Dock-diving and skimboarding dogs show off their skills at audition for a spot on Rose Parade float

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About 130 dogs vied for the chance to appear on a Rose Parade float sponsored by the pet food company Natural Balance in a decidedly wet audition Monday.

Previous Natural Balance parade floats have showcased skateboarding and snowboarding dogs, and this year’s -- which will cost about $300,000, according to company president Joey Herrick -- will feature surfing and diving dogs.

Monday’s audition required participating canines to show off their skills in and enthusiasm for -- or, in some cases, lack thereof -- the water. Dogs (like Porter the terrier, above) demonstrated their prowess riding a skimboard down a watery ramp or leaping off a specially-constructed dock into a water tank.

Owners of the winning dogs will be notified later this week, and will participate with their pets in a rigorous training schedule -- twice a week through the end of December -- to get ready for their Rose Parade appearances.

Learn more about Monday’s audition in Times reporter Bob Pool’s recent story and check out a photo gallery of skimboarding and dock-diving dogs at The Times’ photography blog, Framework.

-- Lindsay Barnett