RHODESIAN RIDGEBACK EU MAGAZINE ISSUE 10/2022

2

RHODESIAN RIDGEBACK EU MAGAZINE

3

T

he European show season is in full swing again. It is so lovely to meet old friends around the show ring and to see how their breeding plans have turned into very promising youngsters! There are some new faces as well: welcome to this wonderful hobby!

We are experiencing some extraordinary heat waves in Europe lately. Please be aware that tar roads and pavements can become incredibly hot, so hot that a dog´s pads can get hurt. Plenty of cold water should be made available, and whenever possible the dogs should be kept in the shade.

I want to thank all our readers for their continued enthusiastic support. Many thanks also to our advertisers and to the many contributors. You are all a vital part of the magazine! If you have a Ridgeback story to share please contact me: starr.snezka@gmail.com And now please sit back, and enjoy this new issue of the RR EU magazine.

CO Editor Snežka Kuralt

R H O D E S I A N R I D G E B A C K E U M A G A Z I N E ISSUE 10 / AUGUST 2022

RHODESIAN RIDGEBACK EU MAGAZINE

DEAR READERS

CONTENTS R H O D E S I A N

06

R I D G E B A C K

— RHODESIAN RIDGEBACK CLUB DENMARK

22

RHODESIAN RIDGEBACK EU MAGAZINE

— DOGS AND ESSENTIAL OILS

42

— LINDA COSTA AN INTERVIEW

68

4

— NEOMELE BREEDER

E U

M A G A Z I N E

12

20

— SHOW OR A FAMILY PUPPY ?

— RIDGEBACK CHARACTER

26

34

— WE ASKED OWNERS FOR ADVICE

52

— RIDGEDOGS BREEDER

87

— GENS JULIA HANDLING SCHOOL SHOW

— MARIËLLE TRÉSOOR AN INTERVIEW

58

— AMBERHALL BREEDER

92

— WORKING RIDGEBACK WORK

5

EDITOR MAGAZINE TEAM

AS S O C I AT E / T RA N S L AT I O N S AS S I S TA N T E D I TO R A N D T RA N S L ATO R

102

— PIA APPROVED RESCUE DOG WORK

104

— MUDDY PAWS K9 BIATHLON

TIMMY U. RALFE (SOUTH AFRICA) JUDGE AND AUTHOR.

L AYO U T D E S I G N & G R A P H I C S S N E Ž K A K U R A LT S TA R R D E S I G N ( S L O V E N I A )

SALES & PR Z H A N N A G O DJA J E VA ( L AT V I A ) AN ACTIVE STUD RR OWNER WHO LOVES TRAVELLING AROUND THE EUROPE SHOWING RR.

OFFICIAL DESIGNERS

116 — KANDA OLDY

124

— SEE THROUGH CAMERA LENS.....

150

— RHODESIAN RIDGEBACK BREEDERS

120 — AKONO OLDY

148

— COVER DOG

S N E Ž K A K U R A LT - S TA R R D E S I G N ( S LOV E N I A ) FC I J U D G E S P EC I A L I S T, RR OWNER, GRAPHIC DESIGNER

LICENCE OWNER S N E Ž K A K U R A LT

RHODESIAN RIDGEBACK EU MAGAZINE

RHODESIAN RIDGEBACK EU MAGAZINE ISSUE 10 / AUGUST 2022

HISTORY

WR I T T EN BY HELLE LAURIDSEN

6

RHODESIAN RIDGEBACK EU MAGAZINE

RHODESIAN RIDGEBACK CLUB DENMARK – RRK IS CELEBRATING OUR 40TH ANNIVERSARY The Danish club show 2022 is going to be a celebration of enthusiasm and love for the breed: it will celebrate that it is now 100 years since the first Rhodesian Ridgeback standard was written by breed enthusiasts in Bulawayo, Rhodesia, and that 40 years ago the Danish Rhodesian Ridgeback club was founded by a small group of fanciers and breeders.

It is the 23rd time this show has been held as an official show – in the first years of the club’s existence the focus was solely on the social importance of fanciers meeting to have a great day in each other’s company. The club is trying to retain this ethos of prioritizing participants to have a good time and enjoy the company and the beautiful dogs, making the Danish Ridgeback days well known for having a great atmosphere, being friendly and enjoyable.

The first official club show was judged by the renowned Sammy Wallace, but the tradition of inviting great judges and attracting exhibitors from all over the world was nothing new. At the very first RR-day (as the Danish specialty is still called) Janet Murray, renowned breed enthusiast and author of the RR Indaba, was invited to judge just 27 dogs at the club open show. Notable about this show is the Mrs Murray checked all dogs for Der-

moid Sinus, which was seen as a good thing as it was not well known at the time. This tradition of inviting quality specialist judges has more than once brought the club finances into dire straits but has been maintained throughout the entire forty years of the club’s existence.

In 1988 the only 2nd Rhodesian Ridgeback World Congress was held in Denmark with, as is still the case – participation of RR enthusiasts from all over the world. Orit Nevo – the judge of this years show – writes: For me it is very special occasion. In 1988 I left Israel for the (only) second time in my life. I crossed the sea to Scandinavia to participate at the 2nd RR World Congress in DK. I will never forget the RR Specialty during DKK CACIB show in Hillerød in conjunction with the RR World Congress 1988, sitting with Sammy and Margaret Wallace and Stig Carlson, watching Jack Selby judging 53 Ridgebacks and couldn’t believe how privileged I was to learn from such breed icons! I couldn’t even dream that one day I will be back to judge at the club’s 40th anniversary.

Stig Carlsson , author of “The Rhodesian Ridgeback Today” was an important figure in the first

7 RHODESIAN RIDGEBACK EU MAGAZINE

RRWC 1988

years of the Danish Club – despite living in Sweden, he travelled to different parts of the country giving talks educating fledgling breeders about the breed.

In 1982 club was created with the aim to share knowledge about the breed and to improve breed health - exactly as you can read in the present statutes of RRDK. Some discussions are still going on: Dermoid Sinus – down from a then close to 9 % incidence to now less than 1% and hips and elbows: at the club’s start it was common not to publicize anything but “good results”. Bad results were ignored – and could still be bred. Very quickly the club got measures in place to pressure breeders to publicize hip results and the result 40 years later is that about 30 % of all Ridgebacks in Denmark are x-rayed and scored and 99,5% are HD clear (A or B) . Those in my eyes are impressive results – and proof of what a good breed club can do to encourage openness and good breeding practices more than draconian rules or cutting out valuable breeding material which – for one reason or another – does not quite live up to the ideal.

Richard Van Aken with his wife Debbie after judging the RRK 20TH anniversary show

Also, the old discussion of breed temperament was a big subject – at the time, several judges wrote about exceedingly aggressive dogs, fights in the ring, a common occurrence for a judge to be bitten, tranquilizing medicine given to dogs so they could be judged. I do think that we have come a long way since then

Sammy Wallace judging the first official RRK speciality in 1999

8

RHODESIAN RIDGEBACK EU MAGAZINE

Today the club hosts several shows a year, and the number of members is rising steadily. More so in the past couple of years than ever before following the high number of puppies born during Covid. Fortunately, also the new breeders elect to breed within the club.

Ready to start the fun

it takes lots of hands and care to set up a big sho

For the Danish Ridgeback days 2022 we have invited two wellknown and well-respected breeder judges Orit Nevo and Linda Costa, who both have been in the breed for decades and are important members of the two divisions of the Rhodesian Ridgeback Parent Clubs in South Africa and Zimbabwe.

Orit Nevo has been here three times already, she also judged the club RRWC show in 2016. It is Linda Costas second time judging in Denmark and she writes: My first overseas appointment was to Denmark in 2005 where I seemed to distinguish myself by enthusiastically awarding purple Champion Quality ribbons (a completely new concept for me) to every entry in one of the young bitch classes. I can still remember the looks of astonished disbelief and wondered secretly if my judging days were forever doomed.

At our Anniversary show we will also follow the tradition from

9 RHODESIAN RIDGEBACK EU MAGAZINE

Club volunteers run blood tracking training and trials

the very early years – the celebration of the winners of all classes show as obedience from the past year – and as always have a lovely dinner where Linda Costa has been persuaded to talk about the Ridgeback Ambassadors – the people who outside the country of original of the breed, made it known.

If you want to learn more, please see https://ridgebackklub.dk/ one of the oldest Ridgeback club pages – we can celebrate our 25th online anniversary in 2023

The club magazine has been reliably published 4 times a year since 1983

10

RHODESIAN RIDGEBACK EU MAGAZINE

A successfull show requires collaboration and quality control

Ribbons for shows

Club shows offer activities around the ring

During Covid the club ran several small, pop-up shows, for obvious reasons the shows had to be out-door even if it was snowing

11 RHODESIAN RIDGEBACK EU MAGAZINE

From registrations of between 50-60 puppies per year the last couple years have seen a sharp raise to well over 100

Photographers

Rally obedience is also a very popular sport in Denmark

Rally trials

ABOUT THE BOOK

T

he book is addressed to both owners and breeders. On 400 pages, you will find such topics as the breed history, its

character, puppy choice, dog care, upbringing and nutrition, health issues encountered in the breed. The breeding part includes discussing the breed standard, anatomical structure and its impact on dog movement, the basics of genetics. I discuss such issues as preparing for reproduction, pregnancy, childbirth and rearing puppies. The PDF file made available to readers includes the table of contents and an excerpt

12

RHODESIAN RIDGEBACK EU MAGAZINE

from the first chapter of the book. Enjoy!

A seven-week-old puppy.

rhodesian ridgeback PERFECT DOG Edyta Ossowska

13

EXCERPTS FROM THE BOOK

by Edyta Ossowska

When you ask the breeder about the possibility of buying a puppy, you will be asked if you are interested in a show dog or a family pet. What is the difference? Animal not intended for participation in shows is one that has certain outer features, usually not affecting health, but regarded to be defects excluding it from exhibitions and further breeding. These are, for example, white “socks” reaching higher than the toes, excess black hair, a different number of crowns in the ridge than two, non-symmetrical crowns,a ridge missing, a ridge too short, occurrence of dermoid sinus (usually operationally treated by the breeder before the puppy is sent to a new home), a blocked or dislocated vertebra in the tail (the so-called broken tail or kink), malocclusion or a missing testicle. If a puppy has any of these characteristics, it should be sold as a non-breeder/not intended for shows.

There is a chance that the testicle will descend later and the malocclusion will even out, but you cannot be sure at the age of eight weeks. All the rest of the listed defects will not disappear. The ridge or missing crown is not going to appear at a later time.

A puppy without these unwanted features is usually sold in the category of “standard” or “show” at a higher price. The fact of buying a show puppy does not oblige the owner to take it to shows unless the breeder has included such a provision in the contract. Remember when buying a show puppy that, even if you don’t have any plans to participate in shows at the time of purchase, it is always possible to change your mind in the future. It so happened in my case that, in the litter in which Saba was born, there were no non-standard puppies. In consequence, my life has changed completely. My profession and hob-

bies have changed as well. A show puppy does not mean that it is a future champion. Let’s not be disappointed if the dog is not very successful in the ring. If you wish for success, ask the breeder to give you a chance of getting one of the best and promising puppies, or ask to have the priority of choice among the available puppies.

STEP ONE - CHOOSING A KENNEL In both cases, choosing a good kennel will be very important. I suppose that not everyone will agree with my criteria, so I am going to present it as if I was looking for a puppy for myself. It is indisputable that the kennel must be legal and the puppy ought to have a pedigree or birth certificate. It is, therefore, necessary to check whether the kennel you have chosen is a member of the cynological society or Rhodesian Ridgeback Club, whether the kennel breeds dogs under the auspices of FCI (in Europe), because this means that the puppy certainly meets the requirements of the breed standard, the kennel is subject to the supervision of a cynological organization, and the litter will be reviewed by an authorized representative. If the pedigree which the breeder offers has been printed on a home printer, getting a puppy of the breed you want is unpredictable, and it will definitely be an obstacle to participation in FCI exhibitions.

The puppy should be healthy, mentally sane, well socialized. So, I am beginning to look for a kennel that cares about these matters. How often do they have litters in that kennel? How many at a time? If there are different litters of different breeds at the same time, there is no guarantee that the breeder has time for all the puppies.

RHODESIAN RIDGEBACK EU MAGAZINE

A DOG SHOW PUPPY OR A FAMILY PET?

14

RHODESIAN RIDGEBACK EU MAGAZINE

Where do the toddlers grow up? Do they have a place at home or in a utility room? Getting used to normal house noises is only guaranteed by breeding at home. If the puppies are kept in a garage or another such room, a pot banging against the floor or a growling vacuum cleaner will not be ordinary noises for them. Of course, I do not expect the puppies to run around the house, sleep on couches and bite furniture legs, it is enough if they have a separate place at home, and not outside. Ask for deworming and vaccination plans, and what puppies are fed with. What kind of socialization plan the breeder has? What is going to be “taught” in the kennel when the little pooch is open to new stimuli. Is there a chance for the puppies’ predisposition tests and access to their results so that you know the character of a dog you are about to buy? It would be an ideal situation if you could visit the breeder before making your decision, and get to know him personally, to look at the breeder’s dogs and check out the place where the litter is going to be raised.

Mutual “chemistry” is also important because it is the breeder who you call first when there are problems. If you don’t get along at the beginning, your relationship is not going to get better in the future. Such a visit is important because you can meet our puppy’s mother during your visit. The father probably lives somewhere else, sometimes even in another country or on another continent.

The dog’s character may be hereditary, and while the father’s influence in the genes is supposedly stronger, the environmental influence of the mother cannot be overestimated. It is the mother

A seven-week-old puppy.

that will look after the children, she will be looked up to and her behaviour will be imitated. Check how she behaves towards strangers, whether she is shy or aggressive. A certain degree of distrust is a trait of the breed, but it certainly not aggression or fear. If the mother or other dogs with whom she lives behave in a way that you do not like, then there is a good chance that the puppy’s behaviour will be similar. If there is no chance to visit, talk on the phone, ask a lot of questions, study the kennel website and look at photos from other litters. Do you see puppies at home or mainly outside? What are their surroundings like? Is this an empty lair with puppies in it? Do they have access to different surfaces, objects, toys? Can you see the people around them? Does the breeder sign a purchase contract with the buyers? Read the contract beforehand. In the era of social media, it will not be difficult to contact the owners of puppies from previous litters. If you do, ask them for their opinion, although it is worth remembering that sometimes a breeder is blamed for the owner’s teaching or nutritional errors.

STEP TWO - CHOOSING THE LITTER Regardless of whether the new family member is to be the future national champion or simply live in your house, it is important that the dog is healthy and free from serious genetic burdens.

Ask the breeder for parental test results, check if both parents have been x-rayed for joint problems (hips, elbows, shoulders), had their hearts examined, when was their last thyroid hormone check

15

Ask the breeder when the bitch had her previous litter. If it was after the last heat, her body may have not regenerated yet, and the puppies will be weaker and may grow more slowly. The optimal gap between successive litters is from one and a half to two years.

If you are planning a breeding adventure with your puppy, it is worth digging deeper. Give some thought to the question of whether the offspring of a given couple will be attractive from the breeding standpoint. Perhaps the parents already had so many children that it would be difficult to find a mating partner with not shared ancestors. Perhaps one of the parents has some genetic burdens which have been revealed in previous puppies. Identify dog owners of the parents’ other litters, and ask about the health and character of the dogs. Study the pedigree and make sure that the parents are not related, or at least not very closely. It would be good to choose the parents in such a way that their flaws are not intensified in their offspring. Ask the breeder what motivated them to match these two individuals. Perhaps the dog lives in a nearby city, and it was the only criterion of selection. The list of titles and champion titles is usually an indicator that the dogs are well appreciated by the judg-

Puppies in the kennel.

es. Not every breeder, however, spends every weekend going to shows, so a shortlist or lack of titles does not necessarily mean that the dog is of inferior quality. Not all titles are equal.

There are countries where a dog has to win several times when the competition is tough to become a champion, in others, especially with exotic-sounding names, it is enough to appear in the ring once to win, and the dog is given a new title because there was no competition at all. Maybe you should ask an experienced breeder for advice because choosing a puppy for breeding is not an easy matter, and it is worth starting with a good genetic and characterological background. It will take several generations to catch up with just average breeding material.

STEP THREE - CHOOSING A PUPPY Puppies from the same parents may look very different. The more similar the parents’ built, the more uniform the litter will be. However, if the breeder has combined the extremes, or both parents have strong genes, the characteristics may split - some children will resemble the mother, and some the father. Toddlers may also have different temperaments, some will be more open, others may be more withdrawn or cautious. If you are unable to assess which puppy has the best chance for good progress, ask the breeder for advice. You can also use professional help and hire a behaviourist who will visit the kennel with you,

RHODESIAN RIDGEBACK EU MAGAZINE

(some time last year would be recommended), and whether they had any additional genetic tests done (e.g. for epilepsy, myelopathy, deafness). This does not guarantee that the puppy will be 100% healthy, but it ensures that the breeder has attempted to minimize the risk of problems.

16

RHODESIAN RIDGEBACK EU MAGAZINE

Litter at the age of seven weeks

A puppy in a position facilitating structural assessment. Auxiliary lines: the green ones to help assess the proportion of length and height, the white ones to assess angulation of the limbs, the red line marks the lines of the elbow and the depth of the chest.

17

The testicles should descend between the sixth and eighth weeks. Make sure your puppy has been checked for dermoid sinus. Dermal sinus, if present in a dog, requires surgical removal, and the animal after such surgery is neither fit breeding nor for an exhibition.

Observe the character: the puppy should be cheerful, trusting and willing to make contact.

Judge the general condition, an check whether it is not too thin, the tummy is not swollen, whether the eyes are clean, there is no discharge from the nose, whether the coat is shiny and elastic, and the skin is free of scabs and inflammation. Of course, puppies playing together in the pack are not very gentle, so scratches on the coat and skin should not be the reason for concern.

Even if all born puppies are offered as show dogs, i.e. without flaws excluding them from exhibitions, it does not mean that they are all equally anatomically correct. Usually, two or three have good prospects, and the rest is average. The best puppy either stays with the breeder or, in the case of interesting crossings, has long been reserved.

Therefore, if you are looking for a puppy for further breeding, you should begin much sooner,

not when it is ready for collection. Check the litter announcements on Facebook, contact the breeder before the puppies are born and make yourself known to build your credibility necessary to being entrusted with a promising toddler.

The usualcriterion I observe as a breeder is the price and distance to cover in order to purchase a puppy. Nonetheless, it will be worth your while to travel a little further and spend more on the puppy: a healthy, neat, well-nourished toddler with a good temperament. What you will save on the purchase, you will sooner or later spend in the veterinary clinic or reimbursing the behaviourist.

Or buying new furniture for the living room.

STEP FOUR - A DOG OR A BITCH Either choice has certain consequences that will have to be addressed. Bitches are smaller, males usually have a stronger constitution, and if you do not invest the time in teaching the dog how to walk on a loose leash when still a puppy, these few extra kilograms can make a significant difference during walks. They say that bitches are closer to their families, and male dogs are tramps and drifters. In my opinion, it depends on the individual, similarly to enjoying physical contact with man or not. If you own an uncastrated male, you should keep in mind that a bitch on heat in the vicinity may sweep him off his feet to such an extent that he will stop eating, will howl, will be agitated and tends to escape. On the other hand, if you have a bitch, you should be aware that during the heat season, you will not be able to unleash her and you must keep an eye on her at all times.

A mate living in the neighbourhood will climb over and will overcome the highest fence to get to her, so leaving her alone in the garden even for a moment during this period is out of the question. When one of our bitches is on heat, before we let her into the garden for the morning pee, we first check the garden ourselves to make sure that there are no uninvited dog guests there. If we find one, we tell him to leave, which can sometimes be difficult. Although we open the gate, the male usually does not feel like going out and it takes a while to get rid of him.

Imaginary pregnancy is rather common in Ridgebacks and one litter will not prevent it, on the contrary, after the puppies are born, the symptoms of false pregnancy may become even worse.

RHODESIAN RIDGEBACK EU MAGAZINE

and advise you which puppy to choose. The best solution is testing the puppies by the breeder, then in all likelihood, you will know what to expect.

Some breeders choose which puppy will go to the new family, based on previous discussions and expectations of new families. If you have plans for an exhibition, make sure that the offered puppy is free from defects excluding it from such events.

Check if the ridge is the right length (from the shoulder blades to the iliac processes), whether it has two symmetrical crowns (any other amount disqualifies the dog from shows). The missing crown will not appear with age, just as the ridge will not become longer. Run your hand along the tail to check for fractures or blocks in the vertebrae. Do it very carefully, with one finger on the underside and the other on the upper side of the tail, then do the same, holding the sides of the tail.

