I used to take my old lab/shepard mix all the time, she'd sit in the shack where i had a large piece of styrofoam for her, my new young lab on the other hand i wouldnt trust to leave by himself while i went and checked lines. If you do take your dog make sure there are no baited hooks lying around, my cousins dog had to get a hook surgically removed from her tongue aftrer picking one up. $$$$$$$$