Chapter 8 Going Out

It's time to head out and Surf!

A little lingo before you head out!

Going Out
Impact zone
Inside
Outside
SDR

Soup

Heading out into the water to surf
The area where the waves are breaking
The beach side of the breaking waves
The area beyond where the waves are breaking
Surf Dog Retriever. This a friend or family member who is helping you in the water. They are helping to watch out for the safety of your Surf Dog and helping you retrieve them when they jump off or wipeout. They will also help to get them turned around and heading back out to you.
The white water

(More surf terms in Chapter 14, Surf Dog Lingo)

Surf Etiquette

If you’re not a Surfer and or are not familiar with surf Etiquette, please read and become familiar with Chapter 15, Surf Etiquette.
These are un-written rules that apply to surfers, but can and should also apply to Surfing Dogs and their Owners.

Starting out

For the first couple of weeks, you’re going to be surfing in the soup on the inside.
Do not attempt to go outside until both you and your surf dog have mastered surfing in the soup!
Before you start, put on and secure their CFD.
Photos below show So Cal Surf Dog Owners putting CFDs on their Surf Dogs.

SDR's

What the heck is a SDR?
Your SDR is your 'Surf Dog Retriever'. This is your Wing-man (or Wing-woman) who will help you in the water.
They will stay on the inside and watch your surf dog. After you push your Surf Dog into a wave, He/she is going help retrieve him and quickly get your Surf Dog back onto the surfboard and turned back out towards you. In a Surf Dog Competition this is extremely helpful.
Since safety is always a priority, discuss with your SDRs [Surf Dog Retriever(s)] what you will be doing and what you expect of them before you head out into the surf.

O.K! It's time to hit it!

I always use the expression “Let’s go surfing” or "Do you want to go surfing?” before we head down to the water.

You want them to be excited about surfing!
You can use any expression that get’s them motivated!

Time to ‘go out’.

Grab your board and head down into the water.

If you've prepared properly, your surf dog is running behind you, nosing you into the water!

An Important Note!

* * * Please read and understand this before you go out. * * *

ALWAYS, Always point the nose (front of the surfboard) out towards the breaking surf or towards the beach! Never, ever parallel or sideways to the waves.

A Surfboard that is sitting parallel to an approaching wave or soup is a dangerous projectile.
The wave will pick up the surfboard and hurl it at you, your Surf Dog and who ever is standing next to you.
It will hit you, knock you down, and quite possibly injure you and/or all three of you.

If a surfboard is parallel or sideways to the soup, immediately turn it towards the oncoming surf or towards the beach.
If you choose towards the surf, hold and push down the tail (back of the surfboard) so the nose of the surfboard goes up over the wave.
If you choose towards the beach, hold the back of the surfboard and either lift it up over the wave or hold tight as the wave goes over or around you.
If you have a leash tied to the back of the surfboard that is not attached to your dog, you can try holding on to it.

If you don’t do any of these in time, there’s a good chase you will be watching your surfboard go all the way to the beach.

If you are the SDR (Surf Dog Retriever) or a surfer wading out and a surfboard is parallel to the soup and is moving towards you, do the following;
Move to one side or the other of the approaching surfboard and grab the nose or tail as it goes by.
Let the wave swing the other end around.
Straighten out the surfboard and push it back out towards the owner or the surf dog.
If the Surf Dog is Swimming near by, help him up onto the surfboard first and then push both back out towards the owner.
Helping each other in the water is not only good Etiquette but good Karma!

O.K., enough said.

Drop your surfboard in shin or knee deep water.

As discussed in Chapter 6, Dog Meets Board and Water, give your Surf Dog the ‘UP’ command or what ever command you have used in practice.
Here’s where all that practice pushing your Surf Dog thru the water the same way pays off! He knows what you expect of him and he knows what to do!

Kona

Bodie

Leashing your Surf Dog

Some first timers (and even some experienced Surf Dogs) leash their surf dogs with a sort leash secured to the back of the surfboard.
I don't recommend this, but it's up to each individual Surf Dog Owner.
Secure one end to the surfboard and the other to the handle of the CFD. Some CFD’s have a ring you can attach to. Make sure you have enough length that in case of a wipeout, your Surf Dog can safely get away from the surfboard.

DO NOT, DO NOT, DO NOT EVER secure to the dogs collar! NEVER EVER!

You made need to adjust the length of the leash to get your Surf Dog to remain in the correct position.
If they pearl, shorten the leash.
If you can’t seem get them into a wave, maybe they are too far back.
In this case lengthen the leash.
This helps keep them in the back 1/3 of the board over the fins.
Be Sure the leash is long enough that in a wipeout, your Surf Dog can swim far enough away from the surfboard without getting hit.

ALL dogs have this natural tenancy or desire to run to the front of the surfboard. When they do, the surfboard will pearl.
(Pearl or Pearling is what happens when the nose of the surfboard goes under water which in turn brings the surfboard to a halt and catapults your dog into the drink!)

Leashing your Surf Dog can be a great training tool. I suggest trying to surf without leashing them.

(Note that some Surf Dog Competitions will count points against dogs that are leashed to the surfboard.)

I would suggest you try to surf without leashing your Surf Dog first before you try leashing. If they continue to run to the front of the surfboard, then try leashing them.

Try to remove it after a few waves to see if they really need it.
Some dogs get it right away and others need more time.

A few more Important Notes!

