ghostorchid- Ummm, did you see the dog in the pink suit? Just wondering if you noticed her jumping back on the board “post-dismount”. As for wagging tails “while surfing” I’m guessing that might not be a good idea while balancing (although I still saw some wagging action). I dunno (shrugging shoulders), I must be watching a different video than you guys.

I just wanna say…is this event done because dogs seem inclined toward surfing? Or because humans seem inclined toward watching dogs surfing?

The fact is, I bet those dogs wouldn’t voluntarily hop onto a surfboard. Nor would they stay on it if they weren’t (understandably) afraid of jumping off a moving surfboard. Nor would they jump back on the surfboard post-dismount.

I mean, they’re all crouched back and none of them have wagging tails while “surfing”.

I think animals do tons of amusing, cute things by human standards, and you don’t have to stick them on a surfboard.

I lol’d my head off at the little dog surfing in slowly, then the unsuspected huge black dog on that HUMUNGOUS surfboard comes in and crashes into the little one xD I know I shouldn’t laugh, but hey, they didn’t look much like they got THAT hurt. After all, the big black/brown one (couldn’t tell, my screen is a bit weird sometimes) had enough energy left afterwards to drool at the barbecue. xD

HAHAHA!!!

Cool!

So you DO feel me!

;D

IV??? *pfft*
Four is nuthin’. My caffeine goes to ELEVEN.

LOL Theo!

Thanks man, this early in my morning before my caffine IV is hooked up I tend to forget how to use the ctrl key ;D

I live in San Diego, and while I could not make it to this year’s SurfDog competition, I did go last year. It did seem to me that a few of the dogs were pretty scared, a lot of them were ok with it but not loving it (just doing it to please their owners), and the rest absolutely loved it. For the most part the dogs were surfing in pretty shallow water, and as you could see, there were people all around to rescue any dog who got in trouble. No dogs got hurt, and I doubt there are any–even the ones who were scared–who suffered any lasting psychological damage.

I wished the owners of the few scared dogs would have taken their dogs out of the competition, but as for the rest of the dogs, I like to think that they would gladly participate if they understood that all proceeds of the event were going to charity–one of which, PAWS of Coronado, is an animal shelter.

***Warning: this paragraph is a shameless sales pitch*****If you enjoyed the surfing pups and want to support PAWS of Coronado, they do a calendar, which you can purchase through Amazon, of the event. The 2009 ones should be available in September. I have a 2008 one and it is very cute! Buy one people; it is for the pups!!

(Sorry for the sales pitch.)

Copy-and-paste, Catsquatch.

I enjoy a good thick juicy steak.

Dogs enjoy a good thick jucy steak too.

Is that anthropomorphizing them?

I enjoy digging in my yard.

Dogs enjoy digging in my yard too, even though I myself do not own a dog.

Is that anthropomorphizing them?

I do not enjoy surfing, the ocean bites me every time.

Some of those dogs are not enjoying surfing either.

Some of them are indeed enjoying surfing.

Is that anthropomorphizing them?

Animals have emotions just like we do, so it seems to me that being able to read their emotions is not anthropomorphization at all, it is empathy.

And anthropomorphization is a LOOOOOONG word to type out several times.

Perhaps some of these dogs weren’t all that thrilled and may have been a little scared but I’m sure they’d do their 8 seconds on the board all over again if it meant a day at the beach with great food and attention with their doting owners. These dogs are obviously spoiled like crazy (doggie goggles?! full piece swim suit!?) and adored by their owners. If you can’t see that then you are looking with close eyes and minds.

I applaud those puppy parents for taking the time out of their busy schedules to do creative activities with their pets. All dogs should be so lucky.