5 Things Surfing & Dogs Have in Common

Today we talk about two things that we all love- the water and our dogs! Surfing and our daily lives with our dogs have a lot of things in common.

Below are five ways that being with dogs is like surfing:

1. The way you move matters. Surfers know that your stance and moves can make or break a graceful or powerful ride. It's the same in the dog world! Dogs are animals who communicate mainly through movement and body language.

To communicate better with our dogs, we must learn how to move our bodies and observe how our body language affects them. To show confidence and assertiveness, for example, we stand straight with arms on our hips. To seem approachable and harmless, we bend, tuck our arms in, and make our bodies small. In the same way our boards move when we move our bodies, so too do dogs. Pay close attention to how your dog moves in response to how you and other people move.

2. Show up and be persistent. To become better surfers, we know how important it is to show up in all kinds of conditions- onshore, offshore, etc.- and not just when there's no wind and it's glassy. An experienced surfer also knows that it's not about how long you've been surfing, but how often. Frequency matters, and there is no such thing as an overnight success.

In the dog world, the way to get a well-behaved dog is to show up and train in different places and situations. That way, your dog learns to perform the same good behaviors under different kinds of environments. Most important to remember: take your time! Dog training is like watching a TV series with a very, very, very slow plot. When taking your dog out to new places, be patient and take it slow. So the next time you catch yourself a bit upset about how your dog behaved in a new place, ask yourself, "Is this situation something I've thoroughly prepared my dog for?"

3. Observe proper timing. In order to catch a good wave, you must be able to position yourself properly on the wave. And in order to do that, you must be present and know a wave's timing. From afar, good surfers already know when a good wave is coming and they're able to paddle and prepare accordingly.

Timing matters in the dog world too. Any delay in communicating with your dog (e.g. in rewarding and correcting behaviors) makes things ineffective. You wouldn't want to be too early or too late, or else your dog won't be able to make sense of what you're trying to teach. In order to teach your dog desired behaviors, you must reward it within 1 to 2 seconds after it did the behavior.

4. Read waves, read dogs. Not all waves are the same, in the same way that not all dogs are the same. To have a good and safe time in the water, a surfer must be able to read which wave will most likely close out and which wave will break gracefully.

In the dog world, to have a good (and more importantly safe!) time outdoors, a dog owner must be able to read their dog and other dogs. Yes, it's important to read other dogs too! Read which dogs are safe to choose as friends and which dogs must be avoided or kept at a greater distance. This includes reading other people too! The same way you read the lineup when you're out in the water, you must also read other dog owners to see which ones know their dogs and which ones don't.

5. Stay calm. 'Oh no, a big set is coming; it's time to panic!' Wrong. A surfer who's ever been caught in the impact zone knows panicking doesn't help. Going against Mother Nature with all your limbs is helpless and can be life-threatening. In the same way that surfing is about keeping your cool, so too is raising a dog.

If you ever find yourself in a challenging situation with your dog, resist the urge to panic. Do not yell, talk in high-pitched tones, or move frantically. Any negative energy will be felt by your dog and will make things such as pulling on the leash, dog greetings, or your dog running away worse. Just as in tricky waters, it pays to keep a cool and clear head.

In and out of the water, we must show up the best way we can for our dogs. And just like surfing is a lifestyle, so too is being with and training a dog. Every day as you raise your dog, remember these things. Be calm, observant, patient, persistent, and conscious of how you move.