EP:5 Dog Adventures, Surfing With Your Dog

00:00:00:10 - 00:00:01:11
Steve
Hey, Jennifer.

00:00:01:13 - 00:00:02:15
Jennifer
Yeah, Steve.

00:00:02:17 - 00:00:10:04
Steve
What do you. Galveston, Texas. Lake Tahoe. Sheboygan, Wisconsin. Honolulu, Hawaii. And San Diego all have in common.

00:00:10:05 - 00:00:11:05
Jennifer
I don't know what.

00:00:11:10 - 00:00:13:14
Steve
They all have spots to surf at.

00:00:13:15 - 00:00:26:09
Jennifer
Well, that's awesome, because today's episode is all about surfing with your pup.

00:00:26:11 - 00:00:34:10
Steve
Welcome to Fetch the Sun, the podcast for dogs and humans who love adventure. We're here to help you make the most of your outdoor experiences with your furry friend.

00:00:34:12 - 00:00:41:17
Jennifer
From choosing the right gear and preparing for your renter to expert advice on how to train your pup safely, we'll cover it all.

00:00:41:19 - 00:00:54:13
Steve
Plus, we'll be discussing our current animal rescue efforts along the way. So join us as we explore this exciting journey together. Now let's get ready to set out on our next amazing Catch the Sun Adventure.

00:00:54:15 - 00:01:11:00
Jennifer
We're back and we've been incredibly busy off the sun. We apologize for missing a few months of episodes, but we're excited to bring you an amazing show. Today we have a truly special guest that surf dog enthusiasts will surely recognize. And we can't wait for you to enjoy it.

00:01:11:02 - 00:01:35:04
Steve
But before we jump in, we want to take a moment to give a huge shout out to all of our supporters and customers that we've gotten to know over the last four years. Everything that you guys have been doing from spreading awareness about our brand and what we're trying to do for the outdoor dog adventure lifestyle, to leaving positive comments about our gear, tuning in and listening to our podcast, liking and sharing social media posts to just, you know, showing up and supporting us at events.

00:01:35:06 - 00:01:39:00
Steve
We are so very grateful and thank you so much from the bottom of our hearts.

00:01:39:01 - 00:02:05:09
Jennifer
And speaking of events, we're going to be at the very first San Diego Creators Fest on Sunday, October 1st. It's an event put together by our friends over at Nelson Photos Supplies located in the Midway District. You know, we love supporting and shopping local. And these guys have been serving San Diego community since the 1950s. It's also sponsored by two other amazing companies, Topo Chico, Mineral Water and Purity Distilling.

00:02:05:11 - 00:02:27:11
Steve
So yeah, if you're going to be in the San Diego area on October 1st, stopping by Creator Fest and say hi. They're going to have live music from some pretty rad local San Diego bands, lots of good food and local small business pop ups, you know, And if you love photography, Nelson's going to have a lot of their brand reps on hand, basically giving the best prices you could find on Nikon Canon small rig and more.

00:02:27:11 - 00:02:30:16
Steve
So if you're really into photography, totally come check it out.

00:02:30:17 - 00:02:48:14
Jennifer
Oh, and don't forget the puppies. Helen Woodward, Animal Center, where we adopted two of our rescue dogs, is going to be on hand with some pretty cute puppies. They'll be teaching event goers on what it takes to bring home a rescue dog. So don't miss out on adopting your new BFF, best furry friend.

00:02:48:16 - 00:03:07:07
Steve
Yes. You're not going to want to miss this one. And you know, when your grandkids are telling you they're heading out to the 50th Annual Creators Fest, you could sit there and tell them that you're at the very first one. So, again, that Creator Fest is going to take place on October 1st this year, 2023 at three, six, 25 Midway Drive in San Diego.

00:03:07:07 - 00:03:30:08
Steve
And, you know, we'll be putting all this info as well as links to Nelson photos, supplies and the event page in our show notes. So as we said, this episode is all about surfing with your dog and we'll cover everything from gear needed training tips to scouting out a dog friendly beach. But before we cover all that, we just have to say that getting in the water with your dog is an inherently risky activity that has the potential to result in serious injury or death.

00:03:30:10 - 00:03:44:05
Steve
We take no responsibility for any safety risks or issues arising from participating in activities discussed in this podcast and recommend consulting a qualified veterinarian before starting any activity with your pet. And please reference the show notes for the full disclaimer.

00:03:44:07 - 00:03:47:23
Jennifer
That's right guys. Just be safe, but have fun.

00:03:48:01 - 00:03:56:10
Steve
And just don't take any unnecessary risks and don't push the limits of you or your dog. But we're going to start off talking about the benefits of surfing with your dog.

00:03:56:12 - 00:04:01:22
Jennifer
That's right. Surfing with your dog isn't just a fun activity. It actually has many advantages for both you and your dog.

00:04:02:03 - 00:04:10:11
Steve
Absolutely. One of the biggest benefits is strengthening the bond between you and your dog. Surfing together in such a unique environment can create a special connection between the two of you.

00:04:10:16 - 00:04:22:15
Jennifer
And let's not forget about the social aspect for you and your dogs. Dog friendly beaches offer the perfect setting for them to interact with other dogs and people while enjoying the great outdoors, the sun and the sand.

00:04:22:18 - 00:04:33:14
Steve
That's true. It's like a playground for dogs. And surfing can also bring out a sense of confidence in dogs, you know, trying something new and different shows them their capabilities beyond their regular everyday routines.

00:04:33:16 - 00:04:47:21
Jennifer
And not just the mental benefits, but there's physical ones too. Surfing can improve your dog's cardio health and strengthen their muscles as they navigate the waves, jump through the ocean and swim and run on the beach.

00:04:47:21 - 00:04:58:14
Steve
Yeah. Just, you know, think of all the fun you'll have together. It's really a great way to spend quality time outdoors with your very best friend. So how do you go and find a beach that allows dogs and has good waves for them to play on?

00:04:58:18 - 00:05:11:10
Jennifer
Yeah, believe it or not, not all beaches allow dogs. I know it's crazy. And also they might not have. The waves are suitable for them to surf on. But if you're lucky enough to live near one that does. There are a few things that you need to keep in mind.

00:05:11:14 - 00:05:12:09
Steve
Like what?

00:05:12:11 - 00:05:25:21
Jennifer
Well, first, you should check out the city's website for the beach. They usually have all the rules regulations regarding dogs posted there. Also, if you live in San Diego, check out our blog about Del Mar, Dog Beach and Ocean Dog Beaches.

00:05:25:23 - 00:05:44:07
Steve
Yeah, another great resource is Surf Wine.com. They'll have specific information for each beach like skill level water quality, which is pretty important here in San Diego. And they'll even publish a surf guide at the bottom of the pages and they'll give current conditions like Tide and Wave. Hi.

00:05:44:11 - 00:06:01:14
Jennifer
Plus, there's a crowd factor report so you can avoid crowded beaches with your dog and they even have water temperatures listed. And make sure that your dog is comfortable in the water. And as you know, dogs probably can't steer very well. So you don't want super crowded beaches when you're trying to learn to surf with your dog.

00:06:01:16 - 00:06:21:11
Steve
Yeah, and I'll just put a plug in here about, you know, if you do live in an area with a beach that has waves or just the beach in general with flat water and there are no dog beaches available, I would highly encourage everybody to go out. And if you really want one, start a petition with you are local municipality or city council, whoever.

00:06:21:13 - 00:06:32:06
Steve
Get other dog lovers to sign up on that and you know, just to try and make it happen and try and, you know, continue to better the world for dog owners and their dogs.

00:06:32:08 - 00:06:33:08
Jennifer
Right on.

00:06:33:10 - 00:06:41:23
Steve
So, yeah. So now that we've found a suitable beach, let's talk about some basic training. You and your dog should have down before heading out, especially if you're going to at least free area.

00:06:42:01 - 00:06:54:03
Jennifer
Yes, Training is crucial for a successful surfing session with your dog. First things first, you want to make sure your dog knows the basic commands, like sit, stay and are really, really reliable. Come.

00:06:54:05 - 00:07:12:03
Steve
Yeah. Those commands will be a lifesaver when trying to keep control of your dog on the beach. And don't forget about getting them comfortable with the board itself. I'd recommend starting on land first before getting in the water with the board, and then once they kind of get the idea of getting on the board, gradually introducing it in the water.

00:07:12:05 - 00:07:20:11
Jennifer
And if your dog is motivated or toy motivated, you can use treats or toys as a positive reinforcement for getting on the surfboard.

00:07:20:12 - 00:07:32:03
Steve
Yeah, we had to use a lot of treats to get Snoopy motivated to get on the board. When we first started with him, you know, then he really got into it and we were able to dial back those treats. Riding the wave actually became a treat for him.

00:07:32:05 - 00:07:41:00
Jennifer
And it's also important to know that when it's time to hit, the waves start small and close to shore. That way your dog can work up to those bigger waves.

00:07:41:02 - 00:07:58:06
Steve
Right. Small waves are perfect for beginners, and it's always good to have a friend with you, you know, for support. And then you guys can take turns catching waves with your pup. One could gently push the board with the dog on it into a gently rolling wave with another person standing by to catch the board and the dog.

00:07:58:08 - 00:08:05:20
Jennifer
Once you got some of those smaller waves down, you can gradually go a little deeper and push them into some larger waves to make sure they're enjoying it.

00:08:05:23 - 00:08:26:17
Steve
Yeah, this will give them a bit of a faster and longer ride as you get further out, you know, and like kind of bigger waves that not to bay, but once you get them pushing them into slightly bigger waves and what's breaking on the shore, they'll get a nice longer ride out of it. But yeah don't don't be pushing them into any waves that are too big or too turbulent.

