What is Dog Surfing?

Surfing is a fun water sport that many people participate in. However, have you ever heard of dog surfing? Read below to learn more!

Objectives

Dog surfing is a sport where the participating dogs balance themselves on their surfboards on high and strong waves. Additionally, a dog earns points based on their certainty, the wave’s size, and the ride’s length. Thus, the participant with the highest score wins the event. The sport aims to bring entertainment to viewers and broadcast these adventurous dogs.

History

Dog surfing has been documented in California and Hawaii as early as the 1920s. However, a film released in the 1930s called “On The Waves in Waikiki” shows a terrier named Night Hawk surfing with his owner, Phillip, on a wooden surfboard in Hawaii. Later, in 1944, National Geographic published a photo of Rusty, the dog, catching a wave. The sport became more popular in San Diego in the 1970s and 80s. Additionally, the first competition was organized in California in 2006. By 2011, about 50 dogs participated in the event; by 2012, three Guinness records were broken.

Competitions

As mentioned, judging criteria for competitions include overall certainty on the board, wave size, and ride length. There are different competition categories depending on the size of the dog and the number of riders! Tandem rides can be two dogs or a person and a dog surfer.

There is an annual surfing contest in Huntington Beach, California, called “Surf City Surf Dog Competition,” which is free to attend and usually takes place in late September. The “Incredible Dog Challenge” and “The Big Dog Ranch Rescue” are also annual events held in San Diego, CA, and Wellington, FL, respectively. Also in August, there’s also the “Going to the Dogs” surfer competition held in Waikiki.

Many other competitions are held around the U.S., and some are even fundraisers for non-profit organizations, too! If you get the chance, attend to support the good cause and watch some talented pups, too!

Can My Dog Surf Too?

Absolutely! Teaching your dog to surf can be a fun and rewarding experience for both of you. Plus, you can show off this cool new trick to your friends and others on the beach. However, don’t forget the appropriate tools, such as a lifejacket and sunscreen, before hitting the waves!

Hopefully, you learned something new about dog surfing!