If the puppy has white markings, make sure they do not reach above the toes. If the coat has a lot of black hairs, it is possible that as the puppy grows and the coat is replaced by the adult one, the dog will lose the black hair, but there is no guarantee to what extent, and an excess of black reduces the score the dog will get during shows and there is considerable likelihood that it will come up in next generations. Check for scissor bite (there is a detailed description in the chapter about the breed standard), there is a high risk of malocclusion, and only scissor bite is correct. See how the ears are set, if they are set too high, it can lower the dog’s rating. In the case of male dogs, check for the presence of both testicles in the scrotum.

If one is missing, there is a risk that the dog will be cryptorchidic, and the testicle remaining in the abdomen needs surgical removal. In large breeds, the testicle may descend at the age of six or even eight months, but these are rare situations.

18

RHODESIAN RIDGEBACK EU MAGAZINE

19 RHODESIAN RIDGEBACK EU MAGAZINE

WR I T T EN BY M A R I Ë L L E T R É S O O R

THE RHODESIAN RIDGEBACK

CHARACTER

RHODESIAN RIDGEBACK EU MAGAZINE

AND SOME GENERAL ADVICE

A

Outside it is an active dog, who also likes to chase game, inside it is quiet and often even lazy. He likes a warm, comfortable environment. Outside in a kennel, it will waste away.

He can be very obedient but he is a partner rather than a slave. Ridgebacks are very clever dogs, they learn quickly. Also they will try and find out if you really mean it.

Like said before, the Ridgeback is an active dog that needs to cover ground, but because it is a truly versatile dog, many different activities can be practiced with it. For example: agility, tracking and scent training, canicross and brainwork games.

s Ridgeback breeders we prefer not to sell to people who don’t have any expercience with dogs whatsoever.

However with patience and love, a lot can be reached.

The Ridgeback is a dominant, intelligent, sometimes stubborn but simultaneously sensitive dog.

It needs a strict, but in the same time soft hand while being educated.

20

With positive training methods, you can achieve a lot with it.

The Ridgeback is a hunting dog that needs a lot of exercise. If he does not get enough exercise, he will become bored and misbehave. Chewed pieces of furniture or shoes are a good example of this.

It is a real family dog. When a loving relationship exists between owner and dog, it is a very loyal dog and, if necessary, it will literally give its life for its family.

Usually the first question “will it be a dog or a bitch” forms a subject for debate. A dog is irrefutable stronger and larger then a bitch, but also most often the more impressive representative of the breed. Opinions vary on the affection. In

21

When you have small children we usually prefer a bitch because they are somewhat sweeter then a dog.

CHILDREN This leads automatically to the much asked question: “are they good with children?”.

There are several breeds one wouldn’t advice with children.

The Ridgeback isn’t one of them, but it all depends, as with all suitable breeds, not on the upbringing of the dog, but on the education of the children!

Don’t wake a sleeping dog, not too wild a game, no lifting on the front legs, no poking in the eyes and think of all the other ways a young dogs life can be made unpleasant.

The Ridgeback can be trained to be left alone for a couple of hours, but never for a complete workweek. It loves coming with you to the workplace though.

The Ridgeback is a good watchdog. The farmers in Rhodesia had them, besides for hunting big game, in twosomes or threesomes as farmdogs.

IMPORTANT Until the age of 9-12 months you can’t take them for long walks.

It is better to take them 5 times a day for 15 minutes then one hour only.

Don’t let them walk the stairs regularly before the age of 1- 1 ½ years: that causes too much stress on the bones and ligaments. In your garden they can walk and play freely, when they get tired they will find their place to sleep.

RHODESIAN RIDGEBACK EU MAGAZINE

our experience a dog is more affectionate, although a bitch loves to be caressed, she’s more independent. When a dog is allowed to roam freely outside it is inclined to go and visit the the neighbouring bitches when they are in season. It needs a stronger approach then a bitch, otherwise it will take over the dominant position in your household.

22

RHODESIAN RIDGEBACK EU MAGAZINE

23

Wri tte n by

Lisa Reece,

LOWER YOUR DOG’S TOXIC LOAD USING ESSENTIAL OILS Have you noticed…as time goes by, more and more dogs are being diagnosed with allergies and autoimmune disease, organ degeneration and cancer, and other chronic diseases than ever before?

So many dogs these days are plagued with rashes and skin irritations, reoccurring ear infections, eye irritations, respiratory problems, kidney problems…. the list goes on!

One of the main reasons for this is the continued exposure to harmful chemicals and toxins. Chemicals that can do short term damage and/or add to the dogs toxic load over time causing more complex problems.

So, what exactly is ‘Toxic Load’ and what does it do to your dog?

Toxic load refers to the harmful chemicals that accumulate over time as the body is unable to process them. The more toxins in the body, the bigger the toxic load.

As your dogs’ toxic load gets higher it puts more and more stress on the body, not only as it tries to eliminate them, but also from the chemicals own effects. When the body is stressed, it releases extra hormones and, as the cells of the immune system are not able to respond in a state of stress, it then causes inflammation which promotes disease.

That is why there are many problems that can be lessened or eradicated when the toxic load is reduced.

How can you reduce your dogs’ toxic load?

Simple! By reducing their exposure to chemicals!!

By replacing the chemical products in our home and the ones we use on and around our dogs with more natural solutions, you can limit the amount of harmful chemicals your dog is exposed to.

There are times we can’t control what our dogs come into contact with, but we CAN make their homes a safe, chemical free environment. We CAN choose natural products for our dogs, our homes and for ourselves…after all, our dogs are exposed to our own personal products too!

One of the biggest things to look at switching out are ANY product that contains artificial fragrance. Artificial fragrances are dangerous chemical cocktails that cause plenty of damage to the body and brain. It is easy to ditch them by simply using 100% pure essential oils instead.

RHODESIAN RIDGEBACK EU MAGAZINE

Cer tif ied Animal Aromath erapy Specialist , Canin e Aromath erapy.

Using essential oils for a natural, beneficial fragrance you can make your own household, dog and personal products that you can be sure won’t harm your dog, short term or long term. It is easy, quick and affordable and one of the best things you can do for your dog.

Here’s a list of some of the things you can easily make yourself or buy a natural alternative to get you started: Dog Products – Dog Shampoo, Flea and Tick Prevention, Ear Cleaner, Bug repellent, Wound Care, Rash Creams, Healthy Coat Spray, Paw Soak, Bed Freshener.

Household Products – Air Fresheners, Multi purpose spray, Disinfectants and Bleaches, Oven cleaner, Bathroom cleaner, Laundry detergent, Fabric softener, Carpet cleaner, Floor cleaner, Window cleaner, Hand and body wash, Perfumes.

Start by getting yourself some 100% pure essential oils and a diffuser. That’s your new natural air freshener and you can change the scent each time you use it if you wish! Your house will smell amazing while your dog and you reap the benefits of the oils as well.

Last issue I gave you my natural flea and tick prevention spray recipe to try. Using that instead of the chemical spot on and tablets is a huge step to lowering your dogs toxic load.

Now try my Natural Dog Shampoo and my Healthy Coat Spray. Two more easy ways to reduce those toxins!

RHODESIAN RIDGEBACK EU MAGAZINE

HEALTHY COAT SPRAY In a 100ml Spray Bottle add 5 drops Geranium EO, 5 drops Sandalwood EO, 5 drops Frankincense EO. Fill the bottle with filtered water. Shake well before each use. To use, mist over your dog 1 – 2 times a day or as needed. You can brush through the coat if you wish.

It really is easy and affordable to switch out your chemical products for natural alternatives and they are just as effective. Plus you can be assured

you are not adding to the toxic load in your dogs body and giving them the best chance for a long, healthy life.

Essential oils are the key to better health, not only through helping to replace toxic products with safer, more natural products, but also how they can work with the body to restore balance and support them to be the best dog they can be. We will delve more into the health benefits next time.

But for now, take a look around your house. Take a look at your dog products, cleaning products and personal products and think about how you can make small changes to lower your dogs toxic load for the sake of their health and wellbeing.

Your dog will thank you for it!

Until next time, Happy Oiling!

NATURAL DOG SHAMPOO In a 350ml bottle • • • • •

1/3 cup liquid castile soap 25 drops Cedarwood 25 drops Lavender l tsp fractionated coconut oil Top with water

BENEFITS • • • • • •

All natural Healthy skin Healthy coat Flea control Calming Smells amazing

Homepage www.caninearomatherapy.com Instagram canine.aromatherapy Facebook caninearomatherapy

24

If you are looking for more recipes for natural alternatives to the products mentioned above, you can find most of them on my Instagram or Facebook page @ caninearomatherapy Please Note: I only recommend doTERRA essential oils as I can vouch for their purity, safety and efficiency. All recipes are made with doTERRA oils in mind. Please be mindful that synthetic or adulterated oils may not be safe for your dog.

25 RHODESIAN RIDGEBACK EU MAGAZINE

Reader 2 reader WE A SKED

What you give your dog for better:

Coat omega 3 salmon oil Bones / Nails / Immune / Vitamins /

26

RHODESIAN RIDGEBACK EU MAGAZINE

Do you feed dry / vet / barf high quality dry Supplements for veterans my 9,5 years old is in perfect health but gets msm & (name which supplement for which disease): collagen oil to maintain her joints Supplements for puppies: 500 mg ester C vitamin Supplements for females 5mg folic acid when planning litter: Fruits they like fruit and vegetables but just for fun Vegetables / What activities you do with you dogs tracking, rally, lure coursing, show How active is your dog medium – to very, they have a lot of space to play in zoolac for bad tummies, liquid plaster for little Your SOS kit scratches, ear clean liquid, Benadryl – none of it ever used much if at all Helle Lauridsen/ kennel lewanika www.lewanika.dk For more info contact us:  helle@lewanika.dk facebook-square LewanikaAarhus

27

What you give your dog for better:

Coat omega3

Nails nothing Immune if necessary homeopathic remedy Vitamins only if I need for the barf diet (by the vet/nutritionist) Do you feed dry / vet / barf normally barf or dehydrated food, sometimes dry Supplements for veterans always for the joint, or if it is the case homeopathic (name which supplement for which disease): remedy for arthrose and similar) and CBD Oil Supplements for puppies: help for the joint (see above) in cycles Supplements for females folic acid when planning litter: Fruits apple, watermelon, berries Vegetables zucchini, carrots What activities you do with you dogs

mantrailing, detection and coursing sometimes, shows

How active is your dog the adults are active Your SOS kit homeopathic pet kit For more info contact us:

What you give your dog for better:

Laura Greco, Hluhluwe Kennel www www.hluhluwe.ch  HluhluweKennel@yahoo.com

Coat olive oil and sardines Bones / Nails / Immune bee pollen Vitamins /

Do you feed dry / vet / barf dry and barf Supplements for veterans glucosamine and chondroitin (name which supplement for which disease): Supplements for puppies: yogurt Supplements for females folic acid when planning litter: Fruits Vegetables

all kinds of fruits (melon, watermelon, cherries, apples, pears, orange, plum, kaki) tomatoes, lettuce, pumpkin, potatoes, sweet potatoes, carrots, cabbage

What activities you do with you dogs hike in the forest, dog shows How active is your dog medium antiseptic, bandage, antibiotics, anti-inflammatory, Your SOS kit anti-allergy , scissors, tweezers, surgical staples, surgical glue.

Vanessa Moyano Gonzálvez, Molema Mua Rôo www.molemamuaroo.com For more info contact us:  info@molemamuaroo.com facebook-square Vanessa Moyano

RHODESIAN RIDGEBACK EU MAGAZINE

(for the joint, in cycles) chondroprotectors such as Bones glucosamine / chondroitin / msm / hyaluronic acid or green mussel

What you give your dog for better:

Coat fish oil Bones kelp, egg shells Nails fish oil Immune functional treats Vitamins chondroprotectives

Do you feed dry / vet / barf dry, occasionally wet Supplements for veterans chondroprotectives – tablets / anti-inflamator liquid (name which supplement for which disease): Supplements for puppies: fish oil Supplements for females ** we have males when planning litter: Fruits watermelon Vegetables carrots, pumpkin, sweet potatoes What activities you do with you dogs walks How active is your dog pretty active claw pliers, tweezers, tablets against diarrhea, anYour SOS kit ti-helmintics, liquid silver in spray, boric acid, betadine, termometer For more info contact us:

What you give your dog for better:

Alena Kadlecová https://ridgeback-star.webnode.cz/  j.alena.jilkova@seznam.cz facebook-square alena.jilkova

Coat cocconut oil and omega 3-6 oil Bones green-lipped mussel powder Nails / Immune herb mix (alpha-alpha, echinacea, spirulina) Vitamins all vitamins they need is inside the food

RHODESIAN RIDGEBACK EU MAGAZINE

Do you feed dry / vet / barf barf Supplements for veterans antioxidant-rich food (name which supplement for which disease): Supplements for puppies: if necessary vitamin c, puppy mash Supplements for females raspberry leaves when planning litter: Fruits all Vegetables all (no onions, no avocados) What activities you do with you dogs obidience, hiking, agility How active is your dog 10-15 km pro day

28

Your SOS kit

homeopatihic remedies like apis, nux vomica, and rescue remedies (bach flowers)

Ana Juric www.dharutheridgeback.com /www.bio-barf.ch  ana.juric@icloud.com For more info contact us: facebook-square Ana Juric Instagram: @dharutheridgeback @biobarfdianajuric

29 RHODESIAN RIDGEBACK EU MAGAZINE

DAM: C.I.B, MULTI CH, JCH, SAFRANE LAKOTA LÖWENSCHWANZ / NALA / DOB: MAY | 16 | 2019 • 63,5 CM

SIR: C.I.B, BISS, CH, MULTI JCH GENS JULIA MUST HAVE / MAXXI / DOB: AUGUST | 22 | 2019 • 69 CM

HEALTH: CORRECT FULL SCISSORS BITE, HD A/A, ED 0/0, OCD FREE, L7, LTV 0, SA NEG., RIDGE: R/R (DOMINANT HOMOZYGOTE) LABOKLIN: JME N/N, DM N/N, D – LOCUS D/D, B – LOCUS B/B, HEMOPHILIA: CLEAR

HEALTH: CORRECT FULL SCISSORS BITE HD:0/0, ED:0/0, OCD:0/0, L7, LTV -FREE SPONDYLOSIS: CLEAR JME: N/N - NO CARRIER DM TESTED: N/N-NO CARRIER, BLUE GENE /D-LOCUS: D/D - NO CARRIER LIVER GENE /B-LOCUS: B/B, EOAD: N/N, HEMOPHILIA B: CLEAR

SUCCESS: C.I.B - INTERCHAMPION • SLOVAKIA BEAUTY CHAMPION HUNGARIA BEAUTY CHAMPION • ROMANIA BEAUTY CHAMPION SERBIAN BEAUTY CHAMPION • JUNIOR CHAMPION OF SLOVAKIA JUNIOR CHAMPION OF HUNGARY • SLOVAKIA PUPPY CHAMPION

SUCCESS: ITALIAN CHAMPION • RRCI CLUB CHAMPION 2021 SAN MARINO JUNIOR CHAMPION • SLOVENIAN JUNIOR CHAMPION

VICE CHAMPION OF THE YEAR 2021 SKCHR VICE YOUNG FEMALE OF THE YEAR 2020 SKCHR 2X BEST HEAD 3. PLACE , RES BIG, 3X BIG 3, 6X CACIB, 3X RES CACIB, 4X BOB, 3X BOS, 4X BOJ, RES BIS JUNIOR COURSING LICENCE

Veronika Jašková | +421 911 399 992

INTERNATIONAL CHAMPION (PENDING) CANDIDATE SAN MARINO CHAMPION CANDIDATE SWISS CHAMPION • CANDIDATE MONACO CHAMPION RRCI TROPHY WINNER 2021 BISS AT IDS MONDOVÌ 2021 - SPECIALTY SHOW JUNIOR ALPE ADRIA WINNER 2020 • CRUFTS QUALIFICATION 2021 2X CRUFTS QUALIFICATIONS 2022 • CRUFTS QUALIFICATION 2023 MULTI BOB WINNER • MULTI BOG WINNER

www.moyosimba.sk

30

RHODESIAN RIDGEBACK EU MAGAZINE

31 RHODESIAN RIDGEBACK EU MAGAZINE

32

RHODESIAN RIDGEBACK EU MAGAZINE

33 RHODESIAN RIDGEBACK EU MAGAZINE

34

RHODESIAN RIDGEBACK EU MAGAZINE

35

AN INTERVIEW WITH A JUDGE Greetings from France

PLEASE INTRODUCE YOURSELF TO OUR READERS. I have been involved with Rhodesian Ridgebacks since my early childhood.

When I was born my parents owned 6 Rhodesian Ridgebacks, an Irish Wolfhound and a Tibetan Terrier. They are all present on my birth announcement card and from then on, I have never been without them.

I started showing dogs successfully already at the age of 8, and I still show regularly both nationally and internationally.

Our kennel Vir die Simba Safari was founded by my mother in 1970 and I became co-owner in 1994. I breed from time to time with the emphasis on soundness in character and structure. Since 2017 this kennel is based in France.

We have bred several national and international Ridgeback champions through the years.

Since my teenage years I have worked regularly on national and international dog shows as a ring steward and ring secretary.

I became a Ridgeback judge in 2014.

My parents were co-founders of the Dutch Rhodesian Ridgeback club (RRCN) in 1978 and I have been a general committee member of the Dutch breed club RRCN from 2009-2015 and active in several subcommittees.

I have also joined the club committee of the French Rhodesian Ridgeback Club in 2019.

I am Dutch “born and bred” but since 2017, I live and work in France together with my husband where we continue our Ridgeback breeding and showing.

Currently we have 3 Ridgebacks, a Bracco Italiano, a Dachshund and a cat.

Professionally I work as a medical doctor and am specialized in both geriatrics and public health.

WHEN DID YOUR LOVE OF DOGS BEGIN? PLEASE TELL US ABOUT YOUR PAST AND PRESENT DOGS. It must be in my DNA. If you grow up with dogs and the cynologie the way I did, you either love it or you hate it. Fortunately for my parents I have always adored the dogs and couldn’t imagine life without them.

My mother started her kennel with Ridgebacks from England: dogs from the Footpath kennel

by Rose Bailey and later from the Mirengo Kennel from Ann Woodrow. In the nineties we also imported a dog from America which had an Oakhurst sire.

Due to several unfortunate circumstances, we lost the direct English lines and didn’t have a Vir Die Simba Safari bitch to continue with. But some of the English ancestors can be refound in the pedigree of my current bitch Ringerike Pure Passion Villagedog. I have the most wonderful Ridgeback male, Thokoza Rafiki by Lloyd, bred by Jolan Huizenga. These dogs are the parents of my young boy Shonga Induna Vir die Simba Safari, my first French born.

HOW DID YOU GET INTRODUCED TO THIS BREED? I think it was more a question of me being introduced to them. This was on the day after I was born when I came home from the hospital!

WHEN DID YOU START WITH JUDGE CAREER AND

RHODESIAN RIDGEBACK EU MAGAZINE

MARIËLLE TRÉSOOR

WHY DID YOU CHOOSE TO BECOME A JUDGE? PLEASE TELL US ABOUT YOUR JUDGES CARRIER AND YOUR HIGHLIGHTS.

36

RHODESIAN RIDGEBACK EU MAGAZINE

Since November 2014 I’m qualified as a Rhodesian Ridgeback judge. It was the logical next step in my dog career. I also had some very dear Ridgeback friends, breeders and judges who encouraged me to become a judge.

I have already had the wonderful opportunity to judge the Ridgeback in several different countries in Europe and Australia. It is difficult to name a highlight because every show has its highlights and special memories.

It was very special to judge the Ridgeback in Australia. The honor of judging dogs this far and the anticipation of what they will be like there.

DID YOU EVER HAVE A MENTOR? ARE YOU MENTORING NEWCOMERS? I have had several mentors. To begin with my mother of course. Then secondly, breeder-judge Ann Woodrow has been a longtime mentor.

Also, Joop Hiddes, a well-known Dutch judge, has taught and guided me a lot.

I am not mentoring newcomers in an official way.

During my time on the Dutch Ridgeback committee, I took part in developing and organizing the training program for the Ridgeback trainee judges.

From time-to-time people aspiring to become a Ridgeback judge approach me on a show to discuss with me the dogs being shown. Some judges-to-be, have come to my house to talk about the breed: the standard, the developments, its history etc. I am always open to those who are willing to invest time and effort in getting to know the breed.

HOW DO YOU DEFINE THE TYPE? The type is what defines the Ridgeback as a Ridgeback. It means that when you close your eyes, and you look at the dog’s silhouette through your eyelashes you can immediately tell it is a Ridgeback.

It’s the general appearance as stated in the breed standard: “it should represent a well balanced, strong, muscular, agile, and active dog, symmetrical in outline, and capable of great endurance with a fair amount of speed. The emphasis is on agility, elegance, and soundness with no tendency towards massiveness”.

IS THERE SOMETHING WHICH YOU WOULD LIKE TO CHANGE IN THE BREED?

