Contributing writer

By Ricochet

Aloha! My name is Ricochet. I’m a female Golden Retriever who enjoys catching waves and hanging 20. I’m known on the doggie surf scene as “Rip Curl Ricki.” I’m a member of the Golden SurFURs, which is made up of… you guessed it… Golden Retrievers!

Here I am, catching some waves! (Photo courtesy of Judy Fridono)

I was born in January 2008 and raised as part of the Puppy Prodigies Neo-Natal & Early Learning Program. I was destined to be a service dog and started my training at just 13 days of age, before my eyes were even open!

As part of the Puppy Prodigies program, I had lots of obstacles to maneuver over, under, around and on top of, including swings, wobble boards and skateboards.

That’s how I developed an amazing sense of balance. At 8 weeks of age, I began my surf training on a boogie board in a kiddie pool. And in the summer of 2008 I surfed for the first time in the calm waters of Fiesta Island, in San Diego, California.

Since early in life, though, I was a little too interested in chasing birds, something service dogs are not supposed to do. Bummer! But Puppy Prodigies carved out a new job for me, and I became a “surfice” dog! Now I even have my own charitable mission, called Surfin’ for Paws-abilities.

My goal is to achieve my highest surfing pawtential and participate in as many dog surfing events as possible to support charitable causes. Most surf dog contests raise money for specific charities through registration fees, vendor charges and raffles. But I became so excited about surfing that I also started fund raising for disabled people and pets, and to causes I think are cool.

Now when I’m not surfing, I’m either hunting for birds or for sponsors willing to make donations. Boy, are they difficult to catch!

Don’t tell any of my doggie pals, but I changed my job title to “funraiser.” My kind of hunting is a lot of fun!