Even when you’ve simply gotten into paddleboarding, you’ve in all probability already realized the one means to enhance upon a day spent on the water is to convey your greatest pal alongside for the experience. Many dogs might be skilled to take pleasure in a experience on a paddleboard, and it’s a wonderful approach to deepen your bond, have enjoyable and get some train collectively.
Crucial to having fun with a canine paddleboarding journey is to have a dog-friendly paddleboard. Fortunately, there are numerous paddleboards for dogs available on the market. In this complete information, we’ll cowl every part you should find out about selecting the right paddleboard on your canine and reply essentially the most generally requested questions on paddleboarding with dogs too. This newbie’s-focused shopping for information can even cowl must-have paddling equipment for dogs, coaching tricks to preserve everybody snug, and important security recommendation to make sure you and your canine take pleasure in yourselves in your subsequent aquatic journey.
Read on to get professional recommendation on the perfect SUP sort, dimension and equipment for the ulti-mutt dog-friendly paddleboard adventures.
Top picks: Best paddleboards for dogs
The following dog-friendly paddleboards have acquired the best star scores from reviewers in our Paddling Buyer’s Guide. See and evaluate all dog-friendly paddleboards right here.
Shop for dog-friendly paddleboards
The hyperlinks on this part will take you to our complete Paddling Buyer’s Guide, the place you’ll discover all the perfect paddleboards for dogs available on the market, together with evaluations, scores and the place to purchase. You can select to filter paddleboards by sort and software, resembling lakewater or river, or by the variety of paddlers (one-person or tandem), and a lot extra.
Then, click on on particular fashions to see specs, costs, evaluations and the place to purchase. You is not going to discover a higher paddleboard purchaser’s information useful resource on-line.
How to purchase a dog-friendly paddleboard
Choosing a dog-friendly paddleboard requires cautious consideration. The paddleboard you purchase will assist decide whether or not or not you and your canine have an gratifying time on the water. There is nobody single greatest paddleboard for dogs as a result of the perfect board relies on the kind of paddling you love to do, and your canine’s dimension, weight and temperament. From board dimension and stability to supplies and options, right here’s what you should know to seek out the perfect canine paddleboard.
Stability
When deciding on a paddleboard on your canine, stability is the highest precedence. A stable-feeling board will encourage extra confidence. All different features being equal, a wider paddleboard will present extra stability. However, a wider board can be slower, and a too-wide board might be tough to paddle. To paddleboard together with your canine, search for paddleboards round 32 to 36 inches huge. With a smaller canine, you would possibly be capable to go for a board on the narrower finish of that spectrum, whereas in case you have a bigger canine you would possibly go for a board on the broader finish.
Weight restrict
Capacity is a essential part of an gratifying paddleboarding expertise together with your canine. Ensure the capability of your chosen paddleboard exceeds the overall weight if you mix your weight, your canine’s weight and some other gear you’re prone to convey alongside. If you exceed the capability of a paddleboard, it would experience low within the water, gained’t really feel secure and gained’t glide effectively.
Board form
All-around paddleboards are the preferred sort of paddleboard for inexperienced persons. All-around paddleboards are 10 to 12 toes lengthy and sometimes include a rounded surf-style nostril or a barely pointed touring-inspired nostril. A user-friendly, all-around paddleboard is an ideal selection for relaxed days spent paddleboarding together with your canine. Paddlers who wish to make miles ought to look to touring board design.
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Inflatables vs. arduous boards for dogs
Inflatable boards are handy for storage and transport and extremely fashionable amongst inexperienced persons. They’re constructed from a delicate PVC or rubber materials, which gives higher traction for a canine’s paws and nails and a softer touchdown if a canine loses its stability and falls on the board. Hard boards are constructed from plastic, wooden or composite supplies. Their rigidity gives additional stability and elevated efficiency, as there may be much less bend to the board in waves or when a canine or paddler strikes across the deck. Learn extra in regards to the execs and cons of inflatable paddleboards and arduous boards.
Deck padding for dogs
Particularly on a tough board, a deck pad on the highest of the paddleboard gives important traction on your canine. Your canine’s confidence can be significantly enhanced by getting a grip and never sliding round on a slick wooden, plastic or composite floor. Look for full-length EVA foam deck pads, which give glorious grip. Full-length deck padding isn’t as important on an inflatable, because the delicate blow-up building materials gives some traction.
Leash necessities
A paddleboarder ought to at all times put on ankle leash, which is a twine connecting the board to the paddler’s ankle. This essential piece of security gear is much more essential when paddling with a canine, as your probabilities of ending up within the water significantly improve with an excitable pup on board. So, too, do the probabilities that your board will journey away from you in an upset. Even a lightweight wind can blow a paddleboard away from you, quicker than you may swim.
Wear The Appropriate Leash When Stand Up Paddleboarding
- A leash ought to be worn to maintain your SUP with you if you fall off. An ankle leash is suitable for browsing, however not on rivers, in swift currents or any situations the place being tied to the board may show harmful. For these actions, use a quick-release leash that attaches to your life jacket.
However, a canine doesn’t must put on its leash on a paddleboard. A well-trained canine shouldn’t want a leash whereas on a paddleboard, and any canine might be skilled to stay in place on the board till launched. If your pup is just not dependable, it’s possible you’ll really feel safer leashing your canine. However, by no means connect your canine’s leash to the paddleboard and by no means leash your canine in shifting water and present.
