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Surfing dogs, ruff competition heats up Huntington Beach

June 24, 2023

As owner Tammy Strassenberg of Camp Verde, Arizona, right, watches, Buckshot flies through the air as he prepares to grab a hanging bumper after running and leaping off a 40-foot long stage only to land in a large pool of water during the Fetch It! event of the Incredible Dog Challenge western regional competition held at Huntington State Beach in Huntington Beach on Friday, June 23, 2023. The competition continues with the finals on Saturday, June 24th. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Carson, owned by Jill Nakano of Long Beach, gets knocked off his surfboard as a Huntington Beach State lifeguard waits to catch him during the Surf Dog event of the Incredible Dog Challenge western regional competition held at Huntington State Beach in Huntington Beach on Friday, June 23, 2023. The competition continues with the finals on Saturday, June 24th. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Cherie, owned by Dan Nykolayko of Newport Beach, rides the surfboard into the beach during the Surf Dog event of the Incredible Dog Challenge western regional competition held at Huntington State Beach in Huntington Beach on Friday, June 23, 2023. The competition continues with the finals on Saturday, June 24th. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Brad Denney of Irvine watches as Maya leaps off his back to catch a disc during the Freestyle Flying Disc event of the Incredible Dog Challenge western regional competition held at Huntington State Beach in Huntington Beach on Friday, June 23, 2023. The competition continues with the finals on Saturday, June 24th. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

With sunglasses on, Derby, owned by Kentucky Gallahue of San Diego, rides his surfboard through the shore break during the Surf Dog event of the Incredible Dog Challenge western regional competition held at Huntington State Beach in Huntington Beach on Friday, June 23, 2023. The competition continues with the finals on Saturday, June 24th. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Bamboo, along with his owner Pam Lucado of Fullerton, watch the Surf Dog competition in the Incredible Dog Challenge held at Huntington State Beach in Huntington Beach on Friday, June 23, 2023. The competition continues with the finals on Saturday, June 24th. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

A sign posted in the sand lets dogs and their owners to stay away if they are not competing in the Surf Dog event of the Incredible Dog Challenge western regional competition held at Huntington State Beach in Huntington Beach on Friday, June 23, 2023. The competition continues with the finals on Saturday, June 24th. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Wearing colorful beach attire, Carson, owned by Jill Nakano of Long Beach, poses with other competitors on a surfboard following the Surf Dog event of the Incredible Dog Challenge western regional competition held at Huntington State Beach in Huntington Beach on Friday, June 23, 2023. The competition continues with the finals on Saturday, June 24th. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Charlie, owned by Jeffrey Neiboer of El Cajon, carries his own surfboard back to the beach after competing in the Surf Dog event of the Incredible Dog Challenge western regional competition held at Huntington State Beach in Huntington Beach on Friday, June 23, 2023. The competition continues with the finals on Saturday, June 24th. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Cherie, owned by Dan Nykolayko of Newport Beach, makes her way toward the beach after competing in the Surf Dog event of the Incredible Dog Challenge western regional competition held at Huntington State Beach in Huntington Beach on Friday, June 23, 2023. The competition continues with the finals on Saturday, June 24th. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Spectators watch and take photos from the edge of the pool as dogs run and leap off a 40-foot long stage and fly through the air to grab a hanging bumper during the Fetch It! event of the Incredible Dog Challenge western regional competition held at Huntington State Beach in Huntington Beach on Friday, June 23, 2023. The competition continues with the finals on Saturday, June 24th. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Derby, owned by Kentucky Gallahue of San Diego, jumps off his surfboard and into the water during the Surf Dog event of the Incredible Dog Challenge western regional competition held at Huntington State Beach in Huntington Beach on Friday, June 23, 2023. The competition continues with the finals on Saturday, June 24th. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

A surfboard leans against a beach chair during the Surf Dog event of the Incredible Dog Challenge western regional competition held at Huntington State Beach in Huntington Beach on Friday, June 23, 2023. The competition continues with the finals on Saturday, June 24th. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Derby gets some love from Kentucky Gallahue, left, of San Diego, after riding waves in the Surf Dog event of the Incredible Dog Challenge western regional competition held at Huntington State Beach in Huntington Beach on Friday, June 23, 2023. The competition continues with the finals on Saturday, June 24th. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

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The dog days of summer are here.

The 26th annual Purina Pro Plan Incredible Dog Challenge Western Regional Competition kicked off on Friday, June 23, in Huntington Beach, bringing ruff competition to the sand and surf.

Surfing dogs took to the waves at Brookhurst Street, balancing on boards as they navigated the waters toward shore.

The main competition was held further north at Newland Street, where a dock diving event showcased pups sprinting off a 40-foot stage to launch into a 19,000-gallon pool. Qualifiers were also held for a freestyle flying disc contest and “fetch it” events.

The pups return to the sand on Saturday, June 24, to continue the agility, diving, disc and other competitions. The event, free to the public, will run from 10:15 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at Newland Street at Huntington State Beach.

For a full schedule of events, go to purina.com

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