00:08:26:19 - 00:08:46:07
Jennifer
Yeah. Remember, always be patient with your dog. Make sure your dog is enjoying the activity. And it may so it may just take some time for them to get used to surfing. Don't force them into the waves. Maybe surfing might not be their thing, but let them go their own pace and reward them with love treats positive reinforcement.

00:08:46:09 - 00:08:50:21
Jennifer
Before you know it, your dog might be becoming a pro surfer. You never know.

00:08:50:23 - 00:09:02:19
Steve
So yeah, exactly like Snoopy better than me. I've been surfing. I pretty much my whole life now, you know, before heading out, there are some things you're going to need to bring with you on your surfing adventure.

00:09:02:21 - 00:09:21:22
Jennifer
Yep. Don't forget all the safety gear. A life jacket, of course, specifically made for dogs is a must have. And and not only helps them stay afloat if they accidentally fall off, but it also ensures their safety. And they won't be, you know, kind of clobbered by the waves if they start getting out deeper.

00:09:22:00 - 00:09:40:03
Steve
Yeah, you'll definitely want to bring a leash and a harness to keep your pup under control while you're transiting to the waves. You know, even if you're going to a leash free beach and it's your first time bringing your dog to the beach, there's going to be so much going on there that it's kind of hard to predict how your dog's an act there.

00:09:40:03 - 00:09:51:12
Steve
So you want to always have that positive control. Also, you want to bring plenty of food, water and treats, you know, not just for your pup, but for you, too. You don't want to get dehydrated out there.

00:09:51:14 - 00:10:03:20
Jennifer
And like with any outdoor fun activity, you should always make sure that your dog's up to date on vaccination, because especially if it's a busy dog beach, there's likely to be a lot of other dogs. You want them to be safe.

00:10:03:21 - 00:10:13:14
Steve
Yeah, exactly. And it's it's important to check the surf conditions before you go out. If the waves are too big, it may be best. Just wait another day or find a more suitable beach.

00:10:13:15 - 00:10:24:11
Jennifer
Okay, now the fun part. Let's talk about dogs, surfboard selection options. It really depends on a lot of different things, including the size of your little doggy.

00:10:24:13 - 00:10:46:10
Steve
Yeah, this is kind of a hard one because it's like, I can't just give you this magic formula and say, Hey, if your dog is £35, get this size board. So you're going to kind of have to play it out by, you know, I'm going to say breed because, you know, a bulldog is going to ride a different surfboard than a golden retriever.

00:10:46:10 - 00:11:08:02
Steve
And I mean, give me an example. You know, our £14 Jack Russell Chihuahua mix. I used one of our kids old surfboards. They had a round nose, soft top. It was five foot, eight inch surfboard. It was pretty wide. It's 19 inches wide and two and a three quarter inch thick, which is pretty thick. But it gave him enough stability.

00:11:08:02 - 00:11:19:05
Steve
He liked to sit on the front of the nose and stand on the front of the nose and that board was really able to get him riding. And he seemed to do to do good on that one.

00:11:19:07 - 00:11:50:01
Jennifer
Yeah. So if you have like a bigger dog, you know, you probably want to, of course, get a bigger surfboard with more flotation on it, you know, thicker board and you know, the best board to get is a soft top board because and their paws can kind of grip in there. And even now since surf, you know, dog surfing is becoming more and more popular with the competitions and everything, you can now find specialized deck pads for dogs to help them grip more easily.

00:11:50:03 - 00:11:56:04
Jennifer
But if you're just starting out, I would definitely recommend a soft top that will hold the weight of your dog.

00:11:56:06 - 00:12:14:05
Steve
And, you know, give that better grip for your dog's paws. And, you know, just so remember, before you go and hit the waves, make sure you have all the necessary gear and safety precautions in place. And again, it's always, always, always best to choose a board that's suitable for your dog's size.

00:12:14:07 - 00:12:26:19
Jennifer
And again, just make sure you have plenty of water, water, bowl treats. And if you're going to be out there for a while, make sure you have enough food for the whole pack, because surfing always makes me hungry.

00:12:26:21 - 00:12:38:01
Steve
Yeah, there's nothing like a good burrito after a surf session. But hey, we're going to take a quick break, guys. And when we come back, we're going to be joined by our special guest.

00:12:38:02 - 00:13:00:05
Lydia
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Lydia
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00:13:22:18 - 00:13:36:18
Lydia
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00:13:36:19 - 00:13:57:06
Steve
Hey so we've just been joined by a Kentucky and he's brought his dog derby here and you probably know them they're pretty famous surf duo they've been on a TV show called the pack where they went all over the world on these crazy adventures. Scavenger hunt. And if you haven't seen it, check it out. But anyway, hey, thanks so much for joining us, Kentucky.

00:13:57:07 - 00:14:00:05
Kentucky
Thank you all for having us. Man Derby are so stoked to be on here.

