From: jag@iti.org (Jacqueline A. Giles)
Subject: Re: info wanted on Rhodesian Ridgebacks-please do not Email
Organization: Industrial Technology Institute
Date: Thu, 3 Sep 1992 14:52:14 GMT

In article <BtyB59.HK6@news.udel.edu> richard@bach.udel.edu (Richard Gordon) writes:
>Anne has already posted the national club's secretary's address.
>Do write her for official info!  Here is the chatty geninfo file
>I send people who are interested in RRs.  
>
>---
>Ridgebacks are sturdy, low-maintenance, short-haired dogs, bred for two

One continual maintenance item is toe nail trimming.  It should be
done at least once a week as their nails grow real fast and real
long (like bear claws).  Ridgebacks hate anyone messing with their
feet so nail trimming can be unpleasant.

>purposes in turn-of-the century Africa: hunting lions and staying home
>with the family while the stronger members of the household were out
>hunting or farming.  The breed is a very good people dog, bonding well
>to a family if introduced into the family in the first 4-5 years of the
>dog's life.  Ridgebacks are usually quite gentle with their family and
>with people their masters introduce to them but are great watchdogs if
>people they don't know or sounds they don't understand show up around
>their home.  
>
>Ridgebacks are very smart, responsive, and trainable.  They can easily
>master the basics of good canine citizenship: down, stay, come, no
>jump, quiet.  They are, however, independent thinkers; that is, they
>are not traditionally seen competing for advanced obedience titles
>('though some Ridgebacks each year DO get their UD titles).  For
>instance, even though our Ridgback bitch and I do not yet have our
>first obedience title, she has passed her Canine Good Citizenship Test,
>has been certified by Therapy Dogs International to make therapy
>visits, and I walk her off lead in the park--yes, she comes when
>called.
>
>Like any medium-large dog, Ridgebacks need exercise--a daily romp in the
>back yard or park and a couple of longer trips to the park per week
>should be sufficient.  More would be better, but Ridgebacks do adapt to
>their people.  
>
>A young Ridgeback is a very energetic fellow.  But as Ridgebacks
>mature, most of them become much more laid back.  One author calls them
>the "kings of dozing."  Some would say that a mature Ridgeback is
>happiest when either running flat out across a field or flat out asleep
>at your feet.  In general, they mature into lovely calm dogs that do
>well when raised with children and other pets. :)
>
>Ridgeback bitches are about 24-27 inches tall at the shoulders and
>weigh 65-75 pounds (Standard: 24-26"; 65 lbs.).  Dogs are about 25-28
>inches, 70-95 pounds (Standard: 25-27"; 75 lbs.).  Their coats are
>light brown ("wheaten") with some black around the face and some white
>on the feet or chest.  And of course, they have a ridge of hair growing
>down their backs in the shape of a dagger.  (The hair grows backwards.)
>
There are also liver-nosed ridgebacks and "clean faced" ridgebacks
perfectly acceptable by breed standards.  Liver-nosed will have no
black around the face, and clean-faced will have a blace nose but no
black markings around the face.  Also, the color can vary from
almost a beach sand color to a dark red wheaten color.

That's one of the things I like most about the breed, the
variability in style wrt coloring, heads, and body shapes.

Jackie Giles - Jacqhari Ridgebacks
>Once you have earned the trust and love of a Rhodesian Ridgeback by
>investing some energy into making sure that he or she has had adequate
>food, exercise, affection, and training, you will have a regal, gentle,
>yet protective companion that others will envy.
>
>---
>Let me add what I know re: RRs and horses.  We have a friend who has a
>brood of RRs plus several horses living together just fine on a farm.
>What she has to do, however, is train the RRs from an early age to not
>go after or chase the horses.  Some of the horses (particularly
>equine visitors and mares with foals) are bothered by the dogs--
>or that's my understanding.  Would probably be true with most dogs.
>
>In addition to Anne and myself, there are about 20-25 Ridgeback
>owners who have surfaced on the net--including at least 4
>breeders: 
>
>Name           State   e-mail address
>Jackie Giles    (MI)   jag@iti.org  
>Matt Leist      (OH)   leist@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu
>David Prager    (WA)   prager@mdd.comm.mot.com
>Kammi Kai Hefner (WV/PA)  hefner@cards.com 
>
>Hope this helps!
>
>Best,
>Richard
>-- 
>Richard Gordon                             richard@brahms.udel.edu
>CNS User Services, Smith Hall          or  gordon@udel.edu
>University of Delaware                 or  acs02244@udelvm.bitnet
>Newark, DE 19716 USA (302-831-1717) 


Newsgroups: rec.pets.dogs