I am about my ability to maneuver the kayak around obstacles in the river. I know I will be able to see better if the dog is behind me. And I would think being closer to the center of the kayak would make it easer to maneuver. I have no idea how you would catch an eddy from the back of the kayak.
Fred