West Highland Terrier beats the big dogs in a surfing competition

Petey the West Highland Terrier stole the show at this year’s annual dog surfing competition in California. After a wild run, the extra small pup was named “Best in Surf” against all other competitors big and small – putting this little pooch at the top of the podium.

Helen Woodward Animal Center’s 16th Annual Surf Dog Surf-A-Thon, which takes place in Del Mar, California, is a beloved tradition. The animal welfare organization originally set up this super fun event 16 years ago to raise money for charity. It has always taken place on a dog-friendly beach in Del Mar for everyone to enjoy.

This year’s Surf-A-Thon drew a whole bunch water loving canines to the beach to test their skills on the board and try to win the coveted top prize. The winner of the “Best in Surf” title will receive a Surf-A-Thon Medal for what the judges say is the best dog of the day.

This year’s winner, all the way from the “extra small” weight class, was Petey! A snow-white Westie whose love of the water translates into excellent surfing skills. Third and second places were both taken by dogs significantly larger than Petey. Second place goes to Derby, a Goldendoodle rescue puppy, and third place to Rothstein, a heavyweight Bulldog who knows how to balance.

The judging of the competition is simply to see how well the dogs can surf, but also to see how much fun they are having. No dog should be forced to learn to surf and if a puppy is scared or uncomfortable it will show on their face and body language. Fortunately, the canines involved in the Surf-A-Thon all seemed to be having a great time!

While it might be a day of dog surfing, it’s not just limited to that. The Surf Dog Surf-A-Thon hosts two other competitions for spectators to enjoy. The main event is for lone canines as we know with a second contest for their owners. Last, but certainly not least, is the competition for surf dogs who prefer to surf in packs. These contests were judged on creativity, along with a small side contest for costumes.

It is a competition designed to be fun for everyone involved and gives dogs of all breeds, sizes and backgrounds the chance to show off their skills. And with the huge success of Petey the Westie, it shows that anything is possible!