What do you think?
Rate this book
Ricochet: Riding a Wave of Hope with the Dog Who Inspires Millions
Ride the wave of hope with Ricochet – the only SURFice dog™ in the world who chose her own purpose! She surfs with children with special needs, people with disabilities, wounded warriors, and veterans with PTSD as an assistive aid and intuitive muse, healing hearts and souls on every wave.
This tears-to-triumph story takes readers behind the TV and video sensation and shares the true journey that went from promise to disappointment before ultimately finding life's purpose. The gorgeous golden retriever Ricochet seemed destined to be a service dog from the moment she was born. She approached her training with boundless energy and surpassed every other dog in her Puppy Prodigy training class. Unfortunately, her love for chasing birds could prove dangerous, for those she would assist. Fifteen months into her training, Ricochet was released, leaving a frustrated owner and a dog without a direction. Yet through a twist of fate, Judy realized that flunking out of school wasn't the end of the world—and in fact, could be the beginning of a new one. Once Judy learned to let go and let Ricochet be who she really was, they found her true calling as a SURFice dog.
Ricochet's story is one of synchronicity, our interconnectedness, and opening ourselves to life's 'paws'ibilities. Embracing her true calling, Ricochet began to help others, including those with traumatic brain injuries, post-traumatic stress, and physical disabilities, raising hundreds of thousands of dollars for charitable causes and inspiring people to believe in themselves. Ricochet does more than steady the she offers hope, comfort, healing, and a reason to keep fighting. What gives this story such extraordinary potential to become a publishing sensation? Ricochet is the only SURFice dog in the world, there is no other story quite like it!
This tears-to-triumph story takes readers behind the TV and video sensation and shares the true journey that went from promise to disappointment before ultimately finding life's purpose. The gorgeous golden retriever Ricochet seemed destined to be a service dog from the moment she was born. She approached her training with boundless energy and surpassed every other dog in her Puppy Prodigy training class. Unfortunately, her love for chasing birds could prove dangerous, for those she would assist. Fifteen months into her training, Ricochet was released, leaving a frustrated owner and a dog without a direction. Yet through a twist of fate, Judy realized that flunking out of school wasn't the end of the world—and in fact, could be the beginning of a new one. Once Judy learned to let go and let Ricochet be who she really was, they found her true calling as a SURFice dog.
Ricochet's story is one of synchronicity, our interconnectedness, and opening ourselves to life's 'paws'ibilities. Embracing her true calling, Ricochet began to help others, including those with traumatic brain injuries, post-traumatic stress, and physical disabilities, raising hundreds of thousands of dollars for charitable causes and inspiring people to believe in themselves. Ricochet does more than steady the she offers hope, comfort, healing, and a reason to keep fighting. What gives this story such extraordinary potential to become a publishing sensation? Ricochet is the only SURFice dog in the world, there is no other story quite like it!
298 pages, Paperback
First published May 6, 2014
11 people are currently reading
333 people want to read
About the author
Judy Fridono
1 book5 followersJudy Fridono (San Diego, California) is a dog trainer with an Associate's degree in service dog training. She is the founder of Puppy Prodigies, a unique program designed to provide a long-term advantage at an early age for service dogs and pets. She is also the guardian of Ricochet, an internationally renowned, award winning surf dog who has become an inspirational phenomenon, philanthropic role model, internet sensation, fundraising marvel, community advocate, goodwill ambassador, and muse to millions!
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
October 8, 2016
This is one tough book to review as a book. And by that, I mean I'd have to look at the writing style, the 'story' and whatnot, and then give it a rating accordingly. However, I can't and won't do that on my blog (I'm giving it 4 stars on Goodreads because ratings matter here) because this isn't just a book. It's the story of an amazing dog, amazing people, and how there's no such thing as coincidence. You just can't attach a rating to that! So instead, let me try and get you acquainted with Judy and Ricochet. Starting off with this YouTube video which says so much more than I will ever be able to express in words.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BGODu...
The book tells us the 'complete' journey of Judy and Ricochet so far. It starts with Judy's troubled adolescence, the loss of her loved ones, illnesses...basically a whole lot of suffering. And then she decides to do something amazing: sign up for training a service dog.
Now here's a bit of a personal story for ya (from me, Anne *waves*). We got our dog when he was 1.5 years old and had already gone through 8 owners before us. Sure, he had some issues we needed to work on together, but nothing major which would explain his abundance of previous owners. No dog deserves to go through something like that, and it made him very insecure about pretty much everything. The first time we went on a stay over trip at my in-laws, we packed up his stuff and put it in the car. The poor wee thing was shaking in a corner of the house with his tail between his legs, thinking he'd be shipped off to yet another new family.
When we decided he needed training to get his confidence back and for us to build a better bond with him, we searched for trainers in our area. The first two we went to made me feel SO uncomfortable. Choking collars, yelling and punishing seemed to be the way to get your dog to obey. I have never hurt any of my animals intentionally, so this was not the way to go.
