Best Paddle Boards for Dogs

In this article, we will be showcasing our best paddle boards for dogs of all shapes and sizes. 

We will show you our recommended paddle boards as well as provide a guide as to how to find one that will custom suit both you and your newfound SUP Pup.

We will also be going through some SUP Pup tips and things you need to help you on your maiden journey. Ready? Let’s get into it!

The Most Important Factors to Look for In a Proper Paddle Board for Your PUP

Let’s face it, your dog is essentially your child, so their safety onboard is paramount. We have spent around 20 hours researching and testing the following paddle boards and have chosen some of the most stable boards we have tested. 

1. The Board’s Shape and Design: You want to look for a wider-shaped board to keep both of you balanced when your pup suddenly decides to go to the other side to observe a heron. 
2. Size of the SUP: A longer and wider board is ideal. We say at least 32” wide and 10’6” long. Most of the recommendations are 34” wide and 11′ – 11’6” long. Bigger breeds of dogs need longer/ wider SUPs. 
3. Stability of the Board: You want a board that you feel confident to stand or sit on while your pup’s weight may shift unexpectedly. 
4. Deck Considerations and Deck Pad: You want a clutter-free deck that does not have too many mounts or intrusive deck webbing. You also want to look for a deckpad that has grip so your pup can stay on in case of random waves/ wind. 
5. Paddle Board Construction: You want a paddle board that will last more than 2 years, don’t you? Besides looking at SUP materials (which we go through below) we also 

We go into more details in the buying guide below after the paddle board round-up. 

Best Paddle Boards for Dogs List

The following is our list of the best inflatable paddle boards for dogs. This list is compiled based on first-hand experience as well as a lot of the criteria we set in our buyer’s guide. 

It should be noted that the scores reflect the boards overall score and not the score for best paddle board for dogs. We do this to give you the most accurate scores and comparisons for each board possible. Scroll to each round up to see how each board scores oer category 🙂 *

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1. Blackfin XL 6.0 (Top Pick)

• Dimensions: 11’6” x 34” x 6”
• Weight: 29 Lbs
• Maximum Capacity: 485 Lbs
• Materials: Triple Layer PVC

Total Rating: 8.4 / 10 (Accumulated Ratings Below)

• On-Water Performance – 8.1
  • Stability 9
  • Tracking  8
  • Speed 7.5
  • Maneuverability 8
• SUP Construction – 9
• Board Features  – 8.9
  • Deck Pad 8
  • D Rings 8.5
  • Deck Bungees 9
  • Action Mounts: 9.5
  • Handles 9.5
• Accessories – 8
  • Backpack 
  • Paddle 
  • Pump 
  • Fins 8
• Set-Up/ Take Down 8

Why is it a Good SUP Dog Pick?

The Blackfin XL 6.0 offers a good board for most-sized dogs thanks to its size and maximum capacity capabilities. With a 485 lbs rated maximum weight, you can have an adult and a full-sized dog like a retriever, lab, or doberman onboard. Alternatively, you can make it a tandem SUP with two adults and a small to medium-sized dog placed in the middle as well. 

The Blackfin XL offers an ample deck pad with removable bungees on board that you can choose to configure/ take on and off when the pooch is onboard. It’s recommended that your pup stays at the front of the board for a few reasons. 

1. To more accurately predict their movements in front of you
2. It keeps them away from onboard elements like action mounts and Scotty Mounts that they may trip on. 

On-Water Performance

The Blackfin XL 6.0 offers very good stability with other blended on-water metrics. Including solid speed, tracking, and manoeuvrability. I found it was a great cruising board that did not give me any wobbles whatsoever when I was testing it in various tidal conditions. 

In calm water, you were able to paddle the board smoothly through the water, and the board, while feeling perhaps a bit heavy in the water, glided appropriately. And in this case, when you have a furry friend onboard, you don’t need quick acceleration. Your main concern is a steady board!

Even when I was paddling against the coming tide, the board never gave me any wobbles, and I’m sure if I had had any dog 50 lbs and under onboard, it would not have made a difference. While this board does have a 485 lb maximum capacity, bigger dogs will still shift some of the weight, so it’s best to keep them lying down for best weight distribution. 

Board Features and Design

The Blackfin XL is a very sturdy SUP to begin with. Infact, so sturdy that I bashed in my pinkie toe on its folds and well, let’s just say my toe came out worse for wear! The Blackfin XL 6.0 is made of triple-layer PVC, including carbon side rails that give the board an extra layer of protection on the weakest spots.

The Onboard features are also nice, as you can use this board for fishing thanks to the action and Scotty mounts, which allow you to add as many fishing rods as you desire. Bonus points if your pup loves fishing as much as you do!

The most recent version of the Blackfin XL 6.0 comes with an electric pump (always a bonus!), bag, 3-piece paddle, and 3 proprietary clip-on fins. The electric pump is a great addition to this package. Instead of you doing the pumping, you can play fetch with your pooch while the pump does all the hard work for you!

You can see the Full Detailed Review on the Blackfin XL 6.0 SUP here.

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2. Atoll 11 (Budget Pick)

• Dimensions: 11 x 32” x 6”
• Weight: 21 Lbs
• Maximum Capacity: 315 Lbs (Tested to 550)
• Materials: Machine Laminated Dual Layer PVC

Total Score 8.2/10 (Average of Below)

• On-Water Performance: 8.5
  • Stability: 9
  • Tracking: 8
  • Speed: 8
  • Maneuverability: 8
• SUP Construction: 9
• Board Features: 8
  • Deck Pad: 8.5
  • D Rings: 9
  • Deck Bungees: 7.5
  • Handles: 7
• Accessories: 7.5
  • Backpack: 7
  • Paddle: 7
  • Pump: 7
  • Fins: 8
• Set-Up/ Take Down: 8

Why is it a Good Dog Pick?

The Atoll 11 is a great pick for those who don’t want to spend over their budget for a stable paddle board. Although the board is 32” wide I’ve personally tested it in the winter and I had no stability issues with it whatsoever in calm water.

The Atoll 11 has a decent-sized diamond grooved deck pad which is relatively simplistic with the ability to add more. The deck pad area is wide enough to support most breeds of dogs while the board has been max tested to 550 lbs. 

On-Water Performance

I personally have not tested this board with a dog but when I had a go on it I felt stable doing a wide variety of maneuvers. While I do not currently have a dog, it’s something I definitely would love to play around with on this board in the future (I guess I should find a dog!).

The 32” width does not make this the most stable board on the list but to me, it felt more like a 33” board than a 32” from my impressions. The bonus of this is that there is less surface area of the board on the water which makes it more hydrodynamic to give you a tiny bit of extra speed.

Board Features and Design

Unlike most of the boards on this list, the Atoll 11 does not have all the bell and whistles. But it does feature a heck of a lot of D rings. This means Atoll leaves extra deck strapping to your imagination in case you want to strap extra cargo like coolers or bigger bags with you. 

The design feature I personally liked was the diamond grooved deck padding. I find this to be the grippiest of the deck padding designs. Something that may not favor dogs so much is its narrower nose profile. If you have a smaller to medium-sized dog that perches on the nose this will be fine. But for bigger dogs like labs or huskies, this may cause some issues with balance onboard. 

You can see the Full Detailed Review on the Atoll 11 SUP here.

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3. Sea Gods Infinite Mantra CX

• Dimensions: 11’ X 34” X 6” 
• Materials: Cross Weave Drop Stitch
• Weight: 21 Lbs
• Maximum Capacity: 350 Lbs

Why Is It a Good SUP Dog Pick?

The Infinite Mantra is a great pick for dogs because of the board’s wide shape that makes it a good pick for sup pups of most sizes. While this is originally designed to be a SUP Yoga pick, yoga boards do make for a great choice for paddling with your dog due to the extra stability you get from these boards. 

The deck pad is very grippy, which bodes well for your pup in case water gets on the deck or they underestimate the “friendliness” of a goose and decide to retreat and head back onboard. 

The board is also very lightweight, which makes it manageable for paddlers of most sizes to carry to the shoreline while walking with their pups. 

On Water Performance

The Infinite Mantra is the most stable board from the Sea Gods lineup, which makes it a great pick for bigger breeds of dogs. Being a wider-shaped board does make it a slower pick compared to something like the Blackfin XL but if stability is your main concern it should be a top choice if budget is not an issue. 