37 RHODESIAN RIDGEBACK EU MAGAZINE

Not as a judge, the breed has a well-defined standard. It is not up to us to change it.

As a breeder it would be nice if we didn’t have the existence of the dermoid sinus!

EVERY BREED HAS SOME COMMON PROBLEMS. WHICH IS THE MOST COMMON PROBLEM IN RR? We must keep paying attention to the front angulation and the upfilling in front. Also, that the standard calls for a good turn of stifle but not an exaggerated one which gives way to an over angulation behind.

Healthwise, I think it’s a relatively healthy breed.

Although “new” problems keep popping up. First the DM, then the JME and now also the Inherited Arrhythmia. The more science advances and the more the medical equipment becomes available for the veterinary practices the more we will find and will be able to examine.

With the social media you hear of so many Ridgebacks with cancer or who die young of other diseases. For a while I feared that the life expectancy of the Ridgebacks had severely diminished. In my memory all our dogs in my childhood lived up to at least 12 years. Until I found a small article written in the Dutch Ridgeback Club magazine from 1980 in which was stated that the average age of the Ridgeback was about 10 years!

WHAT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT POINT OF WHICH YOU WOULD LIKE A JUDGE OF THE BREED TO BE AWARE? Type, balance, temperament, soundness. The dog must be fit for function.

Does it have the agility and speed to deal with the big game but at the same time the force and stamina to keep it up for hours?

The judge must also be aware of the Ridgeback’s specific character mentioned in the standard: “dignified, intelligent, aloof with strangers, but showing no aggression or shyness”.

Especially young Ridgebacks who haven’t been able to profit from show training show this aloofness with strangers. It a characteristic that can, in most cases, be perfectly trained so that there’s no (excessive) shyness. But already with the COVID we have seen how much depends on socializing and the opportunities we have.

In moving to France, I have been able to establish that myself. Where in the Netherlands my dogs were very sociable without too much effort while walking them 3 times a day in public areas with many other dogs and persons, here in France, I find it much harder work. We have our own 5 hectares, so not much need to go for walks 3 times a day. And if we go for walks, it’s rather uncommon to meet people on the way!

While using the same breed lines, the aloofness is

much more outspoken since there are less opportunities to socialize.

It’s really a question of nature and nurture.

WHAT QUALITIES DO YOU ADMIRE MOST IN A JUDGE? An excellent eye for the dog (the breed) and only for the dog itself. Honesty and integrity: someone who doesn’t consider the person at the other end of the lead.

Being able to write a representative and “beautiful” report that nonetheless reflects well the strong points of the dog as well as its faults.

WHAT CHARACTERISTICS MAKE A GOOD JUDGE IN YOUR OPINION? Decisiveness.

Time and patience: a judge who takes the time to approach the dog and knows how to reassure it if necessary.

Respect and love for the dog and respect for its owner.

WHAT DIFFERENCES DO YOU SEE IN THE JUDGES TODAY AS OPPOSED TO THOSE IN THE BEGINNING OF YOUR CAREER? Since the Ridgeback has become a numeric large breed on dogshows (at least in the Netherlands), due to its increasing popularity, it has become an attractive breed to add to ones judging list.

38

RHODESIAN RIDGEBACK EU MAGAZINE

I see more new judges wanting to acquire lots of breeds in a short time instead of judges who take their time to become absorbed in the breed.

Also, in some countries the training program has become very extensive and very theoretical with many exams before arriving at a stage where you can start judging dogs. Sometimes this is very difficult for those who really have the eye for a dog but not the head to study all those different subjects and pass exams.

WHAT IS YOUR MOST MEMORABLE EXPERIENCE AS A JUDGE? Every time the dogs enter the ring you hope for that special moment when you see one that gives you the goosebumps.

One moment I shall never forget was a club show where I had the most marvelous entries in a champion class bitches and I became so overwhelmed with emotion that I had to blink some tears away.

It was such a privilege to have so many outstand-

ing examples in one ring together. That’s when you realize how special it is to be a judge.

HOW HAS THE DOG SCENE CHANGED OVER THE LAST DECADES? The Ridgeback has become a very popular breed.

Over the last few years, in the Netherlands, it has entered the top 10 of popular pedigree dogs (based on the number of pedigrees delivered per breed per year) and even reached a third place in 2021: just behind the Labrador and the Golden Retriever!

Thus, the number of entries on a dog show has increased significantly as well.

Many more people like to breed “just one litter”.

Not everyone delves into the ins and outs of Ridgeback breeding. More and more litters are being bred outside the club.

A tendency we also note in France. In 2021 there

39

One used to mark the paper dog show catalogue and phone your friends on returning home to pass on the results.

I remember, in the nineties, the club received a copy of the written show critiques from the Raad van Beheer, which I typed out for the club magazine. Nowadays many shows have the results online directly after the show.

Most of the dogs presented on dog shows are being handled in a much more professional way. We also see some professional handlers in Europe. I understand that under certain circumstances it is good to have the possibility to have a professional handler show your dog.

Nonetheless, I sincerely hope it won’t turn into a business like in the United States where you pay a certain amount to have your dog part with a handler and have him coming back a champion.

For me, showing your dog is part of the various activities that you can do with your dog and that strengthens the bond with your dog.

The role and influence of the social media. On Facebook we can follow Ridgebacks from all over the world, their results on dog shows, their matings and offspring. Also, there are live streams to regard the big dog shows like Crufts or Westminster or ringside videos taken by exhibitors during judging.

was a registration increase of 40% in the French Stud Book.

On a more global level, the way how we regard animals, and more in particular dogs, has changed.

A dog has really become a member of the family.

We invest much more in them: in accessories but also regarding their health. Many more medical tests and treatments are available, and we are willing to spend a lot more time and money to keep them alive.

Much more attention is being paid to animal welfare, and with good reason, but we must be careful not to overdo it. We hear of difficulties for the CACIB shows to find an (affordable) place to organize them and even municipalities that no longer want to issue permits for holding those shows.

The whole dog scene has become much more professional over the years.

Scientific developments have given us much more knowledge about the causes of certain diseases and the development of genetic testing has taken off.

It can spoil a bit the “unknown” of judging in foreign countries if you have a wide international network of connections on the social media. At the same time, it demonstrates that actual judging of the dog can significantly change a previously formed impression of a photo or video. Even at the side of the ring, you do not always see what the judge feels and sees.

On some dog shows nowadays a judge is bound by a time schedule; you are supposed to judge a certain number of dogs per hour, as quickly as possible is the impression you get as a judge. I don’t think it’s fair to the dogs nor to the owners to impose such a thing. One pays a lot to enter and many people come a long way to show their dogs and therefore deserve a fair amount of time for their dog being judged.

HAVE BREED STANDARDS CHANGED VERY MUCH SINCE YOU BEGAN YOUR JUDGING CAREER? DO YOU SEE ANY DIFFERENCE IN RR OF TODAY

RHODESIAN RIDGEBACK EU MAGAZINE

The Internet has also made all this information much more accessible. You used to find this information in the monthly dog magazines and the club magazines, and you went to lectures organised by the breed associations to be informed of new developments. Nowadays you read a message on Facebook, or you search via Google.

COMPARED TO RR OF 10 YEARS AGO? IF SO, WHAT ARE THE BIGGEST DIFFERENCES YOU SEE? The FCI standard hasn’t changed since 1996. Even though the KUSA has added to the standard since 1-1-2020 as faults: Incorrect Crowns on Ridge. It has also added the chapter “disqualifying faults” which states: “Dogs without ridge. Any dog clearly showing physical or behavioural abnormalities shall be disqualified”.

The major changes referring to the presence of a correct ridge. This no doubt in line with the discussion to accept dogs with incorrect ridges or even without a ridge in expositions. Or creating an official Ridgeless Ridgeback variety.

This has of course been brought along by the BBC Pedigree Dogs documentary and the discussion since, that by breeding with ridged dogs we purposefully breed dogs with congenital defects (the dermoid sinus).

We tend to think the Ridgeback was better in the old days. I might even have thought that the variety in type has increased in recent years; between the Sighthoundy and Molosser type.

40

RHODESIAN RIDGEBACK EU MAGAZINE

Though when I was recently leafing through copies of old club magazines from different countries and the English GB Club Year Books of the ‘80s

and ‘90s, I could not help but notice that there were the same problems that I have been talking about above: a large variety in type Ridgebacks and a lot of not so excellent fronts.

WHAT IS THE GREATEST THREAT TO RR TODAY? It’s popularity like described above. The Ridgeback is not a breed suitable for everyone. There are many more people who like to breed a litter.

We also see an enormous increase in the Ridgebacks needed to be rehomed because breeders don’t always select scrupulously the new owners.

We also must worry over the animal rights activists who target the world of cynology. There are groups who want to prohibit breeding with pedigree dogs and all dog shows in general.

We need to realize too, that after targeting the brachycephalic dogs the animal right groups might well also target the Ridgeback because they link the presence of the ridge with the (increased) incidence of the dermoid sinus. For them we are breeding dogs with harmful breed- specific characteristics, which of course is not true.

We see developments to ban certain breeds completely from breeding and/or from showing in the Netherlands, Norway and Germany already.

No matter how much scientific evidence we present, those groups have already formed their

41

IT IS INEVITABLE THAT BREEDS WILL EVOLVE AND CHANGE SOMEWHAT AS NEW GENERATIONS OF BREEDERS TAKE CHARGE. HOW CAN THE ESSENCE - OR TRUE BREED TYPE - BE MAINTAINED? Some evolution is inevitable, as some parts of the standard can be interpreted differently. Not all judges attach equal importance to the same points.

The essence can be maintained by educating breeders and judges. Judges have a large responsibility. If we let win a lot a dog with a certain characteristic, people will strive to breed and show specimens with that characteristic.

lands where distances are less important than in Germany or France.

WHAT WOULD BE THE MOST IMPORTANT SINGLE PIECE OF ADVICE YOU WOULD GIVE TO ALL SERIOUS YOUNG BREEDERS? Take your time to get know the breed, the interpretation of the standard, the breeds history. Visit breeders who have been in the breed for a long time, spend time with them outside dog shows.

Research the ancestors of the Ridgeback you would like to breed with, but also its (half)siblings.

WOULD YOU LIKE TO ADD SOMETHING? Having been and being the owner of several different breeds, and although every breed has its merits, I can tell you: there is nothing like a Ridgeback!

It would be a good initiative if breed judges in one country, or even from several countries together, would come together from time to time to talk about the developments they see in the breed in the showring. I do realize that such a thing might be easier in a country like Belgium or the Nether-

INFO Name Mariëlle Trésoor Country the Netherlands/ France Affix Vir die Simba Safari www www.virdiesimbasafari.fr email info@virdiesimbasafari.fr

RHODESIAN RIDGEBACK EU MAGAZINE

opinion, are not open to discussion and react in a purely emotional way. They also know very well how to influence the public and gain influence in political circles.

42

RHODESIAN RIDGEBACK EU MAGAZINE

43

Photos by Elisabeth Hammerschmid

AN INTERVIEW WITH A JUDGE Greetings from Zimbabwe

PLEASE INTRODUCE YOURSELF TO OUR READERS.

HOW DID YOU GET INTRODUCED TO THIS BREED?

I was born in Australia and went to live in Zimbabwe after my marriage in 1986. We lived in a lovely house with a beautiful garden – dogs were always going to be part of our life.

When I went to live in Zimbabwe in1986 I wanted a medium sized dog with a short coat that was a reasonable guard dog but also reliable with visitors. Everybody told me – “oh, a Ridgeback, that’s the one!” I was not at all familiar with the breed at that time but I very much liked the ones I saw in friends’ homes.

WHEN DID YOUR LOVE OF DOGS BEGIN? PLEASE TELL US ABOUT YOUR PAST AND PRESENT DOGS. Growing up in Australia, my family always had dogs of various types as pets and companions; we also kept chickens, cattle and horses. We had numerous canine cross breeds but at one stage had a Borzoi named Anna after my father started reading Tolstoy. When living in Zimbabwe we only kept Ridgebacks, up to five at one time. We bred a litter of pups on average once a year.

We left Zimbabwe in 2000 for Australia and brought three Ridgebacks with us. They had to go through a seven month quarantine period in South Africa (3 months) and then Australia (4 months). It was hard on the dogs and hard on the family. I flew across Australia once a month to visit them. Each visit they became more accepting of the strange place they were now living in and less distressed when I left. When it was time to bring them to their new home on the other side of Australia, I loaded them into their airline crates at the airport and they became understandably anxious.

I was in tears and I promised I would NEVER EVER put them in a crate again. I kept that promise.

We now have three Ridgeback bitches of differing generations, all descended from our original ones, and a very elderly Border Terrier who keeps everyone in order.

Not only were they a very attractive dog physically, but I also particularly admired the rather aloof nature and independent personalities they displayed. It seemed to me they made their own decisions about who they would confer friendship on. Once that bond was formed, it was unshakeable.

The fact that it was a local dog from Zimbabwe also appealed to me. I was never disappointed in my choice.

I became a member of The Rhodesian Ridgeback Club – The Parent Club – and began showing and then breeding my Ridgebacks. I chose the Sarula prefix after reading that it was a river the early pioneers (human and canine) had to cross on their trek up to Matabeleland in the late 1890s to settle in the then Southern Rhodesia.

I was elected to the Committee of the Parent Club and became the Vice President, a role I hold to this day. Along the way I became fascinated with the history of the breed. A very enjoyable research project ensued over many years and continues. It has been fascinating drawing the threads of the past together, often from the most surprising and unexpected sources.

WHEN DID YOU START YOUR JUDGING CAREER AND WHY

RHODESIAN RIDGEBACK EU MAGAZINE

LINDA COSTA

DID YOU CHOOSE TO BECOME A JUDGE? I was encouraged by the Committee of the Rhodesian Ridgeback Club – The Parent Club, to consider becoming a Judge in 1996. The Club was very concerned that there were no breeder judges in the country of origin of the breed. Also, most of the experienced judges were becoming older and the Club was concerned for the future of the breed in this regard.

PLEASE TELL US ABOUT YOUR JUDGING CAREER. It was originally my intention to become a judge of the Hound Group and it certainly would have been possible while I was training in Zimbabwe.

However, numerous events overtook this goal.

Apart from the Dachshund (Teckel) breeds which were strong in quality and quantity in Zimbabwe, there were very few individuals of not many other hound breeds – and most of rather questionable quality. I realized that I was not going to get enough exposure to the Hound Group to proficiently be able to judge the numerous breeds with critical appraisal at Championship level. I decided to concentrate only on the breed that I felt I truly knew.

I realized this could - and did - have some implications for me in the future; however, I have never regretted that decision to become a specialist breeder judge of our wonderful breed.

I have judged in Zimbabwe, South Africa, Denmark, Israel, Germany, Italy, Austria, Russia, Canada, New Zealand, Czech Republic, Switzerland and Australia.

44

RHODESIAN RIDGEBACK EU MAGAZINE

I also once judged an informal show in England, involving an eccentric elderly gentleman, a stately home and four identical male Ridgebacks. But that’s another story …

DID YOU EVER HAVE A MENTOR? Margaret Wallace from The Parent Club in Zimbabwe taught me nearly everything I know about the Ridgeback breed, and her husband Sam taught me how to judge them. There is a subtle difference between the two. Enthusiasts of various hound breeds in Zimbabwe gave me valuable advice on their own breeds to broaden the picture of the Hound Group. I learnt a great deal from studying the Dachshund breeds, even though I have never wanted to own one.

Unofficially, I have learnt a great deal from watching other breed specialist judges in the ring.

There is nothing I like better than finding a good position at ringside, quietly on my own, with notebook in hand, and mentally assessing the dogs as they are exhibited. Not only can I enjoy “going over” the dogs without any of the usual pressure,

but I have also picked up some very useful techniques from the presiding judges. Thank you, fellow judges! However, more than one judge has told me afterward they found that somewhat unnerving. I apologise.

IN WHAT WAY DOES LIFE “CHANGE” AFTER YOU BECAME A JUDGE? I decided to stop showing my dogs when I became a judge – this enabled me to enter the ring as the judge with a fresh mind and no preconceptions about what dog had won what competition recently. Up until then I had titled all my Ridgebacks and enjoyed the fun of competing in shows in Zimbabwe.

You have to learn to judge dogs of your own breeding – this can be challenging for every breeder judge and you will be required to do it at some stage. I always think those exhibitors with a dog of my own breeding are very brave to enter under me because they know I will have followed the progress of their Ridgeback since puppy times and probably know some of their faults before they even step into the ring.

Sammy Wallace, the revered breed specialist judge, once told me it was a pleasure to judge good dogs but very difficult to judge poor dogs. I

45 RHODESIAN RIDGEBACK EU MAGAZINE

had not considered this until I encountered it. In due time, I realised how much truth there was in this statement when confronted with a class consisting only of poor quality dogs. It is a daunting task to decide which of the obvious faults in each entrant are collectively lesser in magnitude. Fortunately, this has not happened very often.

The most important lesson I have learnt is to seek and evaluate the strengths of the dogs in the ring and how suitable I think they would be as breeding dogs – what do they provide for our breed? Can I live with that? It is extremely difficult to overlook a physical defect but relatively simple to give only a little emphasis to minor cosmetic faults.

I realise that over the years I have changed some of my perceptions in appraising numerous aspects of our breed, and the precise significance I give to those traits. I suspect most judges do.

Perhaps something that exhibitors do not realise.

They all set off to the show full of anticipation with high hopes and a possible expectancy of pleasing results. The judge sets off to the same show with the profound knowledge that they will disappoint many people and only please a few. Regrettably, that is the nature of judging.

HOW DO YOU DEFINE THE TYPE? How much space have I got? That could be a very detailed response!

Our breed is not a complicated one. You have all read the Breed Standard and it may mean something slightly different to each of you but very basically the dog is a sound medium sized dog (with a distinctive ridge) and gifted with capabilities of endurance rather than speed.

Over the years I have learnt there are several “styles” of Ridgebacks which are all acceptable and fit into our Breed Standard - making for a broad range of interpretation. This allows judges to make individual choices. Nobody would want the same dog to win all the time. If that happened, most people would stop showing their dogs.

Specifically, moderation is fundamental to the balanced picture of the dog I seek. I prefer to try and explain this with live dogs and question and answer format so I apologise if I cannot accurately answer that question within the confines of this article.

IS THERE SOMETHING WHICH YOU WOULD LIKE TO CHANGE IN THE BREED? Yes, the tendency towards very large and tall Ridgebacks. It is entirely possible to find excellent specimens of our breed within the required parameters.

EVERY BREED HAS SOME COMMON PROBLEMS. WHICH

A good front is priceless and can lift an otherwise quite plain Ridgeback into another level altogether. It is one of the hardest things to breed into a line and so I always reward the good fronts when I see them. I often see quite acceptable hindquarters with poor front quarters.

However, I have not seen a very good front with poor hindquarters - so far.

WHAT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT POINT OF WHICH YOU WOULD LIKE A JUDGE OF THE BREED TO BE AWARE?

IS THE MOST COMMON PROBLEM IN RRS? In my opinion - poor front construction. I think many people get confused by what is termed “shoulder angulation”. Attempting to quantify the degree of angulation is almost impossible and certainly not helpful. If the dog has correct shoulder angulation it will move smoothly and efficiently. Let that be your guide!

46

RHODESIAN RIDGEBACK EU MAGAZINE

A good front should have depth, breadth and smooth musculature when viewed from both the front and the side. Heavily boned or over muscled shoulders can prove cumbersome to movement and excess bulk can impede efficiency.

From the side, the chest at its lowest point should be as deep as to the point of the elbow, or approaching that point. The underline following the chest should be sufficiently deep, rising smoothly and continuously toward the rear without tucking up noticeably at any point.

There should be sufficient space between the front legs – in my opinion that is the width of my hand. I have occasionally seen Ridgebacks with such a narrow chest when viewed from the front that the forelegs appear to almost touch one another in the chest area. In my opinion this does not provide sufficient capacity for the essential organs contained within.

Musculature should be smooth and elastic in supporting the bony structures and enabling them to do their job. Yes, the fore chest may be visible when viewed from the side, but not jutting or obviously protruding.

The front determines how efficiently the dog can move nimbly in a change of direction and speed with balance and strength; this is essential in our breed. Yes, the hindquarters provide strength in forward momentum, but the rear can only be guided by the front, not the reverse.

Soundness – which obviously can only follow correct structure. It should be noted that the essential soundness of our breed is not displayed by extravagant gait or speed in the ring.

You can pick soundness even when the dog parades at a brisk walk.

Equally, a very professionally “stacked” Ridgeback is pretty to look at and nice for the photographers but doesn’t tell the full story.

WHAT QUALITIES DO YOU ADMIRE MOST IN A JUDGE? Consistency and the ability to show those outside the ring what qualities they are looking for, even if the onlooker doesn’t necessarily agree with the judge’s choice.

