RHODESIAN RIDGEBACK EU MAGAZINE ISSUE 7/2020 by RHODESIAN RIDGEBACK MAGAZINE

DEAR READERS

ll too often I hear people saying that the Rhodesian Ridgebacks is a nervous, and even an aggressive dog. Apparently they see things happening at shows that are less than desirable. Ridgebacks growling, snarling at each other, handlers having a tough time holding on to them, sometimes not even succeeding. I think many exhibitors take their dog’s good temperament for granted and don’t take into consideration how stressful the show environment can be for the dog. It takes lots of socialization of the dog before these events, and lots of practicing. The dog needs opportunities to meet with other canines, big and small, and learn how to interact with them. As for the owners and handlers, on the day, we are pretty stressed as well, giving our dogs even more reason to be unsettled. Hormones also play a major role, the young adults will show different behaviours than they did as puppies, etc. All this is giving our breed a bad rep, which is certainly does not deserve. Perhaps dogs and owners would benefit from attending show training classes, and group walks together with other breeds or with Ridgebacks. Shows are not the place to encourage wild play and socializing; things can and do go horribly wrong there. Enjoy your Ridgebacks, and enjoy showing – as and when the virus lets us do so again. Your editor Alena Kadlecová (Jílková) 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 7 / AUGUST 2021

CONTENTS R H O D E S I A N

— TROTTER VS. GALLOPER

RHODESIAN RIDGEBACK EU MAGAZINE

— S LO

— SANGOMA BREEDER

— MAANHAAR PRIMO-CREATUS BREEDER

R I D G E B A C K

E U

M A G A Z I N E

— PUPPY EXERCISE

— LINDA COX AN INTERVIEW

— INANDA MELLBERG BREEDER

— TRACKING WORK

— SLO

— EDYTA OSSOVSKA AN INTERVIEW

— CARLINCOX BREEDER

106 — HOOPERS WORK

110

116

120

126

— ČKRR CLUB

— KAČENKA OLDY

— MONTY HERO

— KIDNEY DIET

EDITOR ALENA KADLECOVÁ (JÍLKOVÁ) (CZECH REPUBLIC) RHODESIAN RIDGEBACK LOVER AND R R O W N E R , N U T R I T I O N A N D H E A LT H SPECIALIST

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

Teo’s

132

— OVERWEIGHT OBESITY

138

— TEO’S RECIPES

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 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,

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— SEE THROUGH CAMERA LENS.....

162

— COVER DOG

RR OWNER, GRAPHIC DESIGNER EWA LARSSON (UK) KC JUDGE, BULLDOG OWNER, GRAPHIC DESIGNER

LICENCE OWNER EWA LARSSON S N E Ž K A K U R A LT

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RHODESIAN RIDGEBACK EU MAGAZINE ISSUE 7 / AUGUST 2021

From Orit's book shelf

TROTTER VS. GALLOPER - WHERE DOES THE RIDGEBACK HEADING? Scenthound vs. Sighthound – why does it matter?

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W RI T T EN BY O R I T N E V O

PROLOG

SUMMARY

At the 2008 RR World Congress in Ireland we learned that the AKC was considering splitting and expanding its seven variety groups into 10; including dividing the Hound Group to 2 groups: “Scenthounds” and “Sighthounds”. We learned that members of the Rhodesian Ridgeback Club of the United States voted to have the Ridgeback placed in the proposed Sighthound Group and not the Scenthounds Group. Back in Ireland what was natural to the American delegates seemed for many of the delegates from Europe and Africa to be a very strange concept.

In this article I would like to show that thinking about a Ridgeback as a Scenthound or as a Sighthound is to think about it as a Trotter or as a Galloper, and that has a great influence on how the dog should look like, and how it should move and behave in the field.

For me there was more to this story than just a formal group-division debate. For me this debate was a key to understand and explain the question about how a Ridgeback should look and move. This article will try to explain what we can learn from that.

Dividing dogs into groups is a fairly new game, about 100 years old, but it is not just a matter of terminology. The moment we split our dogs into “Groups” and let them compete within this framework, we condemn them not to stand by themselves and stay true to their pure nature. From that point the danger of altering their true character and structure is almost unavoidable. In our case, I will claim, classifying the Ridgeback in the Sighthound Group – the group of the Gallopers – will doom it to become a Galloper-type breed, something that it very different from his Trotter Heritage.

What I propose is that this technical tool – that is sorting dogs for competition purposes – this system might influence and alter breed type.

ORIGIN OF THE GROUP CONCEPT All of us, who participate in the sport of dog shows aim toward BOB, BIG, BIS. But did you know that breed groups are a relatively new game - about 100 years old? And that BIG has significance only within the framework of all-breed shows? The first dog shows were recorded in the 17th Century and this sport was established during the second part of the 19th Century (the Crystal Palace show in London 1851, the first Westminster Kennel Club show in New York 1877). The concept of dog shows was derived from the agricultural shows, where the farmers showed their best products: alongside the biggest pumpkin and best cow, they also exhibited the best hunting dogs or best fighting dog. This was the concept of “exhibition.” The concept of “Best of Breed” was introduced only at the beginning of the 20th Century (at Westminster in 1907 and at Crufts only in 1928), and brought a new concept – the concepts of “competition,” which soon oriented less toward a “utility” concept and more toward a “beauty” concept. When you have a Best of Breed, it is a short way to Best in Show, and since you have so many breeds you need for that to go through Group winners. In 1923 the American Kennel Club introduced the group system at the Westminster show, following the five-group system that was also recognized by the British Kennel Club at the time, FCI introduced 11 groups when it started its activity.

HOW YOU CALL THEM IS HOW YOU SEE THEM The English system of seven groups is less challenging when it comes to hunting breeds; dogs that hunt actively are in the Hound Group, dogs that assist the hunter in specific segments of the hunt are in the Sporting Group. FCI has to deal with many more breeds. While AKC has 197 breeds and the KC has 218, the FCI has 353 breeds! FCI has more specified divisions and sees “Hounds” as three separate groups: groups number 4, 6 and 10. While the AKC recognize 32 breeds in its entire Hound Group and the (British) Kennel Club recognize 38 breeds in that comprehensive group, the FCI recognize more than 70 breeds in Group 6 alone, another 13 in

Group 10 and 9 more at the Dachshund Group 4. Plus 11 breeds from group 5 (Pharaoh, Podencos and Cirenco). FCI named Group 6 as the “Hound” Group. “Hound” means a dog that hunts by itself but it also known as a dog that hunts mainly by scent, so it is known also as “Scenthounds” or “Earth dog.” FCI group 10 name, in most of FCI countries, indicates speed and, more specifically, chasing a hare. In German, Dutch, Swedish, Norwegian and Danish it is windhund, meaning literally windhound ; in Finish it is vinttikoirat, mimic the same. In French it is lévriers, in Italian it is levriero and in Spanish it is lebreles, all related to the word lièvre (hare). So in the Continental languages, this group name indicates speed, and being fast enough to catch a hare. 1

In English those dogs have another name – Sighthound or Gazehound – which indicate a dog that use its eyes and vision.

WORKING ABILITIES The classic Sighthound chases prey from hare to gazelle or deer and work in open fields, using – as a result – primarily speed and sight. 2

When you are quick enough, and you can reach what you see in the distance, you run and use your eyes; otherwise, you have to use your nose that can tell you not only the present but also the past. The Hounds hunt primarily by scent and endurance, they chase the prey for a long time and distance and do it in a varied environment and surface. While the Sighthound will run his prey to its end, Hounds will force their game by endurance. One of the most important characteristics of the Ridgeback is being a true multi-purpose and versatile breed. They will protect the owner, will function as hunters, as rescue dogs and even service dogs. Most are just loyal pets, but if you ask them to do something they are quite efficient. Sighthounds also can be versatile, but it is not intrinsic to their nature. In the article “Sighthound Identity” Sighthound specialist and Deerhound breeder Richard Hawkins writes about this group: “They were developed for speed, no more, no less… Sighthounds are not the most intelligent of dogs, in the way we recognize intelligence in the working breeds. They were bred to be passionate independent hunters, to run fast with little time 3

1 Some say that those dogs were initially called “Wendischer” (Slovakian) dogs as they came from that region and somehow along the years the word got turned in “Wind”. Another explanation is that in old German language, the word “Wint” was used to designate the hunt. What ever are the historical roots the fact is that for decades the name that was fixed is the “wind hound”. 2

Irish Wolfhound and Borzoi hunt also wolves

3 Published at “The Performance Sighthound Journal” JulySeptember 2007 issue

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Group division is something artificial that has nothing to do with the breeds themselves. Dogs are not to be classified strictly and some of the more interesting breeds, like the Ridgeback, have to pay the bill for this human passion to categorize.

to think. They are not particularly amenable to any form of training other than physical conditioning.” Well, different from what we think about our Ridgebacks isn’t it?

proportion between the widths of the rib cage to its depth and a very well tucked-up abdomen; it requires special long and lean legs, meant for maximum ground cover.

