Paddleboard (SUP) with dog - training dilemma

[Saskatoonian]

Does anyone paddleboard (SUP) with her dog? I’m just starting with my 7 month old Portie and we’re both having a blast. It turns out to be very interesting from a training perspective, starting with identifying what I want to train moving forward. Kind of a problem.

Obviously you start with staying on the board and staying quiet and balanced, and we’ve got enough work to do on this (she’s only been out twice, and yesterday was the first time I actually stood) to keep us busy for a few more outings. But trying to figure out whether I can figure out taking a dip off my board. She won’t stay on, I’m sure, if I hop off, even if I do it quietly, and even if she did, I don’t think she’d stay when I clamber back aboard. Potentially workable: she has a lifejacket with a handle and a 20’ floating line.

The flip side, though, is that a Portie who knows she can get off the board is potentially a complicated thing to manage. :

Odd to be in a situation where I’m not figuring out how to train something, but what I want to train.

Any thoughts? And if you’re tempted to try it, do! It’s a lot of fun even if you’re not very good at it. Well, as long as you like to swim.

[Cammie]

A rock-solid down stay works for both problems. She stays on the board when you leave, and only gets off the board to swim when you give her permission.

I think the challenge will be for her to learn to maintain her balance when you get back on the board from the water. I’d start with telling her to stay and just slip off into the water, then get right back on. Tons of praise if she stays in place. If she tries to get up or move on the board, direct her back to where she needs to be and tell her to stay again. Then move on to getting in the water and moving to the back of the board, eventually around it, then swimming to the end of your leg leash range and back over many short sessions. All the while reconfirming the down-stay and lots of praise for her staying in place.

If she decides to take a flying leap on her own into the water, tell her NO and put her right back on the board and tell her to stay again. Make sure you give a clear command every time she is allowed to get off the board so she understands when it is okay. Give that same command when you get back to the dock too, and make her wait to depart the board when you ask her to. A lot of the dogs I see here wait until the board is a few feet away and then make a giant leap for land which isn’t helpful to the person paddling!

You can also fit a lot more than one dog on a paddleboard. :winkgrin:

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[Saskatoonian]

Brilliant - of course this is exactly the advice I wanted. Do you ever let the dog jump off to take a dip? On command only, obviously, but assuming that, and assuming I can get her back on the board.

And great picture! I had enough to manage with one 35 lb or so uncertain puppy last night - we’d ALL be in the drink if I had that pack. hahahaha.

[Cammie]

Absolutely your dog can jump off to swim, but only with your permission. You just need to drill into her head that she stays on that board in her spot unless you give her the ok to get off. I’m assuming you have a dog pad for the paddleboard, if you don’t definitely look into getting one. The more secure and stable she feels the happier she’ll be. Keep the sessions short and fun- you want her to look forward to the board. I see plenty of people with miserable dogs out there, sadly.

[Saskatoonian]

Thanks - that’s exactly my plan. I do need to get her a pad. Right now she’s sitting on the grippy part right in front of me, practically on my feet, which is her preference anyway. The Portie people are very mixed on whether the dog should ever be allowed to jump off, since they love to do it on their own, but I think I can make it work.

[cloudyandcallie]

After your dog masters paddle boarding, you guys can take up surfing. When Tim Dougtie of Hilton Head found a beagle (or basset) hound on the island, he taught him to surf right in front of his parents’ home at Sea Pines. The video made the Atlanta news on WSB, and then went national. Tim and the dog are deceased now, but the video is still brought out occasionally on WSB…

My aussies loved to swim and loved the waves, but they would not surf.

[BEARCAT]

Of course you can train it. Start on dry land with dog on the board in a down stay, then add distractions. Run around the board, jump around, throw tennis ball, etc. Dog stays until released by your cue. Of course you gradually add those distractions over several days/week. And gradually move board closer to water until dog stays on board (on the beach) while you are swimming.
Also teach dog a solid “hop on” cue, on dry land first.
So great down/stay, great understanding of release cue, and a cue to get back on (or to let you pick dog up by life jacket,) all on dry land first, then just add water!