We watched a lot of Ceasar Milano during the first month as well because hey, he's the expert right?! I didn't want to admit it right away but watching him work with those dogs also made me feel very uncomfortable. It's like turning them into mindless zombies by using intimidation. Now it's all about reenacting the pack life and being the alpha dog but neither my husband nor I wanted that. A dog should be a companion, not a docile creature who never misbehaves because he's terrified of you. It's how I stumbled upon positive reinforcement, Victoria Stillwell, and a small local training group who used a clicker instead of a torturing collar. It was a wonderful experience and a way better fit with how we want to interact with animals. And it worked (would be hilarious if I said it didn't work at all now eh)!
So when I read about Judy's struggle with the dominant type of obedience training with her first service dog, Rina, I knew exactly what she was talking about. The fact that Rina was eventually released from the puppy training program because she was 'broken' just intensified this feeling. Reading about how she got back to being a happy dog again by using positive reinforcement made me a happy gal for sure. It's how Ricochet was trained as well and you can see how much it influenced her by looking at her independent, lovable spirit.
The story of Ricochet is one of spirituality, of how everything and everyone is connected. It's about how life is a sacred journey and whenever you're wondering why you've had to endure so much struggle or heartache, it's to get right to the point where you're supposed to be; everything happens for a reason.
"If we go into a forest on a trail that's already been cleared, it's the one true sign we're not on our own path. If you follow someone else's entry, you're on someone else's path. To discover who we really are, we need to find out own path."
In the book, we get to read about Ricochet's encounters with people with disabilities, children with autism, veterans suffering from PTSD, and cancer patients (just to name a few). She managed to connect with them all instantly and make them break free of any sort of physical or mental barrier, if only just for the moment. I definitely shed a few tears here and there while reading about it, but also after reading up on what happened afterwards.
For instance, I saw that Caleb, a 15-year-old boy with brain cancer, and with the brightest most genuine smile I've ever seen, passed away shortly after the part where the book ends.
And then there's sweet Rina, who passed away on Memorial Day, 2016. I bawled my eyes out when I heard it.
All that rests me to say about this book now is that if you're a dog lover, or want to read an inspiring and sometimes heartbreaking pawtobiography, you should definitely dive into the story of Ricochet. It sometimes got a little too spiritual for me and during the end of the book, there was a lot of repetitiveness going on, but still, this was an amazing journey. A percent of book sales will go to Ricochet's causes fund to help humans and animals in need.
Now with all this seriousness, I need to add my signature by sharing this final quote:
"I smiled as I watched him hand her a piece of bratwurst, which she happily gobbled."
You can find a lot more on Ricochet and Judy on their:
Website
Instagram
Facebook
Twitter
I'm a fan!
A massive thank you and high paw to Judy Fridono for sending me a copy all the way from the US!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BGODu...
The book tells us the 'complete' journey of Judy and Ricochet so far. It starts with Judy's troubled adolescence, the loss of her loved ones, illnesses...basically a whole lot of suffering. And then she decides to do something amazing: sign up for training a service dog.
Now here's a bit of a personal story for ya (from me, Anne *waves*). We got our dog when he was 1.5 years old and had already gone through 8 owners before us. Sure, he had some issues we needed to work on together, but nothing major which would explain his abundance of previous owners. No dog deserves to go through something like that, and it made him very insecure about pretty much everything. The first time we went on a stay over trip at my in-laws, we packed up his stuff and put it in the car. The poor wee thing was shaking in a corner of the house with his tail between his legs, thinking he'd be shipped off to yet another new family.
When we decided he needed training to get his confidence back and for us to build a better bond with him, we searched for trainers in our area. The first two we went to made me feel SO uncomfortable. Choking collars, yelling and punishing seemed to be the way to get your dog to obey. I have never hurt any of my animals intentionally, so this was not the way to go.
We watched a lot of Ceasar Milano during the first month as well because hey, he's the expert right?! I didn't want to admit it right away but watching him work with those dogs also made me feel very uncomfortable. It's like turning them into mindless zombies by using intimidation. Now it's all about reenacting the pack life and being the alpha dog but neither my husband nor I wanted that. A dog should be a companion, not a docile creature who never misbehaves because he's terrified of you. It's how I stumbled upon positive reinforcement, Victoria Stillwell, and a small local training group who used a clicker instead of a torturing collar. It was a wonderful experience and a way better fit with how we want to interact with animals. And it worked (would be hilarious if I said it didn't work at all now eh)!
So when I read about Judy's struggle with the dominant type of obedience training with her first service dog, Rina, I knew exactly what she was talking about. The fact that Rina was eventually released from the puppy training program because she was 'broken' just intensified this feeling. Reading about how she got back to being a happy dog again by using positive reinforcement made me a happy gal for sure. It's how Ricochet was trained as well and you can see how much it influenced her by looking at her independent, lovable spirit.
The story of Ricochet is one of spirituality, of how everything and everyone is connected. It's about how life is a sacred journey and whenever you're wondering why you've had to endure so much struggle or heartache, it's to get right to the point where you're supposed to be; everything happens for a reason.
"If we go into a forest on a trail that's already been cleared, it's the one true sign we're not on our own path. If you follow someone else's entry, you're on someone else's path. To discover who we really are, we need to find out own path."
In the book, we get to read about Ricochet's encounters with people with disabilities, children with autism, veterans suffering from PTSD, and cancer patients (just to name a few). She managed to connect with them all instantly and make them break free of any sort of physical or mental barrier, if only just for the moment. I definitely shed a few tears here and there while reading about it, but also after reading up on what happened afterwards.
