WATER-LOVING wonderdog Flip-Flop is preparing to take to the seas on his very own custom-made surfboard.

Flip-Flop hit the headlines last year when his owner, Dave 'Sandals' Samuel, had a wetsuit designed for him so his pet would look the part when they went surfing together.

Now the five-year-old Jack Russell has completed the look with his own miniature board, courtesy of Brighton-based surfboard and clothing company Filf.

But an attempt to try it out ended in frustration yesterday - because the seas off Brighton were too calm to make any waves.

Dave adopted Flip-Flop from the RSPCA centre at Patcham four years ago.

The dog's antics started two years later when he followed Dave into the water and his owner jokingly put him on a 9ft board.

Flip-Flop loved life on the waves and Dave has been sharing his board with his pet ever since.

Now all that will change.

Dave, of Goldstone Villas, Hove, said: "Depending on the conditions, he'll swim out or sit on my board as we paddle out and I'll tow his board behind me.

"When we get beyond the shore break, as soon as I see a decent wave, I'll transfer him on to his own board. With the momentum of the wave, there's enough for him to aquaplane."

Dave can't keep Flip-Flop on dry land.

He said: "I went out about a mile in North Devon and turned round to find he'd swum all the way out."

Flip-Flop attained near cult status last year when he took to the waves in his new wetsuit.

He made the news again when the wetsuit was stolen from Dave's van last May. But it turned up in a carrier bag on Brighton seafront a few days later.

Dave hopes Flip-Flop can take to the 4ft 6in board during the Paddle Round the Pier off Brighton seafront on June 6, and then in the English Surfboarding Championships at Newquay in August.

More than 600 people - and one dog - are expected to take in this year's paddle, hoping to raise at least £20,000 for the Rockinghorse Appeal.

The new board, which is made of polyurethane foam, glass fibre and polyester resin, took 20 hours to make. It is worth about £120.

Anyone who wants to sponsor Flip-Flop can contact Dave on 01273 820470.

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