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The Florida Keys are a dream destination for dog-friendly paddleboarding. With calm, warm, and crystal-clear water—usually only two to six feet deep—our islands offer the perfect environment for beagles to find their “sea legs.” Because there is minimal boat traffic in the shallows, it’s the ideal place to try Stand Up Paddleboarding (SUP) with your beagle for the first time.
The most important thing to consider is your safety and your beagle’s safety. Here are five tips to make both of your experiences fun—so fun that you can’t wait to do it again!
Unless your beagle is an expert swimmer with perfect recall (we’ve never met a beagle like this, ha ha!), your beagle should always wear a dog life jacket with a handle so you can quickly grab your beagle if he or she should fall off the board by accident. We also suggest a life jacket with a leash attachment. This way the life jacket can be used as a harness during your excursion should you choose to paddle to a deserted island and explore a beautiful white sandy beach.
You may decide to remove your beagle’s leash once you’re out on the water. Be sure to clip the leash to something secure such as the bungee-rigging or D-rings on the paddleboard. This way if you do tip over by accident, you won’t lose your leash.
As you near shore, get prepared—you don’t want your beagle jumping off the board and running away. Hook your beagle’s leash on before you get off the board. Then you have the leash in hand when your beagle steps or jumps off.
Most beagles are not water dogs. But that’s the beauty of paddleboarding. A paddleboard is like a bit of floating land. Many beagles will instinctively jump right on the board. Having someone hold the board securely as your beagle jumps on really helps. That way the board doesn’t jerk forward suddenly. Then, slowly move the board out into deeper water. Be sure to give lots of positive praise to your beagle the whole time, and don’t get discouraged if he or she decides to jump off. It’s just another opportunity to practice!
But what if your beagle doesn’t want to get on? What if your beagle seems really frightened? Of course, the number one priority is not to traumatize your beagle, or force him or her into something scary too soon. However, you would be surprised how quickly your beagle will learn to trust and even enjoy being out on the water if you take the time it takes to build that confidence.
Maybe the first day of paddleboarding is just getting on and off the board with treat rewards. Maybe you do this for an entire week. Maybe the next day is moving out only 10 feet from shore and hanging out. Either way, your beagle will pick up on your emotions and attitude. If you become impatient, this may hinder your progress. If you are nervous, your beagle will be, too. Stay within both of your comfort zones, but don’t be afraid to push the boundaries a bit each time. The fun of paddleboarding with a beagle far outweighs any initial learning curves.
Bonus Pro Tip: Don’t linger close to shore for too long. Once you feel confident, get going somewhere. If your beagle is fixated on getting back on land, the forward motion and new views and smells will naturally build curiosity and courage.
We get it…everyone’s balance is different. Add some water and waves into the mix and balance takes on a whole new meaning. The good news is that dogs generally have superb balance. In fact, you will often see paddleboarding dogs perched on the very front tip of the board—eager to see and smell everything first from the best viewpoint.
At first you may feel most comfortable sitting on the board and getting a feel for it. While this is not the best position to get going somewhere with your paddle, it could help your beagle feel more comfortable as the board will be the least tippy in this position.
The next step would be to practice getting on your knees. This is the most stable, active paddling position. With practice here, your balance will improve and your beagle will relax and find a spot to lie down and watch the world go by and sniff the sea smells. Your beagle might like to walk around on the board which can make it more unstable and test your balance, so for many, kneeling gives all on the board the most confidence.
The true SUP experience, however, means standing up. Practice standing up on the board and paddling without your beagle until you get the hang of it. Then, when you're ready, bring your beagle buddy along for the ride. Remember, the paddleboard is just a floating sunpad for your beagle. While you're busy getting a workout, your beagle can scout for Florida Keys wildlife like dolphins and manatees while lounging in the sun.
While you will want to venture out further as you get more comfortable, there’s no need to take off into the wild blue yonder if you’re not ready. Safety first!
As your beagle becomes more confident in moving around on the paddleboard, there may come a moment that he or she falls off. If you’re reading this and thinking this is your worst nightmare, we’re here to reassure you—beagles are smarter than you think and very good swimmers. Most importantly, that lifejacket they are wearing will keep them afloat and safe!
Most Common Scenerio: Your beagle slips off the board. Since your paddleboard is essentially “land” in your beagle’s mind, he or she will most likely turn and want to get right back on the board where you are. And since your beagle’s life jacket has a nifty handle on top, you can easily haul your beagle back on board.
Less Common Scenerio: Your beagle slips off the board and swims toward shore. Quickly paddle after your beagle to pick them up from the water, or meet them on shore. If there are two people on board, one person can jump in the water after the beagle to swim and pick them up (as long as the person is a good and confident swimmer of course).
Always check the weather if you plan on a longer paddleboard trip. A stiff wind can make paddleboarding really difficult, even for the fittest people. If the wind picks up, get down on your knees to paddle. As a safety precaution, bring a cellphone with you enclosed in a waterproof case. That way if the weather does turn, or the wind picks up and you can’t get back, you can head to shore and call for someone to pick you up.
As for your beagle, there will be a moment when—after all the adventures you went on together—just the sight of the paddleboard will cause instant tail wags and excitement. Paddle on!
