Who’s the highest canine? Wave-riding canines compete within the World Canine Browsing Championships : NPR

[ad_1] <img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/7805x5204+0+0/resize/1100/quality/50/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fcd%2F35%2F50a8fa0f40e389e874b2368af361%2Fap25214752428859.jpg" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/7805x5204+0+0/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fcd%2F35%2F50a8fa0f40e389e874b2368af361%2Fap25214752428859.jpg" class="img" alt="Coconut is pushed through the breakers during the World Dog Surfing Championships Saturday, Aug. 2, 2025, in Pacifica, Calif. " fetchpriority="high"/> Coconut is pushed by the breakers in the course of the World Canine Browsing Championships Saturday, Aug. 2, 2025, in Pacifica, Calif. Eakin Howard/AP conceal caption

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Eakin Howard/AP Charlie the 10-year-old yellow lab likes browsing a lot, he'll seize his surfboard and run towards the water. His people generally have to cover his board in the event that they wish to chat with pals on the seashore.

Charlie joined about 15 to twenty different canine wave riders in Pacifica, 14 miles (22 kilometers) south of San Francisco, on Saturday on the World Canine Browsing Championships, an annual contest that attracts hundreds of spectators to Pacifica State Seaside.

<img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/7956x5304+0+0/resize/1100/quality/50/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F82%2Fb1%2F62a9f2274b97b6410e86df7a558f%2Fap25214752558473.jpg" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/7956x5304+0+0/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F82%2Fb1%2F62a9f2274b97b6410e86df7a558f%2Fap25214752558473.jpg" class="img" alt="Jeff Nieboer pushes Charlie Surfs Up through the breakers during the World Dog Surfing Championships Saturday, Aug. 2, 2025, in Pacifica, Calif." loading="lazy"/> Jeff Nieboer pushes Charlie Surfs Up by the breakers in the course of the World Canine Browsing Championships Saturday, Aug. 2, 2025, in Pacifica, Calif. Eakin Howard/AP conceal caption

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Eakin Howard/AP Pooches competed towards equally sized friends for an opportunity to seem within the finals. Further heats featured a number of canines browsing tandem or using with folks.

Labs, terriers and spaniels in monogrammed life vests dog-paddled out into the Pacific. As soon as out on the waves, their house owners helped them hop on colourful boards and cling ten as the group cheered from the seashore.

Judges scrutinized how lengthy the canines remained on their boards, how lengthy they held their stability and whether or not they carried out any tips, like turning round whereas using.

Iza, a 5-year-old French bulldog, received the only surfer warmth for medium-size canines for the primary time this 12 months, her proprietor David Fasoli mentioned.

<img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/6177x4118+0+0/resize/1100/quality/50/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F3f%2Fcd%2Ff14c09604fefaeecfb464dca2881%2Fap25214723926977.jpg" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/6177x4118+0+0/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F3f%2Fcd%2Ff14c09604fefaeecfb464dca2881%2Fap25214723926977.jpg" class="img" alt="Carson Surf Dog jumps off his board after catching a wave during the World Dog Surfing Championships Saturday, Aug. 2, 2025, in Pacifica, Calif." loading="lazy"/> Carson Surf Canine jumps off his board after catching a wave in the course of the World Canine Browsing Championships Saturday, Aug. 2, 2025, in Pacifica, Calif. Eakin Howard/AP conceal caption

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Eakin Howard/AP Fasoli discovered "pure pleasure" in the course of the pandemic when he introduced dwelling a surfboard from his job at Costco and taught Iza to stability within the swimming pool. The 2 quickly began swimming within the ocean and studying to experience waves as passersby on the seashore watched in awe. Now, their competitions are all about defying expectations.

"I've a incapacity — I solely have one hand — so a nonsporting human mixed with a nonsporting canine breed, we're form of phenomenal, defying the chances of what folks assume we're able to doing," Fasoli mentioned after Saturday's competitors.

Charlie, who has his personal Instagram web page, entered the extra-large single surfer warmth. He additionally rode tandem with two different canines in what their people known as "The Dream Group."

"He loves the group," proprietor Maria Nieboer mentioned.

<img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/7934x5290+0+0/resize/1100/quality/50/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fd3%2F78%2F62b98b634b15ab2e1a917f0bb21b%2Fap25214742060304.jpg" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/7934x5290+0+0/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fd3%2F78%2F62b98b634b15ab2e1a917f0bb21b%2Fap25214742060304.jpg" class="img" alt="Faith the surfing Pitbull gets pushed through the breakers by James Wall during the World Dog Surfing Championships Saturday, Aug. 2, 2025, in Pacifica, Calif." loading="lazy"/> Religion the browsing Pitbull will get pushed by the breakers by James Wall in the course of the World Canine Browsing Championships Saturday, Aug. 2, 2025, in Pacifica, Calif. Eakin Howard/AP conceal caption

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Eakin Howard/AP Charlie and Nieboer's husband, Jeff Nieboer, put together for waves collectively. When Jeff spots one, he turns the board round and tells Charlie to "prepare."

He pushes the board ahead, and Charlie scrunches down and rides the wave so long as he can. Charlie may even steer the board by leaning and surfs towards an awaiting Maria on shore.

He does not must be rewarded with treats for any of it.

"Charlie does what Charlie desires to do as soon as we're within the water," Jeff mentioned.

Contest winners acquired medals and bragging rights.

Charlie's "Dream Group" compatriot, fellow yellow lab Rosie, was in 4 heats. The 4-year-old's proprietor, Steve Drottar, mentioned she is "stoked" after they log on, which they do 4 to 5 occasions per week again dwelling in Santa Cruz.

"It is like, hey, we really did one thing at this time, proper? We did one thing collectively as a crew," Drottar mentioned. "And the truth that you are able to do one thing as a crew together with your canine creates a special bond than you may have once you simply take your canine for a stroll."

He can inform Rosie feels a way of accomplishment afterward as a result of she is further blissful, wags her tail further arduous and snuggles much more than typical.