STRUCTURE

In “Dog Locomotion and Gait Analysis,” Curtis Brown talks about “legginess ratio,” which is the ratio between the distances from the bottom of the dog’s chest to the ground divided by the height at the withers minus the aforementioned distance. The Dingo has a ratio of 1.00. Sighthounds are varied but they are on the upper scale. The Whippet and Saluki ratio is 1.32, the racing and coursing Greyhound and the Pharaoh Hound are1.30 (so is the cheetah), the Deerhound is 1.27. our ultimate trotter the Dalmatian ratio is 1.17 (so I will refer to that as the ideal ratio for Ridgeback as well, since our breed wasn’t included at this study), on the other side of the scale you can find the Bulldog ratio - 0.70 and the Dachshund ratio is 0.30.

The function brings us to structure. FCI Sighthound group is one of the more homogenous and more distinct among the ten FCI breed groups. The classical Sighthound has what Prof. Raoul Baron called already in the 19th Century a “Longliniar” (lean) structure. Many of them are also “Convexilinear” (convexed) and all of them have a “dolichocephalic” head. Sighthounds are lean, narrow, with minimal weight to their size and function, usually they are “high on legs” which makes them quite square; altogether they have an aerodynamic structure. Their aerodynamic long and lean heads are without much of a stop and with relatively narrow jaws. Sighthounds also have unique physical features that they do not share with Ridgebacks: their extremely strong and capacious heart, relatively far bigger than in other breeds and thus capable of an increased cardiac output and higher blood pressure. Greyhounds, Salukis and Deerhounds have a heart that is on average twice heart-tobody-weight then non-Sighthound dogs. Their cardiovascular properties are unique. Some Sighthounds have high blood cell volume and hemoglobin values; Some also claim that Sighthounds have higher number of retinal ganglion cells, retain higher sensitivity to rapid movement in the horizontal field of vision. Rhodesian Ridgeback (sadly) share none of those super-abilities. More than that, the main structural characteristic of the breed is his balanced, averaged, unexaggerated structure, which is exactly what you need for endurance and versatility.

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TROTTER VS. GALLOPER Sighthounds are Gallopers. The work of a Ridgeback was to cover great distances over harsh terrain on expeditions that took many days, every day, the whole day. That kind of work can be only be done by a trotter. Not for nothing the first breed standard was built upon the platform of the Dalmatian’s, the ultimate trotter. Shifting the Ridgeback to a Sighthound means re-building it as a galloper. What is the difference between the two? The gallop is an extreme mode of action executed for a limited and intense period of time. The trot is a very even, very balanced mode of action that can be maintained for a long time and distance. Each requires very different body structures. The extreme double suspension gallop asks for an extreme body structure. It is an unsymmetrical movement, based mainly on the super-engine behind and the flexibility of the coupling part of the body (the spine). That kind of movement requires lean outlines, with almost flat ribs, unique

Another important characteristic of the fast gallopers is the difference between front and rear angulations. While they present normally well-developed rear angulations their front angulations are not-so developed. According to Brown, “Sighthounds have blades about 10 degree steeper than that found in other class of dogs.” On the other hand, the trotters rely upon one major factor – balance. For that the body structure of a trotter will be anything but extreme. The trotter has to be very balanced and of a moderate build. The “legginess ratio” of the Dalmatian – the ultimate trotter and the closest to the Ridgeback Brown’s study had – is well behind the gallopers - 1.17. The trotters have moderate angulations, ideally equal in front and rear assembly – think about the Wolf or the African Wild Dog. That means they will have less back angulation but more front angulation than the galloper. Ridgebacks should be able to gallop well and to be agile to catch up and deal with the big cat, but he also needs the body mass and substance that is significant while engaging an animal like the lion or wild boar. The multi-purpose Ridgeback couldn’t execute his job without substantial body and head. The only other recognized breed which has to deal with big cats is the Dogo Argentino; can you imagine the Dogo being classified as a Sighthound?

THE ROLE OF LURE COURSING AND ASFA Since lion hunting is not really an option anymore, many alternatives appear. Lure coursing is one of the most popular sports, especially in the States. In the USA to compete in lure coursing the breed club has to declare to the American Sighthound Field Association (ASFA) that they consider their breed to be a “Sighthound.” But is being an excellent galloper the only quality you need to become a great hunter? In that vein,

The Rhodesian Ridgeback has no significant history of coursing. An excellent utilitarian hound, companion and guard dog, it has been used to chase, drive and run down prey – but that is true for almost any breed in the Hound Group. The Ridgeback’s hunting specialty is big-game hunting, not “hare (lévriers) hunting” and its presence in the ASFA/AKC lure-coursing group is no indication of true Sighthound status. As Hawkins says, “It is simply proof of ASFA’s generosity to those who seek to reward their hounds with healthy recreational fun.”

WHY DOES IT MATTER? As Denise Flaim hints in her “Outta Sight” article it all might be a matter of different definition of Sighthound Group, while the FCI countries see the Sighthound Group in a “purist” notion, the Americans just see it in broader perceptions. So, we just have to understand the different vocabulary and that’s it. Why does it matter? 4

It matters because giving Ridgebacks a “Sighthound” status isn’t just a classification. It means that at the end of the day people will start seeing the Ridgeback as a hound that is mainly a galloper. With time (and one might say it has already here) people will start to forget the original nature of the breed (remember the Saluki’s story). That will start to influence (and again, some might say it has already started) the appearance of the breed toward a leggier, lighter-boned, light-headed, extremely rear-angulated with notso-much front angulations and less balanced appearance. That tendency will be increased when the successful breeders, wanting to win Groups and Best in Show, will have to defeat those impressive Afghan Hounds, Greyhounds and Whippets. It will be only natural that step by step they will start favoring those exaggerated eye-catcher Ridgebacks, with long legs, a lot of “impressive” easy-to-notice back angulations, they might even have a bit of sloping top-line because of the exaggerated angulations. Those might be able to compete better at the Group level with the gallopers, under Sighthound Group specialist judges, and all-rounders; but that offers another breed type then when they compete with a Beagle or a Foxhound under scenthounds specialist. As I mentioned at the beginning of this paper – I think that Group division is something artificial, 4

“The Ridgeback Register” Summer issue 2011

without any true cynological value. I also stated that the Ridgeback is among those “special” breeds, which thanks to its unique mix, history and versatility, is difficult to be classified. But since we all play this game of “Dog Shows/Competitions” we have to understand that the group where our breed is classified in, will determine its “benchmark”. My claim is that by classifying the Rhodesian Ridgeback as a Sighthound we doom the breed to alter its physical structure from that of a trotter to that of a galloper and to become a different breed. I truly hope that there will be enough breeders in our breed that will do their best to prevent this tempting tendency. I do hope that when we breed, show or judge Ridgebacks we will always remember how they should look like – a moderate balanced dog that can trot for hours and use their brains and character to be wise enough to catch the pray.

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let me mention a story told by another Sighthound expert, Dr. Dan Belkin who describes in his article “The Functional Saluki: Lessons from the Coursing Field” how a young Saluki, that couldn’t compete on pure-speed with his top open-fieldcoursing Salukis, was the only one in the pack that managed to catch hares and for the whole week in the desert was feeding the two coursing champions, himself and Belkin. “A good hunting Saluki is not necessarily a good coursing Saluki” was Belkin’s conclusion.

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WHEN IS TOO MUCH? Wri tte n by

Urša Petrovič

APPROPRIATE EXERCISE FOR YOUR PUPPY: HOW MUCH IS TOO MUCH? Imagine a very common scenario. Puppy just had a (too) long walk so he sits down in the middle of the road and doesn’t want to walk anymore. And the owner, not knowing what to do and not understanding the situation, desperately pulls him on a leash behind him. Do you think the puppy is stubborn or just simply tired? We have to be aware of their limitations and take into consideration that puppies are NOT small adult dogs. In this article, I will talk about activities that are suitable for puppies, and which are not. How puppies grow, how long walks should be, what activities they need and what problems can occur if we go overboard.

WHY TOO MUCH EXERCISE CAN BE DAMAGING TO YOUR PUPPY Non-stop interaction with the environment, the owner and dog friends teaches the puppy that he must always be ready for action. In the long term, long walks and excessive play will not tire the puppy but will make him fitter, and the level of stress hormones will never fall to normal values. The fact is that dogs are practically tireless in the long run, due to the fact that their muscle fibers differ from ours. Rest is crucial for a puppy’s physical, emotional and mental development. It allows the young body to regenerate and helps the puppy to integrate all the newly acquired knowledge. Puppies that don’t get enough sleep have a harder time learning and they lack coordination.

