Dogs love the ocean. When I was a kid we used to take our large dog to the ocean. He loved to chase the seagulls, play with other dogs, run back and forth with each wave and bark at the ocean. He always managed to run back to where I was laying on my beach towel and shake water all over me. OMG, he loved the ocean. Never surfed though. In those days, I don't remember anyone surfing although I'm sure it happened.
One year when my daughter played in a soccer tournament in San Diego she played the tournament on a field right across the road from Silver Strands on Coronado and the park was also in a residential neighborhood. I couldn't believe how many people walked through the park on their way to the ocean that had dogs. Watching the dogs play on the beach was almost as much fun as the games.