Board Features and Design 

The Infinite Mantra has one of the best warranty periods of any of their inflatable SUPs, thanks to the cross-weave drop stitching. This design not only makes the board more rigid, thanks to the extra reinforcement provided by the strands, but it also makes the SUP that much lighter, using less single-strand drop stitching. 

The package also comes with a solid accessories package. The bag and paddle are among the better ones that come with SUP packages. It also comes with a triple-action double-chamber pump, which I’ve had a lot of experience with. This triple chamber design allows more air to come out at each pump to maximize air coming in Until the pumping gets harder from there you can limit the air from one of the chambers to make pumping easier. 

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4. BOTE Lowrider (Kayak Hybrid Pick)

• Dimensions: 10’6” X 36” X 6” 
• Materials: Aero Ultra Technology (Single Layer Fusion)
• Weight: 30 Lbs
• Maximum Capacity: 300 Lbs

Total Score: 7.9 (Averages of Below Scores)

• On-Water Performance – 8.1
  • Stability 9.5
  • Tracking 7
  • Speed 7
  • Maneuverability 9
• SUP Construction – 7.5
• Board Features  – 8.2
  • Deck Pad 9
  • D Rings 8.5
  • Deck Bungees 8
  • Action Mounts: 7.5
  • Handles 8
• Accessories – 7.6
  • Kayak Conversion Kit 9
  • Backpack 8
  • Paddle 8
  • Pump 7
  • Fins 7.5
• Set-Up/ Take Down – 8

Why Is It a Good SUP Dog Pick?

The BOTE LowRider offers a full deck pad to give your SUP Pup all the grip it needs to stay onboard. The board also doubles as a kayak hybrid with a full, well-thought-out kayak conversion kit as well. With this kit, you can still have your pup sit upfront as you kayak with an uplifted inflatable seat and backrest. Who says you can’t lounge while on the water with your furry best friend?

The Lowrider is also a supremely stable SUP in both paddleboard and kayak formations. Infact, when paddling with your pup, I’d recommend kayak formation as this will give both of you more stability and leverage of power should you encounter any tide or wind. 

On-Water Performance

One of the biggest takeaways from this board was its stability. Because of the board’s supremely wide width, I was able to go from sitting to standing formation easily. The lifted inflatable seat also helps give you a bit of a boost to go from squat right to standing if your hips can still do something like that. 

While you can use this board as a kayak, it’s not the best board on this list for tracking and speed. The 36 width makes this board turn very easily, which isn’t the best thing to have in open water conditions when you want something that tracks straighter. This is more ideal for shorter recreational paddles in calm water conditions.

Board Features and Design

One of the biggest features of this board is the kayak hybrid kit. In my opinion, it is by far the most comfortable kayak hybrid due to the inflatable chair that offers a bladder for the seat and a bladder for the seat back. These chairs can also be taken off and used at the beach! Not a bad companion for some beach chillin with your pup!

The package is pretty big compared to other inflatable boards, but it also offers a lot! The package includes the kayak seat/ seat back, carbon hybrid SUP paddle with kayak attachment, slide-in fin, bag, and pump. So while there is a lot of value in this bundle, this is not the most hiking-friendly package whatsoever due to its bulkiness. 

You can see the Full Detailed Review on the BOTE LOW Rider SUP here.

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5. Nixy Venice (Medium Sized Dog Pick)

Features

• Dimensions: 10’6” x 34” x 6”
• Weight: 23 Lbs
• Maximum Capacity: 350 Lbs
• Materials: Advanced FusionTech dual-layer laminated, woven drop stitch

Total Ratings 8.8 /10 (Average of Below Numbers)

• On-Water Performance: 8
  • Stability: 9.5
  • Tracking: 8
  • Speed: 7
  • Maneuverability: 8
• SUP Construction: 9
• Board Features: 9
  • Deck Pad: 9
  • D Ring Placements: 9
  • Deck Bungee Placement: 8
  • Action Mounts 9
  • Handles: 9
• Accessories: 9
  • Backpack: 9
  • Paddle: 9
  • Pump: 9
  • Fins: 9.5
• Set-Up/ Take Down: 9

Why is it a Good Dog Pick?

