A service dog vest would cramp Aka’s style while surfing the North Shore. But his presence calms those who are new to surfing.

If the dog can surf, so can anyone.

Rocky Canon runs North Shore Ocean Guides, or NSOG Hawaii, in the waters near Turtle Bay Resort in Kahuku. The professional surfer turned surf competition broadcast announcer loves to share his love of Oahu’s waters. So do his dogs.

On a recent Wednesday, visitors from Hastings-on-Hudson, New York, spent their afternoon learning about surf, waves, swells, ocean and how to be good stewards of the aina.

The visitors experienced a small slice of Hawaiian culture with the resident Turtle Bay Resort surf ambassador and his 2-year-old mix Aka.

The former City and County of Honolulu lifeguard offers the Surf With a Pup program along with other experiences including SUP With a Pup, Outrigger Canoe Tours and Junior Waterman.

Canon says Aka and his other dogs trained to surf can usually sense a good wave to catch. He believes his dogs take notice when his energy level goes up causing them to enthusiastically bark like a rowing crew’s coxswain commanding rowers.

The girls’ mother Sarah Rezmovits said, “Myla was nervous to get on a surfboard for the first time because she’s always a bit timid trying new things, but she loves dogs so this seemed like a great way to put her at ease.”