Surf Hounds - a New Breed?

Have you ever heard of surf hounds? I'll tell you all about them in this post, the original version of which I wrote and posted long ago at my Dogs Dogs Dogs Forever site. So there's no plagiarism here!

Most people have heard of gun dogs, sled dogs, tracking dogs, trailing dogs, and seeing-eye dogs. And then, of course, there are bloodhounds and deerhounds, coonhounds, and foxhounds. But the West coast has produced an entirely different variety of dog, namely... the surf hound.

Surf hounds are the vagabonds who thrive on California's beaches even though there are multiple signs forbidding their presence. Can’t they read??

Nearly all surf hounds are well fed. In fact, it’s very clear that some have been fed too well. Some even wear collars.
What does that tell us?

I think it means that they have homes where they enjoy regular meals. Yet they run around unsupervised and in unruly packs, with nothing better to do than play and squabble amongst themselves.

It’s apparent that their owners don't care enough about them to keep them in a safe environment. Or perhaps the owners are proponents of complete freedom for all.

Yes, their antics are amusing enough to watch – sometimes even hilarious. But surf hounds are a nuisance to beachgoers, since the dogs seem to consider the beach their personal territory. They tear around in noisy pursuit of each other, leaving a sandy wake wherever they go – and heaven help whoever gets in their way.

Of course, they are friendly enough on the whole, but that just adds to the problem because they tend to leap all over people in an effort to engage them in their games. Or else they park themselves on beach blankets and lick whatever faces are handy in a show of their appreciation and gregariousness.

Surf hounds come in all shapes and sizes. Most are mongrels and look like composites of about a dozen different breeds, but many are unmistakably pedigreed. It makes one wonder how the owners of such valuable dogs could let them run around wild, not so much at the beach, but on the streets, where traffic is a constant danger.

Although surf hounds may look scruffy and unkempt, they are generally not dirty because they often run into the sea to fetch things or to chase each other. Of course, the long-haired ones are a pretty sorry sight when they’re wet, with the sand sticking to their coats as though they had been sprinkled liberally with salt.

Many of them constantly dig and scratch themselves. Is that because they have fleas or is it just the salty sea water which makes their skin itch. It is probably a combination of the two.

Some surf hounds are young, sleek, and bouncy, but others are old and fat and can hardly manage to waddle along behind the rest of the pack. Still, young or old, they all seem to know the favorite picnic spots and the trash cans that yield the juiciest treasures.

Hey! Where's My Lunch?

Not only are surf hounds vagabonds, they are also thieves. They steal things from people's blankets – food, toys, sometimes even the blankets themselves. But sometimes they also come bearing gifts – old bones or sticks which they want you to throw for them to fetch.

Their inexhaustible desire to play, non-stop biting, and frolic can be quite disarming, especially when they streak through the sand, not to reach any particular destination but just for the joy of running. Seeing them enjoying themselves so much makes a person wish for the same kind of freedom.

Of course, in their exuberance, they do not hesitate to bowl over anything that gets in their way. I once observed two strapping, happy-go-lucky boxers strong-arm a bright colored ball away from a little boy.

Naturally, in the scuffle they managed to push him down in the sand, where he sat clenching his little fists in frustration while the boxers pushed his ball out to sea with their paws and noses. Luckily, the little boy enjoyed the whole episode so much, that he got up and went chasing after them.

Check out some of my other posts -

What Kind of Freedom Do You Want?

What's Under Those Headscarves?

Are You a Tourist or a Traveler?

Are These 'Facts' Really True? Part 1

Traveling Before vs Traveling Now

Do You Brush Your Dog's Teeth?

Lazy Bum? Teacher? Tour Director? Writer? Which Is It, Kate?