Updated February 18th, 2023
Stand up paddle boarding is a lot of fun and a great way to spend time on the water. If you’re a dog owner it is a perfect water sport to share with your furry friend. To have a good time with your SUP pup you should look for a board that will be fun for you and your dog. You need a board that is stable and large enough to hold you and your dog. The BOTE Aero Full Trax 11’6″ is the best inflatable paddle board for dogs available today. It has a full length deck pad so your dog can have good traction and won’t scratch your board. It has plenty of size and flotation to work with large dogs and paddlers.
Our Pick
BOTE Aero HD Full Trax 11’6″
Best Paddle Board for Dogs
The full length padded deck makes the BOTE Aero HD Full Trax 11’6″ perfect for paddling with a dog. They get better grip and their claws won’t scratch the board. The 11’6″ size gives it lots of stability and weight capacity so you won’t send your dog for a swim.
The 7 best paddle boards for dogs Of 2023
- TOP PICK: BOTE HD Aero Full Trax 11′6″
- TOP PICK: iRocker All Around 11
- BEST VALUE: Bluefin Cruise
- Nixy Monterey G4
- GILI KOMODO 10’6″
- THURSO SURF Max
- ISLE Explorer 2.0
1 – BOTE HD Aero Full Trax 11′6″
☆ Top Pick ☆
What we liked:
- Deck pad that covers the entire deck
- Very big stable board that is easy to paddle and can carry a lot of weight
- Plenty of deck space for a dog
- Tough heavy duty construction
- Many available accessories to customize the board for any purpose
- Stylish woodgrain deck appearance
What we didn’t like:
- High cost
- The big board can take some effort to paddle into waves and chop
- No wheels on the travel bag
Summary
The BOTE HD Aero Full Trax is a big versatile board with a full length deck pad. It can carry large amounts of weight and has one of the widest selections of available accessories. You can customize the board to make it perfect for almost any activity from fishing to river expeditions. The HD Aero is a larger wider board at 11′ x 34″ giving it good glide and stability on flat water and chop. The longer deck pad means your dog will have good traction everywhere. You won’t risk the dog scratching the hull material. BOTE boards use 2 layer PVC construction and come with composite paddles. If you want to do so something special with your board, check out the full range of optional accessories.
Accessories
Accessorizing is one of the things that makes the BOTE brand special. The HD Aero includes some nice extras such as a paddle holder you can mount on the front of the board. They include the best double action single chamber hand pump we’ve seen. The paddle has a composite shaft and feels stiff and light on the water. The only downside is the travel bag. It doesn’t have wheels which is a miss for a board that weighs 30 lbs. The rubberized material that BOTE uses sticks to the board and can make loading the bag more challenging than it needs to be.
On the water
The HD Aero feels like a larger all around board on the water. It tracks well due to its length and 3 fin setup. It’s very stable so your dog can move around without sending you both into the water. It’s a wider board at 34 inches so you will have to do some work to push it into wind and chop. On flat wider it will glide beautifully.
Specifications
- Size – 11′6″ x 34″ x 6″
- Weight Capacity – 300 lbs
- Board Weight – 30 lbs
- Construction – 2 Layer
- D-Rings – 16
- Paddle – 3 piece composite
- Pump – double action hand pump
2 – iRocker All Around 11
☆ Top Pick ☆
Overall Score
What we liked:
- Deck pad covers all but the front bungee area of the board
- Very stable board
- Good glide and speed
- Stiff and durable 3 layer construction
- Lots of D-rings, action mounts and bungees for storage
- Carbon paddle
What we didn’t like:
- Board can be difficult to get back into it’s bag
- The tripe action pump can’t deflate
- Durability of the bag material
Summary
The iRocker All Around 11 is one of our favorite all purpose boards. There really isn’t much to dislike about it. It has stiff and durable 3 layer construction. It is wide enough to be stable for beginner paddlers. You won’t risk dumping your dog in the water. It comes with a nice carbon paddle. It’s one of the boards we use the most when going on group paddles because everyone always wants to use it.
