Ricochet (January 25, 2008 – March 31, 2023) was a female Golden Retriever dog from San Diego. She was one of the original surfing dogs that started the whole dog surfing circuit. She entered her first surf dog competition when she was 15 months old. She was a competitive surfing dog for several years and typically placed in one of the top three spots of competitions.
Ricochet helped people with disabilities through surfing and community outreach. Ricochet's popularity on social media originated from a video of her surfing with a boy who is quadriplegic that was posted on YouTube. As of May 22, 2016, the video has more than 12.5 million views on YouTube and Facebook.
When Ricochet was 8 weeks old, she climbed on a boogie board in a kiddie pool and was able to balance on her own."Surfing Dog Helps Disabled Surf". ABC Evening News with Diane Sawyer. August 22, 2011. Retrieved April 25, 2015"Surf Doggie". Guideposts Magazine. August 25, 2011. Retrieved April 25, 2015"Rip Curl Ricki, the SURFice Dog" Animal Planet. December 8, 2009. Retrieved April 25, 2015"Imperial Beach Crowns the Best Canine Surfers". Surfer Today. July 22, 2014. Retrieved April 26, 2015. She has surfed ever since. She started entering surf dog contests in 2010. On June 10, 2011, she surfed with surf pro, Taylor Knox."Surfing with Taylor Knox" Video – YouTube. June 10, 2011. YouTube.com. Retrieved May 21, 2015 On June 16, 2012, she surfed with actor, Cameron Mathison in the Loews Coronado Bay Resort surf dog contest and won 2nd place."Ricochet wins 1st and 2nd at Surf Dog Contest". Surfline. June 19, 2012. Retrieved May 21, 2015 In August 2012 Ricochet surfed with a goat named Pismo."Surf Dog Ricochet". SD Surfboards. July 28, 2014. Retrieved May 21, 2015 On July 20, 2014, she surfed with surf pro Rob Machado."Rob Machado Sessions With Surf Therapy Dog". Surfers Village. July 21, 2014. Retrieved April 26, 2015.
Ricochet was also the canine ambassador for surfers with disabilities and referred to as a SURFice dog, because she surfed as an assertive aid with children with special needs, people with disabilities, and veterans who were wounded or who had PTSD.
Early life
Ricochet was raised and trained by Judy Fridono as part of Fridono's non-profit 501(c)3 organization, Puppy Prodigies Neo-Natal & Early Learning Program. The organization trains dogs to be service dogs for people with disabilities. She started training to be a service dog but as she grew, her instinct for chasing birds and other wildlife increased and she was dropped from the program. On August 20, 2009, she jumped on a surfboard with a 14-year-old boy named Patrick Ivison who is quadriplegic.
Ricochet was 15 months old when she started her competitive dog surfing career at the Purina Incredible Dog Challenge Surf Dog competition, where she won third place. Ricochet went on to win additional Purina Surf Dog contests as well as contests held by the Helen Woodward Animal Center's Surf Dog Surf-a-thon,"Surf Dogs Make Waves at the Surf Dog Surf-A-Thon". Pause For Tails. September 19, 2012. Retrieved May 21, 2015 Loews Coronado Bay Resort Surf Dog Contests (now known as Unleashed By Petco's Surf Dog Contests)"Unleashed By Petco". Contest results. July 17, 2014. Retrieved May 21, 2015 and Surf City Surf Dog surf contests."Golden Surfing Dogs". Land of Pure Gold. Retrieved May 21, 2015
Canine research Ricochet was involved in dog-human communication research with Dr. Brian Hare at the Duke University Canine Cognition Center.Is Your Dog A Genius In May 2015, Ricochet appeared in Nat Geo Wild's "Is Your Dog A Genius" hosted by Dr. Hare. In this show, Dr. Hare explained canine cognition and how Ricochet uses empathy (the ability to understand and share the feelings of others) while identifying, responding and communicating with veterans who have PTSD.YouTube Video: Is Your Dog A Genius
Community outreach
After Ricochet's video went viral she turned the attention into a platform for raising awareness and funds for human and animal causes."Ruff Waves Ahead: Surfing Dog Helps Disabled Kids Boogie Board". NBC Nightly News. July 27, 2014. Retrieved April 25, 2015 She has appeared at many community events in the San Diego area. She has served as the Grand Marshal at the Navy Woof Walk in 2014 and 2015."Navy Woof Walk". Navylifesw.com/woofwalk. Retrieved April 25, 2015
Ricochet was an ambassador for Pay It Forward Day,"Pay it Forward Day". Payitforwardday.com. Retrieved April 25, 2015 The Best Day Foundation,"Best Day Foundation". BestDayFoundation.org/ambassadors/ricochet. Retrieved April 25, 2015 Life Rolls On"Life Rolls On". LifeRollsOn.org. Retrieved April 25, 2015 and Team PossAbilities para-Olympic team."Team Possabilities". Teampossabilities.org. Retrieved April 25, 2015 She has held more than 150 fundraisers and donated funds to more than 250 different causes."About Surf Dog Ricochet". SurfDogRicochet.com. Retrieved April 25, 2015
Ricochet performed therapy dog work with active duty military service members who had PTSD, traumatic brain injuries and other disabilities as a result of combat."Surf Dog Helps Soldier Heal". Fox 5 San Diego. December 11, 2013. Retrieved April 25, 2015 She participated in a PTSD Battle Buddy program with retired Staff Sergeant Randy Dexter. She was also active with the Jimmy Miller Memorial Foundation's Ocean Therapy program,"Jimmy Miller Memorial Foundation Ocean Therapy Program". JimmyMillerFoundation.org. Retrieved April 25, 2015 wounded warriors,"Surf Dog Spends New Year's Eve Helping Wounded Warriors, Special Needs Kids". ABC News. December 31, 2013. Retrieved April 25, 2015 and challenged athletes foundation."Surf Dog Ricochet Makes a Splash to Assist Spinal Cord Injured Boy Swim for Fundraiser May 4th". Surfline. May 4, 2012. Retrieved April 25, 2015 Ricochet had the ability to identify and alert to the emotional and physical changes of the individuals she interacted with. This ability allowed for remarkable healing interventions."Wounded Warriors Ride Waves with Surf Dog". Yahoo News. December 31, 2013. Retrieved April 25, 2015
Ricochet was featured on ABC for her ability to take commands from a synthesized voice on an iPad from children with autism."Ricochet Takes Command from iPad to Help People". Yahoo News. December 4, 2012. Retrieved April 25, 2015
Ricochet was also a registered therapy dog with Therapy Dogs Incorporated, a certified therapy dog with Paws’itive Teams and has the highest therapy dog title with the AKC. As of April 24, 2015, she has raised over $457,000.
Death Ricochet was diagnosed with liver cancer in August 2022. She died on March 31, 2023, at the age of 15.
Merchandising Health Communications Inc approached Fridono about writing a book about Ricochet. In June 2014, Ricochet: Riding a Wave of Hope With the Dog Who Inspires Millions was published."Ricochet: Riding A Wave of Hope With The Dog Who Inspires Millions". By Judy Fridono and Kay Pflatz. Amazon.com. Published June 3, 2014. Retrieved April 25, 2015 The book was released in paperback in May 2015, and a Japanese edition has also been published in Japan."Ricochet: Riding A Wave of Hope With The Dog Who Inspires Millions". Japanese edition. Published April, 2015. Retrieved April 25, 2015"Ricochet Wins 1st and 2nd at Surf Dog Contest". Surfline. June 19, 2012. Retrieved April 26, 2015 Ricochet also appears in 13 other books, including A Year With National Geographic: Yearbook 2014, Animals and the Kids Who Love Them, The Power of Wagging Tails, A Book of Miracles, Devoted, Surf Dog Miracles, San Diego North Coast and Daisy to the Rescue.
Ricochet's branded merchandise includes calendars, T-shirts, a stuffed animal, stickers, "paw it forward" wristbands and trading cards."Stuff For Sale". SurfDogRicochet.com. Retrieved April 25, 2015.
Media appearances
Print Ricochet was featured in more than 40 magazine articles including People Magazine,"America's Got Talented Pets". People Magazine. May 17, 2012. Retrieved April 25, 2015 Guideposts, Dog Fancy, Fido Friendly,"Surf Dog Ricochet Receives Award at the Star Studded Hero Dog". Fido Friendly. October 4, 2011. Retrieved April 26, 2015 Modern Dog,"Rip Curl Ricki the Surfing Dog". Barr, Melissa. Modern Dog Magazine. December 18, 2009. Retrieved April 26, 2015 Cesar's Way, "Ricochet Paws it Forward". Cesar's Way Magazine. July 6, 2011. Retrieved April 26, 2015 AKC Gazette,"Paw's Up". AKC Gazette. December 16, 2009. Retrieved April 26, 2015 Woman's World,"The Angel Disguised as a Dog". Women's World Magazine. August 8, 2015. Retrieved April 26, 2015 and many more."Media". SurfDogRicochet.com. Retrieved April 26, 2015 In addition to the articles, she has been on the cover of Pup Culture,"Surf Dog Ricochet Inspiring Others to Paw it Forward". Pup Culture Magazine. December, 2011. Retrieved April 26, 2015 San Diego Pets,"Ricochet, A Story of Bouncing Back". San Diego Pets Magazine. August, 2011. Retrieved April 26, 2015 K9 Reporter,"A Moment With Ricochet and Judy". The K9 Reporter. October 5, 2011. Retrieved April 26, 2015 American Dog,"Celebrity Dogs". American Dog Magazine. April 6, 2015. Retrieved April 26, 2015 Scholastic,"Animal Heroes". Scholastic News. May 4, 2012. Retrieved April 26, 2015 Woof"The Dog That Surfs For a Good Cause". Woof Magazine. April 2014. Retrieved April 26, 2015 and Animal Wellness."Ricochet Hangs Ten". Animal Wellness Magazine. September 14, 2014. Retrieved April 26, 2015
Television Ricochet appeared on the Oprah Winfrey Network,"Surf Dog Ricochet to Appear on Oprah Winfrey Network". Fido Friendly Magazine. January 17, 2012. Retrieved April 26, 2015"Beyond Belief". Video. Oprah Winfrey Network. YouTube.com. January 19, 2012. Retrieved April 26, 2015 Nat Geo Wild,"Caught in the Act". Video. Nat Geo Wild. YouTube.com. June 25, 2013. Retrieved April 26, 2015 an MTV special called "Made""Made". Video. MTV. YouTube.com. June 11, 2011. Retrieved April 26, 2015 and was a Jeopardy question. "Jeopardy". Video. Jeopardy. YouTube.com July 5, 2013. Retrieved April 26, 2015 She also appeared in two Bark Box commercials."Bark Box Commercial". Video. Bark Box. YouTube.com. September 16, 2014. Retrieved April 26, 2015"Bark Box Holiday Commercial". Video. Bark Box. YouTube.com. November 14, 2014. Retrieved April 26, 2015
Ricochet was featured on Good Morning America,"Terminally Ill Boy, Dog Fetch a Wave for Surfing Wish". Good Morning America. February 13, 2014. Retrieved April 26, 2015 ABC Evening News With Diane Sawyer,"Surfing Dog Ricochet Helps Disabled People Surf". ABC Evening News with Diane Sawyer. August 22, 2011. Retrieved April 25, 2015 ESPN,"Story of Ricochet the surfing dog is pretty awesome". LarryBrownSports.com. May 19, 2013. Retrieved April 26, 2015. Associated Press,"Service Dog Reject Ricochet Becomes Surfer Dude". Associated Press. UTSanDiego.com. October 15, 2009. Retrieved April 26, 2015 NBC, ABC, CBS,"Terminally ill teen surfs with Ricochet the dog". Summers, Alicia. CBS. February 12, 2014. Retrieved April 26, 2015 Fox News,"Surf Dog Makes Teen With Cancer's Wish Come True". Fox News. February 12, 2014. Retrieved April 26, 2015 Animal Planet.
Film Ricochet appeared as an extra in the movie Marmaduke. She was also cast as the "cheese obsessed dog" in the movie "Rina's Magic Bracelet" that featured Bailey Madison, Jackson Rathbone, J.K. Simmons, Hailee Steinfeld, James Van Der Beek."Rina's Magic Bracelet". Video. Make a Film Foundation. YouTube.com. Story by Rina Goldberg. Adapted by Diablo Cody, Directed by Jon Poll. April 23, 2013. Retrieved April 26, 2015
Ricochet was in a documentary called "Going the Distance", produced by David L. Brown."Going the Distance". Brown, David L. Documentary. YouTube.com. September 19, 2010. Retrieved April 26, 2015
Ricochet was featured in an IMAX film produced by Daniel Ferguson about "super hero" dogs, released in 2017.
Notoriety