Paddle boarding with your dog
You already take your dog to the lake or beach. What could be better than teaching your dog to paddle board?
Paddle boarding and your dog are a perfect combination. Paddling boarding is a fun activity that you and your dog can enjoy together beyond the traditional walk
Some dogs take to the paddle boarding experience quickly, while others need more work. The key is patience and a positive approach. Take your time with the training, don’t rush things and most important always keep a fun and positive vibe around your paddle board. It’s vital that your pooch associates your paddle board with good times.
Most dogs can be trained to sit or stand quietly in one spot on a paddle board moving through the water.
Here are the steps you can take to get your dog to love paddle boarding as much as you do.
Help Your Dog Connect Positive Vibes To Your Paddle Board
You want your dog to get as excited over your paddle board as he is when you grab his leash for a walk. Paddle boarding should be a fun experience that your dog gets excited about.
Your approach to your dog’s training is everything
Keep the energy light and fun when training your dog to paddle board. Don’t yell at or scold the dog if he does not do well. And if he is resistant stop your training session and resuming it the next day.
Take it slow. Don’t make training sessions too long. Always keep things fun. If your dog sees your paddle board and thinks he is in for a miserable training session you have already lost the battle.
Teaching Your Dog to Love Paddle Boarding
Step 1. Get your dog comfortable around your paddle board.
Remove the fins on your paddle board or place it on the sand where your fins can’t get damaged. Put your dog on a lead. Walk the dog back and forth across the paddle board. Don’t stop or hesitate. Just walk back and forth across your board. We want to make sure your dog has no fear of the board.
When your dog shows no fear walking across the board you can command him to sit and stay on the board.
Sit and Stay must be understood
The sit and stay command are basic dog training commands that every dog should know. Have your dog sit on the paddle board and give him the stay command. Now walk around the board with the lead loose in your hand. Keep your dog sitting on the board. If he gets up correct him. He must learn to sit and stay on the board until you give the okay to get off.
Step 2. Get your dog to associate your paddle board with reward and good times
Place treats on your paddle board. Reward your dog with treats when he obeys your sit and stay command on the board. Every experience your dog has with your paddle board should end on a positive note.
Step 3. Have a sit, stay and off command for your paddle board
Have a special command for telling your dog to sit and stay on your paddle board. Have another unique command telling your dog it is okay to move off the board. When he does good give him a treat.
Repeat having your dog sit and stay on the board and then getting off the board only after your command. You need to drill this until your dog understands these commands. When your dog has these commands nailed down on dry land we can, only then, move to the water.
It’s especially important that you train your dog to never exit the board without hearing your command first. If he get’s off the board without your permission no treat.
You don’t want your dog jumping off the board every time he sees a duck. The bigger the dog the more chance you will fall in the water when he jumps. You need to be in control. Your dog must understand sit and stay.
Step 4. Start out in the water on your knees with the dog between your legs
If your dog is trained to sit and stay on your paddle board, and then waits for your okay to get off the board. Then we are ready to get into the water.
Place your board on the waters edge with the tail in the water and the nose on land. With your dog on a lead kneel on the center of the board where you would kneel if you where paddling.
Kneel on the board and place your dog right in front of you
While kneeling place your dog in front of you, have him sit between your legs facing the nose of the board. Keep the lead loose and place the end under your knee. This is your dogs riding spot.
You dog should be curious and looking around. But if his rear-end leaves the board instantly correct him. If your dog doesn’t move give him praise.
Now take your paddle and slowly push your board off into deeper water. As the board leaves dry land your dog may get uncomfortable. Correct him immediately if his rear-end leaves the board. If he stays give him more praise.
Now, still kneeling, start to paddle around. Always at the ready to correct your dog if he moves his rear-end.
If your dog is doing well it’s time for you to stand up. Slowly stand up with the lead loose in your hand. If the dog is comfortable you may remove the lead. The more time your dog spends on the water the more comfortable he will become.
As the paddle board approaches the shore your dog will want to jump off the board. So be ready to correct him as you come into shore. Don’t let him get off the board until you give the okay.
Expect your dog to make mistakes and jump in the water. Keep things light and positive. Take it slow. It may take some time for your dog to understand.
