Nearly 100 dogs paddled into the water at Del Mar Dog Beach on Sunday for the 21st annual Helen Woodward Surf Dog Surf-a-Thon. The Best-In-Surf final never happened. Judges called it off once the tide rose and the waves turned rough, deciding the ocean was no longer safe for the dogs on their boards.
The contest drew dogs in weight classes running from 1 to 20 pounds up to 86 pounds and over. Some wore goggles and life vests while their owners guided them into the surf. Tandem pairs shared one board, and a pug in a red life vest drew nearly as much attention as any champion.
The takeaway for anyone with a water-loving dog: even a strong swimmer gets tired, and a rising tide does not wait for a contest to finish. Put the life jacket on at the car rather than at the shoreline, since a dog that steps off a drop in shallow water is out of its depth before anyone reacts. Check the tide chart before you throw a ball. End the session while your dog is still swimming comfortably, not after it starts looking for the exit.
Helen Woodward Animal Center works with SoCal Surf Dogs on lessons at Del Mar Dog Beach, and the order they teach in is worth copying. Dogs learn to balance on a board on land first, then move into shallow water with a person close by.
Sorting out a beach day of your own? Our dog friendly road trip checklist covers the basics, from fresh water and shade to finding the nearest emergency vet. The full report from Sunday is at the New York Post.