Those who train dogs, work with dogs or just love dogs know that there is no limit to what they can do. There are dogs that do tricks, assist the blind, save lives, compete in agility trials – even dogs that can dance. But a dog that surfs? Meet Abbie, an Australian Kelpie mix that was rescued from near-death at six months old. Shy and extremely fearful, Abbie went through months of rehabilitation and not only survived but is riding high – on a surfboard, that is! Abbie, or “Outback Abbie” as she is known in the competitive canine surfing world, has won more medals in surfing contests than any other dog.
Photo by Diane Edmonds
How did she go from scaredy-cat rescue dog to “Outback Abbie,” fearless surfing star? Abbie’s owner, Michael Uy, told us that he drew heavily on positive training techniques with the goal of creating a foundation of trust. He says that this is what makes a good dog a great dog. “It’s mutual understanding and trust that enables all the sports and exceptional things that Abbie does,” Michael says.
When she’s not catching waves and sweeping up medals, Abby likes to paraglide, snowboard and herd. It’s Michael’s hope that Abbie’s success will help to educate people about the incredible potential of shelter and rescue dogs as well as spread the message that with communication and trust, there’s nothing you and your dog can’t accomplish together.
To learn more about “Outback Abbie,” you can visit her website (yes, she has her own website!), www.abbiesurfs.com.
Dog surfing & clicker training
Dog surfing is a very popular activity in southern California, and as this article outlines, it's a great way to bring people and dogs closer together in the form of trust, communication, human-animal bonding, training, fun, and more!
I'm a certified dog trainer (CPDT-KA), and the Founder & Executive Director of Puppy Prodigies Neo-natal & Early Learning program. My early training videos http://www.puppyprodigies.org/VideoClips.htm have been featured at Clicker Expo by Joan Orr and Morgan Spector a few times.