I respect a judge who displays gentleness in examining the exhibits, particularly youngsters, and courtesy to handlers who may be in the ring for the first time.

I also think judges shouldn’t take themselves too seriously.

After all, they are not the most important person in the ring. It’s the Ridgebacks who are crucial and make the show.

47 RHODESIAN RIDGEBACK EU MAGAZINE

WHAT CHARACTERISTICS MAKE A GOOD JUDGE IN YOUR OPINION? Honesty to themselves. Understanding they will probably change over time in the way they accept some things. That they might, and probably will make mistakes – accept and learn from that.

WHAT IS YOUR MOST MEMORABLE EXPERIENCE AS A JUDGE? Very early in my training period I was judging an Open Show in Zimbabwe. The Ambassador of a former Eastern bloc country owned a Ridgeback and he brought him along to his first show, entered in the Novice Class. Much to everyone’s surprise, the dog was accompanied into the ring by a full entourage including the Ambassador, the Ambassador’s wife, the bodyguard, a camera crew and various embassy officials – a group of about seven.

The Ring Steward, very experienced in most issues, was momentarily flabbergasted, however very politely and determinedly informed the excited group “only one handler per dog, please” …

The request was politely ignored and was then repeated a little more firmly and loudly.

Absolutely not - just as politely and determined-

ly the embassy entourage refused to budge and held their ground in the ring while the dog looked on in happy anticipation …

The ring steward looked at me, I looked at the ring steward. In the interests of avoiding a diplomatic incident, we silently agreed to carry on – as if nothing untoward were happening and this was in fact perfectly acceptable, if not normal - at an open show. After examination and appraisal, the dog was duly awarded “First Place” - he was the only entrant.

The spontaneous reaction was swift, passionate and very loud. The dog was clearly used to such displays and loved the attention. The Ambassador was in happy tears. The onlooking crowd lining the ring cheered in enthusiastic support.

Everybody remained in the ring for photo opportunities while some other lackey dashed in with a foaming bottle of champagne and glasses to toast the dog and the Ambassador. Alcohol in the showring? Another absolute “no no” in terms of etiquette which had to be overlooked.

It was a while before the poor ring steward could finally usher them from the ring. The celebrations continued for quite some time, singing included.

WHAT IS THE GREATEST THREAT TO THE RHODESIAN RIDGEBACK TODAY?

In a word: people.

Certainly, in the past, people have shaped the breed, mostly with wisdom and foresight. However, I am uneasy about the level of bureaucracy, official administration and particularly personality politics during present times which influence our breed.

Shall we say, in that respect nothing has changed in 100 years.

I fear we sometimes lose valuable breeders who become exasperated in navigating this pressure to show and breed their Ridgebacks.

Showing and particularly breeding is not for the faint hearted.

However, I suspect this is not the answer you were looking for so I will add that a preoccupation with cosmetic fads is dangerous in any breed.

IT IS INEVITABLE THAT BREEDS WILL EVOLVE AND CHANGE SOMEWHAT AS NEW GENERATIONS OF BREEDERS TAKE CHARGE. HOW CAN THE ESSENCE - OR TRUE BREED TYPE - BE MAINTAINED? First you will have to define “true breed type” and everybody has a different idea on that – which I believe is important.

48

RHODESIAN RIDGEBACK EU MAGAZINE

I often comment to people that there must have been something positive in the first place that drew them to the breed – why would they then want to go and change that?

I think it is necessary to have a variety of styles of Ridgebacks, otherwise we will have no clear choices in the direction of our breeding. We have always had a variety of different dogs to choose from and I think this is essential. I hope that never changes and breeders can respect each other’s individual choices.

WHAT WOULD BE THE MOST IMPORTANT SINGLE PIECE OF ADVICE YOU WOULD GIVE TO ALL SERIOUS YOUNG BREEDERS? I would say this to serious old breeders too - if you can’t find at least two faults in your own dog or bitch you are not looking hard enough. All dogs have faults to some degree – learn to live with them. Bear in mind that the male dog you own may not be the best mate for your bitch, even if he is a worthy representative of the breed. Also, the best mate for your bitch may belong to someone you might not necessarily like on a personal level.

You will have to try and put that aside in the interests of your breeding program if you are truly interested in breeding.

WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENT JUDGING METHODS YOU HAVE UNDERTAKEN AND WHICH DO YOU FAVOUR? I was trained in Zimbabwe and South Africa where the judging system is based on the British Kennel Club protocol, where placements are made without critique or comment. Champions could be entered in the Open Class but were usually not. I am not in favour of this system – it can cause a judge to become lazy and leave the exhibitors confused.

The Australian system does not have a Champions Class, so the Open Class is always very large and extremely competitive with some highly performed exhibits up against less experienced individuals. Written critiques are not usually given, only final placings. Again, this can leave exhibitors frustrated.

The FCI system is, in my opinion, the most challenging yet most rewarding for both the judge and the exhibitor. I do have some quibbles with the system but as it stands, I think it is the best system we have to adjudicate dogs in the showring.

The grading system of “excellent” “very good” etc with a brief but accurate written description undertaken before final class placings provides two essential positions. For the exhibitor, you will have the judge’s undivided attention for a short space of time. You will also receive a rationale for your grading, even if you do not agree with it. For the Judge (at least, for me) it provides essential clarity to assess the exhibit calmly and in focus – one can ignore any distraction.

First impressions may be reinforced or overlooked if the examination reveals a difficulty. Articulating one’s thoughts into a written description requires a deep mental challenge. It is not as easy as it might look. I do keep a small notebook handy to write occasional comments “for my eyes only”, as an aide-memoire.

I am indebted to a fellow judge in helping me determine how a decent written critique best takes shape in the limited time frame available.

DO YOU THINK THE SHOWRING IS THE BEST WAY TO EVALUATE A DOG? Not always, no. However, it’s the historical system we have inherited and it certainly gives the onlooker and potential breeder an opportunity to compare a number of dogs together.

49

YOUR FAVOURITE SHOW? RHODESIAN RIDGEBACK EU MAGAZINE

Personally, the best shows to judge and visit as an onlooker, are the European Club shows. They are competitive but there is a more relaxed atmosphere for everyone – and weather permitting, usually held outside which everyone enjoys. The Club officials put in a great deal of effort in preparing the show and prizes. It is hard work and a lot of it happens behind the scenes. Having done it myself, I appreciate those efforts.

I have been to some fantastic dinners held by the Clubs which are great fun and I love meeting new people.

I know the Clubs encourage and support newcomers at their shows and I have often seen some lovely Ridgebacks who are attending their first show. I also truly enjoy seeing the breeding and progeny classes, as well as some of the other classes only held at Club Shows.

20. WOULD YOU LIKE TO ADD SOMETHING? Yes – you can only do your judging job well if your Ring Steward and critique writer understand what you want. They are both essential supports to your role and should be appreciated as such.

Make sure you have an opportunity to speak to your Ring Steward in advance to explain how you like to conduct your ring. Also take time to get to talk to your scribe and ascertain if they can accurately transcribe your spoken critique. I never expect the critique writer to understand the English language with my Australian idiosyncrasies. To assist I always provide a typed list of my commonly used phrases and expressions which aids both of us in efficiency and accuracy.

One of the best Ring Stewards I ever had was filling this role at short notice and for the first time.

However, she listened to what I asked for and carried out those instructions to the letter making for a great experience for the exhibitors and the judge.

Rhodesian Ridgeback Pioneers

by Linda Costa The must-have book for all Rhodesian Ridgeback enthusiasts and "old African hands".

Richly illustrated with over 130 images, including maps, breeding records, letters, prize certificates and old photos.

INFO Name Linda Costa Country Zimbabwe and Australia Affix Sarula email sarula@kantara.com.au

50

RHODESIAN RIDGEBACK EU MAGAZINE

51 RHODESIAN RIDGEBACK EU MAGAZINE

52

RHODESIAN RIDGEBACK EU MAGAZINE

RIDGEDOGS BREEDER

53 RHODESIAN RIDGEBACK EU MAGAZINE

Ann Kristin with Adele and Elvis

First and foremost, thank you very much for asking me to write about my kennel and breeding in this magazine. I’m truly honored and very grateful for this opportunity! My name is Ann Kristin Wien Stubberud, and I am the owner of Ridgedogs Kennel together with my daughter Kristina Wien Stubberud. We are located in the countryside, an hour outside Oslo, surrounded by beautiful nature.

54

RHODESIAN RIDGEBACK EU MAGAZINE

My journey with Rhodesian Ridgebacks started many years back, and I got my first RR about 20 years ago. After a couple of years, we wanted to expand our pack, and this is where our journey truly started. I bought my beloved Chanjamaa Asadi Aisha from my good friend Anne Karin Rognerud, and she was everything I wanted in a dog and my first true, big love. Ever since I was a little girl, I had been active with race horses and small-scale breeding, but my heart was completely stolen by this wonderful breed – and my big hobby with horses was slowly conquered by RR’s. After a couple of years, I decided that I wanted an offspring from my dream dog, and we found the ideal male for my special girl. SUCH SVch AlfaLyans Phoenix, a handsome, calm and collected male located in Gotland, Sweden. He was exactly what I imagined, and we had a fairytale of a first mating in the sunset in Phoenix’s owner’s stunning garden.

From this union I got my first litter, and I was blessed with multiple lovely puppies who later turned out to be astonishing family dogs. My keeper from this litter was the little girl with a golden band, and we named her Goldie – and her full name became NW-11 NUCH SUCH Ridgedogs Attractive Goldie. She was the ultimate family dog, and she also showed me how fun dog shows could be. She did amazingly well in the ring, and got champion titles and Norwegian winner title. She was earlier in 2022 mentioned in the English Kennel Club’s magazine, where judge Cath Davides wrote about her as one of her favorite Ridgebacks. I’m very proud of my be-

NORD UCH Ridgedogs MadeWithLove Adele

Chanjamaa”s Asadi Aisha

loved and dearly missed girl. Goldie unfortunately had ED in one of her elbows and could therefore not be included in my breeding program. Regardless of this, she was the perfect dog for me and my family and everything we ever wanted in a family member.

From here on out, my heart was 100% dedicated to this lovely breed; breeding, dog shows and my puppy buyers whom I am forever grateful for. I kept my girl NUCH Ridgedogs Delicious Ready from Aisha’s third and last litter and she was a beautiful girl I will never forget. Her father was SUCH DKUCH SVCH Ghali Akili of Argos from kennel Gahli in Sweden, and in several generations, we still see many traits from this handsome male. Besides being an extraordinary family dog, Aisha was also an amazing dog in breeding, and has given us so many wonderful offspring. She is the grandmother to our girl NORD UCH Ridgedogs MadeWithLove Adele, our boy C.I.B NORD UCH Ridgedogs In Love With Elvis, our girl NW-17 NORD UCH Ridgedogs LoveAtFirstSight Daia, and great grandmother to my boy Ridgedogs

55

Elvis and Adele

True Love Hugo, and his siblings NW-20 NUCH Ridgedogs Quality Approved Klara and NW-20 Ridgedogs Quality Approved Kazi who gained their Norwegian winner titles in 2020 and was the most winning dog in Norway that year which we are extremely proud of! She has given us several dogs in generations that have achieved great results in the ring, both champions in different countries, international champion, Norwegian winner etc. and last but not least dogs that have enriched so many families with a new furry friend. As a conclusion, everything started with the amazing Aisha, my first, true love and I am grateful for all the children, grandchildren, great and great great grandchildren she has given all around the world, and I still see her spirit in our breeding program.

Of course, it takes two to tango, and we are lucky that we have gotten the chance to use many lovely males in our breeding. Even though we focus mainly on breeding healthy family dogs, both physically

Now after many active years in the RR environment I still love what I do, and our number one goal is to breed good, healthy and steady dogs to enrich families with a new four-legged member. The last few years it’s been me and my daughter Kristina who are the primary motor behind the kennel, but we are blessed with much help from my husband Morten, my youngest daughter Monika and my good friend Vibeke. For us, one of the most important things when finding new homes for our puppies, is to keep in touch with the new families. Both because they are our beloved babies, but also because getting their feedback is important for our further breeding program. After many years with focus on this connection, we have now become a big “Ridgedogs family”. We meet up for training, walks, and have courses, and of course, what makes dog show’s fun; going there together.

Once a year we arrange something we call “Ridgedogstreff”; a get-together where all dogs with their families from earlier litters are invited. Here we rent multiple cabins in the beautiful mountains of Norway, and we spend the weekend together with 30-40 dogs from our ken-

RHODESIAN RIDGEBACK EU MAGAZINE

Hugo and Adele

and mentally, new blood lines are always important for our further breeding. We imported our handsome boy NUCH Zanzibar Sangoma from Sangoma kennel in Poland, he is the father of our keeper Daia. We imported Saimon´s Praide Never Give Up from kennel Saimon’s Pride in Russia, and he is the father to our keepers Kazi, Klara and Hugo. We imported sperm from CH Makao Line Atuin Art, who is the father of our lovely Adele.

Last year we imported CH N’Gai Zamu CamaRRo Venegance «Benson” from The Nederlands, and he is the father to our U-litter. Amongst several other males who have enriched our breeding from our A-litter and all the way to our X-litter, I could have mentioned many more of our keepers, offspring and males, but to keep this text manageable, I have chosen to highlight a few.

nel.. We go on hikes, have courses, let the dogs run and play, and so many more fun things. This is for sure the highlight of the year for us, and we always look forward to September and this event. This year will be our 15th Ridgedogstreff. Besides small and big events, we also have chats for every litter, and one big group for everyone where we can help each other, share from our everyday life and just stay in touch. It’s truly amazing to see how great of a connection is established between the families. The fact that all of them, and ourselves included, have made new friends for life because of our kennel is heartwarming.

56

RHODESIAN RIDGEBACK EU MAGAZINE

We are truly grateful for every single one of our puppy buyers, that they keep us posted, attend our events and of course, give our babies the best home possible.

To see all of this is without doubt why we dedicate our life to our kennel. When writing this I’m sitting between our two current litters and I’m feeling so blessed for everything we have achieved.

We are looking forward to reading this lovely magazine when it is published, and are also excited and proud to read about Ridgedogs Unbeatable Pia from our U-litter and her owner Amalie Hatlevoll in their journey to become an Approved Norwegian Rescue Dog!

NUCH SUCH NW-11 Ridgedogs Attractive Goldie

NUCH Ridgedogs Delicious Ready

57 RHODESIAN RIDGEBACK EU MAGAZINE

Kazi, Maya, Adele, Hugo and Elvis

INFO Name Ann Kristin Wien Stubberud Country Norway Affix Ridgedogs Kennel www www.ridgedogs.com email ridgedogs@live.no

Kristina and Hugo

58

RHODESIAN RIDGEBACK EU MAGAZINE

AMBERHALL BREEDER

59 RHODESIAN RIDGEBACK EU MAGAZINE

INTRODUCING MYSELF AND MY KENNEL My name is Elisabeth Beccaro. I am originally from Sweden but moved to South Africa in 1998.

We live on a three and a half hectare property in the northern suburbs of Johannesburg and our Ridgebacks therefore enjoy vast space to run and play in a natural way.

We got our first Ridgeback in 2005 and since then there has been no turning back. In February 2015 we decided to take it further and acquired our foundation dogs “Leonardo” and “Baronessa”.

In 2016 we became the lucky owners of our third foundation dog “Nutmeg”. We have given our Foundation dogs the affix Bomvuborg. Bomvu from the Zulu word for red, describing the typical red African soil, and Borg from my hometown Helsingborg in Sweden. However, I quickly realised that it was a difficult name (to pronounce, spell and remember) so in 2016 I applied for a new affix: Amberhall. Since then, Amberhall is the only kennel name we use. The name is inspired by the alley of Liquid Amber trees marking the entrance to our homestead.

60

RHODESIAN RIDGEBACK EU MAGAZINE

I am currently the Honorary Secretary of the South African Rhodesian Ridgeback Club (SARRC).

Cardamom

HOW DID IT START? My love story with Rhodesian Ridgebacks started in 1997. I was visiting South Africa, as my boyfriend (now husband) Alex was from South Africa.

A good friend of his was house sitting and, in true South African style, invited us for a braai (barbeque). Alex and I went along and while helping out in the kitchen it happened! There was a stable door in the kitchen and the top door was open, suddenly I heard a soft noise from the opening, I turned around and looked into the most beautiful eyes of a ridgeback boy.

Wow, I was blown away! I asked Alex, what dog it was and he casually said “it’s a Rhodesian Ridgeback”. Now coming from Sweden, I had never heard of a ridgeback before but my answer to Alex there and then was “If I ever move to South Africa, then I’m getting a Ridgeback”.

And that’s how it happened, a lifechanging encounter that lasted a few minutes.

Fast forward, I moved from Sweden to South Africa in 1998. We got married in 2000 and our two sons were born 2001 and 2003. It would take until 2005 before I got my first Ridgeback, Scoobydoo.

She was a pedigreed Ridgeback from Danntrig. A sweet, adventurous girl, who was part of our family for the next twelve years. A few years after getting Scoobydoo we looked for a companion for

61 RHODESIAN RIDGEBACK EU MAGAZINE

her and we found Ben. I didn’t know better then, but in hindsight I realise that Ben was not registered, and the breeder was what we would call a “backyard breeder”. Nevertheless, he was a lovely boy, and my running partner for many years, but he tragically died very suddenly at the beginning of 2015 of a stomach torsion. This was the event that led me to become a breeder. Our family was in shock and mourning and I remember going to work the following day. I was in the corporate world then, my mind was racing and all I could think about was the loss of Ben. It was at this moment that I decided to start breeding.

I sent an e-mail to my husband saying, “I’d like to breed my own Rhodesian Ridgebacks, please don’t try to stop me”.

Nutmeg

TELL US ABOUT YOUR PAST AND PRESENT DOGS After the sudden death of Ben, I started looking around for a female of breeding quality. I admittedly had no clue what I should look for so when phoning around to the breeders in our part of South Africa, I asked for a female for breeding. Once again Adoree from Danntrig Rhodesian Ridgeback helped out. She had a female for me from her current litter in 2015 and that is how we got Danntrig Baronessa of Bomvuborg “Nessa”. I was also in contact with Litia McCarthy at Glenaholm Rhodesian Ridgebacks and we got a male from her, Leeurif Leonardo of Bomvuborg “Leo”.

Leonardo

In 2016 Inanda Mellberg Nutmeg by Bolt of Bomvuborg was born and she became the third dog to join us. All 3 of my foundation dogs were subsequently shown and made up as Champions.

My first litter was born in 2017,

by SEVCH Inanda Mellberg Otto JV of Ersted out of Ch Danntrig Baronessa of Bomvuborg. We kept Ariella “Ella” from this litter.

She took my heart from the day she opened her eyes. It is very simple: I love her and I would do

Cintsa

Ariella stack

anything for her and she loves me and would do anything for me. I’m sure you know what I mean!

62

RHODESIAN RIDGEBACK EU MAGAZINE

We tragically lost Leo in liver failure – the vet thought he ingested a poisonous mushroom and after a battle lasting 6 weeks we lost him.

From our C-litter in 2019 we kept Amberhall Cardamom and Ch Amberhall Cintsangu (Cintsta), by Ch Umjumi iNtsangu x Ch Inandamellberg Nutmeg by Bolt of Bomvuborg. Cintsa lives with Melanie Mallinger (Umjumi) and until iNtsangu’s recent passing, father and son lived happily together. Cardamom lives with friends of ours in our neighbourhood.

Ch Amberhall Dynamite is from our D-litter (2019), Maxwood Dante of Glenaholm x Ch Danntrig Baronessa of Bomvuborg.

He is a very friendly big teddy bear, with an absolutely outstanding temperament.

From our F-litter in 2021 we kept Frodo in our ownership. He is still to be introduced to the showring. Gr.Ch., Ch Bridgevale Night Hawks x Ch Danntrig Bar-

63

onessa of Bomvuborg.

And lastly, may I take this opportunity to introduce our latest addition: Gem Amethyst Auksinis Feniksas born 4/3/2022. We are very grateful to Sarune Kairyte (Auksinis Feniksas) for entrusting us with this happy little gem girl with a stunning pedigree.

WHO WAS YOUR GREATEST INFLUENCER OR INSPIRATION AS A BREEDER AND IN WHAT WAY?

This is where I was introduced to Marie Wijkander (Inandamellberg), Scotty Stewart (Clachan), Fran Coole (Lionesque) and Timmy U. Ralfe.

In the days that followed I phoned Timmy and she took me under her wings and started educating me in the breed standard: Soundness, temperament, type, movement & conformation etc.

– which by the way we are still discussing today.

