Photos: The Dogs That Surf

A crowd gathers on a beach to watch a dog-surfing competition.

Paul Kuroda / ZUMA Press Wire / Reuters

People gather to watch the World Dog Surfing Championship on August, 1, 2026, in Pacifica, California.

A dog, wearing goggles and a life-preserver vest, rides a surfboard on a crashing wave.

K.C. Alfred / The San Diego Union-Tribune / Getty

Faith, a pit bull, owned by James Wall, surfs in the medium-size division during the 20th Annual Helen Woodward Animal Center Surf Dog Surf-A-Thon on September 7, 2025, in Del Mar, California.

A dog, wearing sunglasss, falls from a surfboard in a wave.

Frederic J. Brown / AFP / Getty

Rusty wipes out during the annual Surf City Surf Dog event in Huntington Beach, California, on September 25, 2021.

A dog pulls his surfboard away from the surf.

Richard Vogel / AP

A Labrador retriever, Charlie, pulls his surfboard after competing in the annual Incredible Dog Challenge at the Western Regional Surfing Competition in Huntington Beach, California, on June 20, 2025.

A dog rides down a cresting wave on a surfboard.

Ringo H.W. Chiu / AP

Sugar the Surfing Dog competes in the annual Surf City Surf Dog event in Huntington Beach, California, on September 25, 2021.

A dog stands, riding on a surfboard, ahead of incoming waves.

K.C. Alfred / The San Diego Union-Tribune / Getty

Bailey, a Dalmatian, surfs in the large-dog division of the 20th Annual Helen Woodward Animal Center Surf Dog Surf-A-Thon on September 7, 2025, in Del Mar, California.

A small dog leaps from a surfboard in a small crashing wave.

K.C. Alfred / The San Diego Union-Tribune / Getty

Rocket, a French bulldog, leaps from a board during the Helen Woodward Animal Center Surf Dog Surf-A-Thon on September 7, 2025.

A dog with heart-shaped sunglasses and a lifeguard scarf

Matthew Huang / Icon Sportswire / Getty

A dog with a lifeguard scarf looks on before the World Dog Surfing Championships at Linda Mar Beach in Pacifica, California, on August 2, 2025.

A dog wearing a life-preserver jacket and goggles with cartoon eyes painted on them rides a surfboard on a wave.

Godofredo A. Vásquez / AFP / Getty

Rusty competes in the World Dog Surfing Championships in Pacifica on August 1, 2026.

Water droplets fly through the air from a dog's wagging tail during a surfing competition.

Eakin Howard / AP

Joey whips water from his tail as he jumps off his board after catching a wave at the World Dog Surfing Championships on August 2, 2025, in Pacifica.

Half a dozen Chihuahuas and a beagle ride on a large surfboard.

Patrick T. Fallon / AFP / Getty

The Bing Bang Family of surfing Chihuahua dogs and a beagle surf a wave during the Helen Woodward Animal Center Surf Dog Surf-A-Thon in Del Mar, on September 7, 2025.

A man carries a small dog on his shoulder while wading through a crashing wave.

Eakin Howard / AP

David Fasoli carries Iza, a French bulldog, through the breakers during the World Dog Surfing Championships in Pacifica on August 2, 2025.

A dog barks while riding on a wave on a surfboard.

Paul Kuroda / ZUMA Press Wire / Reuters

A competitor barks during the World Dog Surfing Champions on August, 1, 2026, in Pacifica.

Two dogs ride surfboards side-by-side on a small wave.

Godofredo A. Vásquez / AFP / Getty

Stella (right) and Moxy compete in the World Dog Surfing Championships in Pacifica on August 1, 2026.

A dog rides a surfboard out of a crashing wave with a very focused look on its face.

Mindy Schauer / Orange County Register / MediaNews Group / Getty

Skylar stays focused while riding a wave during the Surf City Surf Dog competition in Huntington Beach, California, on September 25, 2021.

A dog lies down on a surfboard, riding a gentle wave, eyes closed.

Daniel Knighton / Getty

A competitor rides casually during the Helen Woodward Animal Center’s 18th Annual Surf Dog Surf-A-Thon at Del Mar Dog Beach on September 10, 2023.

A person and their dog share a kiss on a surfboard on calm water.

Andrew Matthews / PA Images / Reuters

Marina White practices with her dog Coco before the Dog Masters 2022 UK Dog Surfing Championships at Branksome Dene Chine beach in Poole, Dorset, England.