“

Puppies tend to sleep 20 hours per day on average.

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PUPPY EXERCISE

And most importantly - excessive exercise can be dangerous. The puppy’s bones are still growing and his muscles are not yet fully developed. Excessive and inappropriate activity puts bones and muscles under too much stress, which can lead to fractures, early onset of degenerative joint problems, or problems in old age.

HOW LONG DO PUPPIES GROW? The puppy’s body grows along with the growth of long bones. Dogs reach adult size between 6-24 months of age. The bigger and heavier the breed, the longer the puppy grows. They also differ in which age periods growth is fastest. Large breeds, such as the Great Dane, Mastiff and St. Bernard, do not fully mature until 12-24 months of age and grow fastest between birth and 20 weeks of age. Smaller breeds (i.e. ‘toys’), represented by the Chihuahua, Maltese and Pomeranian etc., reach full body size between 6-12 months and grow fastest between birth and 11 weeks of age (Hawthorne et al., 2004).

WHAT IS ENDOCHONDRAL OSSIFICATION AND WHY ARE GROWTH PLATES SO IMPORTANT

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Before I explain how long bones grow, I would just like to point out that bones are alive and always grow throughout life. With activity, bones are broken down and resorbed at the same time. Moderate and regular activity is crucial for maintaining a balance between these two processes and maintaining good bone density (Fischer and Lilje, 2016). The growth of long bones is called enchondral ossification. This type of ossification begins with the replacement of a hyaline cartilage model within the embryo by bone and ends when the dog reaches maturity and growth ceases (Aspinall and Cappello, 2009). Primary centres of ossification appear in the diaphysis or shaft of the bone, where osteoblasts (cells responsible for bone growth) replace cartilage with bone cells. These gradually spread towards the ends of the bones or epiphyses, where the secondary centre of ossification is located. Osteoclasts (cells responsible for remodelling and destroying the bone) meanwhile begin to form a marrow cavity that is later filled with the bone marrow. A narrow band of cartilage, called the growth or epiphyseal plate, persists between the epiphysis and the diaphysis. This plate allows longitudinal bone growth. When the puppy reaches adult size, the growth plate is replaced by bone and longitudinal growth is no longer possible. We say that the growth plate closes (Aspinall and Cappello, 2009).

For example, we can look at the elbow joint, which consists of 3 bones: the humerus, the ulna and the radius. The various parts of the growth plate of the distal humerus close between 6 weeks and 8 months of age, the proximal ulna between 5-11 months, and the proximal radius between 3-10 months. The large range between closing times is more than obvious and another reason why we need to be especially careful when choosing activities for our puppies (Hammond and McConnel, 2013). INTERESTING FACT: If the growth plates close too quickly, the result is dwarfism or achondroplasia caused by a mutation in a single gene. An example of a mutation are breeds with short legs, e.g. Dachshunds and Corgis (Fischer and Lilje, 2016).

HOW LONG SHOULD A WALK WITH YOUR PUPPY BE? Morphologically, dogs are a very diverse species, so it is very hard to simplify how long should puppy walks be. We must also take into account that puppies in the litter don’t develop at the same pace, so it is necessary to use common sense. We can follow the guidelines to extend the walk by 5 minutes from 3 months onwards. So a walk at 4 months can be 10 minutes long and at a 1 year about 30-45 minutes. It is better to go out several times a day than once for a (too) long time.

WHEN IT COMES TO PUPPY EXERCISE LESS IS MORE It is very important to stop the activity before the puppy becomes too tired or upset. Fatigue is often shown by stopping to walk, sitting or lying down, pulling, biting your legs, arms, leash and barking. It is very important to listen to them and be aware of their limitations. Puppies are not adult dogs and their little bodies need lots of rest. Remember – a little exercise multiple times a day goes a long way.

WHAT ACTIVITIES SHOULD WE AVOID? • Long monotonous walks • Walking and running on slippery flooring (tiles, laminate, marble, ice, muddy grounds, etc.) • Walking up and down the stairs – we should

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Why is this so important? Growth plates are the weakest part of the bone, so when injured, the puppy’s bone usually breaks in this area. If a growth plate is involved in a fracture (and it often is), this part of the bone no longer grows. This leads to uneven bone growth and consequently to deformation of the joints. It is also important to note that the growth plates do not all close during the same time interval.

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always carry the puppy and prevent the use of the stairs • Jumping in and out of the car, from the sofa or other higher surfaces - ramps work great for this purpose, or we can simply lift and carry the puppy • Rough and too fast play with other dogs • Ball throwing - fast turns are very dangerous for growing puppies and adult dogs • Teaching a puppy how to heel where they constantly look at you - the neck muscles are not yet strong enough to perform this exercise, and asymmetry in muscle development can occur if the exercise is always performed on one side only. Can you imagine how much your neck would hurt if you had to stare at the ceiling turned to the left all day?

• Repetitive movements – due to weak muscles, we should not expect a puppy to sit on command 20 times a day

IS EARLY NEUTERING A GOOD OR BAD IDEA? Sex hormones are crucial for bone growth. After neutering, the production of sex hormones stops, causing a delay in the closure of the growth plates. Research has shown that the risk of ruptured cruciate ligaments in neutered dogs is 3-4 times higher, and the incidence of other joint diseases increases (hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, more frequent femoral fractures, etc.) (Hart et al., 2014; Witsberger et al., 2008). For the above reasons (and many others), it is recommended that the procedure is decided only after puberty.

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they will learn how to communicate in the dog world • A great activity that is crucial for puppies is controlled play with canine friends and socializing with stable and calm adult dogs.

HOW TO EXERCISE YOUR PUPPY Physical Activities • Let them walk and discover the world around them at their own pace, and don’t expect them to look at your face all the time. • We can encourage them to crawl and praise them when they stretch • We can put poles on the ground and encourage them to walk over them • We can introduce them to different surfaces and allow them to calmly explore the slopes and higher obstacles when they are big enough. That way they will develop good coordination, balance and proprioception. • It is crucial to let them interact and play with other stable and calm adult dogs, that way

• If we play »tug of war« we should be VERY gentle and keep the toy in the height of the puppy’s neck • Instead of throwing the ball, we can hide the ball and teach the puppy to search for it. This way we can prevent uncontrolled turns and possible injuries. Mental stimulation • Chewing • Treat searching – we can use snuffle mats or simply throw some treats on the grass and let the puppy find them • We should teach them important life skills such as recall, safe road crossing, loose leash walking, being polite to other dogs and people, calmly observing their surroundings, etc. • And the most important thing – we should let them be dogs and let them explore the world at their own pace

WHAT ABOUT CANINE MASSAGE FOR YOUR PUPPY? Clinical Canine Massage is a great choice for your puppy: • It’s a friendly way to get them used to a different touch, making visits to the vet less stressful when they grow up • Promotes better body awareness • Stimulates the functioning of the parasympathetic nervous system, reduces stress and helps the puppy to process all the new things he is exposed to every day

film the movement while walking and trotting from different sides (front, back, side). This way we get a visual comparison and we can take action when it seems that something is going on.

TO CONCLUDE… Avoid long walks, slippery flooring, rough games with other dogs, ball throwing, and replace these with moderate activity, mental stimulation and calm exploring. This way the puppies will grow into stable and healthy mature dogs that will keep you happy for many years to come. In addition, do not forget about rest, which is crucial for puppies. It is better to be active several times a day than to overload them once a day. It is important to be aware that even a small injury can lead to an imbalance in the body, so it is crucial to address it. Rather than too much exercise, focus on building a good relationship with the puppy. Above all, have fun with them as much as possible – we all know they grow up too fast.

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• Minor soft tissue injuries can be detected and addressed before they cause major problems, compensation by other parts of the body, and improper posture and movement. WORD OF ADVICE: It is highly recommended that we palpate the puppy from head to tail several times a week. This gives us a sense of how normal tissue feels so we can detect small changes in their body musculature. Are the muscles soft or hard to the touch? Is any part of the body warmer than others? Is the puppy more sensitive to touch in a certain area? We can also

Urša Petrovič, Clinical Canine Massage Practitioner with the Canine Massage Guild www.caninaviva.si -------------------------Hart BL, Hart LA, Thigpen AP, Willits NH (2014) Long-Term Health Effects of Neutering Dogs: Comparison of Labrador Retrievers with Golden Retrievers. PLoS ONE 9(7): e102241. doi: 10.1371/journal. pone.0102241

Witsberger TH, Villamil JA, Schultz LG, Hahn AW, Cook JL. Prevalence of, and risk factors for, hip dysplasia and cranial cruciate ligament deficiency in dogs. J Am Vet Med Assoc 2008; 232: 1818–24 Photo: archive Loretta Biczysko-Teperek, Planet Melmac (Rhodesian Ridgeback Kennel - Poland)

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HEA LT H And suddenly the diagnosis is SLO

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Written by

Katrin Kemper

ymmetric Lupoid Onychodystrophy - a word that is not only hard to memorize (and who would want to!), it is a real tongue twister. It is something that is likely to break the dog’s claws and the owners’ heart. Still, the latter keeps telling herself: SLO is a bad diagnosis, but NOT the worst, because it is not life threatening - so the glass is half full. We decided to fight it together, with the most possible cheerfulness, knowing that the energies are transferred from the human to the dog and vice versa. The last thing the patient needs is a negative vibe!

ure of the claw bags or horn in more than one paw - ultimately all claws are affected.

