Brian Wilson may have passed away a little more than a month ago, but from the U.K. to California, the spirit of the Beach Boys lives on –– only now, it’s in the form of some beachy “good boys.” On Sunday, July 27, a doggie surfing competition known as the Dog Masters Festival took place in Dorset, England. On Saturday, Aug. 2, the World Dog Surfing Championships will take over a beach in the San Francisco Bay area.
Dog Masters Festival 2025
While Sunday’s event was billed as a surfing competition, it largely involved puppers paddleboarding with their human guardians. However, that doesn’t mean the day didn’t see some impressive feats –– or should we say, paws –– of canine accomplishment.
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Matt Jenkins and his dog Gigi, as well as Benn Gray and Boo, broke the Guinness World record for “fastest 50-meter on a paddle board by a human/dog pair.”
Meanwhile, a group of humans and their furry companions also attempted to break the record for most dogs on a paddleboard. Unfortunately, it’s a dog-eat-dog world out there, and they weren’t successful.
Competitors at the Dog Masters Festival, a dog on a paddle board contest near Poole in Dorset, England, Sunday, July 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth) 
Carl Barnes and Margo compete at Dog Masters Festival, a dog on a paddle board contest near Poole in Dorset, England, Sunday, July 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth) 
Matt Jenkins and Gigi compete at Dog Masters Festival a dog on a paddle board contest near Poole in Dorset, England, Sunday, July 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth) 
Matt Jenkins and Gigi, left, and Benn Gray and Boo, right, hold the certificate after they drew in breaking the Guinness World record for ‘The fastest 50m on a paddle board by a human/dog pair’ at Dog Masters Festival a dog on a paddle board contest near Poole in Dorset, England, Sunday, July 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth) 
People try to break the Guinness World Record for the most dogs on a paddle board at Dog Masters Festival near Poole in Dorset, England, Sunday, July 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth) 
Matt Jenkins and Gigi compete at Dog Masters Festival a dog on a paddle board contest near Poole in Dorset, England, Sunday, July 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth) 
Benn Gray and Boo, centre, take part in the Guinness World record attempt for ‘The fastest 50m on a paddle board by a human/dog pair’ at Dog Masters Festival a dog on a paddle board contest near Poole in Dorset, England, Sunday, July 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)
World Dog Surfing Championships 2025
If you missed the Dog Masters Festival, there’s another opportunity to fetch the waves, as the World Dog Surfing Championships takes over Linda Mar Beach, just outside San Francisco, on Aug. 2.
The event brings together both seasoned professionals and eager amateurs for a day of dog-themed fun. Aside from the main surfing competition, there will also be a fetch competition, fashion contest and adoption drive.
At the end of the day, one talented pooch will walk away with the Golden Surfie Award. Judges rank the participants based on length of ride, quantity and quality of tricks while surfing, and the size of the wave.
