Surfing Dogs

A fair number of famous dog surfers have surfing owners -- big wave surfer Scott Chandler and his Jack Russell terrier Zoey are one example -- but many owners are non-surfers who look uncomfortable even wading out into the shorebreak to push the pooch onto a wave. The dogs themselves represent a cross-section of breeds, not just water dogs like Labs, as you might expect. In fact breeds like Labs are so at home in the water in the first place that they’ll happily bail off the board and dog-paddle, instead of riding in. A more water-averse species, with a lower center of gravity -- a bulldog, for example -- performs better in what owners call the grip it and rip it department.

This is a sport where there’s a definite preference for longer lengths. A few dogs shortboard -- poodles, chihauhaus, and the like -- but most breeds are riding mid-lengths and there are usually a few loggers out there. Soft-tops are particularly appropriate because they provide great traction for a dog’s toenails. Some dogs prone-out, others stand up, but with four legs and a tail to distribute, a modified crouch seems to work best to avoid pearling or sinking a rail. There’s even a company called Surfah that makes a dog-only surfboard designed by Guy Takayama. You probably wonder about leashes: yes on land, no in water. However, tournament dog surfers all wear flotation devices.

Surfing Dog with Softtop

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