The Nixy Venice is a solid pick due to its nonintrusive front deck bungees. Many dog breeds prefer to be perched on the nose of the board, as a result, they often trip on the deck bungees on the board. Which can often lead to both of you going for a swim. 

The Venice also has an expansive deck pad area which makes it a good platform to stand on. In Fact, you can even partake in yoga with this board. 

On-Water Performance

The Nixy Venice is one of the most stable paddleboards of its size. Its extra 1-inch width makes it a bit more steady than the Gili Komodo. But some glide is sacrificed.

If you look at the Nixy Venice’s profile you will see that the board has a wider girth from top to bottom instead of it narrowing in more gradually at the nose and tail. This gives the board more of a platform feel which also helps keeps both you and your pup stable when going through chop. 

Board Features and Design

The Nixy Venice features 4 action mounts and 4 available D rings for things such as kayak seats and even a larger cooler if need be. While the deck pad is expansive I’d prefer to see slits in the pad for dogs. As these provide more grip for dogs as opposed to flat deck padding. 

You can see the Full Detailed Review on the Nixy Venice G4 SUP here.

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6. Gili Komodo (All Around Pick)

Features

• Dimensions: 10’6” x 33” x 6”
• Weight: 21 Lbs
• Maximum Capacity: 340 Lbs
• Materials: Dual Layer Fusion Construction

Total Score: 8.1 (Average of Below Numbers)

• On-Water Performance – 8.5
  • Stability 8.5
  • Tracking 8.5
  • Speed 7.5
  • Maneuverability 8.5
• SUP Construction – 8
• Board Features – 8
  • Deck Pad 9
  • D Rings 8
  • Deck Bungees 8
  • Action Mounts: 7.5
  • Handles 7.5
• Accessories – 8
  • Backpack 8
  • Paddle 7.5
  • Pump 7
  • Fins 8.5
• Set-Up/ Take Down – 8

Why is it a Good Dog Pick?

The Gili Komodo ticks all the boxes when it comes to a dog-friendly deck pad. It features a deck pad that sprawls the entire length of the board. On Top of that, the deck pad has 3 different surfaces including the grippier parts in the middle and back of the board. Often times these placements are where you want your dog to be seated.

It is also extremely lightweight at 21 pounds thanks to its dual-layer fusion laminated PVC material. It always helps when your SUP is lightweight and easy to manage, especially when you have a dog leash in the other hand! 

On-Water Performance

The Gili Komodo is a great stable platform for small to medium-sized dogs thanks to its 10’6” length and its 33” width. If you look on Gili’s page you will see that many customers have used this board for their dogs. One customer even takes their 100 lbs 4 legged friend on all of her adventures by her local lakes and rivers.

Board Features and Design

Besides the large deck pad, the Gili Komodo also can harness things like action mounts, 2 placements of bungee storage (both of which are removable), a paddle holder and 4 free D rings for a cooler or Gili’s kayak conversion kit. 

The board features a 3-fin set-up that allows the board to track well while remaining stable when paddling forward. The 5” side fins provide that extra support for more bite in the water while keeping the board stable while moving. 

The board’s profile is hydrodynamic in that it glides smoothly without its profile causing too much drag in the water.  Its 340 lb max capacity should be enough for you and most sizes of dogs. 

You can see the Full Detailed Review on the Gili Komodo 10’6″ SUP here.

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7. Isle Pioneer Pro (Construction Pick)

• Dimensions: 10’6” X 34” X 6” 
• Materials: Infinity Fiber technology with welded seams and fusion layering known as Air Tech Plus
• Weight: 23 Lbs
• Maximum Capacity: 300 Lbs

Total Score: 8.7 / 10 (Total of Accumulated Scores below)

• On-Water Performance – 8.6
  • Stability 10
  • Tracking 7.5
  • Speed 7.5
  • Maneuverability 9.5
• SUP Construction – 9.8
• Board Features  – 8.6
  • Deck Pad 8.5
  • D Rings 9.5
  • Deck Bungees 9.5
  • Action Mounts 7
  • Handles 8.5
• Accessories – 8.5
  • Backpack 8.5
  • Paddle 9.5
  • Pump 7.5
  • Fins 8.5
  • Kayak Conversion Kit – 9
• Set-Up/ Take Down – 8

Why Is It a Good SUP Dog Pick?

