Dog Paddleboarding in Pittsburgh with Your Pooch
When Pittsburgh native Melissa Lucciola suffered a career-ending stroke in 2009, her whole world was turned up side down. A successful Chief Technology Officer with her own location based mobile application company, she was left unable to even look at a computer screen without feeling as if her brain were in a blender. “It was a horrible realization. Eighteen years of my life was dedicated to technology solutions, then one day it was gone…” Melissa says, recounting the harsh predicament she was faced with. But she didn’t let this situation defeat or define her. She simply started reinventing herself one day at a time. Today she is “kicking the stroke in the teeth and loving her life!”
This positive and kick-ass attitude didn’t come easily, however. Not only was her career over, the stroke damaged her vision and inner ear affecting her balance and vestibular functions. Not satisfied with her recovery and sudden open schedule, she turned to yoga. Yoga did more for her than help her restore her balance: it changed her life. “Yoga really helped to rehabilitate my mind, body, and soul. The Universe has a way of giving you exactly what you need,” Melissa tells me. And it’s true. As an experienced register yoga teacher, certified in 2011 she has been teaching both private and group yoga lessons so others may experience its transformative qualities, making a career out of her own journey to heal.
But that’s not the only kind of private lessons Melissa offers. She also teaches stand-up paddleboarding (SUP), with a distinctively furry twist.
“SUP definitely challenges you to be very much in the present, continuously challenging your balance,” Lucciola says, laughing. In addition to teaching SUP and SUP Yoga Discovery Courses for L.L Bean, she also offers private SUP lessons…with your dog. Yes you’ve read that correctly. SUP with your pup! In short, it blends all the benefits of a killer ab workout, an outdoor adventure and a special bonding experience with your fury best friend. “It’s a pretty magical experience when both dog and owner are comfortable on the water,” says Melissa. It makes my heart smile when I see pups on paddleboards.
“It is something I share with my dog Titus and he LOVES it. He hates being left behind so this is a way for us to bond and do more things together! I think we are really lucky in Pittsburgh to have so many things we can do with our dogs, this is just one more amazing activity to do in the summer time,” she states happily, adding, “but you should know a few things to make your dog’s experience positive and enjoyable.”
There are a few basics that you need to know before you make your way out onto the water. First of all—get your buddy a life vest! Safety is the number one priority. Make sure you introduce your dog to the paddleboard on land before asking them to trust you on the water. “Size does matter, depending on your weight and the size of your dog, you want the most stable board available,” Melissa explains. “You also have to make sure your dog knows basic commands like sit, stay and down, so what they do on land you have to make sure they’re comfortable with on water.” She continues to tell me the tips and tricks of the trade, most of which I would have never thought of, it becomes clear that puppy paddleboarding is an art in and of itself. Luckily, for dog lovers and paddle boarding novices, you can learn from the master by taking private lessons with Melissa.
While she is definitely a mermaid at heart, But Melissa’s true passion is her dogs; she has four—all rescues—and still finds time to volunteer for the Western, PA Westie Rescue finding homes for displaced dogs. She saved her paddleboarding buddy Titus from a breeder who had abused his whole litter, along with another senior Westie, MacGreggor who has severe anxiety issues. “I am one of those girls who rescues everything and everyone. This is my path.”
If you are interested in learning more about paddle boarding with your pup, you can visit Melissa’s website at PaddlePup.com to schedule a private session for you and your fur buddy. If you would like to learn more about SUP or SUP Yoga, you can register for a Discovery Course at LLBean.com/Pittsburgh.
Photos by Cody Nicole Wiegand