Timmy also started preparing me and my dogs for the showring. Marie, being a fellow Swede, become my mentor on practical breeding. She helped me buying all the educational books from the Swedish Kennel Club and the hours that we

Ariella and Elisabeth

RHODESIAN RIDGEBACK EU MAGAZINE

And after several attempts to have a litter from Ariella, we were finally successful in 2021. We kept Amberhall Gilda from this litter. Gr.Ch., Ch Bridgevale Night Hawks x Gr.Ch, Ch Amberhall Ariella JM

While looking for our foundation dogs, we got word about the South African Rhodesian Ridgeback Club (SARRC) annual Championship show being held in April 2015 and we (my husband and I) decided to go there to see Ridgebacks and meet other breeders and ridgeback lovers.

have spent on the phone, or talking over coffee (and wine) about breeding are numerous.

Adoree Louw (Danntrig) has got so much practical experience on Ridgebacks, from pack behaviour to whelping and I am very grateful for her friendship and advice over the years.

Another very influential person is Janet Wang (Nomvuyo), I have immense respect and admiration for her knowledge and experience. Janet introduced me to Melanie Mallinger (Umjumi) who is a very close friend of mine now, and it’s through Melanie that I got to know Odette Jardine (Eskhaleni).

In and around the showring, Giselle Brits made me feel welcome from day one and she has helped me a lot - especially in the beginning.

TELL US ABOUT YOUR BREEDING PROGRAMME?

64

RHODESIAN RIDGEBACK EU MAGAZINE

The breed standard is the bible and I strive to breed accordingly. I am still considering myself new to breeding and I learn all the time. My dream is obviously to breed the perfect dog – perfect as per the breed standard considering health, type and temperament. I’d like to quote here “The Rhodesian Ridgeback should represent a well balanced, strong, muscular, agile and active dog, symmetrical in outline, and capable of great endurance with a fair amount of speed. The emphasis is on agility, elegance and soundness with no tendency towards massiveness.” For me the Ridgeback is a very moderate dog in many aspects, moderately angulated front and rear, I like a strong topline and nice depth of chest. But nothing extreme, nothing flashy. I also really like a nice expression.

I am always on the lookout for a good male with south African bloodlines, and I have travelled the country to see and meet potential males and their owners. I’d like to use South African blood lines if possible and I’d obviously like to improve from one generation to the next. I feel that it is important that the correct temperament is maintained.

The breed standard says ‘aloof with strangers’, but their temperament is also a reflection of what they were bred to do (their job). They were bred to work in the bush, assisting the game rangers, keeping both themselves and the game rangers alive. Working in a pack, capable of keeping big game/danger at bay, tracking and hunting. But perhaps most importantly they had to be able to survive in the bush. By being very alert, they would notice any imminent danger, big or small (elephants/lions/snakes/scorpions etc.). Which explains why they are very alert and careful, agile and fast, but can also easily relax if everything is deemed to be safe. They are excellent companions, and they form very strong bonds with their owners/families. All of the above was a winning concept for the game ranger working in the bush with his dogs.

Sometimes we forget about their built-in carefulness. I remember one of my Ridgebacks being convinced that the vacuum cleaner electrical cord on the floor was actually a snake and therefore had to be avoided at all costs…. I’m sure you have similar stories about funny things happening in or around the house, but when reflecting upon it, there is very often a natural explanation (think dangers in nature).

DO YOU SHOW YOUR DOGS? I initially started showing my foundation dogs as I thought being a beginner and new in the dog world, I needed to show and qualify them to champions before breeding from them. The show bug bit, and I’m still showing now. But, I will only show a dog who enjoys showing.

GREATEST ACHIEVEMENT / HIGHLIGHT AS A BREEDER TO DATE? From my first litter, we kept Ariella, and she is my heart dog. She enjoys showing and has done so well. In 2022 after a longer maternity leave in 2021, she came back stronger than ever winning an AllBreeds Best in Show, and a Reserve Best in Show.

She also qualified for Crufts in 2023. She ended up being the Top Rhodesian Ridgeback in South Africa 2021/2022, #3 Hound and #12 of all breeds.

I’m so proud of her and very grateful.

THOUGHTS ON THE FUTURE? I strongly believe that only by working together with other breeders can we move forward. We may be competitors for a few minutes in the show ring, but outside the ring we need to be friends, help each other, support each other and work together for the Ridgebacks.

I’d like to see more collaboration and unity especially in South Africa. Building camaraderie and trust amongst the Ridgeback owners, irrespective of whether the focus is on showing, breeding, working or for most – the most beautiful pet.

I am still looking forward to the next world congress in Germany, to meet up with fellow Ridgeback breeders, exhibitors, and owners as well as veterinarians and scientists. I attended the last world congress in Lund, Sweden, and thoroughly enjoyed it. I learnt a lot and it was a great networking opportunity. It will be fantastic to meet up with everyone again, new and old friends from all over the world.

IN CLOSING I believe in being honest and true to what I do, I always do my best, I’m humble and grateful, with an open mind – I learn every day. I like to listen and discuss with everybody, and then I’ll make up my mind of what I believe is right for me and my dogs.

65 RHODESIAN RIDGEBACK EU MAGAZINE

My puppy buyers are awesome, and I have a WhatsApp group for all my litters, to keep in contact with everybody, both in terms of casual and fun photos, but also celebrating achievements such as puppy graduation, obedience, Canine Good Citizen levels etc. and perhaps most importantly answering questions and being there for my “extended family”.

And on that note, feel free to contact me.

Baronessa

Amethyst

INFO Name Elisabeth Nordh Beccaro Country South Africa Affix Amberhall www www.amberhall.co.za email elisabeth@amberhall.co.za

66

RHODESIAN RIDGEBACK EU MAGAZINE

67 RHODESIAN RIDGEBACK EU MAGAZINE

NEOMELE BREEDER

68

RHODESIAN RIDGEBACK EU MAGAZINE

BREEDING SINCE 2008

69 RHODESIAN RIDGEBACK EU MAGAZINE

OLD FRIENDS & NEW START Lela Treščec founded Neomele kennel in 2008 and she has been successfully breeding since then. After she started to live with her first Ridgebacks, she realised that she has to move away from the city and start to live closer to nature. She bought a property away from the city noise and started her self-sustaining BIO farm “Neonatura”.

The farm required great commitment so she did not have enough time for promotion and dog shows as she was working all day long taking care of her dogs and horses as well as all the other duties on the farm.

Even though the farm occupied most of her free time, she never thought of giving up breeding because her love for the breed was stronger than anything. She was dreaming to find a partner who would bring new energy into the kennel.

Her friend Maja Kljaić, owner of pet quality male from Lela’s breeding, as well the owner of CIB MultiCh MultiGCh BISS Mohaget’s Major Maddox, which Lela used for her last litter became very active in RR world in last 5 years so they both concluded that they should start breeding and go into this adventure together. Lela did not have much time for showing and promotion, and Maja did not have conditions for having litters yet.

Lela did huge work during last 14 years through building up her line and Maja took over responsibilities for the dog shows, stud males, management and PR, she created and designed a new website for Neomele.

70

RHODESIAN RIDGEBACK EU MAGAZINE

They are now building up the vision for their future in the breed together.

Hara Neomele

71

NEOMELE KENNEL

The farm is wonderful, the dogs are able to run every day in the nearby forest where they run freely and smell the tracks of wild animals.

The dogs are fed raw meat mixed with vegetables and fruits from own BIO production and drink only spring water. This is probably why Neomele Ridgebacks enjoy such longevity.

These are perfect conditions for growth and development of their natural instincts and enjoy every season whether the farm is completely covered with snow or thousands of lavender bushes are blooming.

There is a plan is to build small hall for indoor practice and training and other kennel needs and they are looking forward to starting with this project soon.

Maja lives at another address with Maddox -5 and Bebe – 6 years old males. In upcoming years, she will get more dogs, and she will also keep a male from their own breeding to continue the line.

WHERE DID YOUR RIDGEBACK COME FROM? Lela: I was waiting for 2 years for a litter in Croa-

Fila Neomele

Fila Neomele

RHODESIAN RIDGEBACK EU MAGAZINE

Neomele kennel is situated within a self-sustaining 45.000 square meter BIO farm and is completely in harmony with nature.

tia from which Ch Shababu Tara, my foundation bitch came into my life. That was it! The love for this outstanding breed became so strong, so I decided to start with breeding.

I have kept two bitches, form 1st and 2nd repeated litter of Ch Shababu Tara and C.I.B. MultiCh ClubCh Tusani Big Ben. From these litters really nice progeny were produced.

With Ch JBISS Ada Neomele and Bella Neomele I continued my breeding programme.

After Ada and C.I.B. MultiCh ClubCh GCh Addy Jonas Nyambe I kept male Ch Elvis Neomele.

Bella had a litter with C.I.B. MultiCh ClubCh GCh r.WW Kennebec’s Final Answer Titicaca from which I kept Fila Neomele and her daughter MultiCh Harra Neomele was from a combination of Fila and C.I.B. MultiCh BISS Kangelani’s Perfect Choice. Through years I have improved my line and I am really happy that I have reached this quality.

From the last litter of Hara and C.I.B. MultiCh MultiGCh BISS Mohaget’s Major Maddox we kept beautiful Jada Jambo Neomele.

Maja: My first pet quality male was from Lela’s breeding.

I realised that I became totally addicted to RR, and I have decided to get myself a show male so I may attend dog shows. I went to Sweden and imported my loving male CIB MultiCh MultiGCh BISS Mohaget’s Major Maddox.

Ada Neomele

72

RHODESIAN RIDGEBACK EU MAGAZINE

With Maddox I grew up together in the dog show world. From clumsy beginner with promising

Bella Neomele

Tara Neomele

73

HOW DO YOU BREED? We do careful selection of healthy genetically tested dogs, and most important of all that they have good temperament. We study bloodlines and try to improve every upcoming generation of our dogs in details that have to be improved.

Our bitches are having litters only after age of 2 years, and never have been mated after their 7th birthday.

Mostly there is a pause of 2 years between their litters so they may recover nicely and get back their balance.

WHAT IS THE BEST EXAMPLE OF THE BREED THAT YOU HAVE BRED TILL NOW? CIB MultiCh VCh BISS Berry Neomele is the most successful dog coming from our kennel.

Berry has proven to be an outstanding representative of the breed, achieving great results from puppyhood to his veteran age.

He is Interchampion, Champion of Italy, Austria, Slovenia, Croatia, Club champion of Italy, Veteran Club champion of Croatia and Slovenia.

Elvis Neomele

Apart from the special prizes and recognitions, Berry won strong champion class at the WDS in

Berry Neomele

RHODESIAN RIDGEBACK EU MAGAZINE

young male, we both started to improve ourselves and Maddox became a very successful show dog with 12 adult FCI championships and amazing results at the Club and Specialty shows, and BIS competitions around Europe.

Salzburg 2012, BOB in Hungary on the Champion of champions, Winter winner, Salzurg winner with BOB titles and many group placements and in the BIS competitions.

He was European TOP dog 2 years in the row (2012 and 2013) chosen by The European Ridgeback magazine.

He is 12 years old, retired, still in a great shape and enjoys his life with his owner Francesca Gotovina.

Ch JBISS Ada Neomele had lot of success, especially at the club shows and within her championships, she was 2x JBISS, r.Junior winner on a SKCHR XV. Club show and RR World specialty show 2009 in Slovakia, as well the most beautiful female from Croatian breeding and the best veteran female on the 8th Club show in Slovenia, Mediterranean Junior winner with a lot of BOB titles and placements in BIS competitions.

MultiCh Harra Neomele is an outstanding female from the 4th generation of Neomele kennel. She has not been shown much due to the pandemic, but whenever she was entered she came out with the title. Harra is Multichampion and a candidate for CIB. Ch Elvis Neomele, Ch Cherry Neomele, Ch Hatch Neomele follow on this list and we are proud on our very promising 5 months old Future hope of Croatia Jada Jambo Neomele. We are watching her and hoping for the best possible outcome of her development.

RHODESIAN RIDGEBACK EU MAGAZINE

WHAT DO YOU CONSIDER TO BE YOUR GREATEST ACHIEVEMENT AS A BREEDER? WHAT IS THE BIGGEST HIGHLIGHT IN YOUR CAREER AS A BREEDER? Breeding cannot be reduced only to 1 highlight.

There are so many factors that make up achievement. This is why we will not talk about dog show results because titles are not only a credit of a breeder. Breeders are giving a raw diamonds to the buyers and they cut it later into the finest brilliance if they make an effort to build up the dog into an excellent show dog. What we are extremely proud of as breeders is the time and effort we invest in the socialization of puppies.

We develop their agility, skills, independent thinking and we encourage their intelligence through setting various tasks and obstacles in front of them on the playground we create especially for them.

74

We find this very important because this is a “strong base” which puppy owners will upgrade by themselves later with our 24/7 support.

In our kennel, selection of puppy buyers is a process. We are very careful and doing everything

75

INFLUENCE & INSPIRATION Maja is extremely happy and considers it a blessing to have Johanna Segerlund (Mohaget’s kennel) as her mentor.

Johanna first of all taught her to look at the complete dog in its all appearance with all aspects of the dog. Johanna has introduced her to the bloodlines, she taught her about how she should think and act as a breeder and thus created a great base of knowledge for her. They are spending lot of time in conversations about the breed and cooperating at many levels which resulted in a great friendship even though they are thousands of miles away.

In the beginning Lela cooperated and learned a lot from Mirna & Hrvoje Pezelj- Yeke Yeke kennel (Croatia). After they stop breeding, she continued to breed with her own experience and vision till today and now Lela and Maja will continue to breed together.

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO SOMEONE WHO WANTS TO BECOME A BREEDER? If you’re going into breeding only for profit, don’t do it!

Breeding is done out of passion and out of love for the breed. Nowadays, lot of people want to become breeders. They think it’s easy money, but breeding is much more than that.

It is devotion, study, sacrifice and there is lot of time to invest if you want to breed good quality.

New breeders should investigate Pedigrees and gain knowledge before they start to breed, they should attend shows to meet dogs and communicate with old breeders and learn. There should be a strong base of knowledge before someone decides to breed.

New breeders should understand that there are no shortcuts. It is a long-term process and you learn all the time.

Kennel clubs should be stricter and regarding the granting of breeding licenses. There should be a hard exam for new breeders to get the license.

Attending a short seminar is simply not enough, because it is too easy to get a license to breed, and thus a mass of uncompetitive and frivolous breeders are coming out and they can really harm our breed. There should be a time criterion, that the future breeder must spend through activities in the breed in order to acquire concrete knowledge, as well the yearly number of litters in the kennels should somehow be limited.

RHODESIAN RIDGEBACK EU MAGAZINE

possible to make sure that a dog fits perfectly into the family, this is why our buyers cannot choose puppies, we choose ideal puppy for them.

We try to choose responsible puppy buyers and we limit them with any idea to breed for fun and whim. To start breeding with any of our offspring, there should be a huge effort and there are requirements the owner should fulfill.

New breeder should consult with us and have our approval for combination with genetically tested males (or females when owning the stud) from good bloodlines and the bitch can have a maximum of 3 litters in her life. This is how we are trying to take a care of our progeny even though we cannot control this 100%. We are proud to say that there are few kennels that came out from Neomele dogs and they are responsible breeders.

Kennel clubs and RR clubs should really start to do something about this issue because things could go terribly wrong.

RHODESIAN RIDGEBACK EU MAGAZINE

Imagine a breeder who is not taking care about the temperament of dogs selected for mating. It is enough that some dog bites someone and “baaam”, Ridgebacks will be in newspaper and the whole breed will get a bad image in the public.

And this is just temperament.

What about diseases, allergies, weaknesses that the weekend breeders do not care about and letting puppy buyers to spend lots of money for Vets and have problems with their dogs?

WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO BUILD A GOOD REPUTATION AS A BREEDER (BESIDES THE DOGS)?

The reputable breeder is a breeder who shares knowledge with others with ego tucked away in a drawer because that is the only prerequisite for a good development at all.

76

Too much ego will kill your talent.

A reputable breeder is modest, does not gossip, but is doing re-

Mohaget’s Major Maddox.

77 RHODESIAN RIDGEBACK EU MAGAZINE

Mohaget’s Major Maddox.

Harra Neomele

search and asking questions. A reputable breeder does not compete with anyone or try to beat anyone.

If the breeder is breeding out of love and passion, then it is felt and this energy later creates everything else.

If the breeder is dedicated and supports the puppy owners it is also proof of a good breeder. This breeder is kind, honest and responsible and all the goals are interwoven with the desire to improve the breed.

Hatch Neomele

Cherry Neomele

Such a breeder is ready for cooperation and support, for the exchange of experiences and in competitiveness in the ring always plays fair and congratulates the opponent on the victory.

Reputable breeder is looking forward to seeing a quality litter from other breeders and is breeding with healthy and stable dogs.

DO YOU STUDY STUD MALES ABROAD? Absolutely… we have met most of the popular stud males in the European rings. Some of them we still would really love to meet in the future, especially if we find the dog interesting for our breeding program.

Choosing a good stud for our bitches is very important. The breeder should be down to earth and be aware of the faults of its own dogs and have an effort to try to achieve the harmony through pairing 2 individuals, both physically and mentally sound.

Titles are welcome but are not the most important thing.

We rather follow up the litters and watching if the stud improves the offspring or not. Not every “Top show dog” with a whole list of titles and championships is a good producer. On the other hand, there are popular studs with so many litters, but you can see only few offspring after them…And then if there is a stud with successful progeny, people think that stud is everywhere.

It is important to follow litters in RR world, especially ones after a male you are interested in.

Sometimes you need years to find a perfect stud for your bitch so you better do not miss a nice male.

We are also looking for the offspring quality of a

78

RHODESIAN RIDGEBACK EU MAGAZINE

Jada Jambo Neomele

79 RHODESIAN RIDGEBACK EU MAGAZINE

stud with different bitches and combinations.

Sometimes there can be a bad match and no one should judge only a bitch or a stud for a litter which was not good.

WHAT IMPROVEMENTS DO YOU WANT TO BRING TO THE BREED WITH YOUR BREEDING PROGRAMME? Every breeder follows the standard and has his own vision how to improve the breed, to create own recognizable bloodline. We know the direction in which we are going. Every new generation of dogs in our kennel is better than the previous one, so we know we are on the right track. Hopefully in the upcoming years we will have a really nice bunch of dogs to show and breed from.

Except for health, exterior and good temperament we are focused on producing good movers.

There is nothing more beautiful than watching Ridgeback in perfect gait.

Even if we are doing to the best we can, we would need also some luck to achieve these goals. Even you have planned and did all the best, in the end it would be how the dice will roll.

DO YOU SEE ANY DIFFERENCE IN THE RR OF TODAY, COMPARED TO THE RR OF 10 YEARS AGO? IF SO, WHAT ARE THE BIGGEST DIFFERENCES YOU SEE?

Ridgebacks are becoming overdone! Overangulated, too tall, the powerful long muzzle is disappearing, dogs are missing underjaws and good fronts and most of all there are more and more dogs that no longer have the temperament and character of a true Ridgeback.

Over angulation is awarded by judges and this is really not good for the breed. Same is with chocolate and mahogany coats.

Fashion dictates dark dogs, and there are fewer and fewer beautiful light Ridgebacks in our part of Europe. These days, Allrounder judges often think those dark colours are acceptable, and then the light – to red wheaten dogs fare worse at shows, because some judges think RR should be dark!

WHAT IN YOUR OPINION MAKES A PERFECT DOG? There is no perfect dog. We all should strive to breed moderate dogs with the less possible deviations but also healthy dogs with the right temperament above all. An almost perfect dog is a balanced dog of good type that free-stacked stands as the handler would have placed and has harmonious details overall. An almost perfect dog is a dog that moves with incredible power and ease and covers the ground with great reach and drive. Ridgebacks are long distance movers. We must maintain that. An almost perfect dog is a dog with a wonderful expression and the sparkle in the eye.

DO YOU SHOW YOUR DOG? Thanks to dog showing we have explored beautiful countries and gained beautiful experiences and friendships around Europe.

Only when the dog feels comfortable on the ring it will show itself in the best light. Starting very early with showing dogs in a puppy age is not what we do.

We attend the dog shows only few times in puppy age to introduce and socialize the puppy with the showgrounds. Puppy has to be a puppy.

80

RHODESIAN RIDGEBACK EU MAGAZINE

Dogs exposed too much to these conditions and ring training from very early age may loose the spirit and the sparkle in the eye. Sometimes it is really sad to see a dog who is not happy while running with his handler or owner in the ring.

Even showing in junior age we do not consider so important because this period should be an introductory part for the upcoming adult classes which are important. Ridgebacks are slow developers and they finish their development much later. You can win dozen of Junior championships and then in upcoming years the dog may develop in the wrong direction.

Cooperation between the dog and the owner should be deep and they should be connected strongly in the ring. This is why we love free stacking, that dog is following the handler with own will and excitement. Ridgebacks should not be objects and robots. We should respect them.

For dogs showing should be huge fun…like Las Vegas.

WHAT QUALITIES DO YOU ADMIRE MOST IN A JUDGE? Judges should not get caught up in faulty details while forgetting to look at the dog “as a whole”.