Fear of the Water
Some dogs are afraid of the water and you will have to overcome this first. But in the long run this could actually work in your favor by keeping your dog on the board. A dogs fear of water can be overcome and is not an obstacle that should stop you from teaching your dog to ride a paddle board.
Some dogs are natural swimmers and have no fear of water. My English Pointer Zoey loves the water. For some dogs the challenge will be to keep them from swimming. For dogs like this it may be best to give them a “reward swim” after they go paddling.
My dog’s love of the water and ducks made paddling with her very difficult. She was not afraid of the water at all, but she was afraid of my paddle board at first. Plus she couldn’t control herself around ducks. Some dogs will take patience and more work than others
If your dog is having trouble with ducks and seagulls you need to deal with that problem head on. Paddle toward ducks swimming on the water. Paddle on your knees with your dog between your legs. Keep the lead loose and under one of your knee
s. Now slowly paddle near some ducks. Get ready. Hold the lead loosely in one hand and get ready to correct the dog if his rear-end leaves the board.
Take it Slow
Some dogs will be trained to paddle board after just one training session. Other dogs learn in stages and will need more than a few sessions to sit and stay on a paddle board moving though the water. Just keep things positive. If your dog sees the paddle board as connected to a negative experience all your efforts will be in vain. If I can only give you one piece of advice it would be to make sure your dog associates your paddle board with fun happy experiences.
Ditch the leash
Once your dog understands these commands you don’t need to take a lead. In fact it’s best not to keep a lead on your dog when paddling. I only recommend it when the dog is first learning. If your dog falls in the water the leash could potentially strangle him. So ditch the leash once he is trained.
Get a doggie flotation device with a handle on top
You should definitely invest in a flotation device for your dog. Things can get tricky on the water. You want your dog to be able to float and swim easily. Make sure to get a doggie flotation device that has a handle on the top. This will make it easier to grab your dog and lift her back on the paddle board if she falls. This is especially true for big dogs. Without a handle it can be very hard to lift a big wet dog back onto a paddle board . Many dogs can’t get back on the board without your help.
So what does it take to SUP with your pup.
The right paddle board
Wider is better for extra stability.
If you have a 45lb dog a 10’6″ paddle board should be fine. But if you have a dog approaching 100lbs you are going to want a bigger board.
Let the maximum weight capacity be your guide for a paddle board
For a big dog approaching 100lbs your going to want a 11′ of 12′ paddle board. A 12 footer will give you more float and a bigger deck so you will have more room. A good width is 32″.
It’s important when buying a paddle board for you and your large dog that you look for a board with plenty of volume. Weight capacity is determined by the volume of the board. So always look at the maximum weight-capacity of any board you are thinking of buying. You want to have extra weight-capacity and never come close to the weight limit. If you weigh 150lbs and your dog weighs 75lbs you want a maximum weight-capacity of 250lbs giving you plenty of extra volume.
Big dogs need to sit in the center of the paddle board
Paddling with a large heavy dog is more of a challenge than paddling with a small dog. Many dogs love paddling with their masters but like to move around on the paddle board. While this is fine with a 12lb Terrier it is a problem with a 90lb Bernese Mountain dog.
With a large dog it’s important that he does not move around on the board when you are paddling. With an 90lb dog moving around on your board it becomes easy to lose your balance. You also don’t want a big dog on the nose of the paddle board. This will make paddling difficult.
The best place for a large dog is right at your feet in the center of the board. With the weight in the middle of your board paddling will be easier.
When training a large dog it’s important for him to understand he has a spot on the paddle board and he can’t move off that spot. It doesn’t really matter if your dog sits or stands in that that spot. He just can’t move.
The sit and stay command of the board becomes all important with a big dog. Take it slow. This may take some time. You want every experience your dog has with your paddle board to be a fun positive one.
Inflatable paddle boards are great for your dog
Some people are concerned about the durability of inflatable paddle boards. Inflatables are fine for your dog. Dog nails will not puncture inflatable paddle boards. These inflatables are made from military grade pvc. Also the decks on inflatables have better grip than composite boards which make them great for dogs. Not only that inflatables paddle boards transport and store easily. And iSUPs have low entry price point.
