Bucket’s BirdDog and the Green Narrows
by Todd Johnson
The Astral Bird Dog canine PFD has been a huge hit with me and my best friend Bucket. For years I have been paddling the Green River Narrows, having huge adventures while Bucket waits patiently, or not so patiently, in the back of my truck. Of course I have felt a little guilty, and wished he could come with me. The problem was that Bucket wasn’t a natural swimmer. In fact he hated swimming! But like most dogs, he was eager to do it, if it meant getting to tag along with his human friends. I finally realized that swimming would be a lot easier for him if he had a doggie life jacket. I searched the web: there was one jacket that had all sorts of straps dangling off of it, not a good design for bushwhacking through the stream-side environment of the temperate rainforest. The Bird Dog, however, has the straps integrated into the body of the jacket and has a very clean design, with nothing to get snagged on shrubbery or, god forbid, a strainer. You see, for a dog to “run” the Narrows of the Green means literally running along the banks of the river. They cannot, and should not, run the rapids the way us kayakers do. However, a dog will need to ferry across the river at several points to avoid cliffed-out areas.

The Bird Dog has given Bucket the flotation to confidently swim across the river. The padded handle on the back of the vest is perfectly positioned for lifting him up onto a rock, or just getting him pointed in the right direction for the swim he needs to make. As we make more trips down the Green together Bucket’s confidence has grown, thanks to the Bird Dog. I think he may even be beginning to enjoy the swims! Obviously the Bird Dog rocks in the style department, however as with their human PFD’s, Astral has clearly put performance first. The only other thing I could hope for from Astral is a red and gold Greenjacket for me, so Bucket and I can look like a real team out on the Green!
Bucket FAQ’s:
What kind of dog is Bucket?
Golden Retriever, Shepherd, Chow mix. Or whatever you want to say he is!
Where is Bucket from?
Unicoi Co. Tennessee. He was abandoned at the Nolichucky River in the winter of 2008.
Where’d Bucket get his name?
When he was a puppy, he slept outside the Nolichucky campground manager’s door in a bucket.
Is it true he recently ran off the K-9 unit from the Fishtop Parking area?
Yes, they sped off with their tails between their legs.




















































