Melissa & Achilleus
Aug 2019 Honolulu HI, Kaka’ako.
Blue Planet Surf hosts its first fundraiser for the Calvin & Suise presents “Going to the dogs” SurFur competition. Its a warm late afternoon, bright lit skies, and a dozen dogs start arriving to the stand up paddle board shop. Melissa brings her 95 lbs mastif, knowing full well she wants to get her pup on the water one day. We meet, she learns about SupDog Hawaii, and our mission to help people enjoy the ocean more with their dogs, and she immediately wants to schedule a lesson date. She proceeds to win multiple raffle items, is feeling lucky, and strikes a deal with me for her first SupDog lesson for Achilleus.
Two days later, we all met up in Kapiolani park! Melissa brought her bull mastiff, a white boxer puppy, her daughter, her husband and dinner! She also had won a stand up paddle board during the raffle at Blue Planet Surf, so she brings that too. I bring an extra sup, a life vest for Achilleus and some treats.
This is Achilleus’s first time ever playing in the ocean, and his reaction is priceless. His dad would always use the hose to play with him in the yard, Achilleus starts crying out in excitement, transfixed by the new environment and tries to eat at the moving water as it draws close! The waves roll in and he’s trying to snatch up some of the foam and swirl it around in the air. I take him for a quick run down the beach to see how well he adjusts to cardio, (he’s a big lazy pup usually) and he’s all jazzed up, ready to jump in the water, pulling me closer and closer to the water line as we jog.
I throw a life jacket on him and we go for it, straight into the water, he starts chugging! Slapping his huge paws up and down making massive splashes as he tries to catch some of the ripples in his mouth Melissa stands readily with the camera rolling as she watches her giant baby swim for the very first time. I stay alert, with my hands under his chest, providing minor support to his rib cage as he thrashes for momentum. He succeeds, but his confidence is not high, so he doesn’t swim far, and comes back to shore after one lap out and in.
Melissa and her family start cheering, elated to have seen great progress. Next, we grab the SUP. its an 11’0 x 35 Tuf Tec from blue planet. 250 liters in flotation. I set the board in the water as I coax Achilleus towards me and the board. He recognizes the board and its potential. I wrap him in my arms and lift his front paws and chest onto the board as his hindquarters tips the whole operation to one side. He persists, and I lift his rear end just high enough for him to be sinking the tail of the SUP but afloat, nonetheless. Melissa starts snapping off photos as she giggles with joy.
I usher Achilleus to the middle of the board, keeping him low and his weight centered as I gingerly hop onto the board. Achilleus is now between my knees and flat on the center of the SUP. We take some more photos. It is a total success considering we didn’t even know if he was going to be able to swim, let alone balance on a SUP. Now he’s done both, and we aren’t stopping there. I ask Melissa to pass me a paddle as I slowly rise up to a standing position. I take 3 paddle strokes on my right, Achilleus leans left and whooooop! down we go. Achilleus does great with his paddle strokes, utilizing the life vest well he makes it over to the beach easily, and readily jogs on the beach for applause.
Melissa also tries to ride with Achilleus, but he’s a little to big and uncoordinated to find rhythm with her, so they try valiantly and end up enjoying a swim. Achilleus, Melissa, her white boxer, husband and daughter all enjoy the SUP, a nice sunset, and positive vibes as the Friday night fireworks light off with the dimming colors.
They all thank me for the grand adventure, I share some last minute SupDog advice, and we brainstorm future times for more training. Overall, a wonderfully entertaining and challenging first SupDog Lesson.
Aloha,
Tyler
