SO CAL SURF DOGS
Surf Dog NANI
Nani surfing
Photo by Diane Edmonds
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Name: Nani (Akamai Nani Nui)
Nicknames: Little Bear Sex: Female Breed: Bernese Mountain Dog Birthday: February 12, 2004 Owner's: Peter & Gabi Noll E-mail: pgnoll@san.rr.com Tel: (858)793-9364 Favorite Pastime: Surfing, Swimming, sleeping and eating Pet Peeves: When someone (or another dog) get's on her surfboard. Favorite Beach: Dog Beach Del Mar Favorite Dog Park: Dog Beach Del Mar Favorite Toy: Stuffed Duck Favorite Food: Chicken, Steak, Natural Balance Dog Food Favorite Treat: Cheese Nani's Story: I was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and my wife Gabi in Munich Germany. Several years ago we were visiting friends of hers in a small town outside of Frankfort. They had a Bernese Mountain Dog. I had never seen a Bernese Mountain Dog (Berner Sennend Hund) and thought this is the most beautiful dog I had ever seen. He had an incredible presence about him. That was it. As soon as we get home, we were going to see if we could find one. We did a lot of research and with the help of friends, finally became aware of a female that was available in Phoenix, Arizona. She was the first born, but the last one to go. Apparently she was selected by a professional ball player who was not able to pick her up because spring training was starting. He asked the Breeders to put her in a kennel for a few months and he would pick her up at the end of spring training. Lucky for us, they said no. I have to admit however that I was thinking “Why do I want to get a dog nobody else wants?” “I want to pick my dog, not just get the last one.” We decided we would drive over and have a look. As soon as I saw her, it was all over! She was going home with us. She was beautiful, healthy, active and happy puppy. Gabi is always reminding me that I did not want this reject dog! When Nani was one year old she was diagnosed with hip dysplasia. She wasn’t in any pain or discomfort but had this awkward gait. Several veterinarians and orthopedic specialists were consulted. Various surgical procedures and medications were suggested and advised, but others suggested various physical therapies. In the end, it was decided to try swimming. We took Nani to Mission Bay. The idea was that I would paddle my kayak and Nani would swim behind. The only problem with this was that Nani would be crying the entire time. When I would pull onto the beach, Nani would jump into the kayak. So I ended up paddling her around the bay. The other dogs got wind of this and before you knew it, I was paddling three dogs around the bay. Clearly this was not going to work. (I was getting in shape, but this was never really the plan). So, I tried swimming out 50 yards or so from the beach and would tread water as I waited for her (she wasn’t far behind). Again, she was crying the entire time. I think she thought he was drowning. So I would hold onto the nap of her neck and she would pull me back to the beach. This would be repeated a half dozen times. This turned out to be a pretty good workout. When we visit friends who have pools, she runs right to their back yard and stands by the pool until we tell her “it’s O.K., go swim”. She walks right in and swims a few laps. She loves it! When I would go Surf Kayaking, Nani would run back and forth on the beach, you guessed it, crying the entire time. One time the kayak came back to the beach without me (this happened more than once) and Nani jumped in. So, I pushed her out into the surf, turned her around and pushed her into a wave. She sat there like Cleopatra all the way to the beach. A close friend witnessed this curious behavior and told us about a surfing contest for dogs (The Helen Woodward Surf-A-Thon) and suggested that we sign Nani up. The Helen Woodward Animal Center is a wonderful organization that rescues all sorts of animals and places them in caring homes. The ‘Surf Dog Surf-A-Thon is one of several Dog Surfing Competitions in California that raises awareness and monies for various charities. I thought she was