Rhodesian Ridgeback puppy

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Moving on...... I am looking for a Rhodesian Ridgeback puppy. Does anyone know a breeder whom they would recommend? I am not interested in showing, but still want a good-quality pup with a nice ridge. I want a dog that will be a good all around farm dog. Actually, I want a bitch. Years ago, I lived in Dallas and belonged to a RR breed club. It seems to me that there were a lot of really nice RR's in Texas at the time, but I have long since lost track of any of the people I knew from the club out there. Anyway, I am going to be in Texas next week, so if anyone has any recommendations please let me know.

-- Elizabeth (ekfla@aol.com), July 13, 2001

Answers

Hi Elizabeth:

You can check ads in DOG FANCY or other dog magazines for breeders in your area, and for contact with the RR club (who might have addresses for other breeders who don't advertise).

You didn't ask for anybody's opinion on whether RRs would be good farm dogs -- and you can figure that my following advice is worth about as much as you paid for it (!)....These are fine, beautiful dogs, but IMHO, they don't belong on a smallholding, unless you're hunting large predatory game. I like the breed, and briefly owned an RR, but their instincts make them pretty unpredictable around small stock. If you're looking for an aggressive general guardian and hunter, and all your critters are locked up, RRs are great.

-- Anita Evangelista (evangel@atlascomm.net), July 13, 2001.


Anita, thanks for your response. A couple of things come to mind- I really am trying to get recommendations from people who know the breeders that they refer. When I first wanted a RR about 20 years ago, I contacted the RRCUS and got some referrals from the then- President of that organization. Unfortunately I had no prior experience with RR at the time, and I bought a dog from one of the recommended breeders. Well, in some ways it was a disaster. There were a lot of problems, none of them the fault of the dog, who was wonderful. In the end I spent almost $2000, which I could ill afford at the time, getting that dog sorted out, and spent an agonizing couple of months nursing her through 7 operations just to treat a dermoid sinus which erupted after I had had the dog just long enough to get really attached to her. (I realize that treating a DS is practically routine now, but back then, in Florida and in Texas I made the rounds of vets and none of them, including the one who did the multiple surgeries, even knew what a DS was). In the end it was worth it, as "Casey" was the best dog I have ever owned, or even known, but I do not want to repeat the experience. I had Casey for 13 years during which time she traveled all over the continent with me while I worked as a concert roadie. She lived on the tour bus with us, stayed in 5 star hotels, flew on planes, etc. and was perfect the entire time. We also did a lot of camping when not on the road and she was a great companion then as well. At home, we trained and competed in obedience trials, played flyball (she was a champ!), did agility training, lure coursing, frisbee- we did so much stuff I can't even remember it all- she was truly an all around dog. Then, during the last few years of her life she lived on the farm, and was extremely valuable to me as a companion, watchdog, and protector of livestock. Casey was not a particularly aggressive dog, quite the opposite, although I know that some RR have been known to display aggression. I think a lot of that is due to environment/training though, as NONE of the RR's I have known were aggressive. Casey was my nephew's boon companion when he was a toddler, and that child is the light of my life, so you can be assured that I would not allow a bad dog anywhere near him. Actually, as much as I love RR's I never recommend the breed to people who want them as pets, simply because my experience with them has been that they are extremely intelligent, active dogs who need to be kept occupied, and most people are not prepared to provide the level of activity that the dogs need in order to keep from getting bored and in trouble! I realize everyone's experiences differ, and I do appreciate your advice, but I am hooked on the breed. (Gee, does it show?). Anyway, that is why I did not ask for advice regarding the breed.

-- Elizabeth (ekfla@aol.com), July 13, 2001.

