Do you want a SUP pup? My boy is really nervous about water…correction…he HATES water! Yet he climbs on my board and drifts off to the water with me with little hesitation. Start slow, start small, and be calm.
Image: Riley’s third SUP adventure May 15, 2021 at Whonnock Lake, BC, Canada
Phase 1 – The Introduction
Introducing my 14 year old aussie, Riley, to paddleboarding was a bit of a process. To begin we blew up the board and left it in the living room for about a month. We trained on it every day, that’s right, EVERY day. Sometimes those sessions were 5 minutes, sometimes an hour. We made the board part of our everyday play. Riley would do sit stays, down stays, hop up and downs and overs. He got fed his dinner on the board each night too! Until he was comfortable, then we went to phase 2 – the water.
Phase 2 – The Water
Our first water paddle was not a short one! In hindsight I should have gotten into the water and pushed Riley around on the board for a while until he was calm again. Instead I was impatient and got on the board with my dog for a 4 hour paddle right out the gate! He actually did really well with the sudden change. He was very hesitant to get on the board at first but as soon as I was on it he was beside me. He is NOT a dog who wants to be left behind….ever! He hoped right off the dock and on to my board. We paddled out into the slough and he spazzed.
What I learned from this quick introduction was I should have taken that extra time in the water with me pushing the board around and Riley getting comfortable. It would have meant he became used to the movement and of someone in the water while he was on the board at the very least. Now he panics when someone falls in, especially when he sees them struggle to get back on the board! Take the time to set your dog on the board. You wade into the water and just let the pup get comfortable while you gently push the board around the water. When your pup is calm and not nervous to be on the board, get on with him and just float. You will be changing and challenging his/her comfort level so take the time to let your pup readjust to the added weight on the board. Then once Fido has chilled right down, begin going through the paddle motions and movements. With any luck, your pup will not be yelping and yodeling like mine on a board for long!
Phase 3 – The Spastic Pup
Now my boy is some seriously high energy. He loves to run and we did agility training when he was younger. At 14 years old….he is still a spaz! So in true Riley fashion, he ran. He ran from tip to stern on my board for the first hour, then decided my lap was the only safe spot on the board. Our first paddle together was a seated paddle for sure! I did keep him leashed to my board and still do to ensure he doesn’t swim to shore when he falls in or over to some poor unsuspecting paddleboarder on the water with us – he has tried this!
Working with Riley on some really solid “pause” boxes on the board, he has learned he is wanted at the front of the board and not the back. A Pause box is used in agility and is basically a platform or a square that the dog lays down and waits for the next command in. The dog is not allowed to exit the box until the allotted seconds have passed. For Paddleboarding, I used the pause box on my board in the living room and had Riley wait for me to release him to move. This only works when he isn’t spazzing right out mind you. Our first few trips out were dicey with Riley running from tip to tail and across all edges of the board. I did stand, though briefly, once he settled a little. Be prepared to be wet when teaching your pup the art of sup. The chances are you will be tipped into the water on at least one or two occasions. Embrace the water and select your training waters carefully. You want to be sure it is deep enough that you won’t get hurt when you fall, yet shallow enough that Fido is going to be comfortable (some dogs don’t have this issue, but Riley won’t go into water past his elbows so shallow is good for him learning).
Phase 4 – The Best Adventure Buddy
Riley has always been my adventure buddy. He’s been quading, hiking, camping, river swimming, 10k running, herding and now paddleboarding. He is a dog that will do and go anywhere I go. But he is also a dog, like many other working breed dogs, who doesn’t know his limits. He is a dog that will get hurt and keep running because I am running. He will not drink because we are adventuring resulting in dehydration. Our dogs are the most amazing partners on adventures but they need us to slow down for them. Take that extra break to look at the scenery and give fido that drink he doesn’t know he is craving. Take an extra minute to relax in a creek to cool off on a hot hike so fido knows its okay to rest too. They rely on us to keep them healthy for the next adventure.
There are a few Key things that I have learned through this experience:
1. Doggie life jackets are a MUST on the water, and get one with a good sturdy back handle to lift the dog back onto the board with. Riley wears the Helios life vest though there are many good options out there! The Helios is what fit Riley’s deep chest and tapered waist the best. Even so, we had to adjust the neck strap to fit him perfectly. Outward Hound has some good options for life vests, and Level 6 has some awesome features on their vests too! Find what fits your dog best, is weighted appropriately for the dog, and offers the best features for your needs.
2. A spastic pup can calm and be an awesome paddle partner. Tip: take lots of treats in a waterproof pouch or ziplock and a floating toy. If you don’t have a floating toy, a toy you can tie to your board for easy retrieve works well to!
3. Take it slow and enjoy the process – make it fun for both of you and don’t rush it. Tip: if you have never done clicker training, try it! The clicker marks the behavior and is super fun for you and your dog.
4. Fall in. Practice falling in and getting back on your board both with and without your pup. Be cautioned, its harder than it looks to get back on the board! Where will your next inspiration take you?
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