nuts and didn’t give it much thought. About six months later she called me to remind me that the surfing contest was coming up in two weeks and wondered if I was going to enter Nani. We decided we would take her to dog beach in Del Mar that weekend to she if she could surf. I have a Soft Top surf board we purchased at Costco for $99.00 to teach our friend’s children visiting from Germany. I have been surfing for more than 45 years, so the Idea actually sounded like it might be fun! I swear this is the honest truth. I walked out into the water with Nani close behind. I set the surfboard down in the shallow water and Nani jumped right up onto the surfboard. I pushed her out through a few waves, turned her around and gently pushed her into a small wave. She rode that wave all the way to the beach. We could not believe it! We tried again and she did it again. When we got home, we signed her up for the surfing contest. The day of the contest was a typically beautiful, sunny San Diego day. We entered Nani in the extra large dog division. She won first place (a gold metal) in her weight group and moved on to compete in the finals. She won second place (a silver metal) over all. Not bad for two weekends of practice. Don’t forget, she has hip dysplasia. Since then, we’ve entered several other dog surfing contest from Imperial Beach, to Huntington Beach, California. All these events raise monies for charities are are a ton of fun! All these events draw large crowds and media attention from all over the world. Every once in awhile, we take her Surfing just for fun. She loves it! When she hears the sound of the Velcro of my board shorts, she goes nuts, she starts crying, jumping up and down, barking and starts nosing me towards the car. This doesn’t stop until she’s on the board in the water. I can’t tell you how many times people have come up to us to say it made their day to watch her surf. She regularly draws a crowd. They all want to know how we taught her to surf. They can’t believe we didn’t teach her. We don’t make her do this. If she didn’t want to do it, we wouldn’t do it!. I'm always watching her and am close by to be sure she’s O.K. Now we make her wear a Canine Flotation Device (CFD) for safety and strongly suggest that anyone who wants to surf with their dog do the same. ‘Safety First!’ Nobody should force their dog to do anything they don’t want to do. Nani and several of her So Cal Surf Dog Buddies were invited up to Zuma Beach, North of Malibu to film the new Marmaduke move. Nani and Dozer are the first dogs you see surfing in the surf Dog Competition scene in the movie! Nani and her So Cal Surf Dog Buddies participate in many Charitable events here in San Diego whenever they can! There’s a better than average chance if you go to Dog Beach in Del Mar on any sunny weekend, you’ll see this very happy Bernese Mountain Dog surfing. If this doesn’t make you smile, nothing will! Titles & Honors: Cover Girl for the 2010 Surf Dog Calendar See all the past Surf Dogs Calendars HERE! Oder your own Surf Dog Calendar at: http://www.surfdogscalendar.com/ * Nani was one of several Surfing Dogs featured in the Marmaduke Movie. * Along with So Cal Surf Dogs Team mates Ricochet, Dozer and Toby, Nani won the Billboard contest for the 2011 Helen Woodward Surf Dog Surf-A-Thon! * Nani and her SoCal Surf Dog Buddies Ricochet, Dozer and Toby were featured on the PR Newswire Big Screen in Times Square New York and Las Vegas! * Nani And her SoCal Surf Dogs Team mates won the Billboard contest for the 2012 Helen Woodward Surf Dog Surf-A-Thon! Surf Dog Competitions: 2008 Helen Woodward Surf Dog Surf-A-Thon in Del Mar, California: First Place Extra Large Dog Heat Second Place over all 2009 Surfin' Paws Surf Dog Competition in Huntington Beach, California: First Place Extra Large Dogs Grand Champion Over all 2009 Purina Incredible Dog Challenge Surf Dog Competition at Dog Beach in San Diego: Second Place Large Dogs 2009 Helen Woodward Surf Dog Surf-A-Thon in Del Mar, California: First Place Extra Large Dog Heat 2009 Surf City Surf Dog Competition in Huntington