The Isle Pioneer Pro is a great board for steady paddling with a wide, expansive deckpad that covers the entire surface of the board. The deck is also well designed and is one of the most versatile on our list. The board comes with the Isle Link system, which is the loop that surrounds the board, which you can use to hook the bungees at any place you like. A super handy feature when you have a pup onboard!

The Pioneer Pro is also one of the best constructed boards I’ve tested, with a unique twist to their design process, which we will detail below. 

On-Water Performance

The Pioneer Pro is not the widest board on the list, but it is one of the most stable I have ever tested! This bodes very well for most SUP pups who may be a bit enthusiastic on their first couple of adventures out. The Pioneer Pro can be used as an all-around SUP for a variety of different uses, including using it as a kayak hybrid. However, it falls short on long-distance paddling due to the board’s width and wider shape. 

Board Features and Design

The board comes with a kayak hybrid package with an inflatable seat and a nylon seat back. The thing that most impressed me with this package was its kayak hybrid paddle, which is fully adjustable, allowing you to use it in SUP or kayak formation. The adjustable kayak paddle allows you to adjust the paddle blade height.

As briefly mentioned above, the Isle Link system allows you to not only position the straps whichever formation you’d like, but you can also position the kayak seat, foot rest to fit your height and give your pup plenty of room upfront to boot! The package also comes with a dry bag, pump, snap-in fin, paddles, kayak kit, and a big, spacious bag with wheels that allows you to transport your package to your set-up point. 

You can see the Full Detailed Review on the Isle Pioneer Pro 10’6″ SUP here.

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How to Choose and Inflatable SUP for Your PUP

There are a ton of SUP options out there, and maybe you want to find your own board. Below is a set of criteria that we find helpful when choosing a paddle board for your dog. 

The Boards Shape and Design

The shape of the board largely depends on the size of your dog. If you have a small chihuahua or daschund this will not matter as much as their lightweight frame will cause little interruption to your SUPs’ on-water dynamics. 

As you get into bigger dogs the shape and design of the board become more important. Especially if you are bringing a retriever or husky along for the ride. 

All-Around board shapes are ideal as they are built to be a balance between stability and on-water speed. 

You also want to ensure that the board doesn’t handle “like a dog” in the water. When looking at a SUP make sure that the board does have an uplifted semi-pointed nose like the brands mentioned above. 

Flat rounded noses that do not have any rocker tend to plow water. That added with a heavier dog perched on the nose of the board will affect on-water performance which will drag the board’s speed down. 

“While you don’t need speed when you are learning it will be handier down the line when both of you have your paddle board legs and get more experienced. “

– Editors Note

Size

The Boards size will help add more on-water stability. This is crucial, especially in the learning stages of paddling with your pup.

Board dimensions I look for typically are at least 32” wide and 10’6” long for medium-sized dogs. Boards like the Gili Komodo and Atoll 11 are ideal for these types of dogs.

For larger breeds like Newfie’s, huskies, labs, and retrievers I would look at a board that is about 34” in width and 11’6” in length. Boards such as the Blackfin XL 6.0 are prime examples of this. 

Smaller pups you do not need to cater to as much for board size. they do not make as much of an impact on the board’s stability or glide in the water. 

Stability

The stability of your paddle board will be mostly dependent on the above two dimensions. But there is more to it than that.

The stability you get from the board will also depend on where the dog stands on the SUP. 

You will get the most stability when the dog is in between your legs when paddling. If you have a medium-sized/ bigger dog that likes to move around on the nose you will probably both be going for an unplanned swim!

The wider the board the more stable it will be. For prime stability boards like the Blackfin XL with its 35” width. It provides about as stable a platform as you can find for a board of its length. 

We will go through how to make your dog stay on the board below. 

Deck Pad and Deck Considerations

Something I look for when looking for a SUP for a Pup is the deck pad. When related to grip deck pads are not as important for inflatable SUPs as it is for the more slippery fiberglass coated hard boards. This is because their paws can still grip the PVC surface while with fiberglass it’s more slippery when wet. 

Having said that a larger deck pad is still important because:

1. It gives your dog a more grippy surface to stand and move around on
2. It protects the PVC material from scratches that may occur

I also like deck pads to have some element of diamond grooved or slit grooved deck pad shapes as this help the paws and claws grip better onto the board. This is important, especially during those more choppy/ windy days that you may encounter. 

