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Hang 10 With Your Pup At Surf City Surf Dog Competition

Rachel Leavy
by Rachel Leavy
Published:  September 12th, 2014
Hot dogs will want to head to California for the 6th annual Unleashed by Petco Surf City Surf Dog Competition


What could possibly be more fun than to watch dogs of all shapes and sizes don their life vests and hit the waves on surf boards? From September 26 to 28, Huntington Beach in California will go to the dogs for the 6th annual Surf City Surf Dogcompetition.


The heats of the competition are broken up by size, and there’s even a tandem dog/dog or dog/human competition! Winners are picked based on their confidence on the surfboard and the length of time they stay on. But really, all of these dogs are winners – even in the event of a wipe out, all pooches will receive a participation medal. The winners of each heat receive a $25 gift certificate from Unleashed by Petco.


“This is such a high-energy, entertaining weekend for pets, pet parents and surf fans alike,” explains Lisa Scolman, the event coordinator for the Surf City Surf Dog event. “There’s something for everyone throughout the weekend.”


Not only is this event a blast for competitors and spectators alike, it does give back. Portions of the registration fees go to the event’s Official Charity Sponsors, and contestants are encouraged to raise funds by being sponsored. Some of the charities include: Southern California Bulldog Rescue, Barks of Love and the Westie Rescue of Orange County.


Here’s the official Schedule of Events if you’re thinking of attending:


Friday, Sept. 26


Shorebreak Hotel (500 Pacific Coast Highway, Huntington Beach, CA)


6:00 p.m. Yappy Hour, Red Carpet photos


6:45 p.m. Opening Ceremonies


7:00 p.m. PAWabunga Costume Contest


8:00 p.m. Awards


Saturday, Sept. 27


International Surfing Museum (411 Olive Avenue, Huntington Beach, CA)


3:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. Dog Surfing History Exhibit


6:45 p.m. – International Surf Dog Walk of Fame Induction Ceremony


7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. Refreshments and Dog Surfing Movies


Sunday, Sept. 28


Huntington Dog Beach (Pacific Coast Highway at Goldenwest Street)


8:00 a.m. Surf Dog Check-in opens


8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Canine Expo


9:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Unleashed by Petco Surf City Surf Dog®


2:15 p.m. “I and Love and You” Awards/Closing Ceremony


For more information or to donate, visit the Surf City Surf Dog website. And to get you in the surfing mood, check out the video below.

WOW
Rachel Leavy
Rachel Leavy

Rachel Leavy lives in Rochester, New York with her dog, Maria, and her gecko, Nigel. She has loved animals all her life, and has owned her own dog training and walking company for five years. When she's not playing with puppies, she can usually be found writing short stories, riding horses or out at a play.

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Why Does My Dog Eat Poop?

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Britain's Beloved Breed, the Scottish Terrier, Faces Extinction

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Never Scoop Again With Litter-Robot, The Purrfect Gift For Cat Lovers

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Can You Prevent Joint Pain in Dogs?

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Can I Teach A Cat Tricks?

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When you first bring home a new cat, it’s an exciting time – especially if you’re a first-time cat parent. However, amidst the excitement, there are many questions that may be holding you back from fully embracing the joy. Are you prepared to meet all your cat’s needs? Are there “must-have” items you have overlooked? The struggle is real! We have good news… Many of the items that are deemed “necessary” are actually optional. One such item is the traditional cat tree or cat scratcher. Do they offer benefits? Yes! Can they help to improve your cat’s mental and physical health? Yes! But is a cat tree necessary for your cat? No, it’s not. There are other ways you can meet your cat’s needs if your budget or space doesn’t allow for a large piece of cat furniture. Let’s dig into the truth about cat trees and your cat. What is the Point of Cat Trees? If you’re currently standing in your local pet store, looking over the wide assortment of cat furniture available, you may wonder – what exactly is the purpose of cat furniture? Is it just a fancy bed solution for your cat, or are there other considerations when these products are developed? It’s an honest question I often hear from first-time cat parents. After all, these large, elaborate structures often come with a hefty price tag. If they do nothing more than provide a place to sleep, wouldn’t a simple cat bed suffice? Cat furniture is designed to meet many of your cat’s instincts, including their need to scratch, hide, climb, and oversee their surroundings. Each type of cat furniture has its benefits to consider.

Study Finds Pets Didn't Make People Happier During the Pandemic

Would you say that your pet help you feel better during the pandemic? Countless pet parents, myself included, would say they experienced less stress and anxiety during lockdown thanks to their four-legged companions. However, a new study led by researchers from Michigan State University suggests otherwise. Researchers couldn’t find a reliable association between pet ownership and well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic, even though owners claimed pets improved their lives. The pandemic was extremely stressful for everyone. The research team from Michigan State University theorized that the pandemic created ideal conditions to determine how much happiness and comfort pets actually provide to their families. The study, published in the Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, evaluated 767 people on three separate occasions in May 2020. The researchers used a mixed-method approach, looking at several indicators of well-being. They also asked owners in an open-ended question to think about the role of pets. Unsurprisingly, pet owners reported their pets made them happy. Owners claimed pets help them feel more positive emotions and provide companionship and affection, but also expressed worry about their pet’s well-being and reported their pets interfered with working remotely. But when researchers compared the happiness of pet owners to levels seen in non-pet owners they made a surprising discovery. Shockingly, the data showed no difference in the well-being of pet owners and non-pet owners over time. The research team explained that it did not matter what type of pet people owned, how many pets they had, or how close owners were with their pets. The personalities of the owners weren’t a factor either. “People say pets make them happy, but when we actually measure happiness that doesn’t appear to be the case,” said William Chopik, an associate professor in MSU’s Department of Psychology and co-author of the study, in a university release. “People see friends as lonely or wanting companionship, and they recommend getting a pet. But it’s unlikely to be as transformative as people think,” added Chopik. The research team also explored several other potential reasons as to why there was no difference in the happiness levels of pet owners and non-pet owners. The most likely reason might be that non-pet owners have found ways to fill their lives with activities and interests that make them as happy as owning a pet would. “Staking all of your hope on a pet making you feel better is probably unfair and maybe costly, given other things you could do in your life that could improve your happiness,”  said Chopik. Another study, involving 4,237 people, beginning at the start of the pandemic and ending in December 2021, had similar findings. Although owners grew closer to their pets, especially dogs, during the pandemic, that didn’t stave off stress.In fact, the lowest stress levels were seen in non-pet owners. When you think about it, these results kind of make sense - pet owners had an additional mouth to feed during the lockdown and had limited opportunities to take their dogs out for a walk or play session. The results of these studies are surprising, to say the least. I was positive that I was happier than my poochless friends during the lockdown, but guess that wasn’t the case. After thinking about this a bit more, I realized that maybe we shouldn’t expect so much from our four-legged companions. Yes, there are many benefits to owning a pet, and pets can make us happy, but ultimately happiness depends on ourselves. Join the PetGuide community. Get the latest pet news and product recommendations by subscribing to our newsletter here.

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