Beach, California: Second Place Shredders 2010 Loews Coronado Surf Dog Competition in Imperial Beach, California: Second Place Large Dogs 2010 Purina Incredible Dog Challenge Surf Dog Competition at Dog Beach in San Diego: First Place Large Dogs Second Place tandem 2010 SPN Surf Dog Competition, in Huntington Beach, California: First Place 2010 Helen Woodward Surf Dog Surf-A-Thon in Del Mar, California: First Place Extra Large Dog Heat First Place Doo the Dah! 2010 Surf City Surf Dog Competition in Huntington Beach, California: First Place Extra Large Dogs Best Trick 2011 Loews Coronado Surf Dog Competition in Imperial Beach, California: Second Place Tandem (Five Surfdogs on one surfboard) 2011 Purina Incredible Dog Challenge Surf Dog Competition: at Dog Beach in Ocean Beach, San Diego, California First Place Large Dogs 2011 Helen Woodward Surf-A-Thon in Del Mar, California: First Place Extra Large Dog Heat Second Place Over All First Place Doo the Dah (Tandem) 2011 Surf City Surf Dog Competition in Huntington Beach, California: Did Not Attend! 2012 Purina Pro Plan Incredible Dog Challenge Surf Dog Competition Dog Beach Ocean Beach, San Diego, California Third Place Large Dog 2012 Helen Woodward Surf-A-Thon in Del Mar, California: First Place Extra Large Dog Heat Third Place Over All Retired 09/11/2012 
An original acrylic painting from
Tangerine Studios by Maggie Wright! I think she captured Nani exactly as I see her! Always smiling! You can see more of Maggie’s work on her Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10151013241417269.490967.377117592268&#!/mytangerinestudio?fref=ts or http://www.etsy.com/shop/tangerinestudio
More of Nani's Favorite Websites: Doug, Dozer and Nani feeling the Stoke!  Surf Dog Nani  This poster of Nani sold for $1,000.00
at the Bernese Mountain Dog Specialty Health Auction
in Del Mar on April 7th, 2011  Dog World Magazine, March 2011  Nani, the little one, third from left.
2011 Helen Woodward Surf-A-Thon
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Click on any photo to enlarge or to go to link!
 Nani at 10 weeks Click on puppy Nani for link to her Blog!
 Nani  Nani swimming  Nani, Peter, Megan & Kiki Kayaking on Mission Bay n San Diego  This started it all!!!  Nani can't wait to get in the water for more!!! Click on Photo to see video!
 Nani, cover girl 2010 Click on Calendar to see and/or purchase the 2012 Calendar!
See More of Nani Surfing with her SoCal Surf Dog Buddies Click on Photo of Nani & Kia to see more photos of Nani Tandem surfing with her SoCal Surf Dogs Buddies!  Nani Surfing  Getting ready See More Tandem Surfing Click on the Photo of Nani & I Surfing to see more Tandem Photos!  Nani Surf Dog Champion  Surf Dog  Surf Dog Competion Finals  Surf City Surf Dog Competition  Times Square  Punk Rock Dogs 
 Nice Article by Arden Moore in the August 2011 Edition of "Arden Knows Pets"
 Nani's Paw Print  Going out for the last wave of the day  First Surf Dog Game.
Dozer and Nani Bean Bag Toss.
Made for Reality Rally, April 2011  Nani Surfing Loews 2011  Pro Surfer Taylor Knox, Nani & Peter  First Place 2011 Purina Incredible Dog Surf Dog Competition  
Winner's of the 2011 Helen Woodward Animal Center's Surf-A-Thon Billboard Contest.
Nani, Ricochet, Dozer and Toby.
2012 Hope Telethon
Nani in Jail (Paw-catraz) with Dozer, Ricochet and actress Diane Keaton and HWAC President Mike Arms.
Nani with the Gun Slingers
at the 2013 Reality Rally in Temecula California |
Nani, the first dog to Surf a Fountain.
Reality Rally, Temecula City Hall, April 2011
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 Dozer & Nani - Casino Nights  Nani & Dozer - Surf-A-Thon |
A Photo Shoot for
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Dozer and Nani Shoot an Ad Campaign
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 PetCo Park |
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You Tube Video
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 2011 Loews Surfdog Competition
June 4th, 2011 |
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Toby, Jack, Deagen, Dozer and Nani
