Dogs challenged the waves at the Canine Surfing World Cup.; see the images

In total, 14 dogs participated in the contest, according to CBS News. Equipped with life jackets, boards and even diving masks, the animals entered the sea in front of thousands of spectators.

The competition brought together dogs of different sizes and breeds, from small spaniels to large Labradors. The judges evaluated criteria such as the time spent on the board, the size of the wave surfed and the confidence shown by the participants.

Among the highlights was Rusty, a miniature pinscher known as “Surfing MinPin”. The owner, Sophia Sadlowski, from Huntington Beach, said that the dog gets angry when he realizes that she intends to go to the beach without taking him.

“Whenever I get ready to surf and don’t take him with me, he gets really upset,” he told CBS. “He runs up and down the stairs, and by the time I get to the garage door, he’s already there.”

According to Sophia, Rusty is the smallest surfing dog and the only miniature pinscher known to practice the sport. The animal's ability was discovered by chance during a trip to the beach.

"I took my board and thought about taking some photos. He didn't want to get out. I put him on a wave, and he surfed," he recalled.

The bulldog Iza also participated in the competition. The owner, David, said that the dog started surfing naturally after being trained in the pool at home.

The program also included an adoption fair and a fundraising campaign for charities in the region.

See the images in the gallery above.