For instance, I saw that Caleb, a 15-year-old boy with brain cancer, and with the brightest most genuine smile I've ever seen, passed away shortly after the part where the book ends.
And then there's sweet Rina, who passed away on Memorial Day, 2016. I bawled my eyes out when I heard it.
All that rests me to say about this book now is that if you're a dog lover, or want to read an inspiring and sometimes heartbreaking pawtobiography, you should definitely dive into the story of Ricochet. It sometimes got a little too spiritual for me and during the end of the book, there was a lot of repetitiveness going on, but still, this was an amazing journey. A percent of book sales will go to Ricochet's causes fund to help humans and animals in need.
Now with all this seriousness, I need to add my signature by sharing this final quote:
"I smiled as I watched him hand her a piece of bratwurst, which she happily gobbled."
You can find a lot more on Ricochet and Judy on their:
Website
I'm a fan!
A massive thank you and high paw to Judy Fridono for sending me a copy all the way from the US!
May 2, 2015
Knowing of Ricochet and a bit of her story thanks to YouTube, I was very happy to receive a copy of “Ricochet” to review. I’m having trouble even typing this review without getting emotional. Don’t worry, it creates tears, but of the very best kind.
“Ricochet” is an inspiring story that covers not only her story, but the story of her person, Judy, and “sister” Rami, along with the stories of many they have all impacted in their unique mission. As someone with mobility challenges of my own, I cannot imagine how freeing it must be to feel the surf around you while you catch a wave with Ricochet. She isn’t a traditional rescue dog, but that makes her story that much more special. She does what she does because she was unable to be what others felt she had to be. Once she was allowed to be herself, a whole new world of possibilities opened up to her and anyone she meets. As any dog lover can tell you, it’s easier to take advice from a dog than a human. Who could resist any message that face tries to give you?
As a short side note, I really appreciate Judy’s advocacy of positive training methods for service dogs. While traditional methods may work for many, I have seen some training that was more than a little heavy-handed, and it is nice to see other training options put out there.
“Ricochet” is inspirational, and about dogs helping those with disabilities, as well as those without disabilities. If you’re in any way inclined to frown at frolicking puppies, laughing children, the sound of the ocean, or merriment in general, I would skip this book. If you want something to make you smile and want to hug your dog, or get a dog, then pick this one up.
This is an honest review based upon a complimentary copy won through the Goodreads First Reads program.
“Ricochet” is an inspiring story that covers not only her story, but the story of her person, Judy, and “sister” Rami, along with the stories of many they have all impacted in their unique mission. As someone with mobility challenges of my own, I cannot imagine how freeing it must be to feel the surf around you while you catch a wave with Ricochet. She isn’t a traditional rescue dog, but that makes her story that much more special. She does what she does because she was unable to be what others felt she had to be. Once she was allowed to be herself, a whole new world of possibilities opened up to her and anyone she meets. As any dog lover can tell you, it’s easier to take advice from a dog than a human. Who could resist any message that face tries to give you?
As a short side note, I really appreciate Judy’s advocacy of positive training methods for service dogs. While traditional methods may work for many, I have seen some training that was more than a little heavy-handed, and it is nice to see other training options put out there.
“Ricochet” is inspirational, and about dogs helping those with disabilities, as well as those without disabilities. If you’re in any way inclined to frown at frolicking puppies, laughing children, the sound of the ocean, or merriment in general, I would skip this book. If you want something to make you smile and want to hug your dog, or get a dog, then pick this one up.
This is an honest review based upon a complimentary copy won through the Goodreads First Reads program.
April 12, 2015
Ricochet: Riding a Wave of Hope with the Dog who Inspires Millions, by Judy Fridono (author) and Kay Pfaltz (writer) (Health Communications, 2014, 274 pages, $18.95)
Who doesn’t Know and Love Ricochet, That California Canine Surfin’ Dude?
Who hasn’t seen Ricochet, the golden retriever, surfing with special needs kids to raise funds ($380,000 to date) for therapy and for service dogs? Ricochet is also a friend of wounded warriors, kids who are bullied, and Oprah.
Who hasn’t watched the YouTube videos again and again, perhaps with tears in your eyes at the profound calming effect Ricochet creates, as if she somehow knows just who needs her, approaches that person gently (perhaps to surf with him or her), and absorbs their anxieties?
Pink is Her Color but She is More than a Live ”Barbie Dog”
Ricochet is a dark red, golden retriever who wears a pink wetsuit-life preserver and often surfs on a pink surfboard (she is a girl dog, after all), but she is so much more than just a live “Barbie dog.” She has an uncanny canine ability to sense the one who needs her and to bring that person into the here and now, even to take on his or her pain, if only for a little while, but the good memories remain, as well as new confidence and hope for the future.
The Rest of the Story
Yes, we know that Ricochet is a surfin’ dog but how did she become such a gentle athlete?
Ricochet was born into a new, small service dog organization and received early training, including balance exercises and boogie board games which serve her well on a surfboard as she adjusts her position with the waves to balance her precious human cargo.
