Does the dog need to know how to swim?
Ideally, yes, but with a life jacket even weak swimmers can go out. The jacket is compulsory however well the dog swims.
Water sports
Stand-up Paddle with your dog
Of the water activities on this list, it's the calmest: flat water, a paddleboard and a dog sitting up front. You don't need waves, and you don't need to be especially fit. You do need patience while you both learn.
About the discipline
What SUP with your dog means
Stand-up paddling with your dog is exactly what it sounds like: you paddle standing up, and the dog sits or lies on the board in front of you. Lakes and quiet rivers are where you do it.
There's no established competition format, though fun races are popping up more often. For most people it stays a weekend thing.
What you have to learn is balancing as a pair. The dog has to work out that sudden moves on the board are a bad idea. You have to get used to a weight that shifts around on its own.
How it works in practice
How it is taught
- getting used to the board on land, with treats
- a fixed spot, at the front or in the middle
- first trips out on very calm, shallow water
- a life jacket for the dog
- a stay cue, practised beforehand
- short trips at first, then longer ones
Which dogs it suits
- calm dogs that don't mind water
- dogs of any size, if the board is big enough
- teams after a quiet outdoor activity
What you need
- a paddleboard with a non-slip deck
- a life jacket for the dog
- drinking water and shade on the bank
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Stand-up Paddle with your dog
What if it jumps off the board?
Let it swim to the bank or calmly help it back on. That's exactly why the first trips are on shallow water, close to the bank.
What is the most common mistake?
Rushing. The board has to become somewhere the dog likes to be, on land and with treats, long before it goes anywhere near the water.
From what age can a dog get on the board?
There's no strict limit, because the physical effort is minimal. Balance and being able to keep still for a few minutes matter more, and a very young puppy has neither yet. In practice, you can start once the dog holds a stay on land.
From the same category
Related sports
Water Agility
A course of hoops and floating obstacles that the dog swims instead of runs.
Water Rescue
The dog rescues people from water and tows people or objects.
Water Work
Retrieving, towing and other work exercises in water.
Surf Dog
The dog balances on a surfboard and rides the wave.
We do not run Stand-up Paddle with your dog
This page is informational. We work in mantrailing, search and rescue and preparation for the TSAC and BH exams - but if you want an honest opinion on what would suit your dog, write to us anytime.