We appreciate judges who are objective and know that our breed should be moderate, that pay lot of attention on movement as well they do not look at who is on the other side of the leash.

Judges should not be bewitched with flashy handling as nowadays many judges unfortunately are. It is nice when a dog is well handled but this should not be a main criteria, this is why we respect judges that demand handling on a loose leash, and asking handlers not to run very fast. If you have 2 extraordinary dogs that the judge cannot decide easy whom it would give a title, of course excellent handling could bring the advantage.

Judges should be kind, gentle in approach, strict in decisions, but patient and giving time to a bit insecure dogs and owners.

81 RHODESIAN RIDGEBACK EU MAGAZINE

We love to acquire an explanation of a judge. This is why we enjoy showing our dogs to breed specialists. They are judging every single detail but also see the “whole” appearance of a dog. A nice critique and titles from the Club or RR Specialty show are the proof of good breeding.

ARE YOU IN TOUCH WITH OTHER RIDGEBACK OWNERS/ BREEDERS/STUD DOG OWNERS AND DO YOU EXCHANGE EXPERIENCES? One of the reasons we love to attend dog shows is also to meet other breeders and their dogs. It is much better to see a popular dog in the showring than on social media photos and ads.

RHODESIAN RIDGEBACK EU MAGAZINE

We all should never forget that our beautiful breed should be the center of everything, not us.

We have an impression that “love for the breed” is losing its magic somehow and this makes us really sad.

Ambition, need for win, ego, self-interest and even mass production are lately becoming so strong in the RR community. Hopefully it is just a postcovid hysteria and with time will fade away.

OUR STUD DOGS

Perfection from photos can be lost in few seconds after you look at the dog, its balance, soundness, movement, the whole appearance. On the other side, some dogs look much better in real life than on photos or videos.

• C.I.B. MultiCh GCh BIS Gandalf Gunn Comet Anunnaki

You can also see the vibe of a dog, temperament and its character.

• C.I.B. MultiCh MultiGCh BISS Mohaget’s Major Maddox

It is nice to see in which direction breeders are going in their own breeding and to discuss their goals and achievements, to share experiences.

INFO Name Lela Treščec & Maja Kljaić Country Croatia Affix Neomele kennel www / email www.neomele.com

82

WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO CHANGE?

• Ch Hatch Neomele • Ch Elvis Neomele

83 RHODESIAN RIDGEBACK EU MAGAZINE

84

RHODESIAN RIDGEBACK EU MAGAZINE

85 RHODESIAN RIDGEBACK EU MAGAZINE

86

RHODESIAN RIDGEBACK EU MAGAZINE

87

W RIT T EN BY K N Y Z E V A J U L I A , K E N N E L G E N S J U L I A

HANDLING SCHOOL

W

e founded our School for owners and breeders, not for professional handlers.

The peculiarities of my method is that I prepare a couple, according to characteristics of not only the dog, but together with the owner.

Together we choose the most winning style exactly for this couple, take into consideration the anatomy, temperament of the dog and the capabilities of the owner. The way of presentation should be organic, consistent with the distinctive features of not only of the dog, but also the features of the owner.

Often even an insignificant detail brings to the show the very final touch, which was not enough to win.

Classes are held individually and in a group. We have a 7 m mirror which allows you to see your skills/mistakes, and training goes much faster.

The basic course consists of 5 lessons, in which we train all main elements of the Show. Breed specific movement, up and down movement, triangle. We learn different types of stack, free stack, hand stack, stack on table. We select for each pair the type of stack, the manner of presentation. If the owner has two dogs, presentation often will be different.

Free stack and free movement are my favorites. I love to see when a couple works together in one breath, exactly together, as a couple. It always looks advantageous and brings pleasure, both to the dog and to the owner.

There are other courses, 2 days workshop. I did it at School and also in other clubs. It is very intensive work for 8, sometimes even 10 hours. There is only practice in this course, no theory, but all explanations during the classes. Such an intensive course gives a very fast result. An interesting experience was in Sicily, where I came 2 years ago one week before a dog show to present this course and after, almost all members of

RHODESIAN RIDGEBACK EU MAGAZINE

GENS JULIA

the group got excellent results at dogs show. It made me very happy.

88

RHODESIAN RIDGEBACK EU MAGAZINE

With much pleasure I go to work with kennels, always very friendly, after classes we have dinner together, it unites owners strongly. We decided to adopt this experience and combined the course of handling with a wonderful Argentinean dinner.

My students liked the idea, so we invited a special chef to offer some ethnic food.

Recently we also organized a new course « The ring in the judge’s eyes». Often after the dog show, we read the description of our dog and try to understand what exactly the judge didn’t like, why we didn’t win.

And this course is an imitation of dogs show with the judge , where the judge judges dogs aloud during the presentation, and immediately explains what advantages and disadvantages he/she noticed, why he rearranged the dogs, why he asked this pair to up and down together and what became the final criterion to choose the best dog.

After judging, we have 3 hours of practice, correct mistakes, and improving the presentation.

Often the faults of the dog are exaggerated by incorrect presentation, and this surely needs to be corrected. Then we repeat judgement. And the choice of the best dog may change, and of course the explanation that this time has become the selection criteria. Our students liked the new course and we decided to add this course inside our program.

In our plans for next year we’ll get ENCI certificate to organize a course of professional handling in our field. This course will be totally different. The practical part is working with different breeds and different types of presentation; in the theory part there will be such disciplines as anatomy and physiology of dogs, biomechanics, dog behavior, the explanation how to understand breed standards, grooming , management of show dogs. I love dogs, love dog shows and I try to involve people and make them happy and help them to get pleasure of going to dog shows.

89 RHODESIAN RIDGEBACK EU MAGAZINE

90

RHODESIAN RIDGEBACK EU MAGAZINE

91 RHODESIAN RIDGEBACK EU MAGAZINE

92

RHODESIAN RIDGEBACK EU MAGAZINE

93

WRITTEN BY FRANK SAUTER

IT’S NOT A TRICK IT’S A RIDGEBACK !

T

his article is about the development to a therapy dog of the German Red Cross (DRK) and the training to a working dog IPG-FCI with the same dog.

Hello dear Ridgeback friends.

My name is Frank Sauter and at every step next to me is my partner and colleague and, as his name says “Samir” - my companion.

Since 1998 I have been doing dog sports with my dogs. At that time, I was in love with the breed Dobermann. When in 2013 our bitch “Sheela” fell ill from a known Doberman health problem and died much too soon, a year later we had the ardent desire for another dog. But which breed??

We researched, visited the big shows, but it happened during a walk: suddenly he stood in front of us! With fantastic eye contact, graceful charisma and a nevertheless imposing body with great muscles. A Rhodesian Ridgeback male. The decision was made.

In 2014 we met Samir’s breeder who had a litter in her kennel Mara Simba at that time. By this lucky coincidence we found each other.

This little, cheeky Livernose male stormed into our hearts and his breeder recognized it immediately.

A long, successful partnership at eye level began.

Beforehand: it was not always easy. And of course: the old working dog methods failed quickly.

Countless acquaintances and breeder friends repeated that over and over again.

“It won’t work with a Ridgeback !”

But I could not accept that a dog with this physique, which had learned to track lions, surely one can also train in Germany for hunting and for tracking!

Should he not also be intelligent enough to be able to distinguish between a dog sport “Assailant” and an aggressive person?

Should he not be able to do working dog obedience?

Can he not distinguish an animal track from a sweat track?

“I think he can. And I will prove it!”

Through my work in rescue with the German Red Cross, I met in the spring of 2016 our newly formed therapy dog department.

My helper syndrome was awakened, Samir and I started training.

During this time, I understood more and more about how to deal with my sensitive Ridgeback and found the way to teach him everything.

I was assisted by Samir’s basic nature. This training is certainly not suitable for all dogs. But Samir is settled within himself and is of a very calm disposition.

My wife Birgit also has a big part in this, because she does a lot of mental work with our dogs and Samir finds a solution for even the trickiest situations.

RHODESIAN RIDGEBACK EU MAGAZINE

PHOTO BY ARCHIVE FRANK SAUTER

In therapy dog work, the dog has to deal with the most extreme situations. On the one hand, there is the Tourette’s patient who suddenly starts screaming. On the other hand, there is the Down’s Syndrome sufferer who holds the dog tight and does not want to let go.

Just a few examples which the dog encounters in the therapy dog work and you will understand that all this only works with a dog which you can rely on 100%.

Samir and I passed our exams and has been working in different institutions since 2017.

But how does it work with a Ridgeback, which is supposedly not suitable for such extreme types of training?

THE KEY IS TRUST! HE MUST TRUST YOU. I HAD FOUND THE WAY.

94

RHODESIAN RIDGEBACK EU MAGAZINE

My next step was to turn my back on the old established Shepherd training methods. We joined the Boxer Klub Deutschland e.V. and were welcomed with open arms. But Samir was an exotic even here. So I decided to become a part of the training side of the Boxer Klub.

First I started the training to the FCI Agitator (Manwork-Helper) and after that I completed the training and examination to the training supervisor VDH-FCI. Now our mission to train for working dogs could begin.

We were breaking new ground and “Yes!” it worked.

The IPG consists of three parts.

Division: A ) Tracking work B ) Obedience C ) Protection work Like every dog in the FCI which wants to take any exams we started with the training for the companion dog exam BH/ VT. This Samir passed without any problems. Also, here I had

Mara Simba Bayo Samir (Mara Simba Amani Nala & Dalili Dayo Nyota Kwa Afrika)

95

After that we concentrated on the tracking work.

DIVISION A: From several seminars and training with various luminaries of the dog sports scene, I picked out the know-how that works best for me and I pieced it together for our training.

1. training on scenting fields, here the dog learns the concentrated search with lowered nose.

I don’t need to mention that Samir was very interested in looking for the great treats in the trampled grass, whereby he linked in the subconscious this great food with the smell on the trampled grass.

Fascinatingly, the dog can then sniff out the destroyed bio-organisms of the grass on the trail and thus even distinguish the time at which the respective trail was laid.

Then there is the finding and indicating of the objects.

Here objects are laid out at Samir at the Vitawell fair working with children.

Samir on the trail

RHODESIAN RIDGEBACK EU MAGAZINE

to arrange the training and the structure a little bit differently than with Boxer, Shepherd dog and Co.

certain distances on the track which the dog is to alert to. The alerting can be done in three different ways; sit, down or stand.

This means that when the dog reaches one of the objects, it will suddenly sit, lie down or stand.

Since I have a Ridgeback, which hardly ever lies down on wet or cold grass, I decided to teach Samir to “stand”.

We both derived much joy from it and after countless tracks we started on Samir’s next test. The FPR 1 test, where Samir was allowed to compete for the first time with the other working dog breeds in the club.

We passed and Samir could even secure the club victory in this category on that day!

Well, the tracking we have already managed. The following year we were busy with the obedience work and trained at the same time for the protection service, until we were ready in October 2020 and could register for the IBGH 1 exams.

This exam is meant as an obedience test for advanced dogs. It is slightly similar to the obedience test at the International Utility Dog Exam.

RHODESIAN RIDGEBACK EU MAGAZINE

DIVISION B In this test you can clearly see the difference to the strongly driven Malinois. Building up the training with the help of special treats still worked relatively easily. However, these treats are not given during the test and there Samir soon began to question the lack of treats and rewards.

Therefore, he soon began to seem listless, which was also reflected in the score.

But we mastered this hurdle as well and passed.

Now finally we were ready!

Samir and I were ready for bigger things and what came next?

96

CORONA Unfortunately, the clubs also had to stop training and we were forced to limit the practicing to our garden.

Samir found the object and I show it to the judge.

97

As far as I know, this is the first Rhodesian Ridgeback in Europe?

Worldwide?

I don’t know but until today I don’t know of any other RR that has done it.

In order to bring this training with a Rhodesian Ridgeback a little closer to you, I must revert back again to a text a bit higher up: The point of TRUST !

The training of a working dog has nothing to do with the training of a dog as we know it from the service dogs in the police.

The IGP is simply the highest level of obedience that the dog can attain.

The dog wants nothing other than his prey, he is totally fixated on it. Samir will during that exercise not even take treats, he has to be totally focused, and he had to learn that he will only achieve his goal of getting his prey with complete obedience.

A dog that comes to the hide of the Assailant and just grabs him gets a high point deduction. In order to pass the test, you need to score at least 70 out of 100 points.

The whole thing can be compared to a sudden recall of a dog during the chase at coursing. You can imagine, it takes a lot of training and then there is the small fact that the Rhodesian Ridgeback is not a Malinois, which means that with hardness you achieve nothing with the Ridgeback, only with trust.

22.05.2022 The day of the test had come.

Some of the exhibitors can perhaps imagine how excited I was, years of training would now go on the test bench!

Performance judge on this day was Marcus Fässy (D) who two weeks earlier had reached 3rd place at the IGP World Championship in Hungary with his Boxer.

It began at 7.30 o’clock in the morning with the department A (tracks).

First, we start with the registration of the dog at the judge’s table.

The track for IGP 1 is 300 steps long with three legs (at right angles) and three objects. It must be laid 20 minutes before the search.

Then it started.

Samir searched very calmly and with much concentration despite my excitement. The dog is led on the 10 meter drag line, which must be used to its full length.

Then it went on to the first object.

Here Samir must indicate the laid-out object by suddenly stopping.

Then the handler may catch up to the dog, pick up the object and show it to the judge.

Then it went on at 11.30 o’clock with the Obedience (section B) for Samir and me.

This was the hardest part for me.

Some of you will probably have already despaired of this. Because during the training it is all wonderful as long as you have a piece of sausage in your hand

RHODESIAN RIDGEBACK EU MAGAZINE

When in 2022 most of the restrictions were lifted we felt ready for the spring test, I registered for the International Working Dog Test IGP-FCI 1.

98

RHODESIAN RIDGEBACK EU MAGAZINE

Samir at the registration

Samir on the track

On the first leg

99

As you can see in the pictures, Samir mastered all these tasks.

After that there is a break so that dog and handler can refresh themselves.

At 14.00 o’clock sharp came the command was given for our return to the department C (protection service).

Training picture of indicating an object

and you can lead the dog with your voice, but during the exam all this falls away and the Ridgeback questions it very quickly. There you can see the difference to the strong Boxer. Nevertheless, Samir did his thing well, as you can see in the pictures.

Again, the dog is registered with the judge in the presence of a partner dog.

This partner dog lies at the edge of the working area OFF-LEAD in each case, whilst the other dog is being tested.

If one of the two dogs should decide to make a detour to go and see the partner dog during this test, it would result in a disqualification of the dog and thus the entire test would not be passed.

When retrieving over the 1 metre hurdle, the dog must watch from the start position as the standardized dumbbell (FCI 1 kg) is thrown over the hurdle and then sent over the hurdle with the command “Hop”. Once the dog has jumped over the hurdle, the command “Fetch” is given and the dog is asked to bring the dumbbell back over the hurdle and to offer it to the handler by sitting.

As I have already explained: here it is primarily about obedience even when the dog is highly driven.

Point 1: The dog must hold the Assailant in his hiding place and bark at him. Unfortunately, I do not have any photos of this part in the test, so here is a training picture of our bitch who also does this very nicely.

After that the handler comes into the “hide” and calls the dog off. The dog then moves away from the Assailant and goes into the start position, at heel to his handler.

Then the Assailant is asked to leave the hide, whereupon he walks out into the open ground.

RHODESIAN RIDGEBACK EU MAGAZINE

Then there is the recall over the A-wall in this category. Here the dog has to sit again in the start position on one side of the wall, then the handler goes to the other side of the wall and calls the dog with “Hop” and then “Here”. The dog should come over the wall to the handler and sit in front of the handler.

Now, the dog must thwart an attempted escape of the Assailant, fend off an attack and walk behind the Assailant together with his handler.

The stick seen on the pictures, which the Assailant holds in his hands, is made of foam and can therefore not cause any pain to the dog. The stick must be taken from the Assailant, and the handler hands it over to the judge.

This concludes the test.

Samir has passed and we both have proved it!

The Ridgeback is not only a dog to “show nicely”, no he has also other qualities. He is a dog, and just because of that he enjoys learning and loves working.

100

RHODESIAN RIDGEBACK EU MAGAZINE

The IGP-FCI training is not child’s play and requires a high degree of experience and sensitivity with this breed.

Apporting over the hurdle

on the training field, tracking or like Samir, as a therapy dog in prison or hospice.

However, no matter what, these dogs love tasks whether trailing, coursing, ring training etc. They love it and if you set it up correctly, they have great joy performing their tasks.

Every work, every task, every sport you do with your Rhodesian Ridgeback immensely promotes the bond between you and your dog.

We have 4 Ridgebacks, 3 of them from different bloodlines, but all 4 find much joy working

This is my story, my life. Never a boring day, because there are always new tasks we will enjoy mastering.

Maybe we will see each other one day in some show ring in Europe, because we and our dogs have great pleasure in doing that, too.

Greetings from the whole African SAI’S Clan.

101 RHODESIAN RIDGEBACK EU MAGAZINE

W R ITTEN BY A M A L I E H A T L E V O L L

PIA

PIA’S WAY TO BECOME AN APPROVED RESCUE DOG

P

102

RHODESIAN RIDGEBACK EU MAGAZINE

ia is a 1 year old female dog that comes from the breeder Ridgedogs Kennel in Gran, Norway.

We joined the organization Norwegian Rescue Dogs, which is an important voluntary rescue organization, where we teach the dogs how to search for people. In this organization you can choose whether you want to train the dogs to lavine (search in avalanches), forest search (search in forests and trails) or disaster search (search in natural disasters and ruins).For me as an owner, it was important to find a hobby/sport that Pia and I could do together. Since I am interested in rescue work and my job is in the Emergency Medical Services, I thought it would be a fun activity to join the Norwegian Rescue Dogs.

This was a completely new experience to us. We practice with a team 2-3 times a week, in addition to at-home practice. It can take up to 3-4 years to get approved as a rescue dog, and this requires a lot of training and a good dose of patience. We started about 1 year ago and Pia is now called a “Student” until she is approved as a rescue dog.

The breed Rhodesian Ridgeback as a rescue dog comes with some challenges. In Norway, there is no approved rescue dog of that breed yet, but I want to turn this around. Our challenge so far has been to find a good enough amplifier for Pia, so that she wants to find the people we are looking for. To solve this challenge, we have worked a lot with different rewards such as toys, games and food. She is not very interested in toys, while various training sausages have worked well. It has also been important to vary Pia’s rewards so that she finds it exciting.

103

As I said, the breed is a bit headstrong and stubborn, so it is important to work with variation when practicing with Norwegian Rescue Dogs to keep Pia’s motivation up. When we practice with the team, a figurant is used. This means that a person is hiding in the forest for us to find. These roleplay sessions play an important role in motivating Pia to continue the search job. In time we will learn different ways for the dog to inform the dog handler where it has found what it’s looking for.

Our first goal is to pass an obedience test that we must complete before continuing our education.

There are many exams that we have to complete before we get to our final exam, which is getting approved as a rescue dog. What is important for us is to do our best, and that Pia enjoys this. Our main goal is for Pia to become an Approved Rescue Dog. I am proud to have the opportunity to train this fantastic breed.

RHODESIAN RIDGEBACK EU MAGAZINE

Pia is a dog that has really impressed me as an owner. She is a hard-working dog and learns very quickly. When we practice with our team in Norwegian Rescue Dogs and she puts on her vest, she immediately understands what is going on.

Her nose perks up and she begins to catch the scents from the winds. At this stage, it is important for me as a dog handler to pay attention and follow when Pia has got the scent. Good collaboration between dog handler and dog is crucial.

MUDDY PAWS K9 BIATHLON DO SOMETHING FUN

104

RHODESIAN RIDGEBACK EU MAGAZINE

WITH YOUR DOG!

Petra Johansson www.hundfysen.se

105 RHODESIAN RIDGEBACK EU MAGAZINE

M

uddy Paws is Sweden’s largest K9 Biathlon.

Here you run an obstacle course together with your dog and must put your cooperation to the test. All obstacles are designed to be safe, fun and challenging. The idea behind the race is that everyone should be able to participate, regardless of dog breed or ambition. If you want, you can walk through the entire course

CLASSES 8km terrain/obstacle course This course starts with 4km of tough cross-country running and then connects to the short course and all its obstacles.

4km obstacle course with about 20 obstacles You can start individually, as a duo (together with a friend and a dog each) or in a team together with several teammates and anything between 1-6 dogs.

RULES

106

RHODESIAN RIDGEBACK EU MAGAZINE

The dog must be at least 12 months to participate in the shorter race, about 4km and 18 months for the race which is 8km.

107 RHODESIAN RIDGEBACK EU MAGAZINE

As a handler, you need to be at least 13 years old to The handler must wear a waist belt to which to participate in the shorter race and 16 years old for attach their dog. the long track.

Comfortable shoes and clothes are recommended as there is a lot of climbing and crawling THE COURSE through, under and over different surfaces.

The courses consist of several running distances You can expect to get both wet and dirty, so a dry with sometimes tough terrain and several obstacles to get around. All obstacles are designed so change afterwards is good to have. that all participants will succeed in completing You choose your starting group when registering them. If for some reason you are unable or unwill- and each participant starts every 1min, except for ing to perform an obstacle, there will be a time the very fastest who start with 30sec between. supplement on the end time. But it’s perfectly ok When I sat at my computer and signed up in to go around an obstacle. late autumn -21, I had to answer some questions.

The obstacles may consist of shooting stations, Among other things, “how fast you run 5km on tunnels, water obstacles, etc. bare ground”.

The team must pass all obstacles in order to have From the condition I was in and with about five a chance of winning. months ahead of me, I made a wild guess. I mean, Some stations take longer than others and then I had a long time to train. How hard can it be? the station is doubled so as not to become a bot- Well. With about 2 months left until the start, I tleneck realized that now was probably the time to get

There is at least one station that provides a penalty off the couch and pull my hand out of the bag of chips. Because I wanted to be able to run around round if one fails. the track and with a dog like Maximus, I had my suspicion that it could be a bit difficult for me to UPHOLSTERY/EQUIPMENT keep up with him.

The dog must wear a harness and be attached to its handler through a line (max 3m) with an ex- Said and done. Maximus went out of his rest pepander part. riod until just after the New Year and the plan for

training fitness and strength as well as planning for the race was made earlier.

The plan for Maximus was for him to swim, run and strength train with balance equipment to get in really good shape and I also planned that we would have time to run together several times during the spring. But the weather at home wanted otherwise. As soon as we got some bare ground to dare to hit the roads, more snow immediately came. So, the thing about running together didn’t go as planned at the beginning of the year.

108

RHODESIAN RIDGEBACK EU MAGAZINE

As soon as the snow melted, and the road was safe to run on again we managed to get two rounds together and I ran on my own a few times to get in better condition. A couple of weeks before the planned race, a friend came by with her dog so that we would run together as this is not something we have done before.

We made our way down to the running trail here at home, ran together and felt strong. After about 1.5km I stopped so we could try passing each other.

Oh jeez, how I had to run! I actually don’t know what’s worse.

When we were passed or when we should pass. Maximus used all his 46 kg so that the sand sprayed about his paws. Because he certainly didn’t want to be behind the other dog.

D DAY At end of April, we drove to Stockholm because now it was finally time for the race.

When we arrived, I went and signed us up, got our bib and a goodie bag. There was a good atmosphere in the competition area. Some music was playing, and everyone kept their distance and showed respect, so it was really calm to warm up and get us ready.

Now it was getting closer to our starting time, so I put on Maximus’ harness and attached him into my waist belt. After that, we slowly moved towards the start

to check out the mode a little. The countdown between the dogs was clearly heard and we stood so that from a distance we could see the other dogs in our group starting.

As we stood there and peeked, I realized that I don’t have 1 minute between me and the nearest starter, but only 30 seconds! Oh no, talk about me getting in a cold sweat. Have I overrated our running time so bad? Now I realized that I would have to fight hard with Maximus’ hunting desire when the start was about to go.

Well, nothing I could do anything about now. Just sticking in and running for happy life.

We walked to the starting fold. 10, 9, 8, the countdown began, and I had to hold on for dear life to Maximus harness. He stood there screaming because he was so excited, and I had a heck of a time keeping myself on my feet.

And off we go. The sand was squirting around our feet and the hunt had begun. Maximus did everything in his power to catch up with the dog ahead of us and my legs had to work like never before to even keep me upright. The audience and my friend who was filming laughed out loud and I had time to throw a quick second over what I had gotten myself into. How could we not have trained to run with more dogs before? Sloppy math, sloppy. But. The only one who got to suffer for it now, was me.

The first stage of the course did go really fast, and it didn’t take long

109

ditch that we needed to get over and then crawl under a fence.

until we reached the first obstacle. Up and over big boxes and then work our way through a bunch of car tires. Under a couple of boxes, more car tires and then up and over again some boxes again.

My feet moved like never before. Maximus still had the goal set on catching up with the dog ahead and my hooting “slow Maximus, slow” didn’t seem to bother him at all.

After a short run we got into the woods and there was the shooting obstacle. Shooting this year was the obstacle that had a penalty round if you didn’t succeed. The chance of me to hit a small circle with an air rifle with a dog standing and pulling the other way, yes that speaks for itself. So, it had to be a penalty round for us. Full speed off through a trodden loop in the woods before we got back out on the track. In a hurry, of course, I manage to get stuck with my foot in the goo so that the shoe was filled with wet, dark brown mud. Maximus quickly turns around, wondering why I’m standing there in the mud when we need to catch up with the other dogs.

We run on, passing a few more obstacles. Maximus still has way too much energy chasing the others and has no plans at all to slow down. I look down at my watch and realize that we have only managed to finish 1km and it already feels in my legs that they have to fight hard to cope with the speed and power that Maximus is giving me.

We come out from the woods, out on a dirt road, and I appreciate there’s some flat ground to run on for a while. Soon we arrive at a

After a short run, we came out on the Runsten Equestrian, the terrain course for horses where we sometimes had to crawl through, under and climb over various obstacles that were on the course. I felt the lactic acid pumping in my legs, but Maximus jumped happily over and was still really fresh in his body.

On the track we passed several tunnels, filled with soft goo and water to crawl through. A few more obstacles and then out into a longer water obstacle where you would climb over 2 floating jetties.

Then came the longest running distance of the race through the forest before coming out to more water and it was time for Stand-Up Paddle board. Here you had to carry your own board and paddle from one side to another and. Then paddle back with the dog. There was no requirement that the dog had to be up on the board, it could swim if it wanted to.

I have a dog that is more than

RHODESIAN RIDGEBACK EU MAGAZINE

We run up on a field and here we pass some dogs on our way to the next obstacle. Now we arrive at a road tunnel with water in it that one would crawl through.

Here there are a couple of teams that stopped because their dogs thought that the pipe to crawl through looked a bit dangerous. There was a dog inside the tube, so we stop a little before crawling in. Maximus is not concerned about either the surface or the confined space, so we could crawl on. I see that the dog before us is not completely comfortable, so we stop for a while there in the cold water so that they have a chance to get out in peace and quiet. Then we crawl on again. Once outside, we were able to pass the team ahead and start running properly to an inflatable maze where you would try to find the right way out as quickly as possible.

Out of the maze and now there was a shorter running distance again that tilted a little uphill. A couple more dogs were passed.

happy to swim, and he has never stood on a board before, so I thought he would swim. But there are no difficulties that he cannot overcome. He just jumped on the board as soon as I got it in the water, and we paddled away. I had wished he would lie down, or at least sit down so that there would be some reasonable chance for me to be able to look ahead without paddling onto any of the other contestants. But no. There he stood in the fore on the board like Mr. Hasselhoff himself. This dog.. I had to cruise back and forth between the other contestants with a loaded dog that had spotted the buoys further out that he wanted to fetch. Almost at the shore he suddenly jumps, and we land in the water swimming towards the buoys.

After a moment’s persuasion that the buoys should actually be there, we came up on land again.

When the SUP was returned, the crew informed us that now the goal was not far away.

110

RHODESIAN RIDGEBACK EU MAGAZINE

Slightly cooled from the water, both Maximus and I felt that we had new energy and we could run on again.

We came up to a larger obstacle that was made up of several boxes where you had to jump up on a box, down a hole to crawl through and then get out of a hole on the other side. This was an obstacle that was double, so that you could be two people at the same time to reduce stops on the track as this was a little tricky challenge. Especially if you get up to our size of dog and it’s not just lifting them down the hole. But we made it through.

We continued to run, and the next obstacle was to get through a cobweb of threads that crisscrossed and then up to a large and steep obstacle that you had to get up and down.

Here it was important to hold the dog properly so that you got down safely together.

Now only the riot remained.

Through an obstacle, over a log and finally the last water-filled obstacle that you had to run

through and then we got to the finish line with a big smile on my face.

We did it! Me a lot more tired than the dog. He could have easily taken another lap. But we did it!

We got a medal around my neck as soon as we crossed the finish line and I’m more than happy with our performance. Our first race together and we did really well.

Place 197 out of total 532 starting teams on our day of competing with a time of 42:57.

As soon as I passed the finishing line, I knew I wanted to do this again. It was so much fun! So, I didn’t make it much more than home before I signed up for the next race in September.

We are also registered for another K9 obstacle race in the autumn, and I am also planning to take a green card so that we can compete in Canicross.

The total sum of this experience is: do something fun with your dog. Dare to challenge yourself and try. Who knows? You may find it just as much fun as I did.

111 RHODESIAN RIDGEBACK EU MAGAZINE

ridgebackrelevant.blogspot.com

112

RHODESIAN RIDGEBACK EU MAGAZINE

113 RHODESIAN RIDGEBACK EU MAGAZINE

114

RHODESIAN RIDGEBACK EU MAGAZINE

115 RHODESIAN RIDGEBACK EU MAGAZINE

116

K

A

N

D

A

R

E

K

K

A

S

H

O

KANDA

LZ HÜ TT E

RHODESIAN RIDGEBACK EU MAGAZINE

V

O

N

117 RHODESIAN RIDGEBACK EU MAGAZINE

OUR OLDY

R E K K A

I N D O R F

KANDA OLDY

My old dog, my beloved Kanda!

118

RHODESIAN RIDGEBACK EU MAGAZINE

“Kanda von Rekkas Holzhütte” comes from my own Rhodesian Ridgeback kennel, which I started in 1997.

My mother started her breeding in 1973. When she heard about this dog breed, she couldn’t be stopped. It became her great passion. She obtained literature about it and then got the bitch “Atala’s Dawn” and the male “Nordostufial Sakitu” from Great Britain. Among other things, they were supposed to protect my father’s falcon farm from thieves. I was 16 years old then. Since then we’ve seen a lot of old Ridgis pass away and it always hurts so terribly because they grow so dear to you. My Kanda will now be 14 years old on 07.07.22. Maybe it has to be like this, on 7/7/”14” Her grandfather “Lionhunt Daymane” is from South Africa. Her mother comes from my mother’s old bloodline. Kanda gave us 40 puppies in her lifetime. She was never sick. She is still my shadow, my loyal, beloved dog. She knows me very well and I know her just as well. Even as a puppy, she observed me the most closely of her 13 siblings. She’s my eagle eye, my little nurse, with the white collar back then, my little angel, my beloved Kandi, my Diti, my big darling! Now, at almost 14, she sleeps a lot, likes to eat and only goes for short walks. Kanda was our pack

119 RHODESIAN RIDGEBACK EU MAGAZINE

leader until her daughter “Rekka Runa von Rekkas Holzhütte” became the pack leader. Kanda’s way is to be very confident, just by standing still and looking away, she passed her job as a guide to her daughter Runa. That was about 5 years ago. Kanda’s daughter Runa is now almost 8 years old, her daughter Kefira (Runa X Bukavu-Bawu Okeyo) is 7 months old. Kanda’s other grandchild “Umzinto Jaimie Lee.” is from her son “Umzinto Bomani” X mother “Umzinto Afrika Abuya”. We hope that Kan-

da will stay with us for a long time still. But we are thankful to have these two grandchildren with us and hope that Kanda’s wonderful, healthy genes will be passed on and that the angel in Kanda will live on in them.

Anyway, she has a huge place in my heart and she will stay there forever.

Best wishes, Rekka.

120

R A F

M

E

R

R

D

IA

N

A

FR

IC AN

RHODESIAN RIDGEBACK EU MAGAZINE

S

G

U

A AK ON O

AKONO

121 RHODESIAN RIDGEBACK EU MAGAZINE

OUR OLDY

P E T R A

&

W O L F G A N G

R E I T E R

AKONO OLDY

Akono is for us, the beginning of everything!!!

He is our first Rhodesian Ridgeback, together with him we made the first experiences in the field of exhibitions, breeding and performance tests....

Through him we have learned to love and appreciate this special breed.

He was born on 17.07.2007 in Farmers Guardian Kennel in Germany.

Father Ikimba Waitimu and mother Meranga Grande African Queen. Breeder Helmut Koch From the ninth week he lives now for 15 years already a wonderful life with us in the Saarland (DE) and we love him above everything.

122

RHODESIAN RIDGEBACK EU MAGAZINE

He became the sire of 23 litters in different countries.

His daughter Safari Hunters Petula Mara Ella we got when Akono was 7 years old and after that his granddaughter African Akono Always mine Elli from our own breeding.

in mind that he could leave us at any time and we want to give him every day anew the most beautiful day.

He was a great father for Ella and now he is a great grandpa for Elli.

Our Akono has won in his show career

Akono is distinguished not only by his unique show successes, but also by his wonderful nature.

more than 60 titles and is a Champion in 20 countries.

He does everything with us with much joy and he has fun in life.

Still despite his old age he is a funny clown and makes us laugh every day.

His agility today is due to his age of course no longer as it was in the past, and the walks have also become much shorter.

But this is not so bad, because we spend every day more intensively with him, because we have

Akono’s titles: • • • • •

• • • •

WORLD WINNER Paris 2011 BOB Winner of CHAMPION OF CHAMPIONS 2012 Budapest VICE WORLD WINNER 2009 VICE GERMAN WINNER 2013 Alpine Veteran Champion 2016 the first Rhodesian Ridgeback FCI Res. Crufts Winner Vet. German Winner 2015 Alpine Veteran Winner Kreuzlingen 2016 International Champion Alpenveteranensieger

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Nürnberg 2016 German Club Champion DZRR Bosnia Herzegovina Champion Bulgaria Champion Czech Republic Champion Belgium Champion Italian Champion Netherlands Champion France Champion Croatia Champion Switzerland Champion German VDH Champion Luxembourg Champion Austria Champion Hungary Champion Romania Champion Montenegro Champion Moldova Champion Cyprus Champion SAN MARINO Champion Macedonia Champion Azerbaijan Champion BALKAN Champion GRAND CHAMPION ROMANIA Mediterranean Champion Grand Champion Montenegro

123 RHODESIAN RIDGEBACK EU MAGAZINE

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Grand Champion Hungary Black Sea Winner Saarland Winner 2012 Saarland Winner 2011 German Club Winner DZRR & best head 2010 Belgian Club Winner 2010 Berlin Winner 2010 Brabo Winner 2009 Antwerp Ortenau Winner Offenburg 2009 Saarland Winner 2009 German Youth Champion VDH German Youth Club Champion DZRR Luxembourg Youth Champion Youth Winner Amsterdam Youth Winner Stuttgart Youth Winner Baden Württemberg Vice Federal Youth Winner 2008 Vice European Youth Winner 2008 Vet. Champion Germany VDH Vet. Champion DZRR-Club Vet. Champion Luxembourg Benelux Winner Crufts Qualification 2016 Vice Federal Veteran Winner 2015

And many more. V2 CHAMPION CLASS 38 Participant WORLDOG SHOW Salzburg 2012. among other things he has received several more Crufts Qualifications and invitation of FCI centennary show WORLD CHAMPION OF CHAMPIONS in Brussels.

Performance and temperament tests • 05.05.2012 EXPERIENCE TEST • •

passed 16.04.2011 companion dog exam passed 25.09.2010 TAN test south France passed

We have asked some of our favourite photographers some question in regards to their work, read their stories.

124

”

RHODESIAN RIDGEBACK EU MAGAZINE

S EE THROU G H CAMERA LE NS.....

We are thrilled to introduce to you four brilliant photographers, they all have one thing in common....they see your dogs through their camera lens.

A “S

Y

C

H

E

E

S

E

125 RHODESIAN RIDGEBACK EU MAGAZINE

19

OUR GOLDIES

REGULA SCHAAD AN INTERVIEW

126

RHODESIAN RIDGEBACK EU MAGAZINE

Switzerland І Light Moments Fotografie І www.lightmoments-regulaschaad.ch

PLEASE TELL US ABOUT YOURSELF. HOW DID YOU COME ABOUT BEING A DOG PHOTOGRAPHER AND HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN DOING IT? My name is Regula Schaad, I live in Switzerland. I am a total dog lover and I grew up with dogs. I have two dogs at the moment - a male Border Collie Jasper and a Romanian street dog Mila. I also have attended several dog trainer courses and I run a dog training school. Life with my own dogs has led me to dog photography. I have been photographing dogs all my life - professionally for the last 5 years.

HOW DID YOU FIRST ENTER THE PHOTOGRAPHY WORLD? DID YOU HAVE FORMAL TRAINING? HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN A PHOTOGRAPHER?

I attended a photography course for 3 years. I taught myself a lot about dog photography.

WHAT TYPE OF CAMERAS DO YOU SHOOT WITH? WHICH IS YOUR FAVOURITE LENS AND WHY? I shoot with Nikon - with the D780, Z6ii and the new Z9. prefer to shoot with fixed focal lengths.

WHERE DO YOU FIND INSPIRATION? I love working in nature and working with dogs.

DO YOU CONSIDER IT A CHALLENGING JOB? HOW DO YOU GET THE ANIMALS TO STAY AND “POSE” FOR YOU? When I spend a whole day photographing an event with dogs, responding to each participant individ-

127

ually, it is very exhausting, but also a beautiful job. The most beautiful!

WHAT IS THE BEST PART OF BEING A FINE ART PHOTOGRAPHER? AND THE MOST CHALLENGING My shooting locations can be varied forest, nature, on the water, graffiti or in the city. Each place has its charm.

DESCRIBE A TYPICAL SESSION FOR US. WHAT KINDS OF THINGS ARE YOU THINKING ABOUT WHEN YOU’RE BEHIND THE CAMERA? The idea of the pictures arise beforehand during the preliminary discussion with the customer, when I know which location, which dog and which time of day.

RHODESIAN RIDGEBACK EU MAGAZINE

Not every dog I’m shooting has the same level of training. My knowledge as a dog trainer and the attitude of my own dogs help me to capture even difficult situations at customer shoots, those are beautiful moments.

A puppy, which does not yet know basic commands, is different to manage at the shooting site than a sport dog.

WHICH BREED IN YOUR OPINION IS MOST PHOTOGENIC?

128

RHODESIAN RIDGEBACK EU MAGAZINE

All breeds and mixed breeds are photogenic. I try to show each dog in the best light and most advantageous.

ARE THERE OTHER DOG PHOTOGRAPHERS THAT INSPIRE OR INFLUENCE YOU? IF NOT, WHO OR WHAT DOES I try to find my own natural style and not do copies of other photographers.

12. Do you have any pets of your own? And what is your favourite animal?

I live with my husband and our two grown daughters on our farm with Angus cows, 2 dogs and 6 cats.

129 RHODESIAN RIDGEBACK EU MAGAZINE

BRIGITTE ERNI AN INTERVIEW

130

RHODESIAN RIDGEBACK EU MAGAZINE

Switzerland І Brigitte Erni Photography І limecastle@bluewin.ch

PLEASE TELL US ABOUT YOURSELF. HOW DID YOU COME ABOUT BEING A DOG PHOTOGRAPHER AND HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN DOING IT? Together with my partner I breed dogs with passion and also present them at exhibitions. I know exactly how I want to capture my dogs photographically and how to present them in the ring.

I know best about their flaws, idiosyncrasies and charm and I want that to show that in the pictures. Since about 5 years you can see a steady improvement in the quality of my pictures – however, I made the biggest step only this year, thanks to Ria Putzker, who visited me for a week this year and held a workshop here. Before that I was rather at war with Photoshop, now I really enjoy breathing life into the images and taking them to another level.

HOW DID YOU FIRST ENTER THE PHOTOGRAPHY WORLD? DID YOU HAVE FORMAL TRAINING? HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN A PHOTOGRAPHER? I first began to take pictures because of the many trips, especially diving trips to the Maldives over 30 years ago. On the return trip we always had at least 20 films from above and under the water in our luggage. I didn’t know what I was doing at the time but it was fun to capture the adventures photographically and keep them as visual memories. However, it took more than 20 years until I started to attend to photography more intensively, acquired more professional equipment and moved away from automatic mode.

A few years ago, a dog photographer came to visit us and photographed my puppies. That’s when

131

WHAT OR WHO GOT YOU STARTED PHOTOGRAPHING DOGS? Since 2003 I breed Cairn Terriers and at that time, I already began to record the development of the puppies photographically. I thought of this also as a lasting memory for the future puppy owners who were also very happy about the initially very amateurish photos. With time the pictures became better and better and I began to photograph also dogs which were with us on vacation or for trimming. Later, some owners of our puppies also wanted professional pictures again, and other breeders asked me for pictures as well, and so it happened that the hobby developed into a main pillar. Today I photograph exclusively dogs, these are the animals I understand best, I notice whether they feel comfortable and I also have the necessary patience to wait for the right moment for the perfect picture.

WHAT TYPE OF CAMERAS DO YOU SHOOT WITH? WHICH IS YOUR FAVOURITE LENS AND WHY?

Currently I own a Nikon D850, which I prefer to use with the Sigma 135mm for dog portraits. This is a beautiful combo in my opinion. For shots in motion, I love the D500 with the Nikkor 70-200, which I also think is an ideal combination - lightning fast and razor sharp. My dream would be to buy a Nikon Z9, I really hope to fulfil that wish by next year.

WHERE DO YOU FIND INSPIRATION? I find inspiration thanks to many great dog photographers who show their works in the various groups on Facebook or Instagram. And of course, in nature when we are out and about with our dogs. We are lucky to live in the countryside close to Lake Constance and thus have a paradise at our doorstep. This summer we are going to Croatia on vacation and certainly we will take countless pictures of our dogs, provided my partner has the patience to assist me.

DO YOU CONSIDER IT A CHALLENGING JOB? HOW DO YOU GET THE ANIMALS TO STAY AND “POSE” FOR YOU? The challenge, in my opinion, is to present the dog in a way its owner likes. Of course, it’s great when an animal has all the tricks and masters them perfectly and can be called up in any situation. However, this is rarely the case and therefore you have to improvise and be flexible. The most important thing is that no dog is forced to do anything and that they have fun. Thus, it is my task to create a stress-free and informal atmosphere

RHODESIAN RIDGEBACK EU MAGAZINE

I really realized that I still had a lot to learn. She showed me the most necessary basics and based on that I practiced my newly acquired skills with each of our litters. The photos became better and better - practice makes perfect. However, this was more in the “snapshots” category, as is usually the case when you have puppies in front of the camera. With time I also felt my way to portraits, today I love these more than the motion photos, which I had preferred until then.

for dog and owner. Since I have acquired a large repertoire of sounds for the puppies, it is also easy for me to literally “make an ass of myself” for my four-legged customers. Astonished looks of passers-by are always sure, if I go into overdrive to get the dog’s attention.

The best thing about it is that you get to know many different people who all have the same hobby as me: dogs. It becomes a challenge when the owners absolutely want to show all of the 100 tricks that their darling has mastered perfectly at home in the living room and can no longer do them outside in nature. To take away the stress of owner and dog can be difficult sometimes. This requires a lot of calm and patience on the part of the photographer, and sometimes perhaps a little break.

In my opinion the nature of each dog is much more important than the breed. Each breed presents us with challenges and should be perfectly staged. However, I love Rhodesian Ridgebacks incredibly, they have a natural elegance and charisma, which is hard to beat. Thus, they are definitely among my favourites. More than the breed, the colour matters in photography, black or white animals are more difficult to photograph. A very small or very large breed can also be difficult to stage. The small dog doesn’t come into its own in some environments and the giant is again more difficult to handle. The poppy is sure to be flattened if I go in there with a Great Dane and the Chihuahua doesn’t stand a chance of getting near the blossom. However, it is easier to lift the Chi onto a tree trunk than a Great Dane. And if the Great Dane doesn’t want to do something, you have to accept that and think of something else.

DESCRIBE A TYPICAL SESSION FOR US. WHAT KIND OF THINGS ARE YOU THINKING ABOUT WHEN YOU’RE BEHIND THE CAMERA?

ARE THERE OTHER DOG PHOTOGRAPHERS THAT INSPIRE OR INFLUENCE YOU? IF NOT, WHO OR WHAT DOES?

First of all, I need to get a description from the owner about the nature of his dog. What is excluded from the outset, what are the tasks the quadruped performs with a will and what tricks does it master? What result does the owner have in mind? Besides, the weather plays a big role in all this. Of course, it is much less complicated if the owner can assess and motivate his own dog.

It becomes difficult when I also have to take over this part.

I can answer that with a big “YES”! Ria Putzker from Vienna is my inspiration and a great role model. Watching her deal with people and dogs, creating a calm and stress-free atmosphere is a joy. What she creates afterwards on the PC is pure art and I love her style and artistry to portray the essence of the animal in the picture as well. She has immortalized two of my dogs photographically perfect, you would think she has known Java and Ofra forever.

RHODESIAN RIDGEBACK EU MAGAZINE

WHAT IS THE BEST PART OF BEING A FINE ART PHOTOGRAPHER? AND THE MOST CHALLENGING?

132

WHICH BREED IN YOUR OPINION IS MOST PHOTOGENIC?

133

I would recommend investing in high-priced equipment from the start. I need the same amount of time to create a picture – no matter how good the camera or lens is. I see the difference afterwards when I look at the pictures on the PC. Before Nikon, I had a different system and could have cried, because every time half of the pictures were out of focus and the rest showed the animal in an unflattering way. I also regret that I didn’t take courses in photography from the beginning and that I spent too much time in automatic mode. Look at pictures from other photographers and buy tutorials, which most of them already offer. However, the workshop with Ria Putzker helped me the most to develop my skills. A lot of photographers offer workshops – take part and watch how the pros behave behind the camera, what their secrets are in dealing with ani-

RHODESIAN RIDGEBACK EU MAGAZINE

IS THERE ANY ONE THING YOU WISH YOU HAD KNOWN OR PIECE OF ADVICE YOU WOULD GIVE TO AN ASPIRING FINE ART PHOTOGRAPHER?

134

RHODESIAN RIDGEBACK EU MAGAZINE

mal models etc. It helps a lot if the person you are working with knows how to take pictures.

It helps enormously if the prospective dog photographer already has some experience with dogs and loves them, too. If this is not the case, then the pictures may be technically perfect but lack soul. It is also elementary that you photograph the dog at eye level and not from above. It has already happened to me that after an engagement at an exhibition the next day I had a severe muscle ache from constantly lying on the floor and getting up again. This brings me to the next point: be sure to wear heavy-duty clothing. If the ground is damp, rain pants are recommended.

The focus is always on the eye. Nowadays there are cameras with a very reliable animal eye focus.

However, this has difficulties when stray hairs are in front of the eyes or the eyes are almost not visible. There are limits to the technology.

Love goes through the (dog’s) stomach! I always have home-baked treats with me and as a rule I can turn even the most listless dog into an overachiever. In addition, a squeaking toy should not be missing or a noise app on the cell phone. Also, it is of great advantage if a third person is present. So, the owner can concentrate completely on his animal and the helper positions himself in the spot where you want the dog to look at. The helper is also useful if we carry an artificial light source.

Safety is always priority number 1! If there is a risk that something could happen to the animal or someone else because it does not stay reliably in

place it should be secured by a long leash. This leash can be easily retouched during image processing.

And this is already my next tip. Make sure you get to grips with image editing programs. The most popular are Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop, I couldn’t imagine photography without these programs. For me, it’s not about changing the animal anatomically, but to make it stand out from the background and show it perfectly. However, it is easier if you pay attention to the environment and background while taking the picture. It can possibly save a lot of work on the screen if you remove some tufts of grass that would otherwise be in front of the animal’s face or remove stones, cigarette butts, etc. from the ground.

DO YOU HAVE ANY PETS OF YOUR OWN? AND WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE ANIMAL? At the moment we live together with 5 Cairn Terriers. My first dog was a Mastino Napoletano, then a Rottweiler bitch and a Beagle, followed by German Shepherds with which I participated in international competitions. For my mother I bought a Cairn Terrier, so I came to this great breed and I breed it with heart and soul and also with much success. My favourite animal is definitely the dog, no question. Even though I used to ride a lot and had cats, my heart belongs to dogs forever. Only those who really love dogs can photograph them perfectly - everything else may be technically perfect but the soul is not expressed in the picture.

135 RHODESIAN RIDGEBACK EU MAGAZINE

WOULD YOU LIKE TO ADD SOMETHING? I wish there was such a format also for my breed, I know nothing comparable and I would like to thank you from the bottom of my heart for the opportunity to present myself and my photography in this great magazine.

Animal photography has taken me over completely, when I am busy with the photos, I forget time and space and I am happy when I can capture unforgettable moments. The reaction of the owners is one of the most beautiful things for me and I never mind getting up at 04.30 a.m. to take atmospheric pictures in the sunrise. The days are long - often I can not wait and then immediately sit down to edit the pictures and forget that I should actually be tired at 10 o’clock in the evening.

MIRANDA VAN ASSEMA AN INTERVIEW

136

RHODESIAN RIDGEBACK EU MAGAZINE

Netherlands І Kyno Photography І www.kynophotography.com

PLEASE, TELL US ABOUT YOURSELF. HOW DID YOU COME ABOUT BEING A DOG PHOTOGRAPHER AND HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN DOING IT? My name is Miranda van Assema and I live in a small town Medemblik (50km above Amsterdam) with Marcel and our 2 RR’s Zahra and Zhiva. I’m a professional photographer for about 8 years now.

I’m a documentary photographer, mainly photographing weddings and funerals. All in documentary style, just the way it is, pure and honest.

I didn’t think about being a dog photographer in the beginning at all, but it happend when we got our first dog Zahra in 2016. When she came to our place, I started taking pictures of her. Just for ourselves, I wanted to document how she grows and she was just the cutest puppy. After posting these photos on my Facebookpage, people started

asking about it if I could make such photos from their dogs as well. I started this for just a few people, but when I also had the opportunity to rent a studio, I started professional and full time, in 2018.

I run this business, despite from my documentary photography, and made a separate website for it.

HOW DID YOU FIRST ENTER THE PHOTOGRAPHY WORLD? DID YOU HAVE FORMAL TRAINING? HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN A PHOTOGRAPHER? When I was little I got my first camera and was always interested in making pictures, and I loved being creative. Nevertheless, it took some years before I started with photography. In 2013 I went to school for learning photography, my first wedding I photographed in 2014. After school I did various workshops among which included several

137

about dog photography.

Our first dog Zahra as told above, I made a LOT of pictures of her. I was already working as a professional photographer, so just for ourselfs, I took pictures of her. After people’s request I started photographing other dogs, after the opportunity to rent a studio, I started full time.

4. WHAT TYPE OF CAMERAS DO YOU SHOOT WITH? WHICH IS YOUR FAVOURITE LENS AND WHY? I shoot with a Canon 5d Mark III, my favorite lens for outdoor photography is 70-200mm 2.8, because of the dept of field. But for studio photography I prefer to work with 85mm which is very good for portraits.

5. WHERE DO YOU FIND INSPIRATION? Can be everywhere, I love being outside, walking in nature with

RHODESIAN RIDGEBACK EU MAGAZINE

3. WHAT OR WHO GOT YOU STARTED PHOTOGRAPHING DOGS?

RHODESIAN RIDGEBACK EU MAGAZINE

138

our 2 dogs, scouting new locations, or see the beauty in common places. Also love to look at other people’s work.

DO YOU CONSIDER IT A CHALLENGING JOB? HOW DO YOU GET THE ANIMALS TO STAY AND “POSE” FOR YOU?

Yes, it can be very challenging to photograph dogs. Every dog is different, which I love, but can be hard. Some dogs are born as supermodels, well trained and can do everything, without any trouble. Other dogs can be anxious about everything; the lights in my studio, weird sounds, or even my camera. There’s no quick fix, because every dog, every owner and every situation is different.

139 RHODESIAN RIDGEBACK EU MAGAZINE

It’s always a collaboration with the owner, to get the dog stay and pose. Sometimes the dog is not the most challenging part, but it can be the owner as well.

They also need to get good informed what to expect and how it works. To get the dog stay and pose, there are also a lot of cookies used and even more patience.

To make them look at the camera I use my voice, weird sounds, owners behind me. Which can be so very funny.

So yes, it’s challenging but it’s also the best job! So much fun and fulfillment when the picture worked out the way we wanted.

WHAT IS THE BEST PART OF BEING A FINE ART PHOTOGRAPHER? AND THE MOST CHALLENGING? The best part is to make a real stunning picture of the dog, which the owner is so proud of he will hang it very large in their home. Best part of being a dog photographer is also the cuddling and the love you get from the dogs. ;-)

RHODESIAN RIDGEBACK EU MAGAZINE

140

DESCRIBE A TYPICAL SESSION FOR US. WHAT KINDS OF THINGS ARE YOU THINKING ABOUT WHEN YOU’RE BEHIND THE CAMERA? Every dog is different, so every session is unique.

But all sessions are mostly done by the same structure. Before photographing I always give the dog space and time to get used to me, my camera, and the surrounding. Let them smell and look at everything, start a bit with my flashes before I start photographing, so they can get used to it.

After that we try put the dog in position, and start making the first photos. I always work with the dog, look at him and see what he can or can’t do.

I never want to force him in positions or locations he doesn’t want to be. The photography experience must also be fun and relaxed for the dog as well for the owner.

WHICH BREED IN YOUR OPINION IS

MOST PHOTOGENIC? I fell in love with the Rhodesian Ridgeback when I attended on a newborn photography workshop, which was given in the beautiful home of this photographer. When I arrived and walked in to the house, 3 RR’s greeted me and I just loved the way they looked, their character and their sweetness. In that time I wasn’t even thinking of getting a dog of my own, but after this workshop I knew it would be a RR. I just love their expression and characters.

But there are more dogs photogenic, in my studio I photograph dogs on a black background, which works very well with black dogs surprisingly.

ARE THERE OTHER DOG PHOTOGRAPHERS THAT INSPIRE OR INFLUENCE YOU? IF NOT, WHO OR WHAT DOES?

141 RHODESIAN RIDGEBACK EU MAGAZINE

I love seeing the work of Haron Haghuis and also Claudio Picoli. I did the workshop at both photographers, both very good in post-processing.

Haron is very good in posing dogs, to let them stay and in the right spot. Claudio is the master of photographing dogs in action.

11. Is there any one thing you wish you had known or piece of advice you would give to an aspiring fine art photographer?

Be patience, and even a bit more. They are alive animals, with an own opinion. Despite of that, it’s not only about the dog, it’s also the owner(s) or handler. You need to instruct them and explain everything, step by step. Remind them they can assist, and also have to be patience. The energy of the owner, can influence the dog’s. So talk to the owner as well.

And well known, but practice, practice, practice. In so many different circumstances, weather, places, etc. You only get better by practice and learning.

DO YOU HAVE ANY PETS OF YOUR OWN? AND WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE ANIMAL? Yes, we have 2 Rhodesian Ridgebacks; Zahra 6,5 years old and an adolescent, Zhiva 13 months. My favorite animal is a bird, I think it would be amazing to fly and go wherever you want to go. In our garden we have some birds like parakeets in an aviary.

WOULD YOU LIKE TO ADD SOMETHING? Thanks for having me! It’s a real honour to be in this interview and to show my photography.

Offcourse I photograph all dogs and not only Rhodesian Ridgebacks, but for this magazine I’ve chosen only photos of Ridgebacks. And no, these are not my dogs ;-)

148

E L A N G E N I

W O R L D

O N

F I R E

A I

OUR COVER D OG

RHODESIAN RIDGEBACK EU MAGAZINE

149

CAN YOU PLEASE INTRODUCE YOUR COVER DOG FOR OUR READERS?

WHAT IS HIS/HER BIGGEST ACHIEVEMENT? Having started exhibiting for no more than 6 months, I can already be proud of Romeo who among his many achievements already has the reserve of CACS at the Nationale d’elevage in France, the reserve of CACS at the EDS in Paris, the reserve of CAC to the Special in Spain as well as numerous CAC and CACIB in Italy. His career has just begun but the thing that makes me most proud of him is that, just as it happened with Romae, mutual trust is the basis of all our activities, and confirmation is all in his eyes.

WHAT DO YOU LIKE ABOUT SHOWING? Dog shows are not only a showcase, but above all the verification of a work done with passion, study and dedication. Submitting to the judgement of expert judges and comparing their subjects with others of the breed, is a fundamental step of my breeding project that with time I hope to strengthen, improve and consolidate. I have no doubt that he will make a big contribution in that aspect. Finding friends from every part of Europe always brings moments of joy and affection, WHAT ARE YOUR FUTURE PLANS? In my future I only see....” Ridges”!!! I love them unconditionally and hope that beyond any recognition, theirs will be a fulfilling, healthy and fun life. It is not by chance that the name of my breeding means “the wonderful progeny” and because every litter, every championship, every game or training, with them is pure wonder.

WOULD YOU LIKE TO ADD SOMETHING? His nick name is Romeo because Linda asked me what was the most romantic Italian name and I immediately remembered the phrase contained in the ancient medallion for sale after the war in Verona that reads: “If you love, believe in Juliet” and who but me, would have been his Juliet?

FACTSHEET Name ELANGENI WORLD ON FIRE AI (Romeo)

Sire : MBISS MRUBISS MBIS MRUBIS Supreme Champion Elangeni Dream Run (Duke) Dam: BIS RUBISS Champion Elangeni Got Me On My Knees (Layla)

Bred by Linda, Daryl & Emma Friedland (Australia) Owned, Handled & Loved by Elisabetta Grande (Italy) Kizazi Ajabu RR Kennel e-mail: betta@rhodesianridgebackajabu.eu

RHODESIAN RIDGEBACK EU MAGAZINE

Romeo is my second male imported from Australia. When his breeder Linda Friedland (ElangeniRR) sent me his first pictures, I was literally fascinated by that piercing look in his eyes...I already had my beloved Romae (MCH CIB Elangeni the places youll go AI) and had no plans for a second import (I had been anxious enough with the first one!!! ) but when Linda wrote to me that this little puppy might have an important future in Europe, I didn’t have a moment’s hesitation and replied, “I’ll take him!!!”...Romeo arrived about ten days before Christmas 2019 and was my greatest gift. If it hadn’t been for the damn Covid 19 that shattered all our plans ... Socialization therefore was mostly done at home and circumscribed, but once we were back to near normal, with patience, lots of exercise and all my love I was able to get him out of his “comfort zone.” Today it is a pleasure and a joy to enter the ring with him and rejoice in the appreciation of Italian and foreign judges. But the culmination of his big boy soul, he expresses it with his playmate Béké, my youngest female, with whom he goes on wild runs and dives into the lake. Romae (my first stud) remains the boss but they respect each other and coexist peacefully with the other 4 females in the house...all it takes is a minimum of caution at feeding time!!!!

Maputo River

Switzerland

Germany

www.maniema.ch

www.maputoriver.de

Laura Fluri

Maputo River Kristina Arnold

/

Maputo River Ridgebacks

Usono

Shawdi

Germany

Sweden

www.usono-ridgebacks.de

www.shawdi.se

nadine.weixler

KennelShawdi

usono_ridgebacks

kennelshawdi

African Uzuri RHODESIAN RIDGEBACK EU MAGAZINE

RHODESIAN RIDGEBACK BREEDERS 150

Maniema

Malozi

Germany

Finland

www.african-uzuri.com

malozirr@gmail.com

tanja.maria.927

malozirr

tanjamaria883

/

Umlani

Villagedogs Kizazi Ajabu RR

Switzerland

Belgium Italy

www.umlani.ch

www.villagedogs.be www.rhodesianridgebackajabu.eu

Umlani Rhodesian Ridgeback

Villagedogs elisabettag2RRs

umlani_rhodesian_ridgeback

villagedogs bettagrande

151

Netherlands

Italy

marike.geel@gmail.com

www.rhodesianridgebackajabu.eu

Rhodesian Ridgebacks Onyesha

elisabettag2

/

bettagrande

BelloRosario

Nomawethu

Norway

Germany

www.bellorosario.com

www.nomawethu.de

BelloRosarioRR

NomawethuRidgebacks

/

leaprusnat

Ridgepuppy Croatia

Neomele

Croatia

Croatia

/

www.neomele.com

Ridgepuppy.Croatia

maja.kljaja

Ridgepuppy.Croatia

rhodesian_ridgebacks_neomele

MOHAGET’S

Of Muna Ya Kusini

Sweden

Switzerland

www.mohagets.se

www.of-muna.ch

Mohagets

Jasmin Hoppe

segerlund76

jasmine_munayakusini

RHODESIAN RIDGEBACK BREEDERS

Kizazi Ajabu RR

RHODESIAN RIDGEBACK EU MAGAZINE

Onyesha

Imara ya Furaha

France

Switzerland

www.matobohills.de

imara-ya-furaha.ch

Matobohills

Angela Di Stefano

matobo_hills_kennel

ridgebacks_imara_ya_furaha

RidgeLove

Khoisan

Slovakia

Slovenia

www.ridgelove.sk

www.khoisan.si

RidgeLove kennel

kuralt.snezka

RidgeLove kennel

designbystarr

Harmakhis Wisdom RHODESIAN RIDGEBACK EU MAGAZINE

RHODESIAN RIDGEBACK BREEDERS 152

MatoboHills

Sangoma

Italy

Poland

www.saraventurelli.it

sangoma.pl

Rhodesian Ridgeback Harmakhis Wisdom

edyta.ossowska

rhodesian_harmakhis_wisdom

/

Hluhluwe

Immermoed

Switzerland

The Netherlands

www.hluhluwe.ch

immermoed-ridgebacks.com

Laura Greco

Immermoed Rhodesian Ridgebacks

Hluhluwe_kennel

immermoed_rhodesian_ridgebacks