Who is K9 Aquatic Therapy and Conditioning?
K9 Aquatic Therapy and Conditioning is a Coomera-based canine hydrotherapy clinic supporting dogs with fitness, recovery, senior mobility, weight management, and ongoing rehabilitation. Working with veterinary referrals, we provide calm low-stress underwater treadmill sessions tailored to each dog’s needs.
Our clinic is ideal for dogs who benefit from gentle handling, consistency, and long-term support outside of busy hospital environments. We work in partnership with local vets to support recovery, comfort, and quality of life for dogs across Coomera, Upper Coomera, Pimpama, Ormeau, Oxenford, Hope Island and surrounding areas.
We are accredited with the Australian Canine Rehabilitation Association, please click here for our profile link.
In Honour of Scout
Scout is still a part of everything we do here. His paw print is our logo, a small but constant reminder of where this journey began. It represents not just him, but every dog and every owner doing their best to navigate challenges, make the right decisions, and give their dog the best possible quality of life.
K9 Aquatic Therapy and Conditioning exists because of him. And every dog that walks through our doors is treated with the same care, respect, and understanding that we gave Scout.
Rick Sofara
Founder & CEO
Rick Sofara
How did I go from Boilermaker/Fabricator to a Canine Hydrotherapist?
It’s not a straight line, and it’s not a story about career change. It’s a story about a dog.
For 35 years, I worked as a Welder/Boilermaker/Fabricator in the marine and transport industries. I was good at it, but if I’m being honest, it was always just a job. There was no real passion behind it, no deeper pull.
That changed in 2014, when we brought home an 8-week-old Belgian Shepherd x Long Haired German Shepherd. Scout. A black ball of fluff who quickly became my best mate.
Scout was everything you’d want in a dog, loyal, energetic, and full of life. We thought we had years ahead of us. But in late 2021, at just 7 years old, Scout was diagnosed with degenerative myelopathy. We didn’t fully understand it at first, but we knew it wasn’t good.
My wife, Nikki, and I went all in. We researched everything we could and took a holistic approach to his care. We worked with vets, both mainstream and holistic as well as chiropractors, acupuncturists, cranial sacral therapists, and of course, canine hydrotherapy. We lived around his needs. We adapted as his mobility declined. We protected his feet when he started knuckling. We got him wheels. We did everything we could, because when it’s your dog, you don’t hold back.
Scout crossed the rainbow bridge in November 2022. Three years on, it still hurts.
What I Wish More Owners Understood
I wish more people understood that movement matters. Not just exercise but the ability to move comfortably, with dignity. Because that’s what quality of life for dogs really comes down to.
It’s not about how far they can run.
It’s about whether they can get up without pain.
Whether they still enjoy their day.
Whether they still feel like themselves.
I see it now all the time, especially with senior dog mobility and conditions like degenerative myelopathy. Dogs don’t always show pain the way we expect. They adapt. They push through. And sometimes we don’t realise how much they’re struggling until we give them the support they needed all along.
Why I Do Hydrotherapy
Out of everything we tried for Scout, hydrotherapy was different. It gave him something back.
In the water, he had freedom again. Independence. Movement without struggle. It was one of the only places where we saw glimpses of the old him and where he genuinely looked happy. That stayed with me.
In 2023, I completed my training through the Canine Health and Well Being Academy and became a canine hydrotherapist. In March 2024, we opened K9 Aquatic Therapy and Conditioning. This isn’t just something I do.
It’s something I believe in.
What This Means for Your Dog
Whether I’m working with:
- a sporting dog building strength and conditioning
- a dog recovering pre- or post-surgery
- a puppy developing movement patterns
- a dog dealing with muscle wastage or mobility issues
- or a senior dog needing gentle, supported exercise
Every dog is treated with the same care we gave Scout.
Because I know what it feels like to sit on the other side, wanting to do everything you can.
If you’re wondering whether hydrotherapy could help your dog, reach out. I’m always happy to have a conversation because if there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that the right support at the right time can make a real difference to your dog’s quality of life.