Dear Dog Diary:
It's hard keeping all that puppy energy inside... and why try? I'm dinky doxie Doodle - I'm 14 pounds, wet.
SUPERMAN!!!!!! Yep, that's me in the Loews Surf Dog Contest in 2013. Photo by Caroline Fenton, DogDiary.org
Add my custom wetsuit and floaty vest and all the doxie dude vibe I bring.
People Hang 10 - they hang toes on the nose of a surfboard. I Hang 20.
Technically, I am a Chiweenie, or a Doxie Wa Wa, not pure dachshund, as if it matters.
I am a surf hound - and a rescue dog. Dog mom Barb Ayers adopted me from Yamhill County Animal Shelter in Oregon. Her two basset boys were getting old, ready to retire from surfing. I am Gen X, the Next Gen Ayers family surf hound. #4 surf dog of four in the family. And I'm a rover reporter for Surf Dog Diaries.
That's me on adoption day, January 2012 - leaving the shelter, riding to my new home with mom and the basset bro's. Photo: (c) Barb Ayers, DogDiary.org
I don't share photos of the shelter I came from.
It is dark and cave-like and I am sure you would get doggie PTSD, just from looking at it. But the people were nice there and worked hard to find me a forever home and I'm so thankful for that.
If I had any issues, they seemed to dissolve in H20.
Thanks to Elvis, I got the secret surf dog handshake - he taught me to ride. I love my 65-pound basset bro with all of my dinky doxie heart.
My first ride
My first surfing experience was riding tandem with mom on a surfboard behind a ski boat. Check out this YouTube!
Then, I rode waves at Dog Beach in Ocean Beach (where dog surfing first began.)
Next stop - the Loews Coronado Surf Dog contest - later called to Unleashed by Petco Surf Dog Contest and Imperial Beach Surf Dog.
We flew in from Portland, OR to San Diego, just to surf the contest.
Barbara Ayers and Dude were winners in tandem surfing at the 2nd and 4th annual Loews Coronado Surf Dog Competition, annual charity event. Photo courtesy Arizona Daily Star - AP Photo by Denis Poroy
Yes, they have surf dog contests
My bro’s had competed in it before me, and Dude took home medals a couple of years in a row.
Check him out! The Dude abides.
In the contest, I rode hard - 14 pounds and all - but did not win a trophy.
Our family of surfers believe - in life and in waves - you’ve just got to try.
It's not about winning- it's about showing up.
It’s about sharing the ride.
xoxo, Doodle