10 Best Kayaks For Dogs In 2023

The Intex Excursion Pro is the spacious, stable, and incredibly comfortable – perfect for relaxed, all-day paddling on the lake. It’s a tandem kayak with room for dog of any size, so they can choose freely where they want to sit. The 30-gauge vinyl shell and polyester core make the kayak incredibly strong so you don’t have to worry about punctures.

Hull Design and Stability

Thanks to the provided air pump, the Excursion Pro kayak inflates to very high PSI and becomes a rigid boat that resembles a hardshell in many aspects. The hull is 37 inches wide and very stable, capable of handling even choppy water without tipping.

Deck and Seating

At over 12.5 feet long, the deck has plenty of room for two adult kayakers and a medium-sized dog. The inflatable seats feel very comfortable on long paddling sessions, and allow you to easily adjust the backrest angle for a more natural position while paddling. As a bonus, the kayak also comes with built-in plastic footrests to give extra comfort to both paddlers.

Storage and Extra Features

In addition to the seats and foot rests we’ve mentioned, these top rated kayaks for dogs also feature a couple of rod holders which is a plus if you’re a fishing enthusiast. Besides the kayak itself, you’ll also get an air pump, two high-quality paddlers, and a carry backpack for transporting the kayak easily.

While it might seem a bit unusual to use a sit-in model for dog kayaking, the Wilderness Systems Pungo 120 proves that not only is it possible, but it's also very enjoyable. It comes with a spacious cockpit with a comfortable seat that makes it a good kayak for dogs that are smaller.

Hull Design and Stability

Due to its streamlined hull design, the Pungo 120 is one of the fastest kayaks in its class. At the same time, the stability it offers also makes it one of the most dog friendly kayaks. Thanks to its size, the kayak has a pretty good weight capacity too (325 pounds). Because of this, you won’t have to worry about it losing stability even with your dog and a lot of gear on-board.

Cockpit and Seating

To make your paddling sessions more enjoyable, the Pungo 120 comes with a comfy Phase 3 AirPro seat. In addition, it also features adjustable foot rests so that you can find the ideal leg position. While all kayakers can use this model, we would recommend it to smaller and average-sized people for maximum comfort.

Storage and Extra Features

The Pungo 120 is very rich in features and comes with large dry storage, a bungee-corded deck, and a customizable dashboard in front of you for stashing small items. The dry storage hatch has plenty of room for bulkier gear, allowing you to use the kayak for multi-day trips too.

The Old Town Topwater 106 is a wide and stable kayak that works well for recreation and fishing. It features large kayak dog carrier areas on both ends and has room to accommodate any dog size. In addition, its Double-U pontoon-style hull ensures that you and your pup can stand up and move safely.

Hull Design and Stability

Once on the water, the Topwater 106 is very smooth and easy to maneuver. As one of the shorter kayaks we’ve featured, it’s very agile and simple to control. The mentioned pontoon hull stays stable even if you move a lot, which makes it perfect for kayaking with dogs.

Deck and Seating

Even though the hull is fairly compact, the deck of the Old Town Topwater 106 still feels spacious. The ElementAir seat is very breathable and offers high and low positions for equal comfort while paddling and fishing. As for your pup, both the front and the back of this kayak have large storage areas where they can relax.

Storage and Extra Features

Besides the seat we’ve mentioned, the Topwater 106 is equipped with other interesting features that include on-board tackle and rod storage and non-slip EVA foam pads on the deck. Last but not least, the kayak comes with a large bungee-corded storage tankwell in the back, as well as a sealed storage hatch at the bow of the boat.

Thanks to its huge and well-designed cockpit, the Sea Eagle 370 pro is a kayak big enough for dogs of any breed. By design, it’s a dog inflatable kayak made from tough PolyKrylar that can’t be punctured or damaged easily. Besides the kayak itself, the package also includes paddles, a pump, and a neat carry bag.

Hull Design and Stability

The Sea Eagle 370 Pro is designed for families who want to try out different things on the water. In addition to flat water, it can also handle up to Class III whitewater. Overall, it’s the best kayak for dogs when it comes to the stability and paddling options it offers.

