Surfin' Safari: Peruvian dog trainer teaches alpaca to ride the waves

By Daily Mail Reporter

Hairy ride: Alpaca Pisco surfs with his Peruvian trainer Domingo Pianezzi

They're normally found grazing happily on the side of mountains.

But this alpaca has ditched the turf for the surf - and enjoys nothing more than catching a few waves with his human board buddy.

Pisco is thought to be the first alpaca in the world to learn how to surf

Woolly wipe-out: The alpaca loses his balance and lands in the water


His Peruvian owner, Domingo Pianezzi, had spent ten years teaching the sport to dogs and thought he'd take his animal training one step further.

Mr Pianezzi, 44, has slowly introduced Pisco, a domesticated Andean highland animal that resembles a small llama, to the waters of the Pacific Ocean over the past several months.

The duo caught three waves on a 10-foot (3-metre) long-board yesterday at a small break south of Lima, Peru's capital.

Pisco, wearing a flotation vest, crouched on the board while taking off on each wave and cruised for a few seconds before bailing into the water with a bit of a fright


Right behind you: Domingo guides the board while Pisco enjoys the view


Relaxation time: Domingo and Pisco cool off in the water at San Bartolo beach in Lima, Peru


Mr Pianezzi, who teaches surfing to kids and has competed with his pets at international contests for surfing dogs, came up with the idea of hitting the waves with an alpaca while visiting Australia.

'I've surfed with a dog, a parrot, a hamster and a cat, but when I was at a competition in Australia I saw people surfing with kangaroos and koalas,' said Mr Pianezzi, who trains the alpaca in the Peruvian beach town of San Bartolo.

'So I thought that, as a Peruvian, it would be interesting to surf with a unique animal that represents Peru.'

Peruvians raise alpacas, a species of South American camelid, primarily for their warm wool and occasionally for food.

Mr Pianezzi said some San Bartolo residents have accused him of mistreating Pisco by taking a mountain animal into the ocean. Others, though, regard him as an innovator.

There are other hurdles, however. Unlike dogs, alpacas do not instinctively jump into the sea for a swim.

But Mr Pianezzi said Pisco, whom he named in homage to the distinctive Peruvian liquor distilled from grapes, is now completely used to the water.


source: dailymail