How To Teach Your Dog To Surf

Step 1: Doggie Paddle

If you can't surf yourself, find someone who can because you'll never be able to teach your dog to surf if you don't know how. Get your dog used to the water first before having it hop on the board. This sport involves a lot of exertion in the water, and the waves can be rough, so be sure that you and your dog are both strong swimmers before attempting to surf. Surfboards have been known to cause a bruise or two when they're bobbing around in the waves, so be careful.

Step 2: Safety Paddle

The dog pfd will allow your dog greater floatation when it wipes out in the surf. Many dog life vests have a handle on top so you can pull your pal back on the board or out of the water.

Step 3: Get Stoked

Let the dog watch you on a boogie board or surf board to get it fired up to join you. Get the dog used to the board on the sand before going into the water.

Step 4: All Fours

The dog should be about two-thirds of the way back, with its tail over the board's fin. If the dog is too far forward, the board will nosedive under the wave. If the dog is too far back, the nose will come out of the water and the board won't catch the wave.

Step 5: Paddle Out

On a longboard, get on the board with the dog and paddle into the waves. You should be behind the dog for best results when paddling through the breakers. On a shortboard or boogie board, put the dog on the board and push him out through the breakers.

Step 6: Catch The Wave

You should definitely start with small waves, roughly 1-2 feet. Even champion surfing dogs don't tackle surf much bigger than 3-4 feet.

Step 7: Push Off And Shred

Catching the wave is a knack that requires both timing and finesse. It takes patience and lots of repetition.

Step 8: Endless Summer

Once your dog gets the hang of riding the wave, it will want to go right back out.