Deck and Seating

The deck of the Sea Eagle 370 Pro is one of the largest in the inflatable kayaks category. Because of this, it has plenty of room for two adult kayakers and a dog or two. Both paddlers get comfortable inflatable seats that allow you to easily adjust the back support.

Storage and Extra Features

One of the features we particularly like about this kayak are the splash guards on both ends. Not only does this prevent excess water from getting inside the kayak, but it also provides you with covered storage areas where you can stash your gear and keep it dry. Other features include a drain valve for emptying the kayak, as well as two skegs to improve tracking.

The Lifetime Youth kayak is a kids kayak that has plenty of room for your little one to take their best friend along for the ride. The deck is completely open, so the dog can lie down without interfering with your child’s paddling. However, keep in mind that the boat is only 6 feet long so it won’t be the best kayak for dogs of large size.

Hull Design and Stability

The kayak is made from HDPE and features a twin hull and reverse chines that make it impossible to capsize. It’s great for children over the age of five, and paddles easily so your child won’t get tired quickly. As we’ve pointed out, it’s very open so both your kid and their dog will feel comfortable on the water.

Deck and Seating

If we had to point a downside about this kayak, it would be the lack of padded seating. However, the sitting area is molded and the kayak comes with footwells so it won’t be a problem to paddle even on long sessions. The dog can either in the middle of the kayak or on the flat deck behind the seat.

Storage and Extra Features

Since this is a children’s recreational kayak, it doesn’t come with any organized storage. As for the features, the kayak comes with scupper holes for draining excess water, a T-shaped handle and molded finger grooves for carrying, as well as a high-quality 6-foot paddle.

If you’re after a versatile kayak that can do anything on the water, take a look at the Sevylor Colorado. Despite being inflatable, it’s made from incredibly strong puncture-resistant materials that make putting dogs in inflatable kayaks perfectly safe. In addition, it’s packed with useful features like fishing rod holders and mesh pockets on the sides.

Hull Design and Stability

The body of this kayak is made from 18-gauge PVC with Tarpaulin and nylon reinforcements. It consists of several air chambers that each have a double-threaded Boston valve to make inflation and deflation easy. In addition, the kayak is 39 inches wide which makes the hull very stable and prevents it from rocking even if your dog moves around a lot.

Deck and Seating

Considering that it’s an inflatable model, there is plenty of room on-board even for large paddlers. Each kayaker gets a padded adjustable seat that feels comfortable even after several hours of paddling. Keep in mind, however, that there isn’t a separate platform for your dog to lie on, so larger dog breeds probably won’t have enough room.

Storage and Extra Features

Much like most other inflatable kayaks, the Sevylor Colorado doesn’t come with organized storage, so you’ll have to place your bags and gear next to your feet. On the other hand, it does come with D-rings for securing your gear as well as rod holders if you want to catch some fish.

The Pelican River Gorge 130X is a family tandem kayak with more than enough room for two paddlers and a pet. The bow area is wide and open, making it a great big dog kayak. The kayak is lightweight and convenient to carry, so you can get it down to the water easily.

Hull Design and Stability

Made from RAM-X Premium polyethylene, this sit on top kayak for dogs is guaranteed to withstand all challenges on the water. Its twin-arched multi-chine hull offers exceptional stability and allows a maximum load of 500 pounds so you can bring gear too. Even when loaded, the kayak is very agile when paddling and you won’t have problems keeping it in a straight line.

Deck and Seating

The deck of this kayak is spacious and open, but fairly simple in design. However, this is more than enough for a nice day on the water with your dog and a paddling buddy. Both paddlers will get an Ergofit G2 seat that provides top-level comfort throughout the day, while the dog has a spacious area in the front for laying down and resting.

Storage and Extra Features

In terms of storage, the River Gorge is fairly limited. It comes with a sealed storage hatch at the center, as well as a small tie-down at the nose. While this won’t be enough for multi-day trips, it will work just fine for one-day adventures.