CANINE ASSISTED SURF THERAPY & EMPOWERMENT
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Ricochet is a registered and certified therapy dog who was the first-ever dog to surf with kids with special needs, people with disabilities, wounded warriors and veterans with PTSD as a form of surf therapy, assistance, healing and empowerment.
She made history in 2009 when she jumped on a board with a 14 year old boy named Patrick who is quadriplegic. Since then, she has surfed with hundreds of individuals from severely disabled to able-bodied. She adjusts her surfing style based on the person's disability. Adaptive surfers often use her body to stand up. They hold on to her back end while she balances the board. Ricochet also counter balances the board to keep the individual from wiping out. Ricochet is the only SURFice dog® on the planet who provides canine-assisted surfing and other activities that empowers the individuals who participate. |
Dog surfing
In all the years that Ricochet has been dog surfing, she has surfed by herself, with other surf dogs, adults, kids, men, women, surf pros like Rob Machado and Taylor Knox, celebrities and even a goat! But, her favorite stoke is surfing with people who have physical, emotional or cognitive challenges. There is a lot of healing that goes on during the surf session due to the healing power of the ocean, and the healing power of a dog. It's also a wonderful opportunity to become empowered!
Prior to Ricochet, there weren’t any dogs committed to adaptive surfing, surf therapy or ocean therapy. Therefore, she became the Canine Ambassador for Surfers with Disabilities®. In the last couple years other dog owners both locally, and as far as South Africa have become inspired by her self-chosen career. They would like to share the stoke of their dog's healing power too. But, we highly recommend that each dog and owner receives professional therapy dog training, disability training and becomes credentialed as a certified or registered therapy dog team with a legitimate national organization before embarking on this endeavor.
For more information, check out our adaptive surfing and Waves of Empowerment pages. If you'd like to surf with Ricochet, please send us an email, or register at this link.
In all the years that Ricochet has been dog surfing, she has surfed by herself, with other surf dogs, adults, kids, men, women, surf pros like Rob Machado and Taylor Knox, celebrities and even a goat! But, her favorite stoke is surfing with people who have physical, emotional or cognitive challenges. There is a lot of healing that goes on during the surf session due to the healing power of the ocean, and the healing power of a dog. It's also a wonderful opportunity to become empowered!
Prior to Ricochet, there weren’t any dogs committed to adaptive surfing, surf therapy or ocean therapy. Therefore, she became the Canine Ambassador for Surfers with Disabilities®. In the last couple years other dog owners both locally, and as far as South Africa have become inspired by her self-chosen career. They would like to share the stoke of their dog's healing power too. But, we highly recommend that each dog and owner receives professional therapy dog training, disability training and becomes credentialed as a certified or registered therapy dog team with a legitimate national organization before embarking on this endeavor.
For more information, check out our adaptive surfing and Waves of Empowerment pages. If you'd like to surf with Ricochet, please send us an email, or register at this link.
Dogs & kids
Surf therapy for PTSD
Ricochet is also available to surf with service members and veterans with PTSD. Surf therapy has been shown to improve symptoms of PTSD. Throw a dog in the mix, and the healing power becomes even stronger! Ricochet sometimes attends the Naval Medical Center's surf therapy clinic held in Del Mar on Thursdays. She is also often seen at other veteran surf events. If you'd like to surf with Ricochet, please send us an email, or register at this link.
