by Dina Pinos

“All dogs can become SUPDOGs – Stand up Paddle Dogs,” assured dashing Tyler Landon, a certified stand-up paddleboard instructor as he greeted his wolfpack team of dog owners and their doggies to celebrate the one year anniversary of his brainchild SUP DOG Hawaii. The gathering had all the makings of a birthday party with homemade, nutritious doggie biscuits, breakfast pupus, a macha banana-power shake, music, and a birthday cake, all pitched under a tent at the dog-friendly community Kaimana Beach in Waikiki. What made this party different was the colorful paddle boards lined up along with the doggie vests of all sizes for the variety of dogs surprisingly familiar with this fun-loving sport hobby.

A 28-year-old entrepreneur who has been living in Honolulu for 2 years came up with his business idea when he did not want to leave his dog behind while enjoying ocean activities such as surfing and stand-up paddleboarding. “The continuous journey of raising my dog, Phoenix, and my pure love for her and the ocean, is what truly inspired me to build this community business. Spending quality time with my dog in the water is the best feeling in the world. I wanted to help others enjoy that same experience while building their dog’s growth, development, and confidence in the water.”

Dogs of all sizes – 10-100 pounds, and types – mixed breeds, pitbull, huskies, Shih Tzu, Pomeranian, Wienerschnitzel, poodles were chasing each other as their

owners chatted. In the past year, pet owners and their furry friends have been bonding together, making new friends, and enjoying Hawaii’s popular ocean paddleboard activity with the twist of being accompanied on the paddleboard by their doggies in great splashing fun.Tyler’s customized workshops, including the paddleboard and vests, are open to all levels of paddleboarders – novices to pros. He even teaches yoga meditation classes that can help calm any dog who might be fearful of being in the water. Gina, an avid paddle boarder, is so pleased to have her rescue dog Dottie join in the comradery with other dogs allowing her to try something different. “Tyler is so passionate and patient with all our dogs, making them feel confident to enter the water and be on the board with us. “

Natalie, one of Tyler’s first clients’ shares, “Trixie, loves being part of the wolfpack team, seeing her friends and often jumping off my board and either getting back on mine or on anther board to catch a ride. Weighing only 9 pounds, I sometimes don’t even notice she’s no longer on, but Tyler’s watchful eye catches it all, shouting, “Dog overboard.”

For a majority of dog owners, the challenging aspect is simply getting their dog comfortable in the water. SUPDOG steps start with land preparation, by developing board familiarity, mounting a life jacket, and shoreline practice to also understand the use of the paddle. Once reaching the water, the owner is present to aid in entry-level swimming exercises. Some dogs might need extra encouragement with treats and a gentle nudge to hop on the board.

Having learned with Phoenix, the ocean can be harsh to a dog’s ears and to their digestive tract. Tyler prepares his popular beach treats for extra encouragement and to promote good digestive health. For some dogs, salt water and sand can cause diarrhea and vomiting. His home-prepared treats of shredded carrots, pumpkin, sunflower seeds, and chicken broth glazed with a blended blueberry superfood is a great equilibrium for the dog’s digestive system.

At the end of the beach play day, he also instructs on proper showering techniques to rinse the salt and sand. Small dogs can be lifted and turned upside down and cradled in the arms, much like a parent would a baby. The whole experience is all about showing love and compassion, and sharing with dog owners how to maintain and encourage a great, healthy life for their furry family.