SUP Dog? Sure! There’s nothing like being out on the water with your favorite friend. Living in the Pacific Northwest, most people I know are committed to three things: the outdoors, their dogs, and having fun in the outdoors with their dogs. Not all outdoor activities lend themselves to canine participation–it’s a rare day when I see a dog on a pair of skis–but most are easily adapted to include your dog.
Recently, a number of my friends have branched out from kayaking and boating with their dogs to paddleboarding with them. Done right, teaching your dog to SUP (stand up paddleboard) is a great way to get your exercise, enjoy life on the water, and have a fun experience outside with your pet.
Photo by Mike Wang
SUP Safely with Your Dog
Before taking your dog out on the water, you should be a confident paddleboarder yourself.
To make sure your dog is a good candidate for paddleboarding, make sure they are…
- A good swimmer
- Obedient off-leash with simple commands
- Able to ignore chase-worthy things like ducks, other watercraft, and dogs, etc.
- The right weight to ride with you (check your paddleboard specs for maximum weight)
Steps to Paddleboarding with Your Dog
The initial stages of paddleboarding with your dog usually take place inside. The benefit of being indoors is that your dog can take their time getting familiar with your SUP. If you don’t have room inside your home, the following steps can all take place out in the yard or at a park or public space where your dog feels comfortable.
1. Let your pup meet your SUP
Bring your paddleboard inside and put it on the floor in a common area so your dog can explore. Some people put their dog’s favorite blanket or toy on the board, sit near the board, or play with their dog around it. This makes the SUP part of your dog’s safe home environment.
2. Add a treat
If your dog walks over to the board and sniffs it, reward with a treat. If your dog walks across the board, reward with a treat. If you need to entice your dog to interact with the board, put a treat on the edge, then lay a trail of treats down the board. It won’t take long for your dog to make a positive association with the board.
Steps One and Two may be over in a matter of minutes, but some dogs will need a week or two to be completely at ease.
3. Practice commands inside
- Start with a command they know: When your dog is on the board, ask them to sit, then reward the behavior with a treat, praise, and a good rub to let them know this is going to be fun.
- Get them on the board: Every time your dog steps on the board, give them the “SUP!” command and ample praise, petting, and a treat. “SUP” is my favorite command for getting my dog Frances on the board because it’s a nice triple pun and it cracks people up, but you can use whatever command works for you. Other common choices include “SUP, dog,” “Board,” “Up,” and “Let’s go!” If your dog likes to swim, this will be the same command you use to get them out of the water.
- Get them in their spot: The safest place for your dog to ride is the front of the board because you can see them, but the back is safe too. If you have more than one dog with you, it’s good for them each to have their spot. I recommend folding up a blanket they’re familiar with and putting it where you want them to ride. Later, you can take it away. Once your dog is standing on the board, ask them to get in their spot. Don’t worry if you need to physically show your dog where their spot is a few times. If you’d like your dog to specifically sit or lay down when they get to their spot, follow with the appropriate command–”sit” or “lay down”–then follow with a treat and praise. I use this command for a number of activities. Frances knows it means to go to her designated spot and to lay down or sit when she gets there, no matter what we’re doing.
As your dog gets more comfortable and starts linking the commands, you may find that one command like “SUP” or “SUP, dog!” will get them up on the board and sitting in their spot in one fell swoop.
- Return them safely to shore: Once you’re back on shore–or as close to shore as your dog can stand– you’ll want to give them a command that lets them know the trip is over and it’s time to get off of the board. I like to say “Down!” I’ve also heard, “Let’s go,” “All done,” and “Beach!” Say one of these commands and use a treat to lure your dog off of the board while you’re practicing inside. When they get off of the board, give them the treat and praise.
- Get them in and out of the water: If your dog likes to jump in the water, add one more command to your repertoire. I say, “Go for a swim!” to let Frankie know she can get in the water because it’s the same command I use at the park and the beach. This is great to practice in the shallows before you paddle out so your dog knows they’re allowed to swim, but that they need to wait for permission before jumping in and have to come back to the board and get on again when you say, “SUP!”
Once your dog is comfortable on their own, stand in your spot on the board and run through the commands again, so they get a sense of where you’ll be and how to maneuver around you.
4. Rock the boat
Some people find it helpful to simulate what it might feel like on water while they’re still safe and sound on land. To do this, sit or stand on the board with your dog, get them in place, and add a little rocking motion by changing your weight from side to side.
If your dog jumps off when it starts rocking, get them back into place using the commands you practiced, give them lots of treats and praise, and continue to give them treats while you stand on the board and rock it. Do this on and off until they’re comfortable.
I had zero luck rocking the paddleboard with my dog Frances. As soon as it moved, she’d spring off like it was hot lava, but we’d never had a problem kayaking, so we just went down to the water to practice. Floating on the paddleboard, she was completely relaxed. The practice rocking will help some dogs, but if your dog is like Frances, don’t force it. Just skip this step.
5. Add a lifejacket
Flickr@VirginiaStateParks
I strongly recommend getting a lifejacket or PFD (personal floatation device) for your dog, especially as leashing your dog on a paddleboard is very dangerous.
Even if your dog is a good swimmer, fatigue or panic can set in after an extended time in the water. Sound also ricochets and echoes across bodies of water, so it’s possible for your dog to get confused about where your voice is coming from and accidentally swim in the opposite direction.
The best models of lifejackets for dogs have a sturdy handle on the back. This allows you to pull your pet right back out of the water if they go in. In my experience, trying to get a slippery, wet, panicked dog back on a paddleboard or kayak isn’t always easy, so making the commitment to get your dog into a PFD that fits well is a responsible step.
To familiarize your dog with their lifejacket or PFD, you can basically follow the same steps you did when you introduced your SUP.
- Lay the PFD on the ground and let your dog explore.
- Hide a couple of treats in it and let your dog find them.
- Put the PFD on your dog and give them lots of treats and praise while they wear it.
- Practice getting on and off the board while your dog wears their PFD, going through all your commands.
If your dog needs more practice to get comfortable with the lifejacket, take them to the park or on a nice walk while they wear it. Let them hang out in it for a few hours around the house. Pretty soon, it’ll feel normal.
6. Head to the water
Take your paddle board down to the water’s edge and go through all the commands with the SUP half-in/half-out of the water. As your dog gets comfortable, and depending on whether you’re on a beach, bank, or dock, you may even push the paddle board out a foot or two into the water then repeat until you and your dog find your groove.
7. Off you go!
Once you’re both at ease, it’s time to venture out! You can either get on the board first or have your dog get on before you–both methods work. Once your dog is in their spot and stable, start paddling.
Take a short run and come back to shore. Disembark, then repeat the process, going out a little further.
Once you’re confident that your dog is ready for the open water, head on out! Out on the water, your job is simple: Don’t accidentally bump your dog with the paddle. No problem.
What to Bring
I like to keep a Ziploc bag of treats with me, just in case Frances gets hungry, needs calming from some rough waves, or is getting a little too interested in a duck.
Here are other items you should have on hand:
- Drinking water for you and for your dog
- Sunscreen for you and your dog
- Something for your dog to eat if you’re going to be out for a long time
- Rubber-bottomed bowls or travel bowls for food and water