Dog paddleboard equipment
There are a couple of important security necessities to take your canine paddleboarding. Remember: Always put on your life jacket. Everyone, even robust swimmers, must put on a life jacket always when on the water. It is extraordinarily tough to place a life jacket on when you fall into the water. And similar to you, your canine ought to at all times put on a life jacket on the water. Not all dogs are robust swimmers. In explicit, dogs with quick snouts or quick legs, and puppies, older dogs and people with mobility points are usually weaker swimmers. Plus, any canine can get drained or panic. Protect your greatest pal by investing in a canine life jacket. Ensure your canine’s life jacket suits snugly and matches their weight. See our prime picks for the perfect canine life jackets for paddleboarding.
In addition to a PFD on your canine’s paddleboarding adventures, some paddlers go for a canine mat to placed on the deck for additional consolation. Others add a kayak-style seat to their paddleboard. To connect these things, select a paddleboard with some attachment factors designed for equipment. You can even use these attachment factors to safe snacks, a water dish and different gadgets.
Training your paddleboarding canine
Dogs are naturally curious and wish to discover by your aspect, so faucet into that pure intuition and strategy paddleboard coaching as simply one other enjoyable journey collectively. First, introduce the paddleboard on land, the place the canine is snug, and permit the canine to analyze it and walk throughout it till it’s no large deal.
Next, deal with your first few outings to the water as coaching classes. Keep these classes quick and crammed with optimistic reinforcement (assume delicate, pungent canine treats and many them!) and solely paddle in calm and sheltered situations to take care of stability and domesticate confidence in your new paddleboarding companion. Always test climate situations earlier than getting on the water and paddle inside your ability stage.
Paddleboards for dogs FAQ
Finding a paddleboard to take pleasure in together with your canine doesn’t must be difficult. Let us assist demystify the method. Below are the eight mostly requested questions on discovering the right paddleboard for you and your canine.
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Can dogs go on paddleboards?
Of course! While some dogs could also be apprehensive at first, most dogs might be skilled to take pleasure in using on a paddleboard. It is essential to make sure the paddleboard is giant sufficient and secure sufficient to accommodate the canine’s additional weight. It’s additionally essential to introduce the paddleboard expertise steadily—begin slowly, at all times put on your life jacket, at all times put your canine’s life jacket on her, and supply plenty of optimistic reinforcement to create a enjoyable expertise for the canine.
Wear A Life Jacket
- Everyone, even robust swimmers, must put on a life jacket always when on the water. It is extraordinarily tough to place a life jacket on when you fall into the water. Even a lightweight wind can blow any paddlecraft away from you, quicker than you may swim.
- Always put on a USCG-approved Level 70 or Type III life jacket designed for paddling.
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Can dogs go on inflatable paddleboards?
Yes, inflatable paddleboards are an awesome choice for dogs. The materials inflatable paddleboards are constructed with is just not slick like arduous boards, and gives good traction for the canine’s paws, which results in elevated consolation and simpler reboarding.
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Can dogs pop inflatable paddleboards?
No. The building materials of a paddleboard from a good model is a world aside from a budget materials of a Walmart pool toy. Don’t fear about your canine’s nails puncturing the board; the fabric is means harder than that.
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Do dogs like paddleboarding?
Not each canine will take pleasure in paddleboarding, simply as not each person enjoys paddleboarding. However, as long as you introduce the exercise slowly and with plenty of optimistic reinforcement, most dogs can develop accustomed to the expertise of being on the water. Plus, your canine at all times enjoys being with you. Keep coaching classes quick and candy, and make your canine’s security and luxury your precedence.
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Paddleboard vs. kayak with canine
Both paddleboarding and kayaking might be gratifying actions to share together with your canine. One is just not extra appropriate for bringing your canine alongside than the opposite—it simply relies on your personable desire. From your canine’s perspective, sitting on the deck of a paddleboard versus sitting on the deck of a sit-on-top kayak is probably going not so completely different. For dogs who prefer to swim, a paddleboard might provide simpler reboarding. Sitting paddlers might discover it simpler to handle anxious or excitable dogs.
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What is the best paddleboard to convey your canine on?
A stable-feeling paddleboard is a very powerful think about your canine having a great time on the water. Look for a design 10 to 12 toes lengthy, 32 inches huge or extra, and with a capability that exceeds your mixed weight. A full-length deck pad can even assist guarantee your canine’s consolation.
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What dimension paddleboard is greatest for dogs?
The greatest dimension of paddleboard on your canine will depend upon its dimension, weight and temperament. Generally, a wider board gives extra stability and an extended board gives more room for you and your canine. Larger boards have bigger weight capacities. Dog paddleboards round 32 inches huge and 10 to 12 toes lengthy are sometimes a great dimension to begin with for small and medium-sized dogs.
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What occurs when a canine falls off a paddleboard?
If your canine falls off your paddleboard they usually’re sporting a life jacket, it’s no large deal. Stay calm and encourage your canine again to you and the board, utilizing treats or toys if essential. If your canine is sporting a leash, you may also use that to information them again. Use the handles in your canine’s life jacket to help with reentry onto the board. Once they’re safely again on the board, guarantee they’re snug. Don’t make a giant fuss in regards to the plunge.
Dress For Immersion, Not Air Temperature
- Your physique loses warmth a lot quicker when immersed in chilly water than it does when dry.
- Avoid cotton clothes like t-shirts and denims; they keep water and speed up cooling when moist. Synthetic materials, or wool, are typically a more sensible choice. If the water may be very chilly (60° fahrenheit or much less), it’s best to put on a wetsuit or drysuit.
Dog-friendly paddleboard evaluations
Below you’ll discover hyperlinks to in-depth evaluations of the highest canine paddleboards available on the market. Read on and discover the right paddleboard on your subsequent journey together with your furry greatest pal.
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Feature photograph: Kaydi Pyette
