Would you like to go SUP with your dog? Supping is a fun activity that you can do together with friends, family or acquaintances. In addition, it is also an option to go supping with your dog. In that case, it can be useful to prepare both yourself and your dog for it.
This way you can be sure that everything is safe. Stepping on a SUP with your dog can involve some risk , but if you are prepared for this, you don't have to worry. We are therefore happy to tell you more about supping with a dog and give you a number of tips.
What are important points for attention when supping with a dog?
Preparation is essential when you go supping with your dog. For example, it is important that the dog feels familiar on the SUP board . This is not self-evident with every four-legged friend, especially when they are in an environment with only water.
Still, most dogs like water, but of course they also need to be familiar with the board.
In addition, it is important that you can sup yourself reasonably well. If this is not the case and you do not have good stability on the board? Then the dog will probably become restless, which will make your trip unsuccessful.
Therefore, make sure you have some experience with supping before you take your four-legged friend on the water.
How do you prepare a dog for supping?
It is of course important that your dog is well prepared for the SUP adventure and feels comfortable with it. In addition, you should also be able to sup yourself reasonably well before you take a dog on the water. You have to keep a good balance for yourself and the dog .
It can often be wise to purchase a longer and wider board . The dog must also be able to swim in case you go into the water together. There are also more things you need to prepare your dog for, but we will discuss them below:
- Make sure your dog is comfortable swimming;
- Let the dog get used to the SUP board;
- Teach your dog to stand on the SUP board;
- In practice, try to get your dog to stand on the SUP;
- Find an ideal location for you and your dog, such as a quiet lake.
Maybe also interesting for you: what is supping?
1. Get your dog comfortable with swimming
SUPing with a dog is not for every dog or breed. There are many different dogs and, just like people, they are not all the same. For example, there are already certain dog breeds that are unable to swim due to their physique.
You can think of breeds such as Pugs, Dachshunds, Bulldogs, Boxers and some other breeds. However, this does not mean that you cannot go SUP with these varieties. It is an option to buy a life jacket for your dog, but it is important that your dog is not afraid of the water.
Is your dog very good at swimming? Or can you get your dog used to the water? Then it can be nice to take your dog on the SUP board. Even if he/she can swim, we still recommend providing your dog with a life jacket. This offers extra security . Would you like to read more about safety while supping? Then press here .
2. Let the dog get used to the SUP board
It is important that your dog becomes familiar with the SUP board before you actually start supping with a dog. Not every dog is as enthusiastic about new objects as other dogs. Especially when it comes to large objects.
We soon see a reluctant reaction in dogs. That is why it is important that your dog becomes comfortable with the SUP board .
To realize this, it could be a possibility to put the SUP board in the room where your dog is most for a week. Do you see that dog hardly comes into the room anymore? Then you should try it in a different way.
Yet dogs' curiosity often outweighs fear . In many cases, the dog will automatically inspect the board and get used to it after a few times. This way you can then continue with the next steps to get your dog on the SUP board.
3. Teach your dog to stand on the SUP board
Once your dog is used to the board, you will practice getting your dog to actually stand on the SUP board. In this part it is important that your dog listens carefully to commands and also follows them. This is also essential when you actually go supping on the water with a dog. Do you choose to sup on the sea together? In our opinion this is a mandatory point.
Now it's time to teach your dog new commands. For example, put the board in the garden and arm yourself with some snacks for your dog. Then you put a snack on the place where your dog has to stand on the SUP board.
Use a command here, so that the dog knows what to do when he hears the command . Let your dog know when he understands the command, so he/she knows they are doing it right.
Then it's time to teach your dog a command to get off the board as well. You do this in the same way, but in reverse, of course. Reward the dog when he/she executes the command correctly and repeat this several times.
We would also like to inform you to pay attention to (possible) scratches and cracks caused by the nails of your four-legged friend before you go on the water, especially if you are in possession of an inflatable SUP .
4. Try to get your dog to stand on the SUP in practice
Now that you've practiced with your dog getting on and off the SUP, it's time to put this into practice . For example, go to a lawn that your dog is not very familiar with. In these types of environments, we often see dogs become distracted, making it ideal to check whether your dog understands the commands.
Put your board down in the grass and practice the commands with your dog. At first, the dog will probably get on and off the board alone. As soon as this also succeeds in a less familiar environment, it is time to stand on the board yourself.
The idea is that you stand on the exact spot where you would stand while supping. Then let your dog get on the board and see if he/she goes and stays in the right place.
Is the positioning on the board good? Then start going up and down with the board a bit to imitate the waves. This way you get the dog used to the waves and make sure that he / she doesn't immediately jump off when the board starts to move. As a final step, you will row in the air with your SUP paddle . This way your dog can also get used to this movement.
5. Find an ideal location for you and your dog
Did the steps go well? Then it's time to go supping with your dog. Practice the above steps in shallow water first and make sure your dog is fully familiar with the board and the water. Do you find out that your dog is already used to it and feels comfortable? Then you could already make a short trip.
Put on your dog a life jacket and go supping with the dog. Make a short trip the first time and give your dog lots of compliments if he / she behaves well . Once you, the dog and the SUP board are in harmony, you can have great times together. SUPing with a dog is a very fun activity.
SUP workshop with a dog
Do you find it difficult to teach your dog the right commands? Then a supping workshop with a dog can offer a solution. SUPing with your dog is not easy for everyone, since not every dog is the same.
A workshop can therefore be the perfect solution, where your dog gets the right help to get used to the board and the water.
Of course it is also important that you have experience with supping. That is why it can sometimes be wise to take a lesson yourself before you go supping with a dog. Ultimately, of course, you can always go out on the water with your dog. But always do this in a safe way.
What do you need when you go SUP with a dog?
When you go supping with a dog, it is important that you bring the right stuff. This includes a waterproof bag, a dog life jacket, snacks for your dog, food and drinks, sunscreen and an extra towel for your dog. This way you can be sure that the trip will go well and that you will have a lot of fun together.
If you are still missing a number of accessories or are you still looking for a suitable beginners SUP board . Then take a look at our webshop where we offer everything in the field of supping. Here you have a wide choice of boards in different shapes and sizes, and you will find all the accessories you need to complete your SUP adventure.