Hobie® the dog is golden. Just 13 months old, he’s the dog-age version of a spirited teenager. A few days ago he was in the Southern California Golden Retriever Rescue shelter. He’d never seen the ocean or even a quiet pond. Now he’s hanging ten on the front of a Hobie Dura Glide stand up paddleboard.
“Good boy, good boy,” says Chris de Aboitiz as he pets Hobie with approval. Chris runs SUP Dog Oz out of Australia. A few days ago he jetted into Los Angeles International, then, having never met him, picked up the then-nameless Hobie to foster him for a month.
Chris, a former tandem surfing champion, is a special sort of dog trainer. Known as the “Australian dog whisperer,” he uses stand up paddleboards and other action sports activities to provide exercise, structure and leadership to the pack under his care. Chris is famous for surfing with up to five dogs at a time.
RELATED: Dog Gone – SUP Surfing with Man’s Best Friend
I brought my camera along for day two of Hobie’s water training, a progression that will lead to stand up paddleboard surfing. With just one SUP session under his belt, Hobie was already accustomed to the paddleboard. When Chris led him to the edge of the water, Hobie readily stepped on aboard.
“See that? Tail up. He’s happy,” points out Chris. But Chris advises that Hobie’s tail isn’t a perfect indicator. When they’re maneuvering, Hobie may drop his tail and crouch for better balance. Just like a human (‘cept the tail part).
“He’s really good on the board,” Chris says as they spin in place, practice for surfing in a few days.
Chris explains what I missed. On that first day, they started in the grass. Chris walked Hobie over the board again and again. After Hobie sat comfortably on it, they moved to the edge of the water and did it all again. Finally, they moved onto the water for a paddle. It was that easy.
“I reward him when he’s being curious looking around with his nose and his eyes. If he starts to move or have a ‘windge’ or a bad behavior, then I ask him to sit and stay and correct it that way,” Chris explains. He’s clearly communicating what is right and wrong on the board.
It works. Chris is certain. If Hobie can learn to ride a stand up paddleboard in just one day, your dog can too.
