How To Stand Up Paddle Board (SUP) With Your Dog | Chewtorials

Описание: Imagine yourself exploring the open water on a serene stand up paddle boarding adventure. You have the breeze in your hair, the sun on your skin and … your dog by your side? That’s right—your dog can join you on your SUP adventure. If you want to get started learning how to stand up paddle board with dogs, follow these tips.

Paddle Boarding Gear For You and Your Dog

A high quality paddle board that’s sized properly for the human-dog duo.
A paddle that’s sized properly for your body type. It should be as long as you are tall, plus 10 inches.
Human life jacket
Dog life jacket with a handle along the back for easy lifting in case they fall or jump into the water
Training treats
A treat pouch
Dry bag to secure valuables

How to Stand Up Paddle Board With Dogs: Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Place the board on dry land in a familiar, safe environment.

Start at home, placing the board in a room that your dog knows well, and allow them to sniff it out.

2. Lure your dog onto the board.

Using a training treat, lead your pup onto the deck of the board. Reward them with the treat and lots of praise when they have all four paws on the board.

3. Practice “sit,” “down” and “stay” on the board.

With your dog on the board, start asking for behaviors like sit, down and stay. Reward them with a treat each time your dog does what they’re told. Those commands will come in handy later!

If your dog isn’t already trained in these basic commands, work on those skills before you transition to the board. Follow our training tips:

How to Teach Your Dog to Sit: https://be.chewy.com/basic-dog-traini...
How to Teach Your Dog to Stay: https://be.chewy.com/basic-dog-traini...
How to Teach Your Dog to Lie Down: https://be.chewy.com/basic-dog-comman...

4. Gradually increase their “stay” time while on the board.

Ask your dog to sit and stay, or lie down and stay, and gradually increase the duration of time in the stay. Start at a duration your dog can easily handle, and work up to two to three minutes at a time.

5. Introduce the dog life jacket.

Your dog should understand that their life jacket and board go together—even when you’re nowhere near water. So once your pup is reliably staying on the board for extended periods of time, strap on their life jacket and practice those sit-stay and down-stay commands again.

6. Introduce the paddle.

With your dog in sit or down, kneel behind your dog and move the paddle on either side of them, just like you would do in the water. Be sure your dog is comfortable with the paddle moving around them while on the board. When you’ve got that handled, practice paddling in a stand-up position (again, you’re still on dry land for this part.)

8. Practice beside the water.

Once your pup is comfortable with in-home training, it’s time to move to the water. Find a practice spot with calm water that is not near people or other animals.

9. Enter shallow water.

If your dog is calm, move the board to shallow water. Get on the board before your dog in the kneeling position, then ask your dog to join you. When your dog is on board, ask for a sit-stay or a down-stay right away.

10. Paddle in the kneeling position.

Making sure your dog is relaxed, paddle in the kneeling position. Take it slow, and make sure your dog is feeling comfortable.

11. Stand up and paddle away.

If you and your dog are both relaxed, stand up on the paddle board and paddle off!



Keep your first paddle short, under 15 minutes, with lots of praise and treats. Work up to longer paddles over time to increase your dog’s confidence on the water.

What If My Dog Jumps Into the Water?

It's just a fact of life: If you take your dog out on the water, there’s a good chance they’ll get excited and jump in. So what do you do if your pup goes overboard?

First, stay calm. Your dog can tell when you’re stressed or excited, and those feelings could inspire them to keep swimming rather than return to you. Next, kneel on the board and coax them back to you. Training treats will come in handy here! If your dog has trouble getting onto the board by themselves, you can give them a lift using the handle on their life jacket.

Follow the tips above, and you’ll be on your way to a SUP adventure with your pup. Happy paddling!



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