00:14:00:07 - 00:14:18:18
Steve
Yeah, Thanks, man. So, yeah, so obviously this podcast is all about surfing with your dog. And you know, we talked a little bit about board selection and how to get surfing with your dog, but now we've got a real life duo here that actually goes out and they go all over the country and they compete in these dog surf competitions.

00:14:18:18 - 00:14:25:22
Steve
Yeah, but, you know, before we get to talking about what it's like to surf in a competition, how did you get started surfing with Darby?

00:14:26:02 - 00:14:47:02
Kentucky
I mean, it's crazy story, you know? So Darby now moved to San Diego seven years ago from Atlanta, Georgia. And when we got here, one of the first things I wanted to learn how to do was surf. I had never served in my life. Darby had never seen the ocean until we got here. So the first thing you do when you surf, you go to Costco and you buy your first soft top wave.

00:14:47:04 - 00:14:49:03
Steve
As I see a lot of those out there in the.

00:14:49:03 - 00:15:05:17
Kentucky
Lineup, you see them out there. You know, that's what you learn on by your first wetsuit. And I thought I would been taking a derby to Obi Dog Beach a lot because, you know, he had never been to a beach before. He loves the dog beach. And it's a great place to learn to surf here in San Diego if you're a beginner.

00:15:05:19 - 00:15:19:22
Kentucky
So I figured Darby would play with the other dogs. I'd go out there and try to learn how to surf. Darby was not having it. He wanted to know what I was doing the whole time. He actually kept following me out in the surf. No way. And I was like, Dude, what are you doing to go play with the dogs?

00:15:20:04 - 00:15:33:17
Kentucky
So I don't know. He got to the point where he was swimming at me with no, and I just put him on a board. He kind of stood there and looked at me like, okay, this is cool. And I kind of was like, What would you do if I threw you in a small surf? And so I threw him in a small way.

00:15:33:19 - 00:15:40:23
Kentucky
He rode that thing all the way to the beach, looking back at me like, Is this what you're trying to do? Because this looks pretty easy.

00:15:41:01 - 00:15:42:10
Steve
Let's do it again. Yeah.

00:15:42:10 - 00:15:53:15
Kentucky
And like he hit the beach, came, ran back out and wanted to do it again. I was super like I was happy because I was like, This is cool. But I was mad at the same time because, like, you just learned to surf, grabbed it.

00:15:53:17 - 00:16:04:16
Steve
You know, he's a he's a natural because, like, unlike last thing with Snoopy, it's like we really had to, like, coax him into doing it and getting on the board and getting comfortable and but yeah, and Darby was just all about it.

00:16:04:17 - 00:16:22:02
Kentucky
Want to just do this. And then I think we did it for a couple of weeks, just kind of messing around and some dude walked up to us and said, Hey man, that's pretty cool. You know, they got dog surfing competitions. I was like, What? So like, I looked it up. One of the first ones we did seven years ago was an Imperial Beach Surf Dog competition.

00:16:22:04 - 00:16:46:16
Kentucky
I had never been to a human surf competition, let alone a dog surfing competition, so I had no idea what I was getting into. I didn't know what to bring. We get there. I had a backpack our my, my waist arm, surfboard, which is now Darby's surfboard and my dog. And we sat in the beach. We saw everybody else sitting up tense like, Oh my God, this is an all day event.

00:16:46:18 - 00:17:03:13
Steve
Yeah, I'll just stop you really quick. So you said the waste on board. So for our listeners out there that aren't familiar with with boards, the waves, storms are kind of foam. And what we talked about earlier with board selection is you really want to get that foam top board because it's easier for the dogs to dig their claws in and stay.

00:17:03:13 - 00:17:08:08
Steve
And that fiberglass and the wax may be a little hard on the on the dogs.

00:17:08:10 - 00:17:18:11
Kentucky
And in part of surfing also is like you're going to fall off your board and you might get hit by your board sometimes. And if a soft top hits a dog in the waves in the water, it's a lot better than a fiberglass.

00:17:18:16 - 00:17:23:21
Steve
And I be manuwa. I mean, we I lived in it for about seven years surfing out there, and the waves could get pretty rough.

00:17:23:21 - 00:17:25:01
Kentucky
You know, it was.

00:17:25:05 - 00:17:25:10
Steve
Pretty.

00:17:25:10 - 00:17:42:20
Kentucky
Steep. It was bigger than what we were learning in Obi Dog Beach for the first couple of weeks. But like, you know, we just did the solo version because I don't know if you all know that like during these dog surfing competitions, there's three categories. There's solo one solo dog, which each dogs get pushed in a wave and it's their weight class.

00:17:42:20 - 00:18:02:03
Kentucky
Then there's Tandem Dog Dog, where you got two or more dogs on one to get push in the wave and then you got Tandem Dog Human. At the time, me and Darby didn't know anybody. I still had not gotten good enough to serve myself, so we just did the solo. After the end of the day, we got like fifth or sixth at a 30 dogs.

00:18:02:05 - 00:18:09:19
Kentucky
Everybody came up to us like, Dude, where did you all come from? How long you been doing this? I looked at I'm like, Man, I've been doing it for six weeks. I no idea what I'm doing.