Ricochet started out life as a puppy service-dog-in-training, smart at a whip, sometimes learning a skill after only one trial. Yet, suddenly she lost interest. Was becoming a service dog not her dream job after all, not what she was meant to be? Perhaps she was meant to help millions of people, not just one person as a service dog.
Judy Fridono, Rico’s trainer, became more and more frustrated until one day at the beach, Rico showed her stuff (Rico was not the first surfing dog: competitions exist by the dozens, many of them soon to be won by this gentle golden.) and Judy finally listened to her dog.
Then came the brilliant idea to have Rico surf on a board next to young Patrick on his board. After one trial, the dog jumped onto Patrick’s board and a new ‘sport’ was founded – tandem adaptive surfing with Ricochet still being the sole SURFice dog.
Ricochet is now well-known, just like the two wonderful service-dog-in-training-drop-outs of author Dean Koontz, who has been owned by two wonderful service-dog-in-training drop-out authors, Trixie and Anna, also golden retrievers.
But Sometimes Less is More
Again, it’s another book that is all about the author and Fridono does anthropomorphize Rico a bit much. The book is long and round-about: the author opens with a tragic accident, then spends a long chapter on her own childhood. Both these chapters finally come together but it takes perhaps too long for this reviewer.
In addition, references to coincidences and the same anecdotes abound and are referred to over and over. Ricochet, the book, would be more effective as a shorter version.
The author has her own service dog, Rina, which is lovely story in itself, but, for another book. Ricochet takes too long to get to Ricochet and then leaves Rina in her wake.
-------
Ricochet is available in your local neighborhood bookstore and will hopefully soon be followed by a children’s book.
Who doesn’t Know and Love Ricochet, That California Canine Surfin’ Dude?
Who hasn’t seen Ricochet, the golden retriever, surfing with special needs kids to raise funds ($380,000 to date) for therapy and for service dogs? Ricochet is also a friend of wounded warriors, kids who are bullied, and Oprah.
Who hasn’t watched the YouTube videos again and again, perhaps with tears in your eyes at the profound calming effect Ricochet creates, as if she somehow knows just who needs her, approaches that person gently (perhaps to surf with him or her), and absorbs their anxieties?
Pink is Her Color but She is More than a Live ”Barbie Dog”
Ricochet is a dark red, golden retriever who wears a pink wetsuit-life preserver and often surfs on a pink surfboard (she is a girl dog, after all), but she is so much more than just a live “Barbie dog.” She has an uncanny canine ability to sense the one who needs her and to bring that person into the here and now, even to take on his or her pain, if only for a little while, but the good memories remain, as well as new confidence and hope for the future.
The Rest of the Story
Yes, we know that Ricochet is a surfin’ dog but how did she become such a gentle athlete?
Ricochet was born into a new, small service dog organization and received early training, including balance exercises and boogie board games which serve her well on a surfboard as she adjusts her position with the waves to balance her precious human cargo.
Ricochet started out life as a puppy service-dog-in-training, smart at a whip, sometimes learning a skill after only one trial. Yet, suddenly she lost interest. Was becoming a service dog not her dream job after all, not what she was meant to be? Perhaps she was meant to help millions of people, not just one person as a service dog.
Judy Fridono, Rico’s trainer, became more and more frustrated until one day at the beach, Rico showed her stuff (Rico was not the first surfing dog: competitions exist by the dozens, many of them soon to be won by this gentle golden.) and Judy finally listened to her dog.
Then came the brilliant idea to have Rico surf on a board next to young Patrick on his board. After one trial, the dog jumped onto Patrick’s board and a new ‘sport’ was founded – tandem adaptive surfing with Ricochet still being the sole SURFice dog.
Ricochet is now well-known, just like the two wonderful service-dog-in-training-drop-outs of author Dean Koontz, who has been owned by two wonderful service-dog-in-training drop-out authors, Trixie and Anna, also golden retrievers.
But Sometimes Less is More
Again, it’s another book that is all about the author and Fridono does anthropomorphize Rico a bit much. The book is long and round-about: the author opens with a tragic accident, then spends a long chapter on her own childhood. Both these chapters finally come together but it takes perhaps too long for this reviewer.
In addition, references to coincidences and the same anecdotes abound and are referred to over and over. Ricochet, the book, would be more effective as a shorter version.
The author has her own service dog, Rina, which is lovely story in itself, but, for another book. Ricochet takes too long to get to Ricochet and then leaves Rina in her wake.
-------
Ricochet is available in your local neighborhood bookstore and will hopefully soon be followed by a children’s book.
February 1, 2016
I was a very lucky goodreads first reads winner of this wonderful book. Ricochet is a very special dog. She is a therapy dog who helps others who have been through different issues in their life. The owner Judy Fridino wanted to train dogs to be service and therapy dogs. One day kind of by accident, Judy learns that Ricochet just loves the ocean and surfing! It gave her an idea. How about having Ricochet Surf with different people in need of therapy? Well it worked wonders! Soon Ricochet became famous offering her unique service of surfing with those in need. Each story differs. One a teenage quadraplegic from an accident.He needed money for therapy. After surfing with Ricochet a fundraiser showing Ricochet surfing with the teenager helped raise money. Soon Ricochet the talented wonderful dot was surfing with kids with autism, an veteran with PTSS to cope. There are many generous pictures of Ricochet surfing with the people he has helped. this is a wonderful feel good book. Ricochet is a very famous dog he even has a website, called "surfdogricochet.com" and a facebook page. What a wonderful story. If you want to read about this terrific dog. Glad I got the chance to read this uplifting book.