The Gili Komodo and Sea Gods Infinite Mantra are optimal deck pads that feature grooved or diamond deck pads to provide optimum grip for paws (and claws).

Materials the SUP is made of

One thing that is very overlooked with a paddle board but very important is the materials of the SUP. To a beginner’s eye, many paddle boards look the same and should therefore perform the same.

This cannot be further from the truth. When looking for an inflatable paddle board I recommend:

1. Looking for a paddle board that has the term “fusion” in it. These are made by machine pressing two layers of PVC together. This process requires less glue which means leaks are less likely. Double and triple-layer PVC works with dogs as well but just be aware that they require more glue. 
2. “Military Grade” usually means single layer PVC. While you can use these for dogs, they won’t last as long and won’t be made with as much quality as fusion/ double/ triple layered PVC. Dog nails are also more of a hazard for this type of material.

Another good way to tell if the company has confidence in its paddle boards is by looking at the warranty information. Warranties I look for will be around 2 years against defective materials. Some paddle board companies like iRocker or even Sea Gods have warranties of 3 and 5 years respectively for their boards. 

Also take a look at customer reviews on other sites such as Amazon, the brand’s Facebook page, or Trust Pilot. All the reviews from these have to be posted. As opposed to on the brands Ecommerce website where bad reviews can be left out. 

Accessories to Bring for Your Dog

When paddle boarding with your pooch there are some important accessories you must bring with them for safety reasons and your dogs well being.  We ordered these based on the level of importance.

We go in more details in the best paddle board dog accessories here. 

Water

Bring enough water for you and your pup to drink. The sun can deplete both you and your pup’s energy levels, which in some worse-case scenarios can lead to dehydration. I’ve been there in my go-kart racing days and let me tell you it’s not fun!

Signs that your dog might be dehydrated include:

• Being sleepy or unresponsive to playful behavior
• Vomiting
• Dry gums and tongue
• Thick saliva

You can tell your dog needs water when they start panting more heavily. According to Emancipet Pet Clinic,  dogs need about 1 ounce of water per every pound that they weigh. Puppies typically drink more than adult dogs. 

This also depends on their energy levels. I found a cool little water calculator tool that shows you how much your pet should drink per day here. 

Dog PFD

“But my dog knows how to swim! In Fact, he is the 7th generation of great swimmers that…”

I hear this quite a bit (ok maybe not this exact sentence) and if your dog knows how to swim that’s a big bonus for paddle boarding for sure. BUT you should provide him or her a doggy life vest to keep them buoyant. 

Not only will this be of use if they tire out but it’s also easier to grab your pup from the water when you reach and grab the PFD handle. 

This will help your pup get back onto the board more easily. After all chances are high that for the first few SUP training sessions they will get distracted or scared and jump off with little warning!

Dog life jackets are also important because they are a preventative device for just-in-case scenarios, like if your dog has a seizure in the water (this was a frequent problem with my old border collie). 

Dry Bag with Gear

Of course, you need something to carry some of this gear with you so get a good quality dry bag that can be stowed in the deck bungees.

Things you can bring include:

• Water bowl
• Sunscreen (for those exposed parts on their noses and bellies)
• Treats
• Toys
• A leash (only put it on when training on-shore or taking them for a walk) 

For longer trips, you will be bringing more things like food, etc but this will only be when both of you are 100% comfortable on the board together. 

Dog Treats

Treats will be the secret ingredient in making your pup learn how to SUP with you. You will be using treats as a reward mechanism to reward them for listening to your commands. 

I’m sure if you have a dog you are well aware of the power of treats. So read below in our Dog tips section as to how to use them as a tool. 

Doggy Sunscreen

What? Dogs need sunscreen? You betcha! But not in the same areas as we use it.

Sunscreen is best used to prevent dogs’ noses, bellies, and anywhere else where they don’t have a lot of fur from getting burnt. Epi-pet sun protector is a good sunscreen for this as it’s safe, easy to apply, and is the only pet sunscreen that’s actually FDA approved!