This report is not intended to be a medical treatise or to reproduce what can be read in relevant publications and on the internet. It is not meant to be a tearful diary, as can be found in some forums, but a report on experiences, it is meant to be factual and to “take you by the hand” when SLO forces its way into your life. It is meant to help you to recognize early warning signs in time and to deal with the diagnosis. And... it should give courage!

The disease literally creeps into your life – initially, during the first phase, almost unnoticed by the layman. Almost in parallel, two phenomena appear - the claws begin to grow oversized, become brittle, fragile and hollow (they present over time in sometimes grotesque deformations) and the dog begins to lick the paws - first slowly, later at times almost in a frenzy.

SLO is an autoimmune disease in dogs that results in severe claw problems in otherwise seemingly healthy dogs. It is characterised by the fail-

Now SLO is increasingly finding its way into our Ridgebacks as well. This is not only shown by experience, but also by the fact that in one of the latest RR books on the German market, a section is dedicated to this topic in the chapter Health under the heading ‘Breed-typical diseases’. Realistic, important, but also frightening.

PHASES OF THE DISEASE

Since we live in the country and walk relatively little on asphalt, I attributed the claw growth in the early days precisely to this. The licking goes along with the phase of post-season in the course

Soon in the next stage, which begins in our case in the middle of July, the first claw bed changes. This stage two assaults us in the bliss of summer, as it could not be more beautiful, on the last Thursday of July. During a rest on an extended walk we sit, as so often, next to each other on a bench. This is not to be understood as an exhilarating introduction to a serious topic, because Cimba actually loves to sit next to me on the bench and “ridgeback-like” she lets her gaze wander into distant horizons. Not only does this make me happy, but it also gives me the opportunity to get a close-up look at my dog leaning against me. On this day, one thing catches my eye - on the left rear foot, a claw bed is changing. It looks like it is opening up and Cimba also doesn’t like me touching her there at all. Alarmed and suspecting a nail fungus, I immediately call my vet at home and make an appointment for next Monday. Somehow I have a funny gut feeling and can’t help articulating my worries and researching the “web of unlimited possibilities”, which is at the same time so practical, but also sometimes to be cursed. On the same day, in conversation, I encounter for the first time the term “ausschuhen”, which translated means the loss of the claw bags, and SLO. I again try the Internet, find various things, but somehow at the

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of June 2011, and I explained it away quite humanly - or better: animalistically - with Cimba’s urge to take care of her potential puppies. The whole thing seemed unusual at first, but in no way threatening, especially since in circles of “dog people” as at a seminar in the Spessart - it certainly contributed to the entertainment program when the loud and not to be overheard licking penetrated the silence of the culinary pleasures at dinner. In the circle of “nondog people”, on the other hand, we made an effort to skillfully mask the noises.

same time do not want to know, push it far away and suppress it - for a few days or better: hours - successfully. Because on the weekend we are in Bad Wildungen for the club show. In our case, everything then follows blow by blow. We had hardly arrived in Bad Wildungen and met first dog friends, when Cimba races over the meadow and comes back with bloody paws on the hind legs. On each paw a claw is sticking out and one in particular seems to hurt a lot. The first impulse is to go home immediately, but it is the weekend, only the emergency service is available, and the treatment cannot start until Monday anyway. Bad Wildungen, which we had been looking forward to, is actually the wrong place, but somehow also exactly the right place for the final outbreak of this disease – if the word ‘right’ has any place here at all, because at the moment everything just seems wrong. But here we have optimal veterinary care and the feeling of proximity to the expertise around the clock. After the initial diagnosis, the loving first aid of Cimba and the emotional care of her mistress, the second impulse follows: Stay - because nothing happens before Monday anyway and where do they understand us better than here! Cimba hobbles about with a bandaged paw and brings a furtive tear to some people’s eyes, because she doesn’t let herself be hung up, but just carries on, only extending her resting phases. And that remains her secret throughout the entire illness. Lots of rest and when she is awake, she is always cheerful. A few sleepless, ransacked nights, a few packs of tissue wipes and about 20 pairs of socks later, the expertise increases. I also learn that there are three officially designated specialists in Germany, but we are very fortunate in that our local veterinarian, whom we have trusted for years, is very knowledgeable. She has already treated several SLO dogs, is happy to cooperate with one of the specialists we consult and uses everything to improve her knowledge in this field even more. What a gift! After all this, we now know for sure: it is SLO.

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We start with the treatment that is now “state of the art”: omega-3 fatty acids in very high dosage and an immuno-modulatory combination of an antibiotic from the class of tetracyclines (doxycycline) and nicotinamide. After 3 - 6 months, the tetracyclines and nicotinamide are discontinued - the omega-3 fatty acids are continued

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for life. In Scandinavia, for example, treatment is successfully limited to fatty acids alone. We decided to continue living as normally as possible, even if this is difficult at times. Nevertheless, for the time being, walks only take place on a drag line, so as not to overstrain the claws. This makes neither the dog nor me particularly happy and moreover I ask myself whether it really makes sense. After all, the claws will and must fall off anyway - and sparing them may also be artificially delaying the inevitable. So I soon decided to change the strategy and give Cimba back a piece of quality of life. She thanks me by throwing herself into the grass and jumping in the grass, again and again. She romps over the meadows again and again, full of joie de vivre, and never stops being happy. She doses her running intuitively - she runs less and “strides” more, which is not really her style. But her instinct and “inner navigation system” are geared towards sparing, because she doesn’t like to go too far either - how clever!

When she is in pain, it hurts in her soul – when she just tries to avoid the incredibly long claws, it sometimes looks almost funny. And somehow she “wobbles” all the time and always walks a bit restrained - rolls sideways, walks with X or O legs, swings her hips, but she walks and walks and walks ..... and loves life!

THE ACUTE PHASE OR: ON THE WAY TO BECOMING THE SOCK QUEEN Initial projections had indicated that Cimba would probably lose her claws fairly quickly. But far from it. She, who usually gives up everything and shares with everyone, WON’T give up her claws so easily. She takes her time! And she is continuously adding to her sock collection! No matter how long the acute phase lasts, there are lots of ups and downs. The course of how the claws go are different and sometimes require

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spontaneous and “unconventional” reactions and methods. In each case, we need a lot of socks to protect the sometimes battered paws in phases. They are - at least in the summertime - better than the classical paw shoes, because they are softer, more flexible and more hygienic, because they can be washed easily. For Cimba, children’s socks in sizes 98 - 104 have proven to be right - the version with the studs is ideal - they do twist when walking, but are inherently more stable than others. Girls of course like to wear pink and the boys light blue – so passers-by will still be puzzled if its a boy or a girl, according to the sock colour. By the way, Cimba prefers esoteric lilac and she is mutating slowly but surely into a „Socks-Queen“. The socks are easily held up with Leukosilk in 2.5 cm width to wrap and fix – on wetter days, the

somewhat more waterproof Leukopor is recommended - if necessary, also Leukoplast, Tesa/extrastrong or electrical tape - the latter, however, destroy the socks in turbo time. If necessary, you can also fix the sock with PetFlex, self-adhesive flexible paw bandage. This creates a different look at the same time! And if it really pours (and the Ridgeback still wants to go out!?), then the little shoes ‘Toffler’ from ‘Sabro’ proved themselves to be the best solution. On the front paws, the socks hold rather badly when walking anyway. Speaking of booties - Cimba now retrieves them before going for a walk, because the disease tempts us to do even more games and head exercises in the house on those days when walking is not possible. And so we have simply expanded our portfolio of “indoor show”, play and fun and even found joy in retrieving, which until then was not so popular.