December 21, 2016
A really lovely story featuring the precious Ricochet, as well as her owner Judy. Ricochet has reached out to millions with her surfing dog videos, as well as the special few who needed her spirit to help them surf the waves of life. The actual message and story here well deserve the four star rating, but I felt like the book was repetitive and a little too spiritual for me. I felt like 'I learned' and 'Ricochet taught me' were the beginning of every other sentence, which could have been told to us less and this heightened the original message. Ricochet is obviously a special dog though, and maybe it's just that her story can't be contained into a single book. Perhaps that is why I struggled a little.
Still, I do love my animal memoirs, and I love reading about dogs helping people. For this reason, I stand by four stars, and I will add there are heaps of pictures here which a lot of memoirs lack. It really gave focus to everyone involved. An excellent animal memoir, four stars.
Still, I do love my animal memoirs, and I love reading about dogs helping people. For this reason, I stand by four stars, and I will add there are heaps of pictures here which a lot of memoirs lack. It really gave focus to everyone involved. An excellent animal memoir, four stars.
October 8, 2016
as ever a copy of this review can be seen on my Blog at : - A Blog About Book
This Review will be a bit different than my Usual Review as there won’t be a pros and cons list , there won’t be a What I like and What I don’t section either . Why? Because I have only good things to say for this book .
The book features the amazing and inspiring life of Ricochet, A Female Golden Retriever, who is more magical than any Pet I have ever met or heard of. Ricochet was raised by the author in hopes of making her a Service dog so that she can help people with disabilities and yet Ricochet was a free spirit and had a habit of chasing Birds which is a strict “no” for a Service Dog and so with the authors dreams for Ricochet shattered her frustrations grew but in time she learns that Ricochet is destined to be a more relevant conduit for helping people than a Service Dog can ever be.
I first heard about Ricochet and this book thanks to the amazing Anne @ Inkedbrownies when she reviewed the book on her blog, which you should definitely check out. In case you didn’t here’s a video that Anne Posted on her review that truly told me about the story of Ricochet.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BGODu...
The Author manages to play the readers emotional chords by detailing the events that led to Ricochet helping people in her unique ways. Ricochet as the first SURFice dog Surfs with people with various disabilities bringing joy to those with the disabilities and their family member who are also in pain of those disabilities and while doing so She manages to raise funds for them to achieve their dreams with nothing but help of a Surf board and few smiles on sad faces that became Viral on social media and touched hearts of many well intentioned and good natured people around the globe.
It was truly difficult to continue reading this book with a straight face and there may have been tears *
*I think it was due to a bug flying into my eye or something .I didn’t cry!
My Throat at various point felt like it had a Lump*
*must be something I ate. I DIDN’T CRY OKAY!
OKAY maybe I cried.
The book though is much more than just Ricochet , it also details the hardships of the author that She herself felt all her life (and believe me when I say it her life itself was very rough) , there was also tales of another dog the adoptive elder sister of Ricochet – Rina (the pup that truly touched the author instead of Ricochet as she usually does for other people )and also about the tales of the people who were touched by Ricochet’s attempts at bringing them joy and forgetting their fears and about the many truly good human beings who helped the author and Ricochet in achieving what they eventually did . The story of Patrick and Ian in particular were really touching for me.
At Various points the author talks about Destiny, God, fate, and even talks about her somewhat superstitious beliefs in likes of Dog whisperer and she makes a strong case for her beliefs and sure it didn’t necessarily convert me from a skeptic to a believer but it really did make a valid case for you to believe in the mysterious workings of the world we live in.
Towards the end the author has a compilations’ of various images of the events mentioned in the book and the letters from the people who were helped by Ricochet and those were truly something brilliant to witness as you can see the smiles on faces that had maybe even forgotten all about it
Conclusions:
I don’t necessarily prefer reading Non- fiction but this is one book I’m very glad to have read and bought and I can’t stress enough thatYou should You MUST read this , especially if you are a Dog person like me , Or simply because you are a good human , Or maybe you need to be a good human.
Ricochet - More amazing than the regularly amazing pets
This Review will be a bit different than my Usual Review as there won’t be a pros and cons list , there won’t be a What I like and What I don’t section either . Why? Because I have only good things to say for this book .
Review:
The book features the amazing and inspiring life of Ricochet, A Female Golden Retriever, who is more magical than any Pet I have ever met or heard of. Ricochet was raised by the author in hopes of making her a Service dog so that she can help people with disabilities and yet Ricochet was a free spirit and had a habit of chasing Birds which is a strict “no” for a Service Dog and so with the authors dreams for Ricochet shattered her frustrations grew but in time she learns that Ricochet is destined to be a more relevant conduit for helping people than a Service Dog can ever be.
I first heard about Ricochet and this book thanks to the amazing Anne @ Inkedbrownies when she reviewed the book on her blog, which you should definitely check out. In case you didn’t here’s a video that Anne Posted on her review that truly told me about the story of Ricochet.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BGODu...
The Author manages to play the readers emotional chords by detailing the events that led to Ricochet helping people in her unique ways. Ricochet as the first SURFice dog Surfs with people with various disabilities bringing joy to those with the disabilities and their family member who are also in pain of those disabilities and while doing so She manages to raise funds for them to achieve their dreams with nothing but help of a Surf board and few smiles on sad faces that became Viral on social media and touched hearts of many well intentioned and good natured people around the globe.
It was truly difficult to continue reading this book with a straight face and there may have been tears *
*I think it was due to a bug flying into my eye or something .I didn’t cry!
My Throat at various point felt like it had a Lump*
*must be something I ate. I DIDN’T CRY OKAY!
OKAY maybe I cried.
The book though is much more than just Ricochet , it also details the hardships of the author that She herself felt all her life (and believe me when I say it her life itself was very rough) , there was also tales of another dog the adoptive elder sister of Ricochet – Rina (the pup that truly touched the author instead of Ricochet as she usually does for other people )and also about the tales of the people who were touched by Ricochet’s attempts at bringing them joy and forgetting their fears and about the many truly good human beings who helped the author and Ricochet in achieving what they eventually did . The story of Patrick and Ian in particular were really touching for me.
At Various points the author talks about Destiny, God, fate, and even talks about her somewhat superstitious beliefs in likes of Dog whisperer and she makes a strong case for her beliefs and sure it didn’t necessarily convert me from a skeptic to a believer but it really did make a valid case for you to believe in the mysterious workings of the world we live in.
Towards the end the author has a compilations’ of various images of the events mentioned in the book and the letters from the people who were helped by Ricochet and those were truly something brilliant to witness as you can see the smiles on faces that had maybe even forgotten all about it
Conclusions:
I don’t necessarily prefer reading Non- fiction but this is one book I’m very glad to have read and bought and I can’t stress enough that
June 3, 2014
If you love animals and love inspiring stories, you will adore this book. To say that Ricochet is an unusual canine is an understatement of epic proportions. From the moment she was born fulfilling the wish of Judy, who would be her partner, through to her dropping out of Service Dog school to her finding her true passions- surfing and helping humans who needed her, Ricochet is one in a million.
We all know our animals are smart, intuitive and endearing. To read story after story of how Ricochet knew, just somehow knew, what each person needed when they needed it even if they did not themselves shows how amazing she is.
Kudos as well to Judy whose compassion and desire to Paw it Forward gave Ricochet the means to share her unique gifts. Be prepared to be moved by the stories of each of the recipients in the book. Each in his own way had been wounded by life with little prospect for joy. This wonderful dog with her goofy joie de vivre inspired and helped each one find happiness on a surf board.
This would be a great beach book for the hot summer!
We all know our animals are smart, intuitive and endearing. To read story after story of how Ricochet knew, just somehow knew, what each person needed when they needed it even if they did not themselves shows how amazing she is.
Kudos as well to Judy whose compassion and desire to Paw it Forward gave Ricochet the means to share her unique gifts. Be prepared to be moved by the stories of each of the recipients in the book. Each in his own way had been wounded by life with little prospect for joy. This wonderful dog with her goofy joie de vivre inspired and helped each one find happiness on a surf board.
This would be a great beach book for the hot summer!
June 8, 2014
This is an incredibly inspiring story and a must-read! Judy Fridono's story of how she came to work with service dogs and of the two amazing dogs in her life--especially Ricochet the Surf-ice dog. Tissue alert! You'll need several while reading.
April 18, 2015
Ricochet is an amazing story about an amazing dog. From her birth, Ricochet was special. There were ups and down in her growth and training, but these have been expressed well by the author. Fr some reason, though I love dogs and stories about dogs, I found it difficult to get into this book. I enjoyed reading about how this wonderful dog intuitively knew what to do and when to do it. However, for some reason, the book did not grab me as it obviously has so many others. I just cannot figure out why. I noticed a strange chapter that seemed out of place toward the beginning of the book about someone living in poverty and having a difficult life. The story was not tied in to the book at that time, and I was distracted, waiting for it to become part of Ricochet’s story. Perhaps this preoccupation is what bothered me and kept me from enjoying the story as much as some of the others did. In addition to following Ricochet through her training and life with the author, I learned a lot about dogs and training to be a service dog, a subject I knew little about but have found fascinating. I think this is a good book for all dog lovers and for people looking for a feel good story that is different from the typical romance or mysteries so popular today. I received this from Library Thing to read and review.
November 13, 2015
So much potential in every beautiful Golden Retriever, but Ricochet's beginning was different than most. Right from the start she was learning a lot about her world because it was hoped she would become a service dog.
I have been following Ricochet since shortly after her first viral video which presented us with her changed focus from Service Dog to being the one & only SurfICE dog. Helping many, rather than "just" one human find joy and new interest in daily life.
We learn a bit about how Judy started out training service dogs including a **VERY** special Lab\Golden cross she puppy-raised who eventually was "career changed" before being placed. And that young dog became Ricochet's mentor and sister.
VERY worthwhile to read and we get more details of Ricochet's work with adaptive surfing, children with autism, soldiers with PTS and various other causes including one *very* special Make-A-Wish day.