Elizabeth, your post did my heart good. As a great dane breeder, I know all about the pitfalls of placing the wrong breed of dog with the wrong owner. Hubby and I screened our puppy buyers as if they were adopting a child particularly if they had never owned a dane before. I was pleased to hear you know your breed very well and recognize the breed characteristics that have to be dealt with, i.e. keeping him actively engaged so he doesn't get bored. Although I don't happen to know any RR breeders that I can recommend, I would suggest that you go to www.infodog.com which is a website that posts dog shows that are coming up. Find one close to you and go talk to owners of RRs at the show. They will be able to refer you to breeders. As to health problems, many breeds are prone to specific health problems and I can't overemphasize the importance of connecting with a breeder who screens for the genetic problems common to your breed. Danes are prone to hip problems, thyroid problems and heart problems. Because of that, we x-ray our sire and dam before we breed them and have thyroid and heart checks done as well. Although it can't guarantee that the pups will be free of these problems, it ups the odds greatly in your favor that they won't. But, having said that, do most great dane breeders do these health checks? Nope. They will have a great song and dance about why you don't have to and how their lines don't have these problems, ad nauseum, but I know those same breeders and know they do have those health problems and more besides. We were one of only a few dane breeder on the east coast that do these checks and we couldn't find anyone on the west coast that does. The west coast and Texas is notorious for the health problems in their danes, duhh. Anyway, my advice to you is find a breeder who does health checks for the major genetic problems in your breed. It costs the same to buy a puppy from a responsible breeder as it does to get one from one who doesn't care. Incidentally, there are always pet quality pups in litters from show dogs because sometimes they just have a fault that you don't want for showing such as ears are too long or too short or tail is too long or too short or whatever but they are still a sound and healthy dog for a pet. Be careful though because not every breeder that shows their dogs are reputable breeders. Talk, talk and talk some more to people who have RRs and you will find the best breeder. Good luck.

-- Colleen (pyramidgreatdanes@erols.com), July 13, 2001.

I have had ridges my whole married life, 20 years. Raised correctly, with a firm hand, I can't even think of a better breed for stock, family and farm life. Our girls have all been great. From their protective, walking and standing between you and any visitors, to their excellent mothering ability, I bottle all my goat kids and there isn't a cleaner pen of babies anywhere! They help me clean off the multiples we have when triplets and quads come all at once. We have never had a dog kill on our property, you would have to live in East Texas with dogs running loose all the time, and coyotes just 10 acres away in the National Forest to understand what a feat that is. The best thing about the Rhodesian Ridgeback, is that they are not just stock dogs. Mine have free access to all pastures, yet patroll the house, and meet all strangers who come up the drive way. Other than their big tails which are right at child heigth, and being big dogs they can brush against a child and send them crashing, I trust them with the 4H kids and preschoolers we have had come to our property for years. The hardest part of finding the breed is getting past the couch metality of the breeders, either wanting to sell their stock only to inside homes, or breeders who want their dogs to compete. What a shame since the original breeding of this dog was to protect the Boer goats in Rhodesia. I don't think you can make a better choice. Vicki

-- Vicki McGaugh TX (vickilonesomedoe@hotmail.com), July 13, 2001.

you can sometimes find working stock rhodesians in the classifieds at "bay dog online" but they may refuse to sell if the dog isn't going to be hunted. and Vicki they were bred to hunt everything else is just a byproduct. a good dog cannot have a bad color.

-- Pops (cindy556@devil-dog.com), July 14, 2001.


If you are coming to Texas you might want to check the shelters and rescue groups here. I live in Austin and there seems to be a glut of RR's around here. I have seen some really beautiful dogs at the Town Lake Animal Center. Rescue groups I have listed: Carol-Lynne Meissner, DVM: (512)476-4938 Donna Edgar: (512)452-7596 Peggy McLaren: (817)947-0420 This list is a couple of years old, but hopefully the numbers are still valid. I saw Dr Meissner driving around the other day, so she is definitely still in business. You might also contact the national or state breed club to see if they have recommendations. Good luck! I'm sure you know the right questions to ask.

-- Susannah Morris (kittythedog@hotmail.com), July 15, 2001.

Knew an Elizabeth once that roadied, she went by the name Lizzard and last I knew she was working for REO Speedwagon. Dianne

-- Dianne (yankeeterrier@hotmail.com), July 20, 2001.

I have an 8-month RR - and adore her! I got her from a breeder o GA who is FANTASTIC - she probably won't have puppies for a while yet, but I would take a puppy from anyone she would recommend because I trust her completely! Let me know if you are still looking for a puppy and I can see if she knows of any puppies -

-- Carrie (cellings@hotmail.com), September 06, 2001.

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