Doggy SUP Training Tips

I have a complete guide on how to properly train your pup using multiple training tips from experienced trainers in my Can Dogs Go on Inflatable Paddle Boards? Article. To summarize

1. Ensure that your Dog is not too scared of the water. This in itself will present more challenges and take more time to get them accustomed to it. 
2. Bring the proper accessories with you (see above)
3. Start off by introducing your future SUP Pup to your paddleboard by inflating it and keeping it in your house. Get them accustomed to it and encourage them to jump on it by rewarding them with a treat.
4. Now bring the SUP outside in the backyard and repeat the same steps as above. Teach your dog the 4 basic commands “Sit, stay, lie down and off”. Practice these essential commands while they are on the board. You can use a leash to guide them the first few times.
5. Now it’s time to head to the water! Find a peaceful spot away from lots of activities and distractions. Usually training them on weekdays is best. Place the board partially in the water with the tail in the water and nose parked onshore. It’s time for you to sit on the board and Invite your pup to sit on the board and go through the “Sit, stay, lie down and off” commands. 
6. Now it’s time for the maiden voyage! And by maiden voyage, I mean having the board right by the shore and slowly pushing off. The first few times your dog may panic and try to jump off. As long as you are close to shore you can use a leash to help train them as to what to do. Make sure you run them through the basic commands and reward them with treats when they do so. Keep a close eye on their body language while launching off.
7. For maximum control hang both your legs in the water while you are nearby the shore. This will give you both better control of your dog and the SUP
8. Do not go any further until they are calm on the board and obeying your commands.
9. As your dog starts getting the hang of this try doing this without the leash and venture just a little bit further each time. A lot of the time this will not be a smooth progression so keep your patience and persistence.

Doggy FAQ’s

Below are some common questions I hear from dog owners about paddle boarding with their pooches.

What is Better for a Dog a hard SUP or an ISUP?

Inflatable Paddle Boards are actually preferred for dogs because they are softer and provide more grip for your dogs feet.

Falling on a hard paddle board hurts a lot more than on an inflatable paddle board! Inflatable paddle boards have also come a long way and are closing up to hard boards in terms of on-water performance as more sophisticated technology gets implemented into them. 

Can Dogs Claws Puncture an ISUP?

If your inflatable paddle board is made of more than one layer of PVC this should not be a problem. A lot of times you will hear the advice of “cutting your dogs nails before going on an ISUP”. This is actually more hazardous as freshly cut dog nails have sharp edges to them that can cause more harm to the board than if they were long.

Cut your dog’s nails 5 days to a week before getting on a SUP to allow the freshly cut edges to be dulled for day-to-day life. 

Is a Kayak or Paddle Board Better for a Dog?

A lot of this is down to preference. There is no doubt that a kayak will feel safer for a dog because it has sidewalls that make them feel more secure. You can always go with a kayak paddle board hybrid like the BOTE Deus Aero which has large Drop Stitch sidewalls and allows you to paddle the Board as a kayak or a SUP. 

Paddle Boards have their advantages too though. If your dog loves the water it’s much easier to jump in when they get hot or chase a toy you throw in the water. Just don’t forget a doggy PFD!

What Are the Best Paddle Boards for Dogs?

The best paddle board for dogs in our opinion is the Blackfin XL 6.0. It features a deck pad that goes almost the full length of the board to help with grip and provides a stable enough base for many breeds of dogs with a 34” width. 

For bigger dogs we recommend the Sea Gods Infinite Mantra which features an 11 length and 34” width that makes it a stable platform to stand on. It also features an extra air chamber for extra rigidity as well as safety in the very off chance the main one has a leak. 

When looking for an inflatable SUP for your dog, some things to keep in mind include:

• The Shape and Size of the Board (All Around Boards work great)
• Board Size (10’6” and 32” width for medium dogs, 34” and 11’6” for large dogs)
• Stability (Mind the shape and size of the board as well as where your dog is places
• Deck Pad and Deck Considerations (Look for a deck pad that takes most of the boards length while having the ability to take things like bungee deck rigging off)
• Materials (Look for Fusion layered or double/ triple PVC layered SUPs when shopping for a SUP for your dog. Avoid Single layer PVC brands as they are cheaply made and won’t last as long.)

What Paddle Board do you use with your SUP pup? Tell us on our Facebook page!