The pooch looked as if she might be more suitable for herding four-legged ranch animals than kayaking the Calusa Blueway, but there she was: man’s best friend on the back of a kayak.

Seeing Rover roaming the blueway is becoming more and more common. I’m not sure if it’s because kayak manufacturers are turning out such stable boats, sit-on-top kayak surfaces are suitable for four-legged friends, or simply that dog parks know no bounds.

No, I’m not saying the blueway has gone to the dogs.

But it sure is fun – and sometimes funny – to see Fido out there.

The cattle-dog-like canine I saw while kayaking Matlacha Pass Aquatic Preserve on Saturday almost appeared to be smiling.

Last time I was on the shores of Picnic Island, a kayaking couple nudged ashore with their Labrador.

Just last week, I received a phone call from a kayaker who lived not far from Yellow Fever Creek in North Fort Myers. Would it be okay to take his very small four-legged friend on a kayak in fresh water, he asked. Would that put the poodle at risk of attracting alligators?

Granted, the Caloosahatchee River (Phase 3 of our trail) is brackish and has freshwater creeks feeding it. But it’s not the kind of gator country you find at, say, Myakka River State Park near Sarasota. Plus, if the dog is well behaved and stays in the boat, then all the gator will see is the kayak, which will appear daunting to the reptile with the peanut-sized brain.

But forget cold-blooded creatures. Kayakers and canoeists on the blueway know they’re more likely to see a manatee or dolphin than an alligator.

And these days, it seems you’re just as likely to see Fido feeling the marine air on her face as her master plies these peaceful blueway waters.

One more thing: If you take your dog boating, be sure not to let him romp where he’s not welcome or in environmentally sensitive areas. Check out Dog Beach on Phase 1, just north of New Pass. And for a complete list of Lee County Parks & Recreation dog-friendly parks and facilities, go to www.leeparks.org.