As a former avid whitewater kayaker, when I first saw photos of people on stand-up paddle boards I thought, “Why in the world would anyone want to do that?” Where was the excitement? The adrenaline?
Fast forward a few months to when a girlfriend twisted my arm to give stand-up paddle boarding a try on the Tennessee River. I am a water-loving girl, after all. I quickly realized this sport was much more fun than it looked in all those photos I’d seen. All of us who tried it that day enjoyed the exercise and the view from the standing position on the board. I also happen to have a water-loving dog, and I immediately saw this as something Willow and I could enjoy together. I was hooked.
If you like the outdoors and your dog enjoys water, SUPing is a fantastic way to spend time together. The added bonus is that it’s great exercise for both of you. Standing and balancing on the board while paddling seems to work every muscle in my body, and so it must be with my dog’s body, too. But it’s not all work and no play. If you tire of paddling, just plop yourself down on the board and take a break. Or hop off and take a swim with your dog. It doesn’t get much better.
SUPing is a relatively easy sport with just a few equipment needs – and some basic skills.
Easy ones first. Your dog must: