My Therapy Dog Ricochet Surfs With People With Disabilities, Helping Them Heal
When my dog, Ricochet was born, I wanted her to be a service dog for a person with a disability. But, one day on the beach, she jumped on a surfboard with 14-year-old Patrick Ivison who is quadriplegic. I guess she thought I said SURFice dog®!
Despite my expectations, this smart dog stayed true to herself. Once I listened to her, she was helping people in ways I never imagined possible. For the last six years she’s been surfing with people with disabilities, kids with special needs, wounded warriors, and veterans with mental health problems as an assistive aid and intuitive muse.
And, because I nurtured this adorable dog’s natural tendencies, she has developed an extraordinarily powerful ability to make immediate, deep, heart-to-heart connections with the individuals she interacts with. She intuitively and empathically alerts to their emotional and physical changes which allow for profound paws-on healing interventions. She’s a truly wonderful therapy dog.
As a result, she balances boards… and balances lives!
More info: surfdogricochet.com | Facebook | Instagram | Amazon
Ricochet was 15 months old when she jumped on the surfboard with Patrick. It was that day she went from service dog to SURFice dog
Jill lost her leg to cancer, but that doesn’t stop her from being active! She uses Ricochet’s back as stabilizer to stand up. Once she’s up, she can let go!
Gina has autism, her self confidence has soared since surfing with Ricochet. She now owns her own surfboard!
A child with autism may never see the world the same as someone who doesn’t have it. Ricochet has no expectation for them to come into our world… instead, she goes into theirs
Ricochet instantly connects with people on a deep heart-to-heart level, providing healing both in and out of the water
Sabine posted on Ricochet’s facebook page asking if a woman without arms could surf. I guess you can tell how Ricochet responded!
The more she connects with people, the stronger her gift becomes
Caleb saw Ricochet surfing with kids on ESPN. When Make-A-Wish asked what he wished for, he said to surf with Ricochet. Sadly, six weeks later Caleb lost his battle with brain cancer. But not before he touched all our lives.
Ricochet is an Ambassador for Life Rolls On, an organization that empowers young people affected by spinal cord injury to enjoy the freedom and mobility of surfing
Jake has Ataxia Telangiectasia, a rare, neurodegenerative disease that causes disability. As his smile shows, that doesn’t stop him from hanging 10 with Ricochet
Ricochet has been surfing with wounded warriors and veterans with PTSD for the last four years. She intuitively alerts to their anxiety, and then helps to calm them
These two boys named Jacob both need a heart transplant. Ricochet held a fundraiser to bring the boys together to surf with her & raise awareness about organ donation
Ricochet has an incredible sense of empathy and often mirrors the military service members with PTSD, alerting to their anxiety, pain and other symptoms. As such, she can help people go inward to find a place of peace while, at the same time, moving outward through their greatest fears.
West’s autism used to make him afraid of the water, and afraid of dogs. Now he not only surfs with Ricochet, but often helps in the water when other kids surf with her
Ian used to surf with his daddy. But his parents were killed in a car accident in which Ian also suffered a brain injury. He was afraid to go back in the water. That was, until he heard he could surf with Ricochet
Ricochet is able to instantly bond with strangers, often alerting to their emotional or physical changes
Ricochet is like a mirror to the people with whom she interacts, reflecting back their feelings with a sense of confidence
She’s the most sensitive to military with PTSD and children with autism
Ricochet is able to prevent panic attacks, melt downs and other anxiety provoking behavior
Ricochet is also a hero dog and therapy dog who lives a lifestyle of helping others by ‘pawing it forward’ while raising awareness & funds for human/animal causes… almost $400,000 so far
She is an advocate for staying true to yourself, anti-bullying and individuality
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Ricochet has provided a spectacular example for what dogs can do to help those among us who need just a little extra love , please push the up button so she gets some more recognition.
Thanks Eugene, we are trying to raise more awareness of what dogs are capable of!
Load More Replies...
The world is a better place because there is a dog named Ricochet.
Ricochet is so wonderful and the service the surf dog offers to everyone is spectacular.
Ricochet is so amazing!!! She has a very special gift for helping children and adults with special needs! She really is a true hero!!! Love her!!!
