Surfing takes balance, confidence and a willingness to get soaked — and apparently nobody told Rusty that being a tiny Miniature Pinscher should make any of that intimidating.
The pint-sized pup was one of the dogs riding the waves at the 10th annual World Dog Surfing Championships in Pacifica, California, where dogs of all shapes and sizes competed in front of hundreds of spectators.
Rusty may be small, but he is far from a beginner.
His owner, Sophia Sadlowski, first put him on a surfboard when he was just a puppy while trying to snap a fun photo.
Instead of panicking, Rusty seemed to love it.
He took to surfing so naturally that he entered his first competition at only four months old and finished in third place.
That early success turned into a long-running hobby, and Rusty has now spent most of his life riding waves.
At this year’s competition, the Huntington Beach pup competed in both the small-dog and tandem categories.
Footage from the event shows Rusty looking like a seasoned pro as Sadlowski sends him toward shore.
He wore a bright green life jacket with a shark fin on top and a pair of goggles, making him one of the most recognizable competitors in the water.
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Rusty’s story is even more meaningful because both he and Sadlowski are cancer survivors.
Viewers watching footage from the event quickly noticed Rusty’s distinctive markings and how comfortable he appeared on the board.
One commenter familiar with the competing dogs said Rusty was the one who most clearly looked “in his element.”
The footage also sparked a broader conversation about whether every dog competing appeared equally comfortable in the water.
Some viewers questioned whether all of the participating dogs seemed to be enjoying themselves, while others pointed out that a short video is not enough to determine how an individual dog feels.
That distinction is important whenever owners bring their pets into the activities they love.
Dogs have very different personalities, comfort levels and interests. One pup may happily charge toward the ocean and jump on a surfboard, while another may want absolutely nothing to do with it.
In Rusty’s case, however, his years of experience suggest surfing is more than just a one-time stunt.
For this tiny Miniature Pinscher, catching waves appears to be something he has been doing nearly his entire life.