Dog walking is one of the best activities if you have a dog. Although many dogs love the water, standing and riding on the board is a completely new experience for them, which requires a lot of time, patience and perseverance, but once the puppy has mastered the standing and riding on the board, the real adventures just begin. Read below how to get started and what to watch out for.
1. Accustoming the dog to water
To begin with, it is important that the puppy is not afraid of water and that he likes to spend time in it. If they have not mastered this yet, you must first gradually introduce the dog to the water and make sure that he learns to swim . The fastest and least stressful is through the game . Go to the beach or the shore and play - a little on land, a little in the water, and don't forget the treats. It is much easier to accustom a dog to water from an early age, but you can also create a water enthusiast with persistence and patience in larger puppies. It is important that the puppy perceives water as something positive , so avoid stressful situations in the water, e.g. that you just put it on the sup or put it in deep water.
2. Dry introduction of the puppy to sup
When the puppy feels at home in the water, it is gradually introduced to the sup. First is the "dry" introduction, where you inflate the vulture on land and leave it for a while so that the dog can smell it, explore it and see that it does not need to be afraid of it . Encourage him to stand on it by placing treats on it. At this point, he also gets used to the dog's life jacket . Make sure that the puppy obeys basic commands , such as sit and lie down. As with all other things, you will progress the fastest with the help of rewards or treats.
3. Wet deployment
Only then does the "wet introduction" follow, where you place the vulture in shallow water and encourage the dog to jump on it himself . Here, the biggest challenge for the puppies is the wet surface, which is something completely new for them, not to mention the feeling of being on water. Before you put your dog on the vulture, it is also a good idea to cut his nails that are too long, so that he will not injure him. In shallow water , practice commands such as "up", "down", "sit", "lay" and "calm". Only when the puppy feels at home on the soup in the swimming water is it time for the first ride.
4. Sleeping with a dog
Walking with a dog, especially if it is a bit restless, can be quite a balance challenge. Therefore, it is best to start by sitting on the soup or rowing on your knees . When lunging with a dog, the dog should be as far in the middle as possible at the beginning, because the lunge is widest and most stable there. Eventually, when he gets used to the board, he will already find his place in the middle or nose. When the puppy is calm and diligent on the soup, you can try the soup . Expect the puppy to jump out of the soup at any moment, move the board, throw you off balance into the water, so always use a safety line.
Mandatory equipment: dog life jacket and water
A dog's life jacket is not only mandatory equipment for rafting because of the dog's buoyancy, but it also makes your job much easier when lifting the dog from the water to the raft. Namely, each life jacket has a handle at the top, with the help of which it is much easier to lift the dog back onto the sup. Of course, it is recommended that you also try this a few times in shallow water first. Another mandatory equipment is fresh water . Especially at sea, a puppy can consume a lot of salt water, so always have a bowl and a bottle of fresh and cold water with you.
The biggest mistakes when walking with a dog
- There is no way to go swimming with a dog by just putting the dog on the beach and taking it away from the shore. If you just "throw him into the water", it will be a very unpleasant and stressful experience for him, and you can only dream that you will ever see him near a vulture again.
- Do not force the dog to pant . Getting used to something like snoring is a long-term process that requires a lot of patience and persistence.
- Do not run with a dog if you are not sure of your running ability . Only when you stand stable, row and know how to turn, take the dog on the sup. Dogs feel insecurity and stress, if you don't feel comfortable, the dog won't either.
- Too long sup tours with the dog. Walks with the dog should be short and early in the morning or late in the afternoon , when the sun is no longer so strong. Keep in mind that puppies have a harder time tolerating heat, and in addition to burns on exposed parts, heat stroke can also occur.
