Can you take your dog on a canoe trip in Dalsland?
Short answer
Yes. Dogs can come along on a canoe trip in Dalsland, but Swedish law says they may not run loose in nature from 1 March to 20 August, which in practice means a leash for the whole summer season. Your dog needs a microchip, a valid rabies vaccination and an EU pet passport to enter Sweden from another EU country. Outpost North in Gustavsfors and The Canoe Trip both accept dogs on a leash.
A dog fits well in a Canadian canoe, and the lakes around Bengtsfors have plenty of quiet islands to stop on. The rules are simple, but the main one covers exactly the months you are likely to paddle.
The leash rule: 1 March to 20 August
Sweden’s law on the supervision of dogs and cats (2007:1150, section 16) says that from 1 March to 20 August dogs must be kept so that they cannot run loose where there is wildlife. This is when birds and mammals have their young.
Naturvårdsverket, the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency, reads that as: in most cases, a leash. Only an extremely well-trained dog may go without one, and then it has to stay within about a metre of you.
The canoe season in Dalsland runs from about mid-May to mid-September, so most of it falls inside the leash period. For the last weeks, from 21 August, the law still requires that your dog cannot chase or hunt wild animals. Off the leash means you can see it and call it back at any moment.
Two more rules from Naturvårdsverket:
- In national parks and nature reserves a dog must always be on a physical leash. Some protected areas ban dogs altogether.
- Near grazing animals, always use a leash.
The holder of the hunting rights, often the landowner, may catch a dog that runs loose, and you are liable for any harm it does to wild or farm animals.
DANO campsites and bird areas
DANO, the association that runs about 100 campsites in the Dalsland–Nordmarken lake system, publishes no separate rules for dogs. The national leash rule applies on every island and shore. In practice, other paddlers will be sharing the wind shelter and fire pit, so keep your dog tied up at camp and away from other people’s food.
Bird protection areas are closed for landing. Keep at least 100 m from those shores; they are marked with signs and on the canoe maps. With a dog on board, give them an even wider berth, since a barking dog disturbs nesting birds from far away. More about the campsites in Can you wild camp on a canoe trip in Dalsland?.
A life jacket for your dog
Rental bases supply life jackets for people only, so bring one for your dog. Look for:
- a grab handle on the back, to lift a wet dog back into the canoe
- a bright colour, so you can see it in dark water
- a snug fit around the chest, so it cannot slip off
Let your dog wear it at home a few times before the trip.
The canoe with a dog on board
- Put your dog in the middle of the canoe, on a mat or blanket. A wet aluminium or plastic floor is slippery and hard on paws.
- Never tie the leash to the canoe. If you capsize, a dog tied to the boat can be pulled under. Unclip it on the water.
- Practise on calm water close to the shore before you set off with full baggage.
- A dog counts as weight. A 30 kg dog plus two adults and a week of gear fills a two-person canoe. Pack light and keep heavy bags low.
- Cross open water in the morning, before the wind picks up. A dog that moves around in waves can tip a loaded canoe.
Swimming
Most dogs want to swim, and lake water in July is warm enough. Let it swim from the shore at camp, never from the canoe in the middle of a lake: getting a heavy wet dog back over the side without tipping is hard. Rinse its coat after a long swim and dry its ears.
Ticks
Ticks are common in Swedish forest and long grass. Before you leave, ask your vet for a tick treatment that covers the whole trip. Check your dog every evening, especially the head, neck, armpits and between the toes, and carry a tick remover. Check yourself too.
Campfires and fire bans
From 1 June to 31 August fires are only allowed in the fire pits on the DANO campsites, and during a total fire ban not even there. Keep your dog on a short leash near the fire pit: paws on hot stones and sparks on fur are the usual injuries. Bare rock gets hot in the afternoon sun too, so give your dog shade and water at every stop.
Bringing your dog into Sweden from the EU
Jordbruksverket, the Swedish Board of Agriculture, lists these requirements for a dog travelling from another EU country:
| Requirement | Detail |
|---|---|
| Microchip | Implanted before or at the rabies vaccination |
| Rabies vaccination | Valid, given at 12 weeks or older |
| Waiting time | 21 days after a first vaccination; none after a booster within the validity period |
| EU pet passport | Issued by a vet, with chip and vaccination recorded |
| Customs | Declare your dog to Swedish Customs, online or at the border |
Sweden does not require a tapeworm treatment for dogs from the EU. Norway does: a vet in the country you travel from must treat the dog 24–120 hours before entry and record it in the passport. That matters if you drive to Dalsland through Norway or plan to paddle across the border on Stora Le. Check both Jordbruksverket and Mattilsynet (the Norwegian Food Safety Authority) a few weeks before you go. How to get to the area is covered in How do you get to Dalsland for a canoe trip?.
Which bases and trips accept dogs
| Base or trip | Dogs? | Conditions |
|---|---|---|
| Outpost North, Gustavsfors | Yes | On a leash |
| The Canoe Trip | Yes, no need to tell them in advance | Own transport only, no dogs on the bus or airport shuttle; leash at camp and in nature; no dogs in rented tents or sleeping gear |
| Organised group and family trips | Not stated | Ask when you book |
Other rental bases in the area set their own rules. Ask before you book, and ask about huts too: a dog that may sleep in a tent at the campsite is not always welcome indoors.
Our pick
We would start at Outpost North. It accepts dogs on a leash, and it sits on the water between Lelång and Västra Silen, so you can paddle off from the camp with a dog and no car transfer. It also has short nature trails for a walk before a long day in the canoe. If you book The Canoe Trip from there, bring your own tent and drive: the rental gear and the shuttle are not for dogs. For the rest of your kit, see What should you pack for a canoe trip in Dalsland?.
Sources
Lag (2007:1150) om tillsyn över hundar och katter, section 16, Naturvårdsverket: dogs in nature (Swedish), Jordbruksverket: travel guide for dogs and cats, Mattilsynet: travelling to Norway with a dog from the EU (Norwegian), DANO: regulations, The Canoe Trip: FAQ, Outpost North.
