Dear Tony Hawk: We’re very sorry to break it to you, but you’ve been replaced as America’s favorite skateboarder. We still love you, but our new favorite shredder is an English bulldog named Chowder!
Chowder lives with his human family in Oregon, and he’s recently made a huge splash online thanks to his very unique (for a dog) skateboarding skills. Owner Jani Delperdang says they discovered his fondness for the sport by accident, but it has become Chowder’s passion ever since.
Chowder first encountered a board while at the beach. Jani described a scene in which her dog grabbed a boy’s boogie board, then refused to give it back! As soon as he learned how to balance on the board in the water, he was hooked. Getting him a skateboard was just the next logical step. His first skateboard was a cheap one from a thrift shop, but now he has a whole slew of boards to choose from.
Chowder started boarding in 2018, and he has gotten incredibly good at it. He uses his body to lean into curves and turn the board, and he can even stop on a dime.
“The first two years of Chowder’s life, he seemed a little sad and remote, almost like he was bored,” Jani wrote on Instagram. “We struggled to find things to do with him that he really enjoyed. The day we brought home his first board he was beyond happy. We are so thankful that he found his joy through skateboarding.”
Jani’s entire family now skateboards, and they’re big members of their local skate community. Everyone local knows Chowder. Now, thanks to Jani’s use of social media, the world is getting a chance to meet this local celebrity as well. Chowder currently has more than 1.5 million fans on TikTok, plus more on Instagram.
While Chowder makes it look easy, Jani is quick to point out that it has taken her dog years to get this good at the sport. She says safety is always their top priority, and they’d never do anything to put Chowder at risk. In fact, many of her videos contain warnings about not just plopping your dog on a board and hoping for the best. Like all sports, it’s best to try them out slowly in a safe environment, and follow their cues to see if they’re having fun.
“He’s never ever been injured,” said Jani. “His pads have developed thick calluses over years of skating so his paws are not sensitive at all.”
It’s pretty impressive that Chowder has learned so much about skateboarding in such a short period of time! He started three-and-a-half years ago, and now he’s practically a pro!
@chowderthebulldog A chill skate session with his hoomans doing what Chowder loves the most. #lifeisgood #chillin #dogdad #brother #hooman #fypã‚· #skate #createkindness ♬ Run – OneRepublic
Chowder has definitely captured our hearts! It’s not every day that you see such a talented doggo, after all. If there was a dog Olympics, he’d win a gold medal for sure.
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