Controlling their surfboards.
Dogs cannot steer or turn their surfboards.
Yes they can learn to adjust their weight while surfing to stay in a wave, but they can’t turn!
If you are pushing your dog out or you are on your way in to retrieve your Surf Dog, It’s YOUR RESPONSIBILITY to watch out for and stay out of the way of ALL SURFING DOGS!!! Make sure your SDRs understand this as well!
At Surf Dog Competitions it will get really crowded in the water.
In all the excitement, it's easy to forget that there are other dogs surfing here to!
Can't tell you how many times I've seen a Surf Dog getting a great ride only to run into the backs of people not paying attention to what is going on! BE AWARE AT ALL TIMES as to what's going on around you!

SURFING DOGS HAVE THE RIGHT OF WAY!!!
Let them enjoy the Stoke!

2010 Helen Woodward Surf Dog Surf-A-Thon

Here's a couple of great examples of people
"NOT PAYING ATTENTION TO WHAT'S GOING ON AROUND THEM"!!!
In the first video, a Surf Dog runs over a fellow competitor!
In the second video, a surf dog runs right into the back of someone not paying attention!

NOT COOL!
Be Aware!

Stanley Punking Mr Tyson - Camera #1

Stanley Punking Mr Tyson - Camera #2

Turn that surfboard around!
You need to know how to turn a surfboard!
It’s important to note that in order to turn a surfboard, the weight needs to be over one end or the other of the board. Typically it’s the tail.
Your Surf Dog should already be in the back 1/3 of the surfboard.
You should already be hold the tail of the surfboard with one hand and your Surf Dog with the other!

You pivot the surfboard like a cork by lowering the tail slightly and raising the nose. You then just spin around. Try it! Then try turning the board without lowering one end or the other.
Turning the surfboard is much easier if you are already holding onto the tail!
Note how Doug has one hand on the rail and one on or near the tail.
He is ready to turn Dozer and the surfboard around at a moments notice!

Now your ready to turn quickly when you spot that awesome wave approaching!

Standing!
Your Surf Dog should always be standing.
Going out, going over waves, turning around and surfing! Their feet will act as shock absorbers as they go over the waves. This not only gives them a lot of practice balancing on the surfboard on the way out, but they are also already in position and ready to go when a wave comes.
By standing all the time, he his learning to balance and adjust his stance all the time.
This will be huge when it's time to surf!

O.K.,
Your Surf Dog is on the surfboard, Leashed or not, and you are pointed out towards the surf.
Now you need to start pushing them out through the waves.
The first time you do this it might be you and a friend or two helping.
Too many helpers can freak a dog out.
Remember, Lots of praise and make it fun.
Eventually you’re going to want to be able to surf alone with your Surf Dog.
Nothing is more fun than this!

There’s really only a couple of ways to head out correctly.

Pushing out nose first or paddling out with you and your dog on the board.

Nose First

This is the easiest and best way to push your dog out into the surf.

You and your helpers are walking alongside of your surf Dog at about the back 1/3 of the surfboard. You have one hand on the tail of the surfboard to control and push the surfboard and one hand on your surf dog. As a wave or the soup approaches, you can push down on the tail of the surfboard so you can effortlessly go over the wave. With your other hand and or arm, you are securing your dog so they are not knocked off the surfboard. You can hold the handle on the CFD in small waves. On larger waves or you can place your arm under their stomach or over their back with hand on their stomach and secure them close to you. You will all go over together. Remember, lots of praise! This is really different experience for a dog! If the waves are too big to use any of these techniques, maybe you should go or stay inside!
While you are in this position, you can see everything that’s going on around you. You can see the approaching waves and any Surfing Dogs or loose surfboards that are coming towards you.
This gives you time to get out of the way!
Remember:
SURFING DOGS HAVE THE RIGHT OF WAY!!!

Paddling Out

If you’re using a larger surfboard to surf your dog or you want to tandem surf, you can climb on behind your dog to paddle out.
If you already surf this isn’t difficult.
If you have never surfed, this will take some practice.
To get the feeling, you might try paddling around by yourself a few times first.
Again, as the wave or soup approaches, lower the tail to raise the nose, hold on to the rails and go over the wave.

Going out Backwards

Don’t do it!
This is not a good idea and it's dangerous.
Never turn your back on the Ocean! Ever!
This is the person the Lifeguards will be watching!
There are several problems with this technique and we don’t recommend it:
One. You’re not next to your dog to steady them as you go through waves.
Two. Your Surf Dog wants to be with you and will start to walk up towards you and the nose of the surfboard. Remember, you want them to be in the back 1/3 of the board.
Three. You will need to reposition yourself to get ready to push you surf dog into a wave. You want to be able to turn quickly when a good wave aproaches!
Four. This is the most important reasons not to do this.
You can’t see what’s going on behind you!
You can’t see approaching waves.
You can’t see the Surf Dogs that might be surfing right towards you.
You can't see loose surfboards that may be heading directly towards you.
Most importantly, your Surf Dog is going to get washed right off the surfboard
Again, you NEVER want to turn your back on the ocean!
Never.
Did I say never?
Yup.
Never!
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve seen this fool who promotes this, getting his dog washed off the surfboard. Just plain foolish! Don’t do it!

The Wrong Way!

The Wrong way!
I did not see the wave coming
and it slapped me good!
Poor Tyson got swept off the board!
(He was not hurt, his Owner was right there!)

The Right Way!

The Right Way!
Deb is doing it right!
She's got in the back with full control of the surfboard and Kona.
She can see the waves and any surfing dogs coming towards her!
Woof!

Chapter 8

Going Out