GO SPLASH AROUND
From paddleboarding to chasing ripples, every dip with your dog becomes another moment of connection. It’s a chance to move, explore, and enjoy the water side by side.
Here’s what Ruffwear employees Jennie & Beau love most about splashing about together.
The GO: "If there's water involved, we're in. Paddleboarding the Deschutes River, ocean surf swimming, chasing ripples, or "accidentally" falling in - anything that gets us wet is our version of therapy. What makes it extra special is that Beau used to fear bodies of water. Like, wouldn't-even-touch-it scared. Now? If it's above 32°F, he's swimming. Watching him go from fearful to fearless turns every splash into something that feels like a small miracle.”
The GIFT: "My favorite part is watching Beau swim beside my paddleboard like a little otter on a mission - fully focused, wildly happy, and absolutely in his element. He'll climb back on the board just to give me a soggy hug... and then launch himself right back in like, "Nice chat, got to get back to work patrolling the river." Seeing him move from cautious to confident, from shaky paws to powerful strokes, never gets old. He's an athlete and a big sweet goofball, and witnessing that kind of joy and bravery every day feels like the greatest gift I never knew I needed.
The Gear
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How to Paddleboard with Your Dog
How do you and your dog start paddleboarding without any experience? With help from SUP instructor and dog trainer Maria Schulz, they learn the basics and tackle their first day on water.
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Two Weeks, Two Dogs and Five Great Lakes
It had been on my bucket list for a few years – to paddleboard on all five Great Lakes. I wanted to set my paddleboard – pups and all – in each of the five massive freshwater bodies.
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Teaching Tala To Love The Water
Our dog wasn’t exposed to a lot of moving water in her first year and a half of life. One of our favorite ways to beat the afternoon heat is to get on the water, and we knew we had to get Tala comfortable riding with us on the water.