If you go to Pacifica, California at the right time of the year, you might be in for a treat. That is where they hold the World Dog Surfing Championships.  That’s right – surfing dogs! Their motto is, “It’s a big world, let your dog surf it.”

The doggy participants are stylish. Owners dress them in sunglasses, beach costumes, and even dog-sized life jackets. They are divided into categories based on size. The surfing dogs are judged just like human surfers. They are rated on skills like technique and length of ride. There is also an award for humans and dogs that surf together.

In order to surf, dogs first need to learn to swim. After that, they need to learn balance. Dog owners swim with their dogs into the water and help them catch a wave. Then they release the board and the dogs ride the waves to shore by themselves.

The World Dog Surfing Championship started in 2016. But dog surfing is rumored to have started in the 1920s. In 1932 a silent film called ‘On the Waves at Waikiki’ showed a man and his dog surfing in Hawaii. After that, dog surfing became a popular sport among surfers and dog lovers.

One of the most famous dog surfers is Abbie Girl, an Australian kelpie dog. She holds the world record for the longest wave surfed by a dog. The wave she surfed was 351 feet and 8 inches. Abbie Girl also likes to sky dive. Maybe one day she’ll set a record in the air, too!