How fantastic to have Ricochet provide such needed and welcome service. Thank you Ricochet!
I forgot to mention Rico's "sister" Rina. The shoe diva. She is pawesome, too! Love.all three of them $
Rico and mom Judy do so much good for so many. They are truly the greatest example of "pawing it forward"! Thank you both for all you do! ♡♡♡
I just love you Ricochet! You are my hero! One day I hope to meet you! I follow you on Face Book! Thank you for being who you are you are so special!
Totally pawsome! Ricochet is doing what God created her to do and he picked the right guardian for her in Judy Fridono! God is smiling on all of them!
Ricochet and her Mom are awesome and do some much for others. I saw a special on the National Geographic Channel a few days ago and the story of Ricochet and West was one of the feature stories. She give some much love and compassion and is truly a blessing. Thank you Ricochet and Mom....
Ricochet is a wonderful dog who gives so much to so many. She truly is a hero!
Ricochet has a amazing kinship with people who are hurting or in need and she has the amazing ability to balance a surfboard so that the dreams of so many can come true. Truly an amazing canine!!
Ricochet has been an inspiration to so many, I'm proud to know her! (Even if it's only virtually :) ) She provides such a great service and support, and deserves all the recognition she can get! It's important for people to know how connected animals can become and the service they can provide.
Ricochet is a national treasure! She helps so many people that are hard to reach and in such a cute and loveable package!
Ricochet, along with her mom Judy and other helpers is one of God's little miracle workers.
Judy, Thank You for sharing Ricochet with all of the world. Ricochet, Thank You for giving so much to so many children and adults! You are a perfect gem in the dog world and we all love you!
Ricochet volunteered to be in a film my niece wrote that was produced posthumously after her passing. The film raises awareness about mitochondrial disease: the disease my niece had. Thank you to Ricochet for being in the film and our lives. Her presence brought great healing in our family -- both as an example of love and as a helper in making this legacy movie.
We should clone Ricochet so we could have enough to help everyone :<)
Have followed Ricochet and our Wounded Warriors for several years now and am amazed at her ability to sense their needs.
I have been following Judy, Ricochet, and her buddy Rina for a while and this dog does wonderful things for many people. She brings needs to our attention when we would otherwise not know about. She is so sensitive and a big help to folks who don't have a voice otherwise. Love her sooooo much!!
Ricochet is an angel in animal form placed on earth to spread love and joy. Love this sweet girl!
Fantastic story! Ricochet is a hero and helps others in ways that humans can't. I love reading and seeing videos of Ricochet.
Amazing, intuitive animal! She does so much for so many with disabilities.
Ricochet is a special dog and her story is enlightening. She always amazes me and is a real hero dog.
Loved reading about all those that Ricochet has helped. What a very special dog with very special healing powers!
Ricochet is unbelievably gifted and is eager to help any and all in need!!
What a wonderful article. Ricochet and his mom do so much to raise money and awareness for so many amazing causes. Such an inspiration to us all.
Ricochet is an incredible and beautiful dog - she does so much good!!!
Love Ricochet!!!!! Amazing animal and such an inspiration....
Ricochet is so amazing and so is Judy for allowing her to be what she was meant to be to this world.
Ricochet has opened a surfing door for so many people who would never had the adventure otherwise. This special creature instills confidence and empowers every person she interacts with.
Ricochet is amazing. She instinctively knows what to do for the person she is with.
Ricochet is a great example of unconditional love. She has given so much to so many and helped the young and old to gain confidence in getting out and surfing, no matter what limitations are there. She is a very special blessing to us - what a wonderful world it would be if we all had a fur-riend like Ricochet! <3
Love you Ricochet!!! You concentrate so well on the board and help the lives of so many of us!!! Your pawrent is so wonderful to let you be the furson you have become! Thanks Judy and Rina for being a great furbling!
Ricochet is always SO focused when she is surfing. Her ability to connect with people is simply one-in-a-million!
I have seen Ricochet in action numerous times with different people on land and in the ocean. Ricochet always knows what they need. I love watching the relationship she has with West. It is so magical. West talks about her all the time and asks when he will see her again.
Love Ricochet's story and how she has helped so many people in a few short years. She is truly a wonder dog (and so is Judy who allowed her to be herself)
Ricochet is pawmazing. She helps so many people. Love reading her articles and watching the videos.
Surf Dog Ricochet does a great job with helping other people; I live in San Diego and she is very loved here for all that she does!
Been following Ricochet for some time now. This is a great article that shows how Ricochet loves helping those that need a confidence booster !
I am so pleased that she loves doing this and it's not just expected of her. Wonderful special creature!!!
Dogs like Ricochet are a true gift to humanity. (I believe all dogs are a gift to their owners - I certainly believe mine is to me - but some dogs can really go far beyond the usual human-canine bond.) Great work - from her and her humans!
I think Ricochet is beyond amazing. I have four goldens and I know how loving they are, but with Ricochet, it is the exceptional ability to know what the person needs. Her intuitive and empathetic nature, makes her so much more than just a surfing dog. She does surf really well, and has won many contests, but her ability to heal is so pawmazing! She is loved by so many and I am at the top the the list.
Dogs are amazing creatures and Ricochet is following her instincts in helping people.
Ricochet shows what compassion and empathy can accomplish. It still amazes me that I can continue to learn so much from her and her family from across the country.
Wonderful connection Richochet has with people! You can see in the pictures she loves her job and people love her!
Ricochet and his community are such an amazing group. What a true example of unconditional love, and what that can do for so many others in need. xoxo, Olivers ClubHouse's Mom!!
Everyone needs a Ricochet in their life, she is in mine through social media and I am grateful!
We love Ricochet, she is an amazing example of how a dog's love can help heal.
Ricochet has been doing this for quite some time; she is very empathic and from what I've seen loves surfing and also being with people who need comfort. Her "physical" presence on a surfboard is much more of a "healing" presence for the person surfing with her. P.S. she also needs to concentrate....she is, after all, surfing!
Load More Replies...
Ricochet has provided a spectacular example for what dogs can do to help those among us who need just a little extra love , please push the up button so she gets some more recognition.
Thanks Eugene, we are trying to raise more awareness of what dogs are capable of!
Load More Replies... The world is a better place because there is a dog named Ricochet.
Ricochet is so wonderful and the service the surf dog offers to everyone is spectacular.
Ricochet is so amazing!!! She has a very special gift for helping children and adults with special needs! She really is a true hero!!! Love her!!!
How fantastic to have Ricochet provide such needed and welcome service. Thank you Ricochet!
I forgot to mention Rico's "sister" Rina. The shoe diva. She is pawesome, too! Love.all three of them $
Rico and mom Judy do so much good for so many. They are truly the greatest example of "pawing it forward"! Thank you both for all you do! ♡♡♡
I just love you Ricochet! You are my hero! One day I hope to meet you! I follow you on Face Book! Thank you for being who you are you are so special!
Totally pawsome! Ricochet is doing what God created her to do and he picked the right guardian for her in Judy Fridono! God is smiling on all of them!
Ricochet and her Mom are awesome and do some much for others. I saw a special on the National Geographic Channel a few days ago and the story of Ricochet and West was one of the feature stories. She give some much love and compassion and is truly a blessing. Thank you Ricochet and Mom....
Ricochet is a wonderful dog who gives so much to so many. She truly is a hero!
Ricochet has a amazing kinship with people who are hurting or in need and she has the amazing ability to balance a surfboard so that the dreams of so many can come true. Truly an amazing canine!!
Ricochet has been an inspiration to so many, I'm proud to know her! (Even if it's only virtually :) ) She provides such a great service and support, and deserves all the recognition she can get! It's important for people to know how connected animals can become and the service they can provide.
Ricochet is a national treasure! She helps so many people that are hard to reach and in such a cute and loveable package!
Ricochet, along with her mom Judy and other helpers is one of God's little miracle workers.
Judy, Thank You for sharing Ricochet with all of the world. Ricochet, Thank You for giving so much to so many children and adults! You are a perfect gem in the dog world and we all love you!
Ricochet volunteered to be in a film my niece wrote that was produced posthumously after her passing. The film raises awareness about mitochondrial disease: the disease my niece had. Thank you to Ricochet for being in the film and our lives. Her presence brought great healing in our family -- both as an example of love and as a helper in making this legacy movie.
We should clone Ricochet so we could have enough to help everyone :<)
Have followed Ricochet and our Wounded Warriors for several years now and am amazed at her ability to sense their needs.
I have been following Judy, Ricochet, and her buddy Rina for a while and this dog does wonderful things for many people. She brings needs to our attention when we would otherwise not know about. She is so sensitive and a big help to folks who don't have a voice otherwise. Love her sooooo much!!
Ricochet is an angel in animal form placed on earth to spread love and joy. Love this sweet girl!
Fantastic story! Ricochet is a hero and helps others in ways that humans can't. I love reading and seeing videos of Ricochet.
Amazing, intuitive animal! She does so much for so many with disabilities.
Ricochet is a special dog and her story is enlightening. She always amazes me and is a real hero dog.
Loved reading about all those that Ricochet has helped. What a very special dog with very special healing powers!
Ricochet is unbelievably gifted and is eager to help any and all in need!!
What a wonderful article. Ricochet and his mom do so much to raise money and awareness for so many amazing causes. Such an inspiration to us all.
Ricochet is an incredible and beautiful dog - she does so much good!!!
Love Ricochet!!!!! Amazing animal and such an inspiration....
Ricochet is so amazing and so is Judy for allowing her to be what she was meant to be to this world.
Ricochet has opened a surfing door for so many people who would never had the adventure otherwise. This special creature instills confidence and empowers every person she interacts with.
Ricochet is amazing. She instinctively knows what to do for the person she is with.
Ricochet is a great example of unconditional love. She has given so much to so many and helped the young and old to gain confidence in getting out and surfing, no matter what limitations are there. She is a very special blessing to us - what a wonderful world it would be if we all had a fur-riend like Ricochet! <3
Love you Ricochet!!! You concentrate so well on the board and help the lives of so many of us!!! Your pawrent is so wonderful to let you be the furson you have become! Thanks Judy and Rina for being a great furbling!
Ricochet is always SO focused when she is surfing. Her ability to connect with people is simply one-in-a-million!
I have seen Ricochet in action numerous times with different people on land and in the ocean. Ricochet always knows what they need. I love watching the relationship she has with West. It is so magical. West talks about her all the time and asks when he will see her again.
Love Ricochet's story and how she has helped so many people in a few short years. She is truly a wonder dog (and so is Judy who allowed her to be herself)
Ricochet is pawmazing. She helps so many people. Love reading her articles and watching the videos.
Surf Dog Ricochet does a great job with helping other people; I live in San Diego and she is very loved here for all that she does!
Been following Ricochet for some time now. This is a great article that shows how Ricochet loves helping those that need a confidence booster !
I am so pleased that she loves doing this and it's not just expected of her. Wonderful special creature!!!
Dogs like Ricochet are a true gift to humanity. (I believe all dogs are a gift to their owners - I certainly believe mine is to me - but some dogs can really go far beyond the usual human-canine bond.) Great work - from her and her humans!
I think Ricochet is beyond amazing. I have four goldens and I know how loving they are, but with Ricochet, it is the exceptional ability to know what the person needs. Her intuitive and empathetic nature, makes her so much more than just a surfing dog. She does surf really well, and has won many contests, but her ability to heal is so pawmazing! She is loved by so many and I am at the top the the list.
Dogs are amazing creatures and Ricochet is following her instincts in helping people.
Ricochet shows what compassion and empathy can accomplish. It still amazes me that I can continue to learn so much from her and her family from across the country.
Wonderful connection Richochet has with people! You can see in the pictures she loves her job and people love her!
Ricochet and his community are such an amazing group. What a true example of unconditional love, and what that can do for so many others in need. xoxo, Olivers ClubHouse's Mom!!
Everyone needs a Ricochet in their life, she is in mine through social media and I am grateful!
We love Ricochet, she is an amazing example of how a dog's love can help heal.
Ricochet has been doing this for quite some time; she is very empathic and from what I've seen loves surfing and also being with people who need comfort. Her "physical" presence on a surfboard is much more of a "healing" presence for the person surfing with her. P.S. she also needs to concentrate....she is, after all, surfing!
Load More Replies...
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