We’ve all seen the videos of the chunky English Bulldog cruising down the street on a skateboard. It’s simultaneously adorable and amazing. We can’t help but wonder how on earth did they train their dog to skateboard. After watching the video multiple times myself, because who can watch it just once, I couldn’t help but think…could you train a beagle to ride on a skateboard?
After some research and practice myself, the answer to that question is yes.
In this article, I’ll break down how you and your beagle can work together to learn this trick. From safety tips, to skateboard selection, to a pretty in depth training guide, this article will go over everything you need to know. Your beagle will be up and riding before you know it, and maybe even the next YouTube sensation. So without further ado, let’s get to it.
How to Teach Your Beagle How to Skateboard
We’ll break this portion down in a few sections for ease and organization.
Getting your Beagle used to the board
Your dog’s first encounter with the skateboard should be with a stationary board. Either put down a big thick blanket or some pillows to prevent the board from rolling away immediately. Don’t let the board move during this step or your dog could get spooked and never want anything to do with the board ever again. Keep it stationary and allow your dog to sniff, inspect and climb all over it. Let your dog to take their time getting comfortable with the board. Familiarity is the key here.
If they don’t show very much interest, perhaps use treats to lure them near the skateboard and let them know everything is okay. Treats can be effective, just don’t overdo it. Or if you’d rather not use treats, then positive words of affirmation will do just fine.
Once your dog seems relatively comfortable with climbing on the board, begin using a command like “up” to train your dog to climb on top of the board when instructed. Reward your dog when they climb aboard on command. Let them know this is a good and positive thing! This command will be important later. I like to use a clicker to help them make this positive association during training.
Moving outside
Once your Beagle is comfortable with the board, it’s time to move outside. Find a soft patch or grass or some dirt. Some sort of area where the board can move just a little bit so your dog can experiment with the new sensation of the board rolling beneath them. Utilize the same “up” command you worked on indoors to let your dog know its okay to climb on board. (this part should be easy, as beagles are natural climbers). Keep those positive reinforcements coming.
Once your pup has climbed on board, move the skateboard just a little bit and see how your dog reacts. It’s a process, so if at first they jump off, that’s okay! Similar to the previous step, it’s important not to rush. Let your beagle take their time adjusting to this fun new activity.
Movement on the Skateboard
Please note for the next step, attach a leash or rope to the skateboard. You should be in full control of the skateboard at all times to prevent serious injury. It is also important to never leave your dog’s side while he or she is on the board. Once your dog is comfortable with a bit of movement, it’s time to move onto the pavement where the board can move more freely. Choose a safe location like a flat sidewalk in a park. Do not go to a parking lot or busy street.
To begin, try placing your beagle’s front two paws on the board. Now use your own weight to move the board a tiny bit from side to side. This motion teaches your pup that they will have to shift their weight when the board turns. Once they’re a little more used to this motion, give the board a small nudge so it begins to move forward. This will let your dog know they have to push their back legs off the ground to bring all four paws onto the skateboard. Your dog will learn that this motion will push the skateboard. Do this several times so your pup can connect the dots, learning that pushing their paws off of the ground propels them forward and this is the desired outcome.
For added motivation. Place some sort of treat or reward a little ways down the sidewalk as an incentive for your dog to move the board forward. After some repetition, your dog will learn that when they push the board in a forward direction, they will be rewarded. It’s kind of similar to teaching a toddler how to walk.
Safety Tips for Skateboarding Beagles
Skateboarding dogs might be one of the cutest things to grace the planet, but it is also important to remember that skateboarding is considered a sport. Serious injury can occur if the proper precautions are not taken. We’ve already mentioned a couple of safety precautions in the above guideline, but let’s take a more thorough look at safety.
Safety precautions include:
Selecting a safe environment for your Beagle to practice in.
Start off indoors. Teaching your dog to skateboard isn’t an overnight process. Patience will be necessary. If you start off indoors, this provides your dog with the comfort of their own home as well as a relatively harmless environment to experiment in.
Once you do venture outdoors be sure to stay in an enclosed environment to avoid your dog losing control and skating into the middle of the street in front of a car. Let’s avoid all of this and only skateboard in safe enclosed spaces.
Even though it was previously mentioned, it’s worth repeating. Attaching a leash or rope to the skateboard gives you control over the object and will prevent it from flying out of control.
Checking the temperature
When outdoors, note the temperature of the pavement. If the pavement is too hot for you to touch, then it’s certainly too hot for your pet. This rule applies to more than just skateboarding and should be followed at all times. Perhaps practice skateboarding at moderate temperatures. Or if it’s too warm outside, practice indoors.
This also applies to terrain when it’s too cold. In cold weather, pavement can have an icy top layer that could make skateboarding difficult and even dangerous.
Keeping an eye on their paws
Similarly to the temperature precaution, if your dog is normally indoors, their paw pads may be delicate and not callused. This means their paws are relatively unprotected and can be easily injured on rough pavement. Be sure to periodically check their paws to make sure everything is fine.
How to Pick the Right Skateboard for a Beagle
People sometimes assume they can just use their old skateboard hanging around in the garage to train their dog. However that’s not always the best option. Your Beagle is much smaller than you, and would benefit from something smaller and lower to the ground.
Teaching your dog a trick like this should be viewed as an investment. If you want to be safe, you’ll have to purchase a board that is an appropriate size for your pup. Having a skateboard that is the incorrect size can lead to injuries. Let’s prevent that and instead discuss how to choose the correct board.
It’s important to consider the size of your furry friend when purchasing a skateboard. Their feet need to be able to reach the ground when standing on top of the board. They also need to be able to stand with all 4 feet comfortable on the board. Experts say the board must be at least 10.5 inches across to comfortable fit your dog. Setting your pup up with the correct board will make the learning process easier and most importantly, it’ll prevent injury.
Skateboards that don’t have a flip on the edge are much more ideal. What’s a flip? A flip is the curved up lip on the edge of a skateboard. Having a flat skateboard will make it easier for your pup to jump up on the board. It’ll also prevent the board from flipping upwards when they step on the edge.
Luckily, beagles have longer legs for smaller dogs, so finding a skateboard to suit their body type shouldn’t be that difficult. It would be much more difficult to pick one out for a dachshund with their long body and stubby little legs. Picking a board that fits your beagle’s body type will set them up for success.
Beagle Skateboarding Videos
Here are some of my favorite beagle skating videos for some inspiration!
Final Thoughts
All dogs are unique. This training method may work for some, but it may not work for others. And that’s okay! Find the methods that work best for your beagle. Maybe they’ll jump right up and have zero issues, or maybe they’ll take their sweet time adjusting to this new activity. Either way is just fine. Be patient, keep it fun, and tailor the training method so that it works for your dog specifically. No one knows your beagle better than you do, pay attention to what they’re telling you.
This activity above all else should be fun. It should be fun for you and it should be fun for your dog. Reward them, make it playtime. Not only is it a cool trick, but it’s another way for you to spend quality time bonding with your beagle.
