Surfing therapy dog Ricochet rides the waves

Sure, your dog may roll over when asked, but can they surf and detect what may trigger an adverse reaction from a patient?

Ricochet, a golden retriever and therapy dog, is the star of Puppy Prodigies, a not-for-profit that trains service, therapy and emotional support dogs in San Diego. Ricochet’s talents involve treating patients while riding the waves.

Judy Fridono, who founded Puppy Prodigies in 2007, originally trained Ricochet to be a service dog, but she was more interested in chasing birds. Fridono then discovered Ricochet balanced well on a boogie board and soon, she was competing in surfing contests and surfing alongside patients.

One day, Ricochet was surfing next to a quadriplegic patient and by pure instinct she hopped off her surfboard and onto the patient’s and became a “SURFice dog.”

“Once I saw how excited she was going from wave to wave, I realized that this is what she’s meant for,” Fridono said. “Once I let go, everything fell into place.”

Ricochet often surfs and treats veterans who have PTSD symptoms like hypervigilance, which is hard to turn off after serving in war. When Ricochet senses what may trigger a patient’s anxieties, she stops and with simple eye contact helps calm their nerves, Fridono said.

“Surf therapy helps with PTSD, and dogs can lower blood pressure,” she added. “When you combine the two, it becomes really powerful.” 

Puppy Prodigies hosts two surfing events a summer with Ricochet, and she’s an ambassador for several other organizations, appearing at about 45 events and fundraisers a year. She also stars in “Superpower Dogs,” a movie that documents six life-saving dogs.

“Not every situation calls for a superhero, but who doesn’t want to surf with a pup?” Fridono said.