Accessories
The All Around 11 comes with a 3 piece carbon paddle, roller bag and triple action pump. The paddle is one of the nicer ones we have seen included in a package. The sliding pin mechanism is good for adjusting length and keeps the handle aligned.
The bag has rollers. The materials are a little on the thin side compared to what we have seen on other boards. Ours has a few wear spots after a year of regular use.
The triple action pump works well for inflating boards. The only downside is that it can’t be used to deflate. This makes it more difficult to get the AA11 back into it’s bag.
On the water
The All Around 11 is one of the more fun boards we have tried. It’s 32inch width makes it stable. It’s 11′ length gives it good glide and tracking. It is a nice stable board with no real bad habits. It is easy enough to use that your dog can walk around without instantly tossing you into the water. It is the most requested board by beginners in our paddling meetup.
Review
See our review of the iRocker All Around 11 to learn more.
Specifications
- Size – 11′ x 32″ x 6″
- Weight Capacity – 435 lbs
- Board Weight – 26 lbs
- Construction – 3 Layer
- D-Rings – 22
- Paddle – 3 piece carbon
- Pump – triple action hand pump
Get a FREE ELECTRIC PUMP with every Original SUP from iRocker
3 – Bluefin Cruise SUP
☆ Best Value ☆
What we liked:
- Very complete package including a kayak seat and 2 blade paddle
- Croco-diamond EVA deck pad with kick pad at the rear
- Very stiff and durable board
What we didn’t like:
- The board is a bit heavy carrying around compared to similar sized boards
- Backpack doesn’t have wheels
Summary
The Bluefin Cruise 10’8″ Paddleboard is a very stiff sturdy board that comes in a very complete package. It includes everything you need to paddleboard and also a kayak seat and paddle that can be set up with 1 or 2 blades. It’s design is very stiff and stable making it perfect for paddle boarding with your doggy.
This board is one of the stiffest inflatable boards available adding to it’s stability. Bluefin claims they use the highest thread density in their drop stitch available from any board maker. They use a very thick 2 layer laminate construction. The board feels noticeably thicker and heavier when you roll it out to inflate it. The extra thick material will make it stand up to scratches from your dog’s claws. This board weighs in at 29 lbs making it one of the heavier inflatable SUP boards.
Like most inflatable boards, it has a short deck pad that doesn’t extend to the front. Consider adding more EVA traction pad to the front for your dog to sit on.
Overall this is a great package for a paddle boarder and dog owner. The kayak seat makes it good for people who want to sit with their dog. The only downside is the very high price for an inflatable paddle board.
Accessories
The board has 9 D-ring attachments and a GoPro mount built into it. It has a carry straps at the middle, front and back. Because the board is on the heavy side, the extra handles really make it easy for someone to help you carry it. It includes a kayak seat that can attach to the center set of d-rings. The paddle has a 2-3 piece fiberglass shaft and can be assembled as a single blade or 2 blade paddle.
This board has one of the better backpacks available at this price range. It doesn’t have wheels but it has heavy-duty construction with thick comfortable straps. The included paddle has a 3 piece fiberglass shaft. For the price, we would have really liked to see a carbon shaft paddle instead.
On the water performance
The board is 10′ 8″ by 32 inch wide. This gives enough width to be stable and a little better tracking than a 10′ board. It is still easy to maneuver and suitable for taking your dog along as a passenger.
Specifications
- Size – 10′ 8″ x 32″ x 6″
- Weight Capacity – 287 lbs
- Board Weight – 29 lbs
- Construction – 2 Layer
- D-Rings – 9
- Paddle – 3 piece fiberglass convertible
- Pump – Double action hand pump
4 – Nixy Monterey G4 Expedition
Overall Score
What we liked:
- Very stiff rigid lightweight construction
- 2 air chambers for added safety
- Big stable fast board that handles well on the water
- Lots of load carrying capacity
- Overall high quality feel to board and accessories
- One of the best roller bags we have seen
- Designed by paddleboarders who want to create a board that they would want to use
What we didn’t like:
- Not as fast as a narrower touring board
- It takes some effort to paddle it into wind and chop due to its size
Summary
The Nixy Monterey G4 Expedition is a great paddleboard for spending time with your dog. It is a big stable board with plenty of deck space. The deck pads extend almost to the front and rear of the board. The bungee cords are easily removable making the board very dog friendly.
