How To Keep Your SUP Dog Safe
- Written by Mike Tavares
- Published in Tips
- Comments::DISQUS_COMMENTS
Mike Tavares and Shredder enjoying the river.
SAN DIEGO, California - One of the many perks of paddle boarding? Being able to take your dog along for the ride. TThere are risks to taking your pet paddle boarding and we want to ensure that they are just as safe as we are when on board. We reached out to SUP pro Mike Tavares for some tips on how to keep your dog safe while paddle boarding. Mike brings his pooch Shredder on his SUP with him more often than not and Shred dog is a true SUP pup. Here are some tips from the SUP Pup master himself:
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Find a shallow, calm area to get your pup used to the SUP.
- Introduce your dog to water well before trying to paddle and make sure he/she is super comfortable with all water.
- Make sure your dog is comfortable swimming for long periods of time and away from you.
- Start small, pick a spot that is calm/shallow so your dog gets used to the board, but can bail easily and not feel too vulnerable.
- Pick a good spot that is safe for dogs, just incase they bail and head for shore without you - shred dog tends to run wild on the shore!
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Inflatables are a great options as a SUP for your pup.
- Pick a good board that has excellent traction for dogs…..finding a board with a full deck pad is a great option for traction and no damage to board with claws.
- It's always a great idea to have a dog PFD(life jacket) for flotation as well as having a grab handle on top for rescue.
- Start small, pick a spot that is calm/shallow so your dog gets used to the board, but can bail easily and not feel too vulnerable.
- If surfing with dog, pick a mellow spot that is not too dangerous and has an easy in and out to the beach. Inlets or small points are the best!
- Expect to be thrown in the water a lot yourself! Shredder keeps me on my toes as he never stops moving on the board.
SUPing with your pup can be an awesome and rewarding experience, but only do it if both you and your dog are comfortable on the paddle board. Make sure to take safety precautions for not only yourself, but your furry friend too.
To learn in more depth on how to paddle board with your pup, check out the video from Boardworks on How to SUP With Your Dog.
Mike Tavares
USA - Mike Tavares is the ultimate river expert. As a modern-day nomad, Mike travels throughout the North American Continent with his side-kick Shred-dog and they explore rivers and lakes at every chance they get. Mike has the knowledge and expertise of a river master that can only be obtained by years and years of experience.
Website: https://www.facebook.com/rivershred?fref=ts Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
