Surf's up in Pacifica, California! A pack of surfers are catching waves and riding them to shore. But these are no ordinary surfer dudes and dudettes. They're surfer dogs going paw to paw in the annual World Dog Surfing Championships. For these pooches, the ocean is their dog park. They're just a few of the daring dogs that participate in surprising sports.
Contestants in the World Dog Surfing Championships compete in different weight classes. Dogs range from very small to very large. They can surf solo, with other dogs, or with their owner. Each round lasts ten minutes, during which surfers strive to ride as many waves as possible. A panel of judges awards each pooch up to ten points. Scores are based on the size of the wave, the dog's confidence level and surfing style (sitting, standing, or lying down), and the length of the ride. That includes whether the dog makes it to shore on the board.
In the 2022 competition, a 13-year-old cattle dog named Skyler won three gold medals and the overall championship. You may be wondering how Skyler's owner, surfer Homer Henard, got her on a surfboard in the first place. He certainly didn't need to bribe her with biscuits. "She wants to do whatever I'm doing," Henard said in an interview on a local San Francisco news station. "If I go surfing, she wants to go with me. So she jumped on the board as a puppy and had really good balance. And then from there, I was like, 'Oh, it's on!'"
Dogs on Wheels
Time to exchange the surfboard for a skateboard and hit the pavement with Chowder! This skateboarding English bulldog is a social media star. His TikTok videos get millions of views.
Chowder is a pro at piloting a plank of wood on wheels. His skills include making tight turns, jumping curbs, managing hills, and most importantly, stopping the skateboard. He does so by turning it slightly uphill or using three legs to slow down while his other leg holds onto the board. And Chowder is so exact, he can stop within an inch or two of a wall! Such stunts might sound risky, but there's no need to worry. Chowder has never been injured. And his paw pads are tough enough to withstand all that dragging.
There are dog athletes involved in other kinds of sports. They include volleyball, biking, and snowboarding, to name just a few. But pet owners shouldn't just launch their furry friends on a surfboard or skateboard. Indeed, not all dogs are natural athletes. Plenty of pooches are content with an old-fashioned game of fetch. When top dog athletes are strutting their stuff, though, they really put the wow in bowwow!
This article is primarily about __________.
the popularity of the World Dog Surfing Championships
dogs that take part in various surprising sports
the reasons people bring their dogs skateboarding
dog owners who use TikTok to get millions of views
dogs that take part in various surprising sports
Which is the closest synonym for the word bribe, as it is used in the article?
guard
amaze
pad
convince
convince
In what way are Skyler and Chowder similar?
Both have accomplished Guinness World Records in their sports.
Both are natural athletes and started playing sports as puppies.
Both won gold medals at the World Dog Surfing Championships.
Both enjoy rolling around on a skateboard and making quick stops.
Both enjoy rolling around on a skateboard and making quick stops.
Based on the article, which of these is true?
Only very large dogs can take part in special sports.
Dogs can stop a skateboard by sitting, standing, or lying down.
Dogs can surf solo, with other dogs, or with their owner.
Only one dog is known for his skateboarding abilities.