The board is made from woven PVC construction with carbon rail reinforcements. This makes it very stiff. The board is 11’6″ x 32″ wide making on the bigger side. It is very stable. It still moves okay thanks to the narrow nose and tail sections. The board has 3 fins. Performance can be tuned by leaving off the 2 side fins or substituting a larger center fin.
The board has a ton of action mounts around the board for mounting accessories. This is one of the most versatile boards out there that is good for anything from paddling with dogs, SUP camping or SUP fishing.
Accessories
The Nixy G4 boards come as a complete package with high end accessories. They include a carbon fiber paddle that is light and stiff. The roller backpack has 3 wheels and a ton of MOLLE style loops for attaching things. It is a backpack that is meant for adventure and not just holding a paddleboard.
A double barrel triple action hand pump is included. It is one of the faster and nicer pumps I’ve seen. It can deflate boards. It has removable handles and folding feet to make it more compact.
On the water performance
The Monterey is a very nice handling board on the water. It has been a favorite among beginners who we have let use it. It’s a verys table board thanks to it’s size and width. It moves decently thanks to it’s shape. The 3 fins provide very good tracking. You can take your dog out with confidence on this board that you won’t send them for an unwanted swim.
Review
See our review of the NIXY Monterey G4 to learn more.
Specifications
- Size – 11’6″ x 32″ x 6″
- Weight Capacity – 400 lbs
- Board Weight – 25 lbs
- Construction – 2 Layer Woven PVC with Carbon Rails
- D-Rings – 28
- Paddle – Triple action double chamber hand pump
- Pump – 3 piece carbon
5 – GILI KOMODO 10’6″
What we liked:
- Gili donates a portion of every board sold to ocean charities
- Wide stable board
- Good for beginner paddlers
- Full length deck pad
- Removable bungees so you can have a clean deck for your dog
- Higher performance touring fin instead of standard dolphin fin
- Lots of D-Rings and mounts
- Fiberglass paddle included but carbon option available
- Stiff 3 layer construction
What we didn’t like:
- Action mounts not part of front bungee D-Rings
- Not as fast and nimble as other boards
- Bag doesn’t have wheels
Summary
The GILI KOMODO is an all purpose board designed for taking out pets, doing yoga or paddling with passengers. GILI donates a portion of every board sold to charities that help clean up the ocean and protect marine animals. You can feel good about supporting GILI.
The Komodo deck pad covers the entire board and it has removable bungees so your dog can sit anywhere on the board. The KOMODO uses stiff 3 layer construction and has a high 340 lb weight capacity. This makes it good for large dogs and larger paddlers.
The board has a standard 3 fin setup. All 3 fins are removable. The center fin is more of a touring design than the standard dolphin fin most boards come with.
Accessories
The paddle has a fiberglass shaft. They have a carbon paddle option for an extra $50. The fiberglass paddle feels good and is a step up from any aluminum paddle.
A basic double action hand pump is included. It gets the job done. If you don’t like pumping you can upgrade to an electric pump. GILI frequently has a free electric pump on your first order if you sign up for their newsletter.
The bag is nicely padded and has some storage pockets and molle loops. It does not have wheels which is a miss at this price point.
On the water performance
The KOMODO is a nice stable board that has good manners on the water. It’s not the fastest board out there. The 33 inch width gives it good stability for beginner paddlers. It’s stable enough that your dog can move around a bit without tipping the board.
Tracking is good with the 3 fin design. The board performs well without the side fins on flat water thanks to the higher performance center fin. Beginners will appreciate the extra stability and stronger tracking with the side fins.