EVERYDAY LIFE WITH SLO

When it comes to care, a few things have proven to be very effective. We dab bloody claw stumps with iodoform ether - olfactory a challenge for humans and dogs, but derived from the field of veterinary medicine for horses and very effective! It stops the bleeding and stimulates horn formation by drying the claw corium. Wounds and torn out claws we treat with Mielosan spray, which disinfects and heals. Over the course I observe again and again also small skin changes, like sudden bald and/or sore places in the area of the runs. For these skin problems help very well from human medicine classic Bepanthen creme and especially Mirfulan, an ointment with urea, zinc and cod liver oil. We regularly disinfect open and sore claws or skin areas after walks with colloidal silver, which the pharmacist makes up freshly for us every week. We use the necessary conservative, but also complementary “alternative” treatment methods, of course in cooperation with our veterinarian and an experienced TCM therapist. Every disease - and especially an autoimmune disease - is exhausting. Cimba’s batteries are recharged about every 4 weeks with the help of acupuncture, and you can feel how good it does her. Massage of the tense muscles is also helpful and can be done soothingly by a therapist or at home. Unfortunately, from time to time, despite the antibiotics, severe inflammatory reactions occur. Calendula compresses, subsequent dressings with IchthoVet Gel and the administration of Hepar Sulfuris in the initial phase and Silicea in the further course are helpful here. All in all, regular visits to the vet determine the daily routine to a certain extent, the claws are stabilized with tape, careful and regular manicure reduces the gigantic leverage of the constantly growing claws. Everything wants to be observed - and again and again advice and medical care is needed. Every three months we do a big blood test to check the relevant values. On this occasion we also send blood to Professor Dr. Tosso Leeb in Bern, who together with Dr. Linek is intensively researching the genetic risk factors for SLO in the Rhodesian Ridgeback. Together they want to develop a genetic test that provides reliable results especially for our breed. For this, EDTA blood samples from as many affected animals as possible, as well as their parents and siblings, are needed.

I always fail to separate emotion from reason – I hear Cimba’s beloved sound of claws pawing over the tiles, I wonder how long I will be allowed to hear it, and at night I dream of a dull sound when she walks. When I wake up, I call myself to reason, because the main thing is that the dog will be free of complaints again. In the vast majority of cases the claws grow back, even if crippled, but the only important thing is that my dog can be a “running dog” again as soon as possible. As this article is written, we are at the turn of the year 2011/2012 and Cimba has lost 11 claws. Some of the remaining ones are standing bizarrely in all directions, but it looks as if they will soon be pushed out for good now.

APPEAL We are doing everything we can to take the right steps and I fervently hope for Cimba’s sake that we are through with a one-time push. I wish all other Ridgebacks and their people that they will be spared from this disease and that what I have written will only contribute to their knowledge. However, the report is not just a request, but an urgent appeal to all breeders to deal openly with an SLO dog! The exact cause of the disease is not yet known, but it is assumed that it is a genetic predisposition. What ultimately acts as a trigger is still unclear. We hope that through sensible breeder thinking and further research, an expansion of the disease can be avoided. Research can avoid an expansion of the disease. It is also important to us not to trigger hysteria, but simply to make you aware and to show that you can remain happy despite everything. With our personal experience gained over the months, we are always happy to be available “from person to person and from dog to dog”!

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The loss of claws happens in many different ways. Some are pushed out very gently one-fold - that is the ideal. Usually it starts rather in front and from the outside inwards, but with Cimba everything is different. She says goodbye to them unsystematically sometimes in front, sometimes in the back and sometimes very bloody and painful from her claws.

And Cimba - she remains cheerful! She still confidently holds out her paws for me to bandage and still goes to the vet without a problem - even if she is a bit more restrained.

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DIAGNOSIS: IT IS POTENTIALLY SLO

SLO

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OUR FAIRY TALE WAS OVER BEFORE IT BEGAN ...... Bongani’s Fatouk it is BamBam, German Champion VDH, Stud dog in RRCD. There are no more show successes, all breeding requests have been cancelled, breeders disappointed. BamBam was officially withdrawn as a stud dog because a sick dog should not reproduce. I decided to make it public and transparent. I hope that this disease receives a lobby in the Ridgeback world and that those affected speak up so that research can continue and that no dog has to suffer this disease anymore! Our common nightmare began on 21 April 2021 with the loss of 2 claws due to a swimming accident, during which he tore up 1 claw on each paw when his hind legs slipped away. These were removed under anesthesia the next day. Two days later he tore up another claw on the left hindleg and on day 4 he simply lost the thumb claw on the right. I was helpless and panicked because I could feel that something was wrong. Visits to veterinarians did not give any indication, as there is hardly a veterinarian who knows about this. I mean really knows. After searching for hours in the web and endless phone calls with the Anicura Klinik Hamburg (Ms. Dr. Linek), I was sent to the Neandertal Klinik to Ms. Dr. Thelen a dermatologist. Our appointment was on May 11th, 2021. BamBam was examined for everything that can be examined, exhaustive blood tests, barf profile, x-rays, tissue samples, etc. including leishmaniasis, which can also impact claw growth. All test results showed that he is in excellent shape, a healthy dog, no bacterial inflammation of the paws detectable and nobody could explain to me why this is happening.

All the statements I have heard so far are along these lines ‘….he might lose all of his claws, maybe some will remain. The first attack is the worst, after that it gets better and then there is no more pain. Maybe afterwards it will be over and that it will be a one-time issue. Be glad he won’t die from it. It’s not cancer, he can live with it ....’ You cling to the statement that he can live with it, but nobody tells you what agony the dog suffers and what it does to him. I know my dog inside and out and could immediately tell from his behavior when something happened with his claws again. BamBam suffered a lot. He was in severe pain and he appeared depressed, disturbed and afraid. He even withdrew from his best friend Blu because he did not understand what was happening to him. Even a fly made him panic. He was nauseous from all the medication and had severe stomach pain. The all-you-can-eat dog refused his food and could hardly be motivated to eat at least a little something. There were days when it was impossible to give him his medication. He had to take 17 pills a day for 3.5 months, today he still gets 12 per day. The next check-up will be in August, maybe we can reduce the Omega 3 capsules with 400 mg EPA and 300 mg DPA. He will need to be on Omega pills for the rest of his life. Often, it was simply cruel, he cried, he could not walk. He just lay there and stared into empty space. I felt he was telling me ‘Mom, I want to give up’.

We have asked ourselves the question, is it right what we are doing to him? Can I ask him to endure this, can I expect him to live like this? Do you have to let him suffer because he is only 3.5 years old, and you can not let him go? You do not want to let him go! I decided for him and me to go through this. I looked after him and comforted my dog for many nights. Sometimes I was allowed to stroke him ... if he didn’t run away from me, hiding. Often, he was trembling all over, out of fear that his paws would be touched. SLO not only changes the claws but also the attitude of the dog and the trust in its owner. Today, 15 weeks later, I am very grateful for our decision and perseverance. We are almost through it. He still has one claw which has to heal. He will never again have firm claw horn, they will remain splintering, brittle claws. He doesn’t seem to have pain anymore, he looks happy, he eats and asks his buddy to run with him. He comes back to cuddle and I can touch his paws. He can move and run very well. He has to learn how to use his ‘brake’ again and running around corners is no longer easy, because he has no grip. But he will learn that. BamBam will always be my champion and live a happy life with us as a beloved family dog.

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SYMMETRICAL LUPOID ONYCHDYSTROPHY ,, SLO “ SLO is defined by a clinical syndrome that affects only the claws, usually includes multiple claws on all four paws, and is associated with claw loss, abnormal shape, and splinters. There are no signs of other skin diseases. Contrary to some statements, this is not an autoimmune disease or a uniform root cause. SLO only describes a clinical and histopathological picture, which can have many different causes. It is conceivable that a removed antigen in the body is able to provoke an immunological reaction at the claw bed. In some dogs, the SLO has been linked to a food sensitivity reaction. Certain breeds are affected significantly more often than others. These include Rhodesian Ridgebacks (they seem to lead), Shepherds, Rottweilers, Schnauzers and Bearded Collies, but in principle it can affect any breed. The therapy methods described are diverse and must be individually tailored to each dog.

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AN INTERVIEW WITH A JUDGE Greetings from UK

PLEASE INTRODUCE YOURSELF TO OUR READERS: I am Linda Cox, from Kennel Carlincox. I breed and show Rhodesian Ridgebacks and I also award Challenge Certificates (UK), CAC’s and CACIB’s in Ridgebacks and Dobermanns, I judge all breeds, groups and Best in Show at open shows.

PLEASE TELL US ABOUT YOUR JUDGING CAREER. WHEN DID YOU START TO

JUDGE AND WHY DID YOU CHOOSE TO BECOME A JUDGE? I first started to judge at open shows in around 1995, it was Dobermanns I judged first, I started to judge Ridgebacks in about 2000. In the UK to be able to award Challenge Certificates, so to become a Championship judge, you have to judge first a certain amount of dogs in that breed, attend certain seminars, judge for so many years and have stewarded a certain amount of times. I was eligible to award CC’s in 2013 and actually awarded CC’s at Windsor Championship show

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LINDA COX

in July 2014 in Ridgebacks, I first awarded CC’s in Dobermanns in 2018 at Richmond Championship show. I have judged in Sweden and Italy awarding CAC’s & CACIB’s. When you award CC’s in the UK you automatically qualify to award CAC’s & CACIB in FCI countries. I started judging because I felt I couldn’t criticise people’s judging if I didn’t judge myself!