00:18:09:21 - 00:18:11:09
Steve
Just naturals.

00:18:11:11 - 00:18:28:05
Kentucky
So it was cool. And then, like, after a while, we learned that there were other competitions. We started going to those. And the cool thing about the whole surf dog community is like being able to see our friends and family and other dogs that are surf dogs every year and spending time on the beach and learning, you know, Hey, how you doing?

00:18:28:05 - 00:18:32:12
Kentucky
Is what you've been doing out of the off season. So it's what's the best part about dog surfing?

00:18:32:13 - 00:18:45:15
Steve
Yeah, for sure. Like, you know, Snoopy hasn't been surfing in quite some time with his epilepsy and all that, but it's like still go to the howling Woodward surf with surf dog surf a thon and see friends. And it's always, always so cool to talk shop, man.

00:18:45:15 - 00:18:46:02
Kentucky
Oh, we love.

00:18:46:02 - 00:18:46:23
Steve
It like we're doing right now.

00:18:47:05 - 00:18:50:03
Kentucky
So just catch up and see how things are going.

00:18:50:05 - 00:19:07:13
Steve
Hey, So, so let's go back to this dog, Dog Tan dun surf. And I know, I know Darby does, but like, let's talk about that a little more. So you've got two dogs on a surfboard riding away with no human on them. The dogs out there doing their thing.

00:19:07:13 - 00:19:23:12
Kentucky
And it could be more than two dogs. I've seen six I've seen seven dogs on a on a boy before. I mean, it's like a party with it's a party wave. And like, as long as the boards can hold them up, they'll hang on to it. But yeah, we've been doing tandem and a one of our good tandem buddies is another Goldendoodle named Teddy.

00:19:23:14 - 00:19:33:11
Kentucky
And Teddy is about a £100 goldendoodle. And if you don't know who Darby is, my brother Gabi, he has a mohawk, a blue mohawk. Any wear sunglasses will tell.

00:19:33:11 - 00:19:35:19
Steve
You you have a blue moon and I have a dog. Sometimes you wear.

00:19:35:19 - 00:19:53:17
Kentucky
Sunglasses. That's I wear this out because we're all about the matchy matchy. So and Teddy actually has a man bun, a goatee and wear sunglasses. So when you see these two dudes on a surfboard riding the wave in it is the sight to see smiles on everyone's faces.

00:19:53:19 - 00:19:54:22
Steve
That's pretty rad, man.

00:19:54:23 - 00:20:00:15
Kentucky
Yeah. So it's it's so fun to just see people just, like, take pictures and just laugh and just think, this is so awesome.

00:20:00:20 - 00:20:16:19
Steve
So when you first you first started doing the dog Dog tandem, like how did you how did you gear Darby up for that? Was there any special like track, any treats you coaxed and what, if any, like training you did beforehand or you just got two dogs and a board and pushed them in a wave?

00:20:16:19 - 00:20:30:08
Kentucky
Well, we started it. You did a little bit of practicing because like, you know, you got to figure out with any type of surfing and its weight distribution and everything else. So you got to say, all right, which dog needs to be in the back? Which dog needs to stay up front the whole time? And Derby being £65.

00:20:30:08 - 00:20:43:20
Kentucky
And at the time Teddy was £100. No, Teddy was always in the back and make sure that they stay where they need to be. Gabi is also served with other smaller dogs and that's the first time Darby's been in the back in the smaller dogs stay at the front and it just works out better.

00:20:44:01 - 00:20:45:06
Steve
They just stay there, right?

00:20:45:06 - 00:20:53:06
Kentucky
It just kind of stay there, hang out and you know, if a wave comes, that kind of slots them around, they can move their feet a little bit. But now Gabby kind of stays in a spot.

00:20:53:07 - 00:21:03:07
Steve
Because, yeah, sometimes a Snoopy and I place them on the front of the board. He stays on the front of the board to the left on that. The wave is done, then he jumps off. But you're saying like, so you've got two dogs and I'd be pretty.

00:21:03:07 - 00:21:04:19
Kentucky
Hard to be like, Oh yeah, you know, you.

00:21:04:19 - 00:21:07:16
Steve
Say, Yeah, they just stay in their spots, but they, they just stay in their.

00:21:07:16 - 00:21:25:10
Kentucky
Spots. Yeah. And the tough thing is like once you get out there and you're getting set waiting for a wave, you know, it's the weight, everything's moving and the boards moving, the dogs are moving and just getting them in the one little spot is a lot, especially, you know, Darby £65. But when he's soaking wet, he probably weighs £75.

00:21:25:12 - 00:21:38:20
Kentucky
All that that was went for fur. And when those dogs fall off the board and getting them back up, it's very tiring, just unhuman wise, just getting all that weight back on a board. But when you catch that one good wave, it's all worth it.

