I took our new puppy sailing yesterday. She's almost 6 months old and almost 60 lbs. She has gotten on a kayak and I think a surfboard in the pond, but never on the Adventure Island.
She could tell I was going out, and wanted to come, and I was trying to encourage her to get into the back cargo area. No fool, she could see where the GOOD seat was, and was trying to get in the cockpit. I finally decided I would have to occupy the cockpit to solve that problem.
I got in, and was trying to get her to get in behind me with one hand while holding my position near the shore w/my paddle in the other. It wasn't working. I put the paddle down and grabbed both her front paws and brought them in the boat. She got the idea and started walking with her hind legs a bit to get closer. That pushed the boat offshore, and deeper. Her butt sank out from under her and she was swimming. I was drifting quickly into some grass along the shore.
She swam up alongside me, and I basically grabbed her collar and a front leg, then heaved her front half aboard. Still holding her collar with my right hand, I scooped her butt up into the boat. She was helping as I mentioned above by craning her neck back. Woo hoo! I can get her aboard in deep water! (At least until she grows to her projected 90 lbs!
)
I kept trying to take pictures, but in all of them either cut off part of myself or part of her. She's better looking, so here's the best pic: