Quick Dog Names

Ricochet is a bullet, which is extremely quick, that bounces around off hard surfaces. This Ricochet is a Golden Retriever from San Diego, California who is a surfing dog that helps people with disabilities who want to surf. She actually started at about two months old when she jumped on a boogie board in a kid’s pool and was able to balance on it. Her owner, Judy Fridono, actually raised and trained her to be a service dog for people with disabilities through the Puppy Prodigies Neonatal and Early Learning Program. However, her instincts to chase the local wildlife caused her to be dropped from that program. 

So, after seeing Ricochet on the boogie board, Judy decided to try something else. They went to the beach and started teaching her to surf. She was a natural and was riding the waves the next day on her own surfboard, which was softer than Judy’s regular one, so Ricochet could hold on with her claws. After a few months of training, Judy knew she had found Ricochet’s calling, and when the Purina Incredible Dog Challenge invited them to join a contest, Judy decided to give it a try. Ricochet won third place, and she has been surfing ever since. 

But, not only is she a pawesome surfer, but she is also a service dog who helps those who are disabled to surf. Judy created a new initiative for Ricochet in her nonprofit organization, Puppy Prodigies and called it Surfin’ for Paws-Abilities so she could raise money and awareness for disabilities and other causes. The first fundraiser was for a boy who was in a car accident and lost the use of his arms and legs. He had been doing wheelchair rugby and basketball, but he wanted to surf as it had been his favorite sport before the accident.

 When Ricochet jumped on a surfboard with Patrick in 2009, Judy realized what she was meant to do. The smart Golden Retriever stood over him and made adjustments to keep him on the board. When he fell off, she swam to him and stayed with him until help got there. Since then, Ricochet has helped hundreds of people with and without disabilities learn to surf and has raised over $100 thousand for both animal and human causes. She is a certified and registered therapy dog now and recently celebrated her 10th year as the first dog to surf with children who have special needs, veterans with PTSD, and wounded warriors who need healing and therapy.