The Many Lives of Ricochet: Surfer, Therapy Dog, Film Star...and Now Teacher?

Surfdog Ricochet in her natural environment

Ricochet isn’t your average working pup. A certified therapy dog, she’s also a champion surf dog, the first-ever surf therapy dog, and the celebrity star of the new IMAX film Superpower Dogs. But now she’s taking on an even more important role - as a trainer for a seven-month-old Black Lab pup named Balboa. 

Ricochet’s film co-star is Staff Sergeant Persons B. Griffith IV Ret. (a.k.a. Griff), who Ricochet first met during a canine therapy clinic at Balboa Hospital, now called the Naval Medical Center San Diego. A Marine combat vet, Griff had served his country, kept us safe, sacrificed time away from family, and so much more. But he returned home to fight another debilitating battle, this time with PTSD. 

Military recruits go through rigorous training to learn how to fight a war, but nobody teaches them how to come home after experiencing horrific battlefield atrocities. Every 65 minutes a veteran takes his or her life by suicide. As a service dog, Ricochet helped Griff on his healing journey through the tremendous curative powers of canine companionship.  

Due to pandemic stay-at-home orders and social distancing, Ricochet’s therapy dog work with the military was suspended in March 2020, as were her canine-assisted surf therapy and adaptive surfing activities. After the first two months, Ricochet’s guardian, Judy Fridono, noticed the dog appeared aloof and depressed. 

“Ricochet’s entire life had been remarkably busy providing in-person support to others. But when Covid arrived, everything came to a complete stop,” said Fridono. “Because Ricochet had too much time on her paws, coupled with her need for human interaction, I was afraid she would not survive the pandemic. She’s 13.5 years old now, and I worried she would feel her life no longer had meaning and would check out.”

That’s when Fridono, a service dog trainer, had the idea of enlisting Ricochet’s help to train a new PTSD service dog for Griff. Training is time intensive, and they certainly had an abundance of time during the pandemic lockdowns. So Ricochet became a mentor to her new paw·té·gé Balboa, a young pup named for the hospital where Griff and Ricochet first met. 

Some of the things Griff experienced or witnessed in Afghanistan are too awful to utter aloud. But Balboa will know how to help without Griff saying a word. Balboa will know when Griff is anxious, having a panic attack, or a night terror. He will know how to calm Griff and help him navigate further through recovery. Balboa will know because Ricochet will teach him.

The cost of raising and training a puppy to be a service dog for a veteran isn’t cheap. In fact, it can run upwards of $25,000, including training, placing, providing support, vet bills, wellness checks, food, treats, bones, supplies, grooming, vaccinations, license, monthly preventatives, wellness checks, team training, and other miscellaneous expenses. Thankfully, Ricochet’s supporters are providing Balboa to Griff at no cost in recognition of his service to our country. 

As a surf dog, film star, and therapy animal, Ricochet has won scores of awards in her time on this planet. Now, in her golden years, she continues her work training a new generation of pup to follow in her footsteps. After a lifetime spent helping others heal, Ricochet will live on through Griff and Balboa, providing a fitting legacy for an extraordinary dog. 

Superpower Dogs is now showing at reopened theaters and on Hulu. To learn more about Ricochet, go to surfdogricochet.com or follow her on social media at @SurfDogRicochet