00:21:38:22 - 00:21:56:03
Steve
So yeah, you mentioned that, you know, sometimes you have to help the dog move around a little bit. And we talked earlier on this podcast about having a life jacket for your your dog. Yeah. And that actually comes in handy. And do you want to speak to that at all? And how that life jacket helps you maneuver your dog around when you're in the water?

00:21:56:03 - 00:22:14:09
Kentucky
I mean, dog surfing is fun and all, but safety is definitely the number one priority with the dogs and the humans. But they definitely with the dogs out there and finding the right life jacket that fits your dog in a snug and keeps them buoyant, everything is really good. You'll have to be able to pick up your dog by the handle sometimes.

00:22:14:09 - 00:22:20:04
Kentucky
So like you got to find a good lifejacket that's good. Comfortable underneath them. Not only that. And the buoyancy. Yeah.

00:22:20:06 - 00:22:23:20
Steve
So you get a handle in the middle on the back. Yeah. You could kind of lift your dog.

00:22:23:23 - 00:22:36:21
Kentucky
Dog and help them out because, like, there's sometimes, you know, the ways we get into, you know, everybody gets dumped over, but they'll pop right back up. And, you know, Darby is one of those dollars, though. As soon as he pops up, he's looking for me and he'll come swim to me directly.

00:22:37:00 - 00:22:40:00
Steve
Yeah, well, Snoopy is about £13, so I can lift him by the hand.

00:22:40:00 - 00:22:41:04
Kentucky
There you go.

00:22:41:06 - 00:22:42:15
Steve
Like that out of the drink, but like.

00:22:42:15 - 00:22:43:05
Kentucky
Like a purse.

00:22:43:05 - 00:22:45:06
Steve
Dirty Darby's got a little bit away.

00:22:45:06 - 00:22:51:07
Kentucky
I know. It's a tough one. Sometimes it's a maneuvering when we're in deeper water, but like, we. We make it work nice.

00:22:51:07 - 00:22:55:07
Jennifer
Is there any other kind of equipment that you bring when you go to surf events or surfing?

00:22:55:10 - 00:23:10:08
Kentucky
Yeah. So the big thing is, is like Darby loves the surf, but like there is also a reward for him to want to be out on the waves and hang out on the board. Darby loves tennis balls. Like that is his number one toy. He would play fetch for hours.

00:23:10:10 - 00:23:12:01
Steve
Me too.

00:23:12:03 - 00:23:33:07
Kentucky
And one of the things is like if he gets the tennis ball, he knows, Hey, I've done well. This is my this is my prize for staying on the board. And then when he hops back on the board, he actually gives me the tennis ball and I hold on to it. And when we go out, we'll set up for a wave, push him in the wave, and as soon as he gets off or falls off or gets to the beach, he turns around is like, Where's my tennis ball?

00:23:33:09 - 00:23:35:11
Jennifer
That's awesome. So that's his reinforcement.

00:23:35:12 - 00:23:39:05
Kentucky
Yeah. So he knows if he does well he's he's get he gets his prize.

00:23:39:07 - 00:23:55:15
Steve
Yeah. And you know, if your dog's not into tennis balls there's other things you could use to like, you know, we, we like to really drive the point home on positive reinforcement training so lots of treats treat, treat, treat. And then when they've had too much treats, treat some more.

00:23:55:17 - 00:23:57:00
Kentucky
Yeah. No toys.

00:23:57:00 - 00:23:57:15
Jennifer
Definitely.

00:23:57:15 - 00:23:58:00
Steve
Yeah.

00:23:58:06 - 00:24:02:07
Jennifer
Other toys riding the wave itself, if they really enjoy it, that could be the reward.

00:24:02:10 - 00:24:03:18
Kentucky
Exactly. Yeah.

00:24:03:20 - 00:24:23:11
Steve
That's my reward. So obviously, you know, you've been on adventures all over the world with the show, the park and surfing competitions all over the country and you ended up writing a children's book about this. And, you know, we picked it up and you say it's a children's book, but I read it to my kids. I really like it.

00:24:23:11 - 00:24:24:21
Kentucky
I think it's really cool.

00:24:24:23 - 00:24:40:14
Steve
It's an awesome story. So, like what? What kind of like, got you in to say, like, okay, I've got this, you know, my dog surf, I'm going to write a kid's book. It's a great idea for one. And I know schools are having you come read it. Yeah. And it's a really amazing book, but how did you get into that?

00:24:40:17 - 00:24:58:07
Kentucky
So I've always I don't know. I'm a kid at heart. I just connect with kids a lot better than most adults. And like, I've always had our story in my head like, man, this would be a cool little story to tell about how like Darby Na, you know, Matt moved to California and started surfing because that's the big question.

00:24:58:07 - 00:25:12:06
Kentucky
Everybody's like, How did you get into this? Like, Well, this is how we did. And even in like Darby, a lot of people don't know that. When I first got Darby, Darby was already a year and a half from a loving family. They just didn't have time and knew they had to give him up to somebody who could have time for him.

