Who’s the top dog? Wave-riding canines compete in the World Dog Surfing Championships

PACIFICA Calif AP Charlie the yellow lab likes surfing so much he ll grab his surfboard and run toward the water so much so that his humans sometimes have to hide his board if they want to chitchat with friends on the beach On Saturday Charlie is set to join about to other canine wave riders to vie for top dog in the World Dog Surfing Championships outside San Francisco The annual contest draws thousands of spectators to Pacifica State Beach Participating pooches compete against similarly sized peers for a chance to appear in the finals Additional heats feature multiple dogs surfing tandem on one board and dogs riding tandem with humans Judges scrutinize how long dogs remain on boards how long they can hold their balance and whether they perform any tricks like turn around while riding waves Charlie aged is due to enter the extra-large single surfer heat He ll also ride tandem with two other dogs on what their owners call The Dream Group He loves the crowd stated his owner Maria Nieboer In the ocean Charlie and Maria s husband Jeff Nieboer prepare for waves together When Jeff sees a good wave he turns the board around and tells Charlie to get ready At that signal Jeff pushes the board forward and Charlie scrunches down and rides the wave as long as he can He can even steer it at times leaning on the board to ride toward Maria waiting on shore He doesn t have to be fed treats for any of this Charlie does what Charlie wants to do once we re in the water Jeff stated Contest winners get medals and bragging rights Charlies Dream Band compatriot Rosie will be in four heats The -year-old yellow lab s owner Steve Drottar commented Rosie s stoked after they go surfing which they do four to five times a week at home in Santa Cruz It s like hey we really did something at present right We did something together as a organization Drottar announced And the fact that you can do something as a association with your dog creates a different bond than you have when you just take your dog for a walk He can tell Rosie feels a sense of accomplishment after surfing because she s extra happy and wags her tail extra hard She snuggles up to Drottar even more than normal It s like we go home on the couch and it feels like she s saying Thank you Drottar announced Source