HOW DO YOU DEFINE TYPE?

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I define type by all my dogs that I breed being uniform and similar, defined by the Breed Standard.

EVERY BREED HAS SOME PROBLEMS. WHICH IS THE MOST COMMON PROBLEM IN RR? I think one of our common problems is fronts, straight short upper arms so no forechest, and can’t reach when they move, also will be cathedral chested.

WHAT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT POINT YOU WOULD LIKE OTHER JUDGES OF THE BREED TO BE AWARE OF? Referring to all round judges who judge our breed I would say, they need to really study our breed standard before they judge, and actually have an interest in our breed. Be aware what a liver nose

is (you would be amazed at the amount of them they don’t even know what they are). To be aware that our breed does not have a level top line, they have a slight rise over the loin. Also study the finer points of our breed before you judge them.

WHAT QUALITIES DO YOU ADMIRE MOST IN A JUDGE? WHICH CHARACTERISTICS MAKE A GOOD JUDGE IN YOUR OPINION? Qualities I admire in a judge are that they are honest in their judging and put up what they believe is the best exhibit present. When you step in the ring you judge the dogs and forget who is on the end of the lead and who your friends are. Remember your job as a judge is “to put forward the dog that fits the breed standard the closest” and could do the job they were bred to do!

WHAT DIFFERENCES DO YOU SEE IN THE JUDGES TODAY AS OPPOSED TO THOSE IN THE BEGINNING OF YOUR CAREE? In the beginning of my career judges were chosen to judge on the reputation of their dogs and the quality they produced consistently, so they had a far better idea and knowledge, when they judged. Nowadays you have to judge so many dogs, do so many seminars and steward so many times, to then be passed to be able to award CC’s. My opinion is the former worked best.

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WHAT IS YOUR MOST MEMORABLE EXPERIENCE AS A JUDGE. PLEASE TELL US ABOUT SPECIAL HIGHLIGHTS When I was campaigning Hassle to the Breed Record it was a long hard road, and the day we actually got the Breed Record was at Blackpool Championship show 2007. Then 10 years (to the day) later in 2017, I was judging Blackpool Championship show! There was a dog I admired very much, Duke (Champion Jocular Lord Leonti of Tsjakka) who was entered under me who had just jointly equalled Hassles record, so if I gave him the CC he would break her record! I couldn’t deny him the CC, he was simply stunning! In the very best of condition, fitted the breed standard the closest, and moved around the ring with reach, drive and style! I couldn’t fault him! So I gave him the

CC that broke my Hassles record. My Hassle had passed away before I judged, so I had to go to the ladies room to have a cry and regain my composure before I judged the bitches!

WHAT IS THE GREATEST THREAT TO THE BREED TODAY The biggest threat to our breed is the breeders who breed for financial gain. Ourselves, with what money is left after a litter, we put back into the dogs we have, and pay some of our debts off that we had incurred showing the dogs. We are at nearly all the shows with 3/4 dogs , so our entries each week are around £100 before we take out Carey’s work money as he has to take the day off and no pay! The travelling costs, the dog sitter for the dogs we leave at home, hotels, food etc. We have a reason to breed and normally keep a puppy, and our Mums and puppies have the best of the best, as do all our adults and live as part of our family. We never have puppies born outside (this will affect them, as in shy, nervous etc)

Those who are breeding for financial gain will be cutting corners , bred in kennels / sheds outside, don’t health test and breed with inferior dogs to start with , and not always with the best of temperaments!

IT IS INEVITABLE THAT BREEDS WILL EVOLVE AND CHANGE SOMEWHAT AS NEW GENERATIONS OF BREEDERS TAKE CHARGE. HOW CAN THE-ESSENCEOR TRUE BREED TYPE-BE MAINTAINED?

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The only way it can be maintained is if newcomers come into the breed and learn from the older generations of breeders, wait, and don’t breed straight away! You need knowledge and understanding of our breed before you even contemplate breeding. You need knowledge to help your new owners with their puppies lifetime, you need to be set up so if there’s a problem with an owner and they can’t keep the puppy in later life or before, you can take it back. So many other things to learn (you actually never ever stop learning), for me true type will only be maintained through line breeding, i.e. when you have established a good healthy line, you then breed (rule of thumb) 2 times back in , then third time completely out. Have a mentor in your breed that will teach you and guide you through your first litter.

WHAT WOULD BE THE MOST IMPORTANT SINGLE PIECE OF ADVICE YOU WOULD GIVE TO ALL SERIOUS YOUNG BREEDERS? LEARN

INFO Name

All the answers are already in question 16, don’t be afraid to ask questions, that’s a huge part of learning!

Linda Cox

Country UK Affix

Kennel Carlincox

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Photo by Yossi Guy

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AN INTERVIEW WITH A JUDGE Greetings from Poland

PLEASE INTRODUCE YOURSELF TO OUR READERS. My name is Edyta, I live in Poland in a small town a few kilometres from the capital of the country with my husband, his cat and my 4 Rhodesian Ridgeback females. I own Sangoma kennel and run a dog training school, where I teach basic obedience and handling classes. I run seminars for breeders with various topics: anatomy and movement, genetics and breeding. I also publish articles in canine magazines. Recently all my breeding experiences have been summarised in my book about Rhodesian Ridgebacks breed. Currently, I am working on another two books. The first one about cynology, and the second one will be a ringcraft manual. I am also a professional photographer.

HOW DID YOU GET INTRODUCED TO THIS BREED? I came across this breed by accident. When I was a child I had a mongrel, but neither I nor my parents knew much about dogs, so our life together was not too easy. When I moved with my fiancée, I wanted to have a canine companion, namely a Dachshund. My fiancé was against it. When he finally gave up, I took him to the dog show so he could participate in choosing the type of Dachshund, just to find out that Dachshunds were showing the day before. That day Wojtek noticed a Rhodesian Ridgeback and fell in love with it. Wojtek was training Chinese boxing and kung-fu in those days and said that this dog has the eyes of his Chinese master. So, it was to be a Ridgeback or no other. This way the decision was made.

WHEN DID YOUR LOVE OF DOGS BEGIN? PLEASE TELL US ABOUT YOUR PAST AND PRESENT DOGS. Our first ridgeback was supposed to be Wojtek’s dog, we went to get her from Finland. She came from Harjaselan kennel. We did not plan to be showing our dog, but the whole litter was correct according to the breed standard, so we also decided on a quality show puppy. I fell in love with her on the way back home, and she fell in love with me too. Despite my husband, who as a journalist, often working from home and taking Saba for more walks, she picked me as her leader. She would only cooperate with him when I was absent. In those days, most Ridgebacks being shown in Poland were of a big and heavy build, totally different from Scandinavian ones which I fell in love with. We tried to show Saba, but with no success as she was the smallest one in the ring. We were just about to give up, when she was judged by a German judge which had a measuring tape with him. Saba was the only one who fit the breed standard. The judge was also impressed with her gait. At that very moment, we decided to try to breed her. From the first litter, we kept the male Watson, the first livernose born in Poland with amazing well-balanced character. He was my husband’s beloved dog. For many years Watson was helping me when I worked with fearful and aggressive dogs. He also accompanied my husband when Wojtek was running music festivals. It took me a lot of time, I read all available books about the breed and spent many hours chatting to experienced breeders before I came up with a

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EDYTA OSSOWSKA

plan and vision of what I would like to achieve in my kennel. I am proud of my breeding work; I gave the world dogs with wonderful temperaments. All the litters in my kennel (apart from one which I am not happy with) are showing gradual breeding progress. There are Sangoma dogs with Interchampion title, World Winner and Vice Europe Winner title, also those which succeeded at Crufts. Some other ones maybe never got any titles, but they made particularly good working and sport dogs. There are even some performing in the theatre. It was hard work, but I always had luck and some wonderful people around me.

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PLEASE TELL US ABOUT YOUR JUDGING CAREER. WHEN DID YOU START TO JUDGE AND WHY DID YOU CHOOSE TO BECOME A JUDGE?

I think it was the disappointment with what I have seen in the show rings. Winning dogs quite often were not looking like the breed standard, they also had movement faults. There was nobody specialized in the Rhodesian Ridgeback breed in the country, so I decided to become a judge. I started my training in 2012 and after 4 years, I was the country judge of the 6th FCI group. Recently there was a change in the policy so I cannot judge abroad until I complete a certain number of judging appointments and this way qualify for my international license. If you want to meet me in the show ring as a judge, for now, it is only possible in Poland.