It is likely you will tear up, laugh and shake your head as you read her story. Then you need to hop on to her web page, Facebook page and\or Instagram to see just how amazing Ricochet, Rina and Judy Fridono are!
I have been following Ricochet since shortly after her first viral video which presented us with her changed focus from Service Dog to being the one & only SurfICE dog. Helping many, rather than "just" one human find joy and new interest in daily life.
We learn a bit about how Judy started out training service dogs including a **VERY** special Lab\Golden cross she puppy-raised who eventually was "career changed" before being placed. And that young dog became Ricochet's mentor and sister.
VERY worthwhile to read and we get more details of Ricochet's work with adaptive surfing, children with autism, soldiers with PTS and various other causes including one *very* special Make-A-Wish day.
It is likely you will tear up, laugh and shake your head as you read her story. Then you need to hop on to her web page, Facebook page and\or Instagram to see just how amazing Ricochet, Rina and Judy Fridono are!
August 2, 2014
What a sweet story, and what a sweet dog! Ricochet was being trained to be a special needs assistance dog, but could not get over her love of chasing birds :) (which would be a very bad thing for helping someone in a wheelchair), She is a VERY smart and intuitive dog. Her owner was desperately trying to find something she could do. Lo and behold! She loves to surf!, and she surfs with disabled children and adults helping to counter balance their weight and keep them on the board. She knows just where to stand, how to place her paws, and just what to do! I believe dogs are so smart, and know more then we think sometimes. I would love to meet Ricochet. I can see Hollywood getting their hands on this story, it would make a great feel-good movie! (If you read it, make sure to google the videos of Ricochet surfing!)
June 2, 2015
If any one has been following Ricochet on youtube or her Facebook page and has marveled on her ability to surf, then you have to read this book. This book tells how it all came about. She not only surfs, she's an empath. She tunes into the emotion of the person she is helping. Most dogs have that ability, but like most people and animals not all have that innate ability to be able to help others a keenly as she does. Judy, who owns Ric and Rina, thought Ric would make a great service dog for another person. Rina is Judy's service dog and knew the value of having one. Ric had other ideas and after some struggles Judy figured out what Ric was trying to tell her and it went from there. It was a very enjoyable book to read. All moneys from the purchase of the book go to a fund Judy uses to help those in need. Between Ric & Judy over $300,000.00 has been raised and used to help others.
August 13, 2016
Touching story about the mysteries of a dog's soul, and how the right one, for the right task, can change people's lives forever.
July 21, 2017
"She was like a spark that ignites and inspires others to focus on the can-do's in life. To teacher peole to let go of expectations, to accept others for who they are, to stay true to themselves, and to follow their hearts with the belief that anything is possible. She chose this unique way of reaching people through her surfing, but it was more than that; she was teaching life lessons." (Page 121)
"Dogs do speak, but only to those who know how to listen." Orhan Pamuk (Page 161)
"The more I observed Ricochet's unspoken communication, the more enlightened I became. I believe animals are messengers, on this earth to teach us lessons; they are constantly communicating with us, we just have to listen. Sometimes, it's very subtle, like the raise of an eyebrow or the flick of an ear. Other times it's more obvious, like a tilt of the head or a happy tail wag. And when we open our hearts and accept what our companion animals have to share on a soul level, we gain a greater sense of their empathy and intuition." (Page 179)
"I realized that even though I always tried to control my life, in reality, control is just an illusion. We really have absolutely no control. It seemed like such a simple concept, yet it was a foreign proposition to me. Letting go of control meant I had to face my fears and flow with the tide, not against it-going beyond the limits of my comfort zone." (Page 224)
"Dogs do speak, but only to those who know how to listen." Orhan Pamuk (Page 161)
"The more I observed Ricochet's unspoken communication, the more enlightened I became. I believe animals are messengers, on this earth to teach us lessons; they are constantly communicating with us, we just have to listen. Sometimes, it's very subtle, like the raise of an eyebrow or the flick of an ear. Other times it's more obvious, like a tilt of the head or a happy tail wag. And when we open our hearts and accept what our companion animals have to share on a soul level, we gain a greater sense of their empathy and intuition." (Page 179)
"I realized that even though I always tried to control my life, in reality, control is just an illusion. We really have absolutely no control. It seemed like such a simple concept, yet it was a foreign proposition to me. Letting go of control meant I had to face my fears and flow with the tide, not against it-going beyond the limits of my comfort zone." (Page 224)
May 11, 2019
Ricochet should not have anything but five stars!!! She is an angel in fur sent down from Heaven to help those in need! I absolutely loved this book! It is high up on my list as a favorite! So inspiring! I laughed and cried when reading about Ricochet! What an honor it must be to meet such a beautiful soul! I felt like I was part of her world even for just a little while! ❤️
July 20, 2020
52 Books in 52 Weeks 2020 Reading Challenge - A hardcover book
20 in 20 Reading Challenge - A book that has something to do with sports (surfing)
A to Z Reading Challenge - A book starting with the letter "R"
2020 PopSugar Summer Reading Challenge A book with "sun", "sand", or "waves" in the title
20 in 20 Reading Challenge - A book that has something to do with sports (surfing)
A to Z Reading Challenge - A book starting with the letter "R"
2020 PopSugar Summer Reading Challenge A book with "sun", "sand", or "waves" in the title
January 27, 2018
For me this book was a little boring although it's wonderful what Ricochet does. But I got tired and confused reading about each child or person she helped.
