What the point in doing something if you can't share it with your best friend. Dot (@Dot_The_Adventure_Dog) has been with me on plenty of adventures so far: backcountry snowboarding, hiking mountains and epic bike rides, but she doesn't share my affinity for water. To be fair she loves to get her feet wet and play around in the shallows, but rarely if ever will she chose to go swimming. The same can be said for changing surfaces like suspension bridges or docks. So what better activity than combining those two things with paddle boarding.

We met up with my neighbor Louise at 6.30am at Rainbow Park, Whistler, to make the most of the calm morning and beautiful weather. Whistler Blackcomb beaches get busy at this time of year, and the best time of the day to get some peace there is early in the AM.

I've had my fair share of time in canoes, but haven't done much on a paddle board, so confidence wasn't super high for either of us. So we set off real easy just so we can both spend some time relaxing on the board and establishing good times with being on the board, and although she doesn't look super comfortable on the board, it doesn't take long before she is nice and relaxed (more or less).

We meet up with some of Louise's friend and form a little raft to enjoy the calm, our coffee's and just see which way the wind takes us.

Dot has been an absolute champ, and not wanting to push our luck too much we head back to the dock and our pull out point.

TIPS FOR GETTING YOUR DOG TO PADDLE BOARD

Now I'm no expert, but I have spent most every waking hour with my dog since I got her a couple years ago, and I think her trust in me was the biggest factor in going on the board.

Getting familiar with boards, first time she saw me ride a longobard she lost it. The step by step acclimatization to boards of different shapes and sizes

Lots of time in the shallows, near safety getting comfortable. Especially on Dot's test ride we spend a long time getting relaxed just next to shore in shallow water.

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