If you’ve ever watched one of those viral TikTok clips of surfdogs ripping waves in sunny San Diego or coastal Florida, you’ve probably thought: “Wait, could my (or my customers’) pup do that—even in cold water?” As a surfdog supplier who’s been fitting dogs for custom boards and gear for over 10 years, I get asked this question all the time. The short answer is: yeah, they can—if you set ‘em up right, and know what cold water actually does to a dog’s ability to surf. No fancy vet degree required, just real-world experience and some basic science behind how dogs handle temp. Surfdog
First off, let’s stop treating “cold water” like a one-size-fits-all term. For some of our clients in Oregon or Washington, 55°F water feels like a polar plunge (even to us humans in wetsuits). For dogs that grow up in places like Alaska, 50°F is just their backyard pool in winter. It all comes down to breed, coat thickness, acclimation, and how much body fat they’ve got. Let’s break that down, because that’s where a lot of people mess up when they try to put their lab mix on a board in 45°F water without a plan.
Coat is the big one here. A Siberian husky or a Newfoundland has that double coat—tight underfur that traps warm air, plus guard hairs that repel water. Those dogs can spend 20+ minutes in 45°F water no problem, no extra gear needed. We’ve had a husky client in Seattle surf at 48°F and not even shiver after 15 minutes. On the flip side, a Chihuahua or a French bulldog? Their coats are thin, they don’t have much body fat, and their little bodies lose heat way faster than a human in a wetsuit. We’ve seen clients try to put a Frenchie on a board in 52°F water and the dog was shivering so bad they couldn’t hold their balance after 5 minutes. That’s not a failure of the dog—it’s a failure of matching the water temp to the dog’s biology.
Acclimation plays a huge role too. If a pup has only ever played in 70°F backyard pools, sticking ‘em in 55°F water in October is a surefire way to make ‘em hate surfing. But if you build up to it—start with short 2-minute sessions in 65°F, then drop 2 degrees every week—they’ll get used to it. We had a client in Maine who turned their 2-year-old golden retriever from a pool surfer to a cold-water pro over 3 months. By the time winter hit, the dog was surfing at 50°F, no shivering, just as stoked as they were in summer. That’s the stuff no textbook tells you—pup psychology matters more than the number on a water temp gauge sometimes.
Now, what do you actually need to keep a surfdog warm in cold water? This is where our gear comes in, and why we’re not just selling boards—we’re selling whole setups tailored to different conditions. First, wetsuits for dogs. Not the cheap human ones you cut up (those don’t fit right and rub their armpits raw). We make custom dog wetsuits with neoprene that’s thick enough (3mm to 5mm, depending on temp) to trap body heat, but thin enough that they can still feel the board’s traction pad to balance. For really cold water—anything below 50°F—we also make neoprene booties for their paws. Dogs’ paws lose heat fast too, and numb paws can’t grip the board. We’ve had clients say their dogs would hop right in 45°F water with booties, but refuse to put a paw in without ‘em.
Another pro tip we’ve learned over the years: keep sessions short. Even the hardiest husky can only handle 20 minutes tops in 45°F water. Their body temp drops fast when they’re moving around in waves, even with a good wetsuit. We always tell our clients: if your dog starts shaking more than the normal “I’m excited to surf” wiggle, get ‘em out. Normal excitement shakes are playful; cold shakes are constant, stiff, and they won’t respond to treats to get back on the board. That’s a key difference a lot of new surfdog parents miss.
Wait, but what about smaller dogs? Like, toy breeds or teacup pups? Can they even surf in cold water? Honestly, it’s doable, but you’ve gotta be way more careful. We’ve made mini wetsuits for Maltese and Shih Tzus that are 2mm thick, plus tiny life jackets with built-in insulation. Those dogs can surf, but only in water above 55°F, and sessions are max 10 minutes. It’s not about how well they can ride a wave—it’s about keeping ‘em safe. We’ve turned down so many requests for “tiny dog cold water surf kits” because it’s just not responsible to put a 5-pound dog in 48°F water.
Let’s address the elephant in the room: health issues. Dogs with arthritis, heart problems, or thyroid issues handle cold water way worse. We always tell clients to check with their vet before starting a cold-water surfdog journey. Even a healthy dog can get hypothermia fast if they’re out too long. We had a client in Canada whose border collie had mild hypothyroidism—we had to adjust their wetsuit thickness from 3mm to 5mm, and cut sessions from 15 minutes to 10, just because their dog’s metabolism ran slower. That’s the kind of personalized support we offer that no big-box pet store can.
Now, I know what some of you are thinking: “If it’s cold, why even bother surfing with your dog? Just stick to summer.” Fair. But for a lot of our clients, surfing year-round is a big part of their lifestyle. They don’t stop going to the coast just because the weather gets cold. And their dogs don’t want to stop either—surfing is way more fun for them than just laying on the couch. We’ve seen dogs get depressed if they can’t surf all winter, so setting ‘em up for cold water is a game-changer for both the dog and the owner’s bond.
Over the years, we’ve tested so many setups ourselves. We brought our own lab, Moe, to surf in 49°F water in Lincoln City last winter. We used our 4mm neoprene wetsuit, booties, and a small insulated life jacket. Moe lasted 18 minutes, rode a 2-foot wave, and then ran straight to the car for his warm hot dog. No shivering, no issues. That’s real proof that it works, not some lab study we read online.
But here’s the thing: it’s not about making cold-water surfing a hardcore sport for dogs. It’s about keeping it safe and fun. A lot of suppliers try to act like every dog can surf in 40°F water, but that’s just not true. We’d rather a dog skip a cold session and stay warm than risk injury. That’s why all our gear has size guides tailored to coat type and water temp, plus free check-ins with our team if you’re not sure what to get.
If you’re a dog owner who’s been curious about cold-water surfdogs, or a fellow pet gear business looking to stock quality surfdog stuff, hit us up. We don’t do generic boards or ill-fitting wetsuits—we build gear that’s tested by actual surfdogs, for actual surfdogs. Whether you’re in California, Oregon, Maine, or even Alaska, we can hook you up with a setup that works for your dog and your local water temp. No fluff, just straight talk about what works, what doesn’t, and how to keep your pup stoked even when the waves are cold.
Lacrosse Singlets References
American Veterinary Medical Association. (2022). Cold Weather Safety for Pets.
International Surfing Association. (2021). Guidelines for Canine Surfing Competitions.
University of California, Davis, School of Veterinary Medicine. (2020). Thermoregulation in Domestic Dogs.
PetMD. (2023). Understanding Canine Coat Types and Insulation.
Tonton Sportswear (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd.
Tonton Sportswear (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd. is one of the leading China surfdog manufacturers and suppliers, with our professional factory, we are able to produce custom and surfdog at good price. If you are looking for cheap, or you want to wholesale products, please feel free to contact us.
Address: 1-3/F, No.1 Building, Jiewei Industrial Park, No.53, Pingxin North Rd, Pinghu, Longgang District, Shenzhen 518111, China
E-mail: dean@sztonton.com
WebSite: https://www.tontonsportswear.com/