Specifications
- Size – 10’6″ x 33″ x 6″
- Weight Capacity – 340 lbs
- Board Weight – 21 lbs
- Construction – 3 Layer
- D-Rings – 18
- Paddle – 3 piece fiberglass (carbon option available)
- Pump – Double action hand pump
A portion of every GILI Paddleboard goes to charities that support ocean reefs and endangered sea animals
6 – THURSO SURF Max
What we liked:
- Very large stable board that can still get up and go
- Stiff, light and durable woven construction
- High quality feel to board and accessories
- Extra handles in front and behind standing position
- US Fin box for center fin making it easy to swap fins
- Fishing ruler printed on the deck pad
What we didn’t like:
- Not as fast as narrower boards
- It takes some effort to get the board and pump back into the bag
Summary
The THURSO SURF Max is the SUV of paddleboards. It’s big and can hold a lot of weight. It has a lot of features like handles, action mounts, and paddle holders. It has a deck pad that extends the full length of the board that is perfect for your dog to sit on. It has a ruler printed on the deck pad for fishing. It’s got a GoPro mount built into the nose to capture all your adventures with your dog. It’s built with 2 layer woven construction with carbon fiber reinforcements in the rails. This board is designed to handle any adventure and any size dog.
Accessories
Thurso packaged the Max with a triple action, double chamber hand pump, carbon paddle, leash, repair kit, and roller backpack. The paddle is one of the better carbon fiber SUP package paddles. It’s stiff and feels good on the water. The double barrel pump makes inflating it by hand easier. The roller backpack has enough handles and pockets to handle your accessory gear.
On the water
The Max is a long wider board. It is very stable. You can concentrate on your dog and sightseeing and not focus on staying upright. It would work well for larger beginner paddlers. It’s long enough to have good glide and tracking on flat water. It will handle waves and chop well thanks to its stability. It will take some effort to push through the chop.
Specifications
- Size – 11′ 6″ x 34″ x 6″
- Weight Capacity – 300 lbs
- Board Weight – 31 lbs
- Construction – 2 Layer Woven with Carbon Rails
- D-Rings – 17
- Paddle – 3 piece carbon
- Pump – Triple action, double chamber
7 – ISLE Explorer 2.0
What we liked:
- Longer medium width board has good speed and tracking but is still stable enough for new paddlers
- Paddle holders built into the board
- Carbon shaft paddle and nice roller backpack
- Plenty of deck pad space for for a dog
What we didn’t like:
- The 2 small side fins aren’t removable.
- No built in action mounts
Summary
The ISLE Explorer 2.0 is a longer board with good speed and stability. ISLE is one of the most popular SUP brands. They make boards with excellent quality and durability. The Explorer 2.0 is a board for people who want a larger board that can carry weight but don’t want a slow wide board. The Explorer is more of a touring shape than a wide stable all around or fishing SUP. It has enough deck space for a large dog to sit in front of you. This is a good choice for larger paddlers or paddlers with larger dogs that need more room than a 10′ or 10’6″ all around board.
Accessories
The board comes with a carbon paddle, roller bag, ankle leash, repair kit, and double action hand pump. The package includes a double action hand pump. At this price, we would like to see a triple action pump. To make up for it they do include an electric pump. Everything else is high quality and looks like it belongs on this level of SUP package.
On the water performance
The Explorer 2.0 has very good tracking and glide thanks to its length. It is still stable enough for beginner paddlers. You won’t risk dumping your dog in the water due to an unstable board. It doesn’t turn as easily as a shorter board which is the only downside. It moves through chop and small waves easily due to its smaller width.
Specifications
- Size – 11′6″ x 32″ x 6″
- Weight Capacity – 300 lbs
- Board Weight – 24 lbs
- Construction – 2 Layer
- D-Rings – 13
- Paddle – 3 piece carbon
- Pump – Double action hand pump
Paddle boarding with A dog FAQ
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Steve Reed
Staff Writer | Water Sports
Steve spent his time growing up in South Carolina doing as much as possible on the water. He is an avid stand up paddleboarder and kayaker and loves hitting the lakes and rivers near home. He is a competitive sailor and has competed in sailing at the collegiate level as well as 7 Mackinac Island races.
steve@endlessrushoutdoors.com
