Some animals are simply talented for water sports. Already as a puppy, Ricochet grabbed people’s attention for her confidence she jumped into sea waves with. Later on, she became a dog hero helping disabled and a role model for many enthusiasts who started craving for their dog to be also gifted with similar superpowers. Fortunately for them, it wasn’t enough for Ricochet’s mistress that her dog could conquer waves and started organizing special assistence courses with a slogan “Healing Power of Dogs”.
Some animals are simply talented for water sports. Already as a puppy, Ricochet grabbed people’s attention for her confidence she jumped into sea waves with. Later on, she became a dog hero helping disabled and a role model for many enthusiasts who started craving for their dog to be also gifted with similar superpowers. Fortunately for them, it wasn’t enough for Ricochet’s mistress that her dog could conquer waves and started organizing special assistence courses with a slogan “Healing Power of Dogs”.
Ricochet’s story only started with this. Since then, this ten-year-old bitch has helped hundreds of disabled children and adults get rid of their fear of water. Her canistherapy powers are so impressive that she managed to change lives of several tens of them. But in fact she herself was struggling in the beginning of her training and she was even expelled from water training for her lack of concentration. But her mistress and dog trainer Judy Fridon didn’t give up.
As well as many more golden retrievers, Ricochet excels in one more ability besides her love for water – empathy. As her mistress Judy says, she can amazingly adjust to the needs of any person at whom she feels some kind of anxiety or another problem. Judy thought it would be shame to train her “only” as a guide dog and she decided to use her talent for water activities. She supposedly throw herself to water already as a puppy and crept to water pad. To put it simply, she chose surfing alone.
The whole concept is based on one simple idea: “If a dog can do it, I can as well”. And Judy says it works. Ricochet is by the side of her clients at all times. She can spend several hours in water. She shares a surfboard with clients. Therefore, there is a constant contact and dog’s closeness has a calming influence on handicapped people. Judy and Ricochet use money from various surf competitions to help these people. And Ricochet has been attending competitions since 2009 when she was a little dog.
Her story is a proof that dogs really are man’s best friends. And they can learn everything for their master, including surfing. And they can even enjoy it and make good things happen like Ricochet. Also dog paddle boarding is becoming popular and we can try in the Czech Republic, too :) Are you in?
.jpg/30x20/FIT)
.jpg/600x400/FIT)
Summer months bring hot weather and also holidays. What sort of nutrition do animals require during this period? Is it necessary to change their diet on hot days? And what is most important during hot temperatures? We have discussed this topic with...
.jpg/30x20/FIT)
.jpg/600x400/FIT)
Despite being self-reliant animals to a certain extent, cats are provided with the best possible care by their owners who make sure that those balls of fluff are content in any circumstances. What is required by cats that live with us in a flat? And...
Everyone should have their own place where they can relax in peace. This also applies to animals. Rats, for example, who are very sociable and in nature live in large groups, usually have their own place where they can recharge by the side of their...
They help with searches in avalanches, debris and large wooded areas in inaccessible terrain. They save valuable minutes that can make the difference in whether an injured person survives. One canine rescuer makes up for up to 20 people, especially at...
The tradition of rescuer dogs has been a staple in the Czech Republic for almost a century, and our country ranks among the top European leaders in this discipline. Canine rescuers help in the mountains not only in winter, but throughout the whole...
Today, there are a number of products and gadgets for riding with a dog, which will ensure that we can take the dog with us safely on longer journeys. However, you should pay attention to driving safety even if you only drive a few kilometers. Even...
Dog agility is a discipline that means a lot of exercise for both the dogs and the handlers, but also a lot of fun. In addition, it strengthens the relationship between the owner and the animal, and also allows the dog to learn new skills. Another...
Rabbits are great pets for all who live in flats, but cannot afford a cat, or just want to have a cheerful companion who won’t let you down and can handle being alone at the same time. Still, there are certain factors you should think about before...
In most cases, cats love being in nature and active, so it comes as no surprise that felines living in houses and flats may occasionally want to go out and explore the world. If you have such a cat at home, you may find useful the following tips on...
Czech cynologists from the Search and Rescue Czech Republic team have managed to train eight dogs who can tell if you have COVID-19. Detecting the disease is a worldwide problem, which is also recognized by VAFO, who supported the project financially...
As the title suggests, this breed comes from the State of Maine in the United States. It is one of the oldest breeds living in nature, the largest domesticated breed, gaining popularity in Europe in recent years. There are several reasons for this....
We have already introduced dogfrisbee, the activity in which a dog catches a frisbee, several times. We focused mainly on various disciplines in which dog owners can compete together with their canine companions at any level. Another such discipline...