June 22, 2023
Very positive & up-lifting!
February 1, 2017
i love this book ;]
June 18, 2014
This is the story of a surfing golden retriever who is lucky enough to get an owner who recognized her special gift and was able to work with it to the betterment of the dog as well as the disabled and hurt people she helps. It is a true story of how one lady decided to become a dog trainer and train service dogs. She ended up with a very special dog who (although very intelligent) was not suited to be a service dog. She now surfs with disabled people and inspires millions pf people across the globe. An inspiring read for anyone who loves dogs.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review.
May 18, 2016
While I loved Ricochet and her very inspiring story, I thought that some parts dragged on; the book definitely could have been shorter. I also could not get into the higher power and the animal communicator stuff. I definitely would have preferred more of the focus to be on Ricochet and the people she surfed with. I found it slightly irritating that things always seemed to circle back to be about the author, even though the parallels she drew between certain people's life situations and her own were quite a stretch. The narration was average; it didn't add to or take away from the story.
June 13, 2014
Loved everything about this book! Beautifully written, wonderful pictures and a heart warming story. This book is about a dog who was "supposed" to be a service dog, but she decided otherwise. Instead she became a SURFice dog! The book contains several chapters devoted to the people who Ricochet has helped and bonded with over the past 5 years. It's a great read that I didn't want to put down. Perfect for taking with you on a flight, to the beach, on vacation or anywhere else that you might want to curl up with a good fast read that will leave you feeling inspired!
May 25, 2015
The inspiring story of a golden retriever puppy who didn't work out as a service dog, but instead found a future as a "Surf Dog." From leading fund-raising campaigns, to assisting disabled individuals surf, to encouraging and comforting soldiers trapped by PTSD, Ricochet is a beautiful example of finding one's purpose and appreciating the unique nature of every individual, whether human or canine. I loved this book! You can find out more about Ricochet on youtube, where you can watch her in action.
April 13, 2016
Ricochet is the only dog I've ever read about who can look into not only one person's heart and soul but many. She eagerly helps people, especially kids with disabilities and soldiers with Post-Traumatic Stress. It was a really uplifting read and encourages me to be who I want to be just like Ricochet. Her tenacity in fulfilling her life's mission amazed me. Ricochet is truly an amazing and beautiful dog. She's like an angel in disguise.
This book is a perfect read for everyone and I'd recommend it to everyone who reads this post.
This book is a perfect read for everyone and I'd recommend it to everyone who reads this post.
May 25, 2015
It's difficult for me to find the words to describe this book.
Ricochet is so unique, and reading this book was an emotional roller coaster. I cried and I laughed, many times. The stories are so sad, so moving and so incredibly inspirational. Before reading this book I had never heard of Ricochet, and now I'm a fan and supporter of this SURFice dog and all the good work she does.
I urge everyone to read the book, watch the youtube video and to donate or support in another way.
Ricochet is so unique, and reading this book was an emotional roller coaster. I cried and I laughed, many times. The stories are so sad, so moving and so incredibly inspirational. Before reading this book I had never heard of Ricochet, and now I'm a fan and supporter of this SURFice dog and all the good work she does.
I urge everyone to read the book, watch the youtube video and to donate or support in another way.
June 27, 2014
As a dog lover and animal advocate, plus a follower of Judy, Ricochet and Rina on facebook, I was anxious to read this book. But I had no idea of how much more I would learn about these three. Their involvement in helping disabled children and veterans with PTSD is amazing -- words can't describe the joy, comfort, strength and confidence they've brought to those they've surfed and worked with. I highly reoommend this book to everyone!
September 12, 2014
Ricochet, Rina, and author Judy Fridono are true heroes. This well-written book is not only heartwarming, but teaches so much about how dogs and humans can work together to serve others. Fridono shares her childhood with us, with no holds barred, and we understand why she developed a passion to help others through Ricochet, the SURF-ice dog. Everyone who reads the experiences in this book will be moved. I highly recommend it.
May 11, 2015
Ricochet is a real feel good book. There are wonderful pictures interspersed showing several of the people with whom Ricochet has surfed and in whose lives she has made a difference. The book also contains a biography of Richochet from birth to the time of publishing as well as Rina (her "sister" dog) and her "mother" Judy. The book is heart warming and uplifting and focuses on Ricochet's mission in the world.
I received this book free from Goodreads First Reads.
I received this book free from Goodreads First Reads.
June 26, 2014
Wonderful story of faith, hope, trust and love. Ricochet is an amazing SURFice dog who surfs with people with disabilities, be they visible or invisible. She has touched many lives. She is the only service dog that surfs with people with disabilities and raises money to fund numerous causes. A wonderful read - I thoroughly recommend it.
July 12, 2015
This is such a beautiful story, so inspiring and heartwarming. I enjoyed reading it although found some parts to be repetitive and overemphatic on the spiritual side. Ricochet is obviously a very special dog and her owner has given so much in helping others over the years. I received my copy as part of a Goodreads First-reads giveaway.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews