Pups show off skills at Purina dog challenge event in Huntington Beach
By Laylan Connelly, The Orange County Register The Tribune Content Agency
Stalker, a 9-year-old mix breed, leaps into the pool while competing in a diving dog qualifier during the Purina Incredible Dog Challenge in Huntington Beach on Friday, June 19, 2026. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Jeff Antenore
TNS
The canine competition was ruff, and so were the waves.
The Purina Pro Plan Incredible Dog Challenge isn’t just about the pooches being cute and cuddly - it’s all about the dogs’ skill and athleticism.
The day of contests kicked off with a surf competition in Huntington Beach on Friday, June 19, a regional event aimed at selecting the best in the west to compete at the national finals later this year at Purina Farms near St. Louis.
The surf event was held at Pacific Coast Highway and Newland Street, where about a dozen dogs of all sizes hit the waves to showcase their surfing skills. It was no easy task, with waves in the 4- to 5-foot range challenging the pups to stay on their surfboard.
Stalker, a 9-year-old mix breed, leaps into the pool while competing in a diving dog qualifier during the Purina Incredible Dog Challenge in Huntington Beach on Friday, June 19, 2026. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Spice, a 4-year-old mix breed, launches off the back of owner Brittany Jordahl of Denver as the pair compete in a freestyle flying disk qualifying round at the annual Purina Incredible Dog Challenge in Huntington Beach on Friday, June 19, 2026. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Rocket, a 3-year-old French bulldog, catches a wave while competing in the surf dog competition at the annual Purina Incredible Dog Challenge in Huntington Beach on Friday, June 19, 2026. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Birdie, a 5-year-old border collie, launches off the back of owner Sophie Janavs of North Hollywood as the pair compete in a freestyle flying disk qualifying round at the annual Purina Incredible Dog Challenge in Huntington Beach on Friday, June 19, 2026. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Brittany Jordahl of Denver flips a disk in the air while her dog, Spice, a 4-year-old mix breed, leaps after it during a freestyle flying disk qualifying round at the annual Purina Incredible Dog Challenge in Huntington Beach on Friday, June 19, 2026. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Chris Furseth of Scottsdale and his dog, Helios, a 5-year-old border collie, compete in a freestyle flying disk qualifying round, scoring an 81.4, at the annual Purina Incredible Dog Challenge in Huntington Beach on Friday, June 19, 2026. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Madeline Mathews of Pleasant Hills and her dog, Debut, a 2-year-old McNab shepherd, compete in a freestyle flying disk qualifying round, scoring a 76.3, at the annual Purina Incredible Dog Challenge in Huntington Beach on Friday, June 19, 2026. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Raymond Mobilia of Scottsdale cheers on his dog, Star, a 3-year-old Belgian Malinois, as she dives into a pool after a toy while competing in a diving dog qualifier during the Purina Incredible Dog Challenge in Huntington Beach on Friday, June 19, 2026. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Riptide, a 5-year-old border collie, leaps into the pool while competing in a diving dog qualifier during the Purina Incredible Dog Challenge in Huntington Beach on Friday, June 19, 2026. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Maxton, a 4-year-old Parson Russell terrier, charges toward the water while competing in the surf dog competition at the Purina Incredible Dog Challenge in Huntington Beach on Friday, June 19, 2026. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Riptide, a 5-year-old border collie, retrieves his target in the pool while competing in a diving dog qualifier during the Purina Incredible Dog Challenge in Huntington Beach on Friday, June 19, 2026. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Bacon, a six-year-old corgi, watches as other dogs compete in a surf dog competition, part of the annual Purina Incredible Dog Challenge, in Huntington Beach on Friday, June 19, 2026. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Orange County Register/SCNG)
David Fasoli of Pleasanton kisses his French bulldog, Iza, after the pair competed in the surf dog competition at the annual Purina Incredible Dog Challenge in Huntington Beach on Friday, June 19, 2026. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Chris Furseth of Scottsdale and his dog, Helios, a 5-year-old border collie, compete in a freestyle flying disk qualifying round, scoring an 81.4, at the annual Purina Incredible Dog Challenge in Huntington Beach on Friday, June 19, 2026. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Patrick Giles of San Diego and his dog Maxton, a 4-year-old Parson Russell terrier, catch a wave back to shore while competing in the surf dog competition portion of the Purina Incredible Dog Challenge in Huntington Beach on Friday, June 19, 2026. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Susi Evans of Wheat Ridge, Colorado watches while her dog, Cava, a 4-year-old border whippet and terrier mix, dives head-first into a pool while competing in a diving dog qualifier during the Purina Incredible Dog Challenge in Huntington Beach on Friday, June 19, 2026. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Patrick Giles of San Diego and his dog Maxton, a 4-year-old Parson Russell terrier, get ready for their heat while competing in the surf dog competition portion of the Purina Incredible Dog Challenge in Huntington Beach on Friday, June 19, 2026. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Sandy Knapp of Rancho Cucamonga watches as her dog, Y'all, a 3-year-old Australian cattle dog, leaps after a toy while competing in a diving dog qualifier during the Purina Incredible Dog Challenge in Huntington Beach on Friday, June 19, 2026. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The audience looks on as Tyler Cauthon of La Verne and his dog, Cora Jean, a 1-year-old black Labrador, compete in the diving dog portion of the Purina Incredible Dog Challenge in Huntington Beach on Friday, June 19, 2026. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Melissa Ness of Ramona looks on while her dog, Falkor, a 6-year-old mix breed, leaps after a toy while competing in a diving dog qualifier during the Purina Incredible Dog Challenge in Huntington Beach on Friday, June 19, 2026. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Through the day, about 40 dogs competed in various skills challenges, practicing for the main event on Saturday, June 20.
Watching the sporting dogs is free; the public can watch the canine athletes soar through the air during high-flying disc routines, race through agility courses, speed through weave poles and launch themselves from a 50-foot dock into a 20,000-gallon pool in one of the event’s most popular competitions, the “Diving Dog.”
Saturday’s event, also held at Pacific Coast Highway and Newland Street, will run from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. The schedule of contests is:
