Why “ Hang 10 ” when hang 16 is even better ? With their low center of gravitational force , your Canis familiaris can make for a great surfing or SUP boarding familiar this summertime .
Whether you want to surf or use a stand - up boat paddle board ( SUP ) , your water supply - have sex barker is potential to enjoy the ride and the soldering time . " Activities like these form trust that will deepen the bond as you do them together , " saysJudy Fridono , executive director ofPuppy Prodigies , in San Diego , Calif. , and proprietor ofRicochet , a championgolden retrieversurf dog and the first - ever canine assisted surftherapy dog .
Fridono and other experts weigh in with bakshis for how to enjoy your days on the H2O with your own pup and stay secure .
Photo: Courtesy of Tiff Shao
Gear You’ll Need to Get Started
How to Train Your Dog to Get on a Surfboard or SUP Board
Although the two boards are different , the education is similar . With both , start — on land — by receive your blackguard familiar with the board . " Feed them breakfast and dinner on the board and put your dog in the right position while they ’re eating , " Fridono says . " If they ’ll be surfing on their own , that ’s at the back of the board . You desire them to have a plus connection with the board . " ( On a SUP , the dog is usually in front of you . )
Tiff Shao , a CPDT in Missoula , Mont. , who SUPs with her dog , Brae , aDutch shepherd , likes to commence training by teach the dog to get on awobble boardorBosu . " It ’s for general environmental sureness , to check that the dog is n’t afraid around great object , and to get them comfortable on unstable surface , " Shao say . And do n’t block touse plus reinforcement !
A pool is a dandy way to habituate your hound to a surfboard or swallow in the water . If no pool is useable , get down to the ocean ( or lake ) and start up on the shoreline . concord the board unfluctuating and train your pooch to his or her spot on the board .
Hold one hand on the tail of the plug-in and one under your cad ’s belly . Allow your crony to fall in and practice getting back onto the control board .
finally start bear on the board into low waves and allow the wave to draw them back . " As the dog progresses , they ’ll go further out , " Fridono articulate . " It ’s natural for them to shift their weight back and away so they wo n’t wipe out — and they do n’t require to pass over out . "
But do n’t expect Fido to twit thebarrelright away . Take it slowly at every footprint , and you and your dog will be pay back . As Fridono enounce , away from safety , " the most crucial thing is to have fun with your dog . "
3 Tips to Surf or Stand-Up Paddle Board With Your Dog Safely
1. Plan Ahead for Safety
Get your blackguard used to bear a well - fitted sprightliness jacket with a handle ( so you could pull him or her back onto the instrument panel if needed ) . Fridono tell it ’s dangerous to rope your dog to a surfboard . " They could get hit with the add-in or come up against rock music and not be able to break loose . " But with a stand - up boat paddle panel , you might want to land one to maneuver your andiron back on board , Shao says .
Have fresh H2O on hand , particularly if you ’re in the sea . You do n’t want your thirsty pup slurp upsalt waterand ending up with nasty gut movements or bad . Bring sunscreen that ’s suitable for pet consumption if your fair one is prone to sunburn .
And , while you do n’t even demand to be able to surf to instruct your dog to do so , Fridono says , " you need to be able to swim well . " It should go without saying that your frankfurter want to be a goodswimmer , as well .
2. Choose the Right Board
clean a soft - top froth surfboard or one with a traction pad of paper . A fiberglass plug-in is too slippery . Your dog will have better grip and if they take a hit from the soft - top it wo n’t hurt as much .
If you ’ve got alarge dogsurfing solo or with you , Fridono suggests a display board that ’s at least six - foot long . small hot dog are fine on a four - foundation panel .
Your swallow should be wide of the mark , stable , and have hatful of traction . If you ’re going inflatable , verify it ’s tough anddurableenough to handle paws with claws . For sizing : weight — yours , the dog ’s , and any accouterment — factor in as does your acquirement level .
3. Practice Falling
It ’s inevitable that you and your dog will tumble into the water supply at some point . Regardless of which personal watercraft you ’re on , fuck onward of time how you ’ll get back on board . " Brae ca n’t get back on a SUP by himself ; he ca n’t get his hind leg up . He ’s 78 pounds and I ’m not a big soul , " Shao order . Since Brae loves tug - of - war " more than anything else , " Shao brings adummy retrieveror other toy that Brae can grab onto . " If he falls , I hold out the toy and he grabs onto it and I hale him back . "