00:25:12:08 - 00:25:13:12
Steve
But you were just the guy.

00:25:13:12 - 00:25:27:00
Kentucky
And yeah, and the thing is, is that he needed a lot of attention and a little work he had. They had told me he had eaten a dress. He had pulled a turkey off the counter and it wasn't a bad dog. He just needed.

00:25:27:00 - 00:25:28:05
Steve
We're talking about Darby, not me.

00:25:28:05 - 00:25:33:13
Kentucky
Yeah, exactly. Yeah, because I probably had done the same thing, but he just needed a little guidance and he.

00:25:33:15 - 00:25:35:02
Steve
Definitely got a good dog. God made.

00:25:35:03 - 00:25:54:10
Kentucky
Do so. But yeah, he was scared, little puppy. He didn't know that there were other dogs, other people in the world. When we moved to Atlanta and I just kind of built up his confidence and just started taking him on adventures, little small walks here and there. And we'd started go to restaurants, we'd go to ballgames, and he started realizing like, Hey, man, as long as I'm with you, I know everything's going to be safe.

00:25:54:10 - 00:25:56:00
Kentucky
So I'll do do whatever you want.

00:25:56:00 - 00:25:56:21
Steve
Life is good.

00:25:56:21 - 00:26:24:13
Kentucky
Yeah. So the part that, you know, I wanted to write a story about, like, you know, perseverance. Like how you overcame being this shy, scared dog to all sudden being out everywhere, meeting new dogs, winning people, dropping in on waves, on on a surfboard and with no fear and wanting to do it again. So, yeah, I've always had the story in my head through some friends of mine and my my boss to help me write it and finding an awesome illustrator.

00:26:24:15 - 00:26:48:22
Kentucky
We were able to do a children's book called The Adventures of Darby, California. Darby learned to surf, and everybody's definitely enjoyed it. I love getting pictures and videos of people's kids reading the book and loving it and understanding it. The cool thing about our book, it's based off of mostly true story, and there's QR codes throughout the book that will take you to a three minute video of us doing what's on the page.

00:26:49:00 - 00:26:51:06
Jennifer
Yeah, our whole family really loved.

00:26:51:07 - 00:26:52:02
Kentucky
My thank you.

00:26:52:08 - 00:27:01:06
Jennifer
It's such great. Like just the story itself and not just Saba, just it's really the pictures in there are awesome and the colors.

00:27:01:06 - 00:27:05:01
Steve
We actually see other surf dogs that we recognize. You pick them out?

00:27:05:02 - 00:27:19:14
Kentucky
Yeah. We got some of our friends that are in the part of the book at the end when Darby surfs with all his new friends. But yeah, we. You can pick up our book on an on Amazon at Darby book dot com and you can also get it on our website at Darby California dot com.

00:27:19:16 - 00:27:25:22
Jennifer
Yeah I definitely recommend it if if you have kids for sure and even if you don't it's really fun book.

00:27:25:23 - 00:27:43:08
Kentucky
Yeah and then now our new thing that Darby are doing is going to schools to read our book and we will come to your school if you want, if you just email us at Darby, California at gmail.com. We can see if we can get to you and your schools will send you an author visit package. And Darby loves meeting all the new kids.

00:27:43:08 - 00:27:44:09
Steve
What grade is that?

00:27:44:15 - 00:28:02:16
Kentucky
Oh, yeah. So are we here to like kindergarten or pre-K to third grade? We've done. We've done classes with fourth and fifth graders. I think the story might be a little young for them, but they love seeing Darby, They love watching the videos they loved at the end to get to pet Darby, who doesn't want to pet this big fluffy, who doesn't want to.

00:28:02:16 - 00:28:06:17
Steve
Watch a video of a dog with a blue mohawk surfing on a wave.

00:28:06:17 - 00:28:15:04
Kentucky
That's yeah. So it's been so exciting going to schools and meeting all the kids and seeing their faces light up when they see videos or watch Darby do some tricks.

00:28:15:06 - 00:28:21:06
Jennifer
Oh yeah, that would be awesome. Imagine being in school and having Darby come. Yeah.

00:28:21:08 - 00:28:29:14
Steve
So I should clarify, you know, we do have a nationwide audience, but like, where, where would you. You'd be doing school visits at and like, vicinity of Southern California.

00:28:29:16 - 00:28:36:09
Kentucky
So right now we are doing a lot of readings in San Diego County, Orange County, L.A. County.

00:28:36:11 - 00:28:37:11
Steve
Why are you going that far north?

00:28:37:11 - 00:28:59:07
Kentucky
Yeah, if we can get the schools there, we are doing one coming up in October and November. We're going back to Atlanta for a week. And we're going to Kentucky for a week. Indianapolis and Chicago in Nashville. We try to plan out these big trips and we'll try to reach out to our fan base like, Hey, we're going to be in this area If you all have schools that we will try to fit you in.

00:28:59:09 - 00:29:14:11
Kentucky
Oh, we always get messages like, Hey, come to Washington, come to Idaho, come to Texas, come to Florida. We would love to come to all those places. If we can say, hey, we're going to be in that area and we can get enough readings booked, we'll make it happen. And it's just one of those things.

00:29:14:11 - 00:29:18:08
Steve
It's it's hard when you live in San Diego and you got to travel across the country.

00:29:18:08 - 00:29:24:16
Kentucky
You know, we'll send there is a cost us sometimes come in to read and that's just kind of what covers us getting there and everything else.

00:29:24:18 - 00:29:27:16
Steve
But it's definitely an awesome experience, you know? Yeah.

00:29:27:18 - 00:29:30:12
Jennifer
No. Well, add in the show notes to how to contact.

00:29:30:13 - 00:29:31:06
Kentucky
Yeah, totally.

00:29:31:10 - 00:29:48:18
Steve
Yeah. And how to get the book. We'll put that in the show notes the link so much his website of course, man. And so from Kentucky to Atlanta, now out to San Diego and you've got a dog that surfs at you go out there in the lineup and shred with them. Do That's awesome. Do you like Thank you.

00:29:48:18 - 00:29:55:13
Steve
What a awesome story And you got a kids book out there and dude, it's just like you're you're living the dog, Dad.

00:29:55:14 - 00:30:09:12
Kentucky
Man, you had told me seven years ago this is what I'd be doing. I'd laugh and your face and like, no way. But, like, this has been such an amazing journey just for me to share my dog with the whole world. I mean, that's all people ask. Why we do this and like, why do we look like this?

00:30:09:12 - 00:30:21:22
Kentucky
I mean, it puts smiles on people's faces. That's all we do. This For us, becoming a therapy dog also is just something we wanted to help and give back. So if if anything, I just want to make people laugh and share my dog with the world.

00:30:21:23 - 00:30:48:11
Steve
That's that's so radical, man. And, you know, like I said, that's you're you're living the ultimate dog, bad dream, ultimate dog lover dream. And it's like get to go surfing with the dog and all that. But yeah, I just want to say thank you so much for being on our podcast today. We really appreciate you coming up here and telling us your story and giving us some tips on how to get your dog surfing and all that.

00:30:48:13 - 00:30:51:13
Kentucky
Oh, cool. Thank you all for having us. And anytime y'all need, they let us know.

00:30:51:16 - 00:30:54:01
Steve
Awesome. Well, thanks, Kentucky. Yeah.

00:30:54:03 - 00:30:59:19
Jennifer
So much. Before we send off, we wanted to just talk about who we are donating to this month.

00:30:59:21 - 00:31:06:09
Steve
Yeah. So for the month of September 2023 will be donating 10% of all sales to the Maui Humane Society.

00:31:06:11 - 00:31:19:19
Jennifer
That's right, Steve. The Maui Humane Society is dedicated to protecting and saving lives of animals in Maui. They do amazing work accepting all animals in need, educating the community and promoting respect and compassion for every creature.

00:31:20:01 - 00:31:33:07
Steve
Yeah. And right now they're going above and beyond to support those affected by the devastating wildfires. In fact, there is some exciting news that the Dave and Cheryl Duffield Foundation, they've generously offered $1,000,000 matching gift to the organization.

00:31:33:12 - 00:31:41:19
Jennifer
Together, we can make a big impact to ensure the well-being of Maui's animals. And for the next month, we have another amazing cause lined up.

00:31:41:20 - 00:31:51:06
Steve
That's right, Jennifer. And October 2023 will be donating 10% of all sales to dogs on deployment. And as a veteran myself, their cause is very near and dear to my heart.

00:31:51:08 - 00:32:10:14
Jennifer
Yeah, absolutely. Dogs on deployment pairs, volunteer pet sitters with military members, pets while they're away on service obligations like deployments. It was founded in 2011 by a compassionate dual military couple and offers support to all branches of military and their families.

00:32:10:16 - 00:32:19:23
Steve
Yeah, like I said, it's such an important cause to support for us. You know, it's, you know, our brave men and women who serve our country shouldn't have to worry about their beloved pets while they're away.

00:32:20:04 - 00:32:31:04
Jennifer
Yeah, that's right. All right. Well, that concludes our podcast on surfing with your furry best friend. We hope you learn some useful tips and tricks for a fun and safe surfing experience with your dog.

00:32:31:06 - 00:32:36:00
Steve
Remember to always prioritize safety, have the right gear, and choose the right board for your pup.

00:32:36:02 - 00:32:40:10
Jennifer
We hope to be back on the air soon with at least one more episode before the end of the year.

00:32:40:16 - 00:32:48:22
Steve
So until then, stay stoked. Pups.

00:32:49:00 - 00:32:54:01
Steve
Thanks for listening. Be sure to subscribe and tune in for our future Sun Channel wherever you get your podcast from.

00:32:54:05 - 00:32:57:15
Jennifer
Until next time. Let's keep those tails wagging.