DID YOU EVER HAVE A MENTOR? ARE YOU MENTORING NEWCOMERS? Somehow yes, I had several mentors on different stages of my breeding work. Sanna Alkio, Saba’s breeder, was helping me with the first litter. Later,

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I met other breeders, whose advice I could use. Now that we all have access to the internet, it so much easier to get in touch and share knowledge. It is better to learn from someone elses mistakes than to make our own. Genetics it is not like maths. When you deal with it, it is always good to use the expertise and advice of more experienced Ridgeback breeders. They know the lines and often have good intuition.

HOW DO YOU DEFINE TYPE? I think ‘type’ is an excuse. Recently I have been told by another judge that I breed beautiful dogs but not his type. For me, the shortest definition of type is a breed standard description. Sometimes I use this word to describe the socalled lymphatic type of dogs- big, heavy built dogs with loose skin or hound type of dogs- skinny, lightweight with a foxz kind of muzzle. My type of dog is the one described in the breed standard.

IS THERE SOMETHING WHICH YOU WOULD LIKE TO CHANGE IN THE BREED? Difficult question. I think I would rather change something in people dealing with this breed. I miss honesty and kindness. We do not breed in a vacuum; we use other breeders’ dogs. Our dogs can also find homes on other continents. Each time someone is dishonest about his dog’s health or temperament issues it has an impact on the breed. There is a lack of honest information exchange between breeders, but I noticed some improvement in recent years. Talking about changes in the breed itself, they are happening no matter if we want it or not. Every breeder and every litter brings some changes. Every one of us wants to adjust the breed to our taste. We should not forget about its history and original function. A lot of breeds are currently facing similar problems. We do not need those dogs to perform the functions they were bred for, most of them are sleeping on the sofa and running

in the park. Selection is mostly based on the exterior, not functionality anymore.

EVERY BREED HAS SOME PROBLEMS. WHICH IS THE MOST COMMON PROBLEM IN RR? From a behaviourist point of view, I would say- the owners. When people buy a puppy, they do not learn enough how to develop this pup into an even-tempered dog. Quite often we deal with dogs which are overly fearful, reactive, or not being able to control their emotions, which is not a breed problem but a people problem. From the breeder point of view, I would also say - the owners. When they buy an average female and breed her without considering if she is well built or has a good temperament, and whether they have enough knowledge to do so. It is difficult for them to give up their plans, especially if they have some ambitions.

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Talking about health issues, I can see the difference between dogs bred in different parts of the world, as well as in different lines. Looking at available statistics, it would appear that Scandinavian dogs generally have problems with the musculoskeletal system, whilst in the USA there are more arrhythmia problems than here in Europe. In Europe, there is an increasing number of allergies. From a judge point of view, there is a lack of well-built dogs with good fronts. I can see a noticeable improvement in angulation of the hind legs in RR bred in recent years, but there is still not much improvement in forelimb angulation. When angulation of the forelimbs and hind limbs are different you can see unbalanced dog, a difference in the reach of the front and back legs, which can cause,

Also, when looking at the adverts of prospective litters I get the impression that breeders often choose males which have the same faults as their bitches.

WHAT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT POINT WHICH YOU WOULD LIKE OTHER JUDGES OF THE BREED TO BE AWARE OF? We should pay less attention to the handling of dogs in the show ring. Of course, a well-handled dog is much easier to assess, but far too often I can see good dogs scoring well when handled by professionals when those excellent ones are losing because they were presented by less experienced owners. I would like us also to pay more attention to dog anatomy and gait, than to its colour. I often see darker dogs scoring top places when other ones which are better built are getting lower scores just because they have a lighter coat colour.

WHAT QUALITIES DO YOU ADMIRE MOST IN A JUDGE? WHICH CHARACTERISTICS MAKE A GOOD JUDGE IN YOUR OPINION? I still remember the club dog show in Denmark in 2005. A judge at that show was Linda Costa. I was showing Watson there and I was very impressed

by that judge. I thought that day if I ever become one, I want to be just like her. She was very precise, but she treated everyone like they are the most important person at the show. She was also very delicate when handling dogs, it was easy to see that she likes them, and that she is enjoying judging them. She had also great respect for the handlers. It was a proper dog show, not a judge show. Every person left a ring that day with a smile on their face even those whose dogs scored lowest.

WHAT DIFFERENCES DO YOU SEE IN THE JUDGES TODAY AS OPPOSED TO THOSE AT THE BEGINNING OF YOUR CAREER? I do not see much difference in the judges. It is the same with every occupation in this world: there are slackers, craftsmen, and artists. It used to be like that and still is. The more experience you have, the closer you get to becoming an artist. On the other hand, there are many more experienced handlers on the rings nowadays than used to be. Also, dog owners are much better prepared for showing their dogs which makes me happy.

WHAT IS YOUR MOST MEMORABLE EXPERIENCE AS A JUDGE? PLEASE TELL US ABOUT SPECIAL HIGHLIGHTS. I am still waiting for such an experience but every exceptional dog met during judging appointment makes me happier than anything else. I met 2 such incredible dogs during my judging carrier. The first one was a beagle and the second one a basset. When those dogs entered a ring, all audience went silent, everybody knew that there is no competition for them, they were instant winners.

WHAT HAS CHANGED IN THE DOG SCENE OVER THE LAST DECADES? There are a lot of changes. First of all, the world got much smaller. Technology got much more advanced, we have better than ever access to information. We can talk to the breeders across the Globe. We can also watch footage from dog shows in other countries, import frozen semen, and use it on the other side of the globe. Bloodlines are not so geographically separated anymore, genes are mixing more and more. At the same time, all the issues are also reaching further. We have new tools, for example genetic tests. There is no need to wait a year to gain knowledge, everything is within reach, we just must reach for it. Unfortu-

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for example, crabbing. The other important thing apart from angulation is the length of the arm. If the arm is short it leads to movements faults, for example padding.

nately, people just got lazy, they demand immediate results. Breeding is not like working on a building site, if you want to achieve a characteristic in dogs you need generations, especially if you want to consolidate it for the future.

DO YOU SEE ANY DIFFERENCE IN RR OF TODAY COMPARED TO RR OF 10 OR MORE YEARS AGO? IF SO, WHAT ARE THE BIGGEST DIFFERENCES YOU SEE? Used to be, when I was looking at RR I could easily guess which country they came from. Now since genes are easily crossing borders, it is much more difficult to specify. Trends are coming and going, a few years ago there were more heavily built dogs, currently, most of them fit the standard. There is also a new trend, darker coat colour got into fashion.

WHAT IS THE GREATEST THREAT TO THE BREED TODAY?

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In my opinion puppy overproduction. There are many more puppy litters than used to be. Breeders lower the criteria for future families because they want to sell puppies, so dogs are ending up with people which are not aware of RR needs or do not understand them. There is an increasing number of dogs looking for a new home or not happy in their current one.

IT IS INEVITABLE THAT BREEDS WILL EVOLVE AND CHANGE SOMEWHAT AS NEW GENERATIONS OF BREEDERS TAKE CHARGE.

INFO Name Edyta

Ossowska

Country Poland

Affix Sangoma

HOW CAN THE ESSENCE OF TRUE BREED TYPE - BE MAINTAINED? I am not worried about changes; change is an essence of life - it always will be with us. In my opinion, the longer someone is a breeder, the more he will stick to the breed standard. Young people always want to change the world, but we fell in love with the Rhodesian Ridgeback described by the breed standard. Sooner or later, we are always coming back to it.

WHAT WOULD BE THE MOST IMPORTANT SINGLE PIECE OF ADVICE YOU WOULD GIVE TO ALL SERIOUS YOUNG BREEDERS? I still remember myself when I was starting. After the first successful litter, I thought that I knew everything. I was so confident and kept my head high, humility came with failure. With every litter, I learn something new. I wish young breeders to have more humility, please do not assume that you know everything. And to older more experienced breeders, please have patience with the inexperienced ones, we have all been there.

WOULD YOU LIKE TO ADD SOMETHING? As a trainer and judge, I come across different breeds, but in my opinion, the Ridgeback is exceptional. So exceptional that it changed my whole life. My job used to be creating digital maps. When Saba came into my life and later had her first litter, I left my job, took a 2 years long break to study, and then I started to work with dogs. If she were a Dachshund, not a Ridgeback, I would probably still be working in the corporation, and my life could be completely different today.

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SANGOMA BREEDER

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THE PAST

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It all started in 2000 when my husband fell in love with a Ridgeback. I am a perfectionist, so it took me around 6 months to gain some knowledge about the breed and find a good kennel. We brought our first Ridgeback to Poland in 2001 from Finland. She came from Harjaselan kennel owned by Sanna Alkio. Harjaselan Ijumaa Imani aka „Saba” came from a litter of REX VENTORS CORREGIDOR (Int, Balt & Multi ch, EuW-99, EstW-99 & BaltW-98) and IKIMBA MARIMBA (Int, Balt, Fin, Est, Rus, Ltu, Lv& Blr Ch, Euw-99, EstwW-99 & Baltw-98), they were remarkably successful dogs - representatives of two wonderful kennels. We were new in the show world, not experienced, so we did not have big success in the ring. Instead of focusing on dog shows, I was studying Saba’s pedigree, trying to find out more information about her Australian, American, and African ancestors. There were quite wellknown dogs like BISS RuBISS Aust Gr Ch Bearstar Ko, Am Ch Cave Creek’s Redhouse Mingo, Am Ch Rob Norm Shara’s g Dagga, Int Ch Mashaba’s Harubah. We also had to find time for her basic obedience training and other doggy activities. We learned more about the breed from Saba than from the books, as she was a wonderful companion, very stable, calm, and happy dog.

In 2003 we decided to start a new adventure, and a year later, our first litter was born under the prefix Sangoma. Following Saba’s breeder advice, we used N’Gai Zamu of Ginba’s Hero, Multi Champion and Cruft Winner. It was a genuinely nice litter, with 3 unexpected livernose males. It was the first liver nose Ridgebacks born In Poland. We exported 2 males from this litter and kept one liver nose – Sangoma Sisi „Watson”, his sister started a new kennel also in Poland. We started to show him, but for a change, he had a „too light nose” for judges. That continued until we met a Judge in the junior class who knew that he was a livernose. He also was big enough to win, so we started a new experience – winning! For me his character was more important, he was a calm, stable dog, which could help me with my dog trainer work. Watson was perfect for working with shy dogs, he would allow them to sniff him and did not pay attention to them. He was a great help with aggressive dogs too, Watson was able to break attacks, put aggressors on the ground and keep them there until they were calm, not using teeth.

Meanwhile, I was looking for another male for Saba. I wanted to keep a girl this time, so decided to go for new blood and a new pedigree. American dogs were too different in exterior for my liking, so I found a stud in Australia. New Zeland and Australian Champion Rhodepark Red Dragon “Rocco” – was a male who caught my eye, so after checking pedigree and video from the owner, we decide to import his semen. It was a very complicated project, which ended in success only because Saba delayed her season for a month. This time we got 9 puppies, one stayed with us – Tajemnica Tkwi w Ogonku Sangoma “Zuza”. She was a very happy puppy with a lot of energy, so we had to deal with her creativity. From this litter, we got a few champions and one Interchampion in a German kennel. For the next 3 years, we focused mainly on dog shows, so our dogs got awarded new champion titles and Zuza got a 1 class obedience diploma. I finished another dog trainer course and opened my own school. We didn’t have any litters till 2009. In that year we had a litter from PLCH Zuza and Int, Ch Sk, Au, Multi Winner Arengo Essence of Haika. I met him at a Czech club show, where Alicia Mohr was judging (Kimani Kennel, USA), he made

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a great impression on me, so I decided to use him. From this mating, 10 puppies were born, all standard. This time, we decided do not to keep a puppy. Now after years, I can say it was the only litter that I wasn’t satisfied with the characters of the puppies, even if there were a few champions. The year 2011 was very important for me. That year I met the dog of my dreams – Thokoza Ngumo “Sam” and his owner Lianne Petersen. The decision to use him in my kennel was very easy. I used not just a dog which I liked, but also the one which was strong in those features which my female wasn’t. I wanted to find a male which had in his pedigree one of the dogs I have seen at the show in Finland - American, Canadian, Finnish Champion Ikimba Tumomak Sheikh, which made an unforgotable impression on me. I succeed, Sam not just had that famous ancestor in his pedigree but also all the features that I wanted. There were 13 puppies in that litter, one wasn’t standard as he had 3 crows in his ridge. We kept one female- Wesola Lapka Sangoma aka „Pata” and co-owned her brother- Wytrawny Gucci Sangoma. The rest of the litter was sold abroad mostly to breeding homes. With this mating I managed to improve offspring poststernum and shoulder angulation, Pata still moves with exceptional ele-

gance even now when she is already 10 years old. Thanks to her exceptional gait she won the junior class at the World Championships Show in 2012. Pata was also awarded the Polish Winner title twice, once in 2015 along with her brother, there was her other offspring at that show and they also won in some classes. Pata’s show adventure slowed down when she got hired with one of our other dogs - Tupiacy o poranku Sangoma, by the National Theather. They were working on the stage for 3 years. In the meantime we planned Zuza’s last litter, she was mated with a beautiful Russian dog- Ch Rus, Lt, Lv, Belarus and Ukraine Yudjin Alen King. This time Zuza was artificially inseminated with frozen semen. Again we had a litter of 13 puppies including two liver nose pups. It was a very diverse litter in terms of exterior, most of those puppies were sold abroad. Our favourite pup Zanzibar Sangoma went to Ridgedogs Kennel in Norway, where he was used as a stud dog and gave many beautiful litters. In 2014, encouraged by the last two successful AI’s, we decided to import frozen semen this time from Sweden. We choose for Pata very titled dog, multi-champion Roseridge Red Rastaban aka „Wilson”. We were amazed by his gait and beautiful head. I was expecting offspring with excep-

tional gait after such well moving parents and I was right. Our most titled dog came from this litter- African Dragon of Sangoma, champion of many countries, multiple winner of many breed club shows as well as best gait male. His brother Ch African Wizzard of Sangoma “Shahruk” is very successful at the shows in Germany and he is the sire of many litters.

African Dragon of Sangoma

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DOTTY PAWS Sangoma

Because Pata’s litter was so balanced, with beautiful appearance, I managed to keep and even strengthen front and prosternum, I planned another litter after Pata’s litter sister living in Finland - Wielka Improwizacja Sangoma „Doora”. Her owner let me use her, she was artificially inseminated in Finland and came to us just before giving birth to the pups. We put her to a beautiful and very successful dog well known for great anatomy and very successful offspring, champion of many countries- Kangelani’s Gentle Thanzi by Clay. Unfortunately, Doora had only one puppy in that litter- BImbelela By Thanzi of Sangoma aka „Lucy”, which we decided to keep. Lucy grew into quite a big female, with a totally different look than the rest of our dogs. She has been awarded titles of Champion of Poland, Ukraine, Winner of Poland 2018 and Best Gait Female at the breed club show. She had only one litter of 10 puppies with a dog which I don’t need to introduce to anyone - imported from Canada, winner of many shows- Kennebeck’s Final Answer aka “Tino”. Most puppies went abroad and to breeders in UK and France. The only male which is remaining in Poland is very successful in the whole world, Interchampion and Multichampion and Club Champion Dotty Paws Sangoma aka “Amani”. In the meantime, I managed to finish the course of judge assistant, and in the next four years working towards my judge exam. In 2014 I passed the exam for Group 6 FCI judge and started another adventure - judging.

I wanted to continue working on the fronts in further stages of my breeding work. So for a sire of the next litter I picked a not really well known at those times a dog - Interchampion, Champion of Israel Leopold Amnon Berezin RichRach aka „Leo”. Leo had exactly what I was looking for: great angulation of arm and shoulder and a quite long arm bone. He was flown to Poland and we had the opportunity to spend a few days with him, see what a wonderful character he has and collect some semen which Chasing Wild Goose Sangoma

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Best Gait male - African Dragon of Sangoma, female - Bimbelela by Thanzi of Sangoma at Czech club show

has been frozen until Pata’s heat. In 2016 Pata was confirmed pregnant with several pups but ended up giving birth to only one puppy - Chagiga Sangoma „Rasha”, we kept her as co-owners. Her exceptionally cheerful character, great appearance and her achievements at the shows encouraged us to try that gene combination again. Rasha quickly gained Junior Champion, Champion of Poland, Junior Winner of Poland 2017 and Junior Vice Europa Winner titles. In 2017 we had another this time full litter of Pata and Leo - 10 puppies. From this litter, we kept Calypso Rose Sangoma- aka Iita. She and her three brothers were really successful at the shows in several countries, they also gave litters of great puppies.

PRESENT My goal has been achieved, in the third generation of Sangoma, I managed to breed dogs with an excellent fronts, which are passed on to further generations. As my next goal, I choose to extend length on arm bone and length of paws and muzzle. After long research, I found a dog that

Chagiga Sangoma, 3 place in class Crufts 2018

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Zuza Arengo

fulfils all those three criteria- DE Champion Haiba Kaisoon Eos. He also has among his ancestors Ikimba Tumomak Sheikh, so I had the opportunity to increase inbred, doubling him on both sides of the pedigree. The litter of Pata and Eos was so exceptional that I decided to use him again with her daughter Iita as well. In both litters I achieved puppies with very well built fronts, well angulated, longer paws and muzzles, they also have cheerful characters without aggression or fearfulness. Most of the pups were sold abroad and to breeding kennels. We kept one female Girl in Trouble aka „Natka” and we coown her brother Gambit Sangoma. They both debuted at the dog shows this year, filling us