Stand up paddle boarding or SUP has seen a surge in popularity over recent years. People are increasingly seeing the benefits of getting active outdoors with their dogs and many are trying SUP as a different way to be outside with their pup. Believe it or not, even with the cold weather Britain experiences in winter, this season is one of the best to start stand up paddle boarding with dogs.
The key to successful stand up paddle boarding with dogs is the human having good core body strength and the dog being comfortable with the idea of being on the board. If you want to try this sport in the spring, you’ll find that winter is the perfect time to prepare both you and your dog.
Core strengthening exercises are beneficial for anyone trying out SUP. There are several exercises that all offer different benefits.
- The first of these is the plank. This is a fantastic way of strengthening the core muscles without putting strain on the lower back area. As the plank helps your shoulder, hip and quad strength too it really is a great exercise for SUP. Regularly doing the plank (and slide plank) will ensure that you have less muscle fatigue and better control when you get out onto the water.
- Crunches may be a more traditional form of abdominal exercise but this exercise still has many benefits and is really helpful for people doing stand up paddle boarding.
- Finally, pilates is the perfect activity to build strength in your core through the small controlled movements. Why not sign up to a class in your area?
Getting your dog comfortable with the idea of being on the board also requires regular training. Put your paddle board on dry land – indoors or outdoors depending on the weather – and get your dog used to sitting on it and how it moves when the dog stands or sits again. It can take a while to get your dog to feel comfortable with this movement, so doing this regularly over a period of months is very helpful.
Once your dry-land training has started. It’s important to plan for the actual in-water event.
- Booking a SUP taster session for the spring is a great way to start with experienced people to show you the SUP ropes in a more controlled setting.
- Give your dog plenty of exercise before you get in the water, so that he is less restless.
- Allow him a bit of swimming time in the water as many dogs love to have a splash.
- Spend small amounts of time initially on the board and build that time up gradually.
- Make sure your car is equipped for SUP too. Adding a Travall Liner is great for keeping the interior of your boot clean and dry following a fun SUP excursion. The addition of a Travall Guard ensures a comfortable, secure position at the rear of the vehicle and less driving distraction for you on the way to the beach or reservoir and on the way home.
So starting SUP training for you and your dog is ideally done in December. By the time the weather has improved and SUP sessions are available again in the spring, both you and your dog will be in board-ready shape with both core strength and confidence.
