Noosa Surf Festival, Australia: A Competition For Dogs And Their Owners
If you’re passionate about surfing the waves on a surfboard and you’ve transmitted that taste to your furry one, don’t miss out on the Noosa Surf Festival, which has been taking place for 25 years in Australia. Even bringing together athletes and fans from all over the world, since 2012, the competition for dogs and their owners is one of the biggest attractions.
A competition for dogs and their owners where the most important is not first place
Far beyond the sport itself, the experience of surfing with your pet is an excellent opportunity for dogs and owners to enjoy a good time together. And also so that many people will come to enjoy this event.
Paul Jarrett, co-founder of the meeting, says that in this competition for dogs and humans “the most important thing is not to win or lose, but that participants experience it as a celebration for all who love the sea, surf and the environment ”.
Anyway, judging by the pictures, some dogs look like real professionals who own the surfboards. At the end of the article, we leave a video for you to see for yourself.
Advantages of surfing with your dog
Former tandem surfing champion (a surf genre where a pair uses the same board and performs stunts) and current dog trainer Chris De Aboitz directs this part of the Festival, not just showing the stunts he does with his dogs Millie and Rama, but also explained to interested parties all the benefits of surfing with a dog.
De Aboitz explains that you can improve the dogs’ natural balance by surfing. Its training method, in addition to getting the furry ones to surf waves together with their owners, also contributes to the treatment of some behavioral problems in these animals, such as:
- Separation anxiety;
- Aggressiveness;
- Nervousness;
- Fears;
- Phobias.
Surfing, a sport to share with your furry
Australia isn’t the only place in the world where dog surfing has become popular. In the United States, not to go too far, some tournaments of this type have also been organized. The two most popular take place in San Diego, California. They are the Loews Coronado Bay Resort Surf-Dog Competition and the Surf Dog Surf-A-Thon.
If the idea of surfing with your dog appeals to you, it’s a good idea to check if your pet is also interested in it before diving headlong into this sport.
There are many breeds of dogs that love water, such as Labradors. Others, however, don’t like it very much. If you still can’t get the dog to lose his fear of being on the surfboard, better find another type of competition for dogs if you plan to participate in this type of activity.
The ideal, in the end, is for both you and your four-legged friend to feel good about the sport and deepen their good relationship. So avoid causing any trauma to your pet by forcing him to do something he doesn’t like.
How to teach your dog to surf
If everything seems to indicate that your furry friend likes the idea of surfing with you, be patient and start training him at home. Follow the steps below:
- On dry land, let the dog get acquainted with the surfboard. Let him smell it, learn to climb it, and once he loses his fear, you can get him used to movements similar to those that occur at sea.
- When the animal is ready to continue practicing in the water, it is ideal to choose a pool.
- If all goes well, it’s time to head to the beach and start diving into the sea in search of waves.
Last tips before riding waves with your pet
Before falling into the water with your dog, be sure to have him wear a life jacket. There are specific models for dogs. Also, remember that the board cannot be slippery. Your furry should be able to dig its nails into it to maintain balance and safety.
Now all that remains is to have fun with your pet. After all, that’s the idea, in addition to strengthening the bond with him. If an opportunity arises for the two of them to participate in a festival like Noosa, it will be very welcome.
