Dog Surfing and Other Animal Adventures

Dog is man’s best friend—so it’s no surprise that our four-legged friends have taken up one of our favorite pastimes! The world is filled with dogs who surf, paddle board, and move around in the water with surprising dexterity and control of their surroundings.

Not convinced? Read on to learn more about this fun phenomenon!

The surprising history of dog surfing

Dog surfing may seem like a novelty saved for social media or laughs between friends—but did you know that the history of this quirky pastime extends almost to the beginning of surfing in the contiguous USA?

As surfing was spreading from the islands of Hawaii to the long sandy shores of California, so too was the practice of surfing with a pup on board. A 1930s silent era film is just one example of this—On The Waves in Waikiki showed surfing buddies Phillip K. Auna and his trusty terrier Night Hawk, who was even skilled enough to hang ten while on board!

Four-legged mechanics

The definition of “dog surfing” may vary from pup to pup—some surf alongside a human companion, while others can ride the waves all on their own! Their four-legged agility actually helps them achieve balance as they attempt to conquer the waters. Some can even skim the waves as they crash after their owner helps with an initial push.

There’s no one way to teach a dog to surf—but you can help your four-legged friend get used to the water by starting with small waves. Demonstrate just how fun surfing can be by hopping onto your board and encourage Fido to follow—if he jumps onto snacks, new toys, and you as you walk through the door, he might just surprise you by jumping into surfing, too!

Competitions for a cause

Dog lovers across the country help their pets discover a love of the water for a good cause. Competitions such as Imperial Beach, California’s Loews Coronado Bay Resort Surf Dog Competition (considered to be the biggest in the country) support a good cause. Jupiter Florida is a newcomer to the dog surfing game—with their first competition taking place in 2015—but they have also pledged to support pet adoption and can even give your pup surf lessons in the weeks leading up to the competition!

Other animal antics

Dogs may be among the cutest animals on the water—but they’re not the only ones! We’ve all seen that famous video of a waterskiing squirrel, and surfing alpacas have been known to ride the waters off Peru. If these on-the-water animal antics prove anything, it’s that water sports might be a lot more universal than we once thought!

If you’ve already learned how to surf, taking Fido out with you could be your next big adventure.