Not lost, just waiting - dog tag lets people know Milo is waiting for his surfing owner at an Auckland west coast beach

The golden retriever sits on the rugged west coast beach each day, alone, staring out to sea.

But anyone who approaches Milo, thinking he is a lost, is in for a surprise.

Chris McKeen/Stuff Milo waits patiently on the beach for his owner, Dayne Maxwell, to come in from surfing.

Attached to his collar is a note: "Dad's surfing".

Milo has not been abandoned. Instead the loyal dog daily accompanies his owner Dayne Maxwell to Bethells Beach, then sits without wandering, watching while "dad" enjoys a ride.

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Then Milo's ears go back - he's spotted Maxwell emerging from the water from about 50 metres away, surfboard in hand.

"When he realises it's me he sprints down and goes pretty crazy in the water," Maxwell said.

There is a lot of barking and tail wagging involved.

Chris McKeen/Stuff When Milo spots dad emerging from the sand, it's a flurry of golden-haired excitement

"It's full on excitement."

Being able to trust an excitable, two-and-a-half year old golden retriever to stay put on a beach full of interesting sights and sounds is no easy feat, but the pair have been performing the ritual for just over a year.

They started their daily ritual when the pup was about one.

Now, Milo can be trusted to hang out on the beach by himself.

Chris McKeen/Stuff Milo, now two-and-a-half years old, has been trusted to wait on the beach by himself for about a year.

How long he waits depends on how good the surf is, said Maxwell, "it is usually somewhere between 1-2 hours".

If there are people or dogs around, he'll go up say hello.

"But if there's no one around he'll sit on the beach and waits like a little statue.

"He keeps his eye on any surfer who walks out, and you can see him analysing them to see whether it's me or not," Maxwell said.

The pooch is something of a local celebrity with Bethells Beach regulars.

Maxwell put the note on his collar so people know he's not abandoned.

Chris McKeen/Stuff Milo's tag tells other beach users he's not lost

Once a family friend spotted him on the beach while Maxwell was having a surf, assumed he was lost and took him home.

Maxwell, who works for Maritime NZ, has been surfing at Bethells for about 30 years.

He lives out by the beach with his wife and three children. Milo usually gets about two walks a day.

Maxwell said Milo's probably one of the happiest, most spoiled dogs in Auckland.

"My wife is the fair weather walker and I'm the wet-weather walker. We feel like we've let him down if he only gets one walk in a day," Maxwell muses.

"I do keep an eye on him while surfing, but he's always there when I come in."

Chris McKeen/Stuff He'll say hello to Bethells Beach regulars, but always keeps an eye on the water for dad.

Dogs are allowed off leash on Bethells Beach during Winter. More information can be found on the Auckland Council website.