A Michigan dog named Chesea dries off after participating in aquatic events. Photo by Ben Hooper/UPI
The coming weekend will feature one of the world’s most beloved sporting traditions, perhaps the only event fit to be called “the big game” — better known, of course, as the Puppy Bowl.
The pigskin-propelling pooches aren’t the only game in town when it comes to feats of canine cunning and athleticism, however.
The UPI Odd News headlines are filled with tail-wagging tales of talented dogs showing off their skills.
Here are five stories of revved-up rovers showing sporting skills to get you ready for the Puppy Bowl:
Surfing
Canines conquered the waves at Lori Wilson Park in Cocoa Beach, Fla., for the Brevard Humane Society’s 13th annual East Coast Dog Surfing Festival in April 2025.
Sammie the chiweenie — a cross between a chihuahua and a dachshund — successfully defended his 2024 title by being named top dog in the field of 23 very good boys and girls.
Escape artistry
A Houdini-esque hound, named Dawson, was caught on camera in January pulling off an epic escape from the Huntington Cabell Wayne Animal Shelter in West Virginia.
Dawson, who was later found and returned to the shelter safely, was recorded getting out of his locked kennel and using his mouth to unlock and open the shelter’s front door to make good his escape.
Removing bottle caps
A dachshund named Jerry showed off an unusual set of skills by breaking the Guinness World Record for the most plastic bottle caps removed by a dog in one minute: 11.
Sathya Priya Easwaran, Jerry’s owner, said the dog didn’t require any training or practice for the record attempt — removing caps from plastic bottles is a skill he developed on his own, and is now one of his favorite activities.
Free climbing
A dog involved in an April 2025 rescue by the Hartford Fire Department in Connecticut might have a future as a competitive climber after making his way to the roof of a house.
The dog was brought back down to Earth in a bucket truck, and Hartford Fire Department District Chief Mario Oquendo Jr. quipped the canine’s calm demeanor and climbing skills might lead him to offer the four-legged mountaineer a job.
Track and field
A pair of fleet-footed canines might not be ready for the Summer Onympics quite yet, but their speedy getaway was caught on camera when they stole a package of drill bits from outside a neighbor’s front door.
Their future in the sports world might be delayed, however, as police joked that pending charges include: “Conspiracy to Commit Snack Theft, Paw-sitively Impersonating Master Thieves and Being Fur-ociously Adorable.”
Honorable mention: Distance swimming
While not a dog in the strictest sense, a canine swimmer was confirmed by the Golden Gate National Recreation Area in January to be the first coyote to swim to San Francisco’s Alcatraz Island.
Experts said the coyote, which was recorded by a tourist when it climbed up on the rocks, may have come from San Francisco or Angel Island — but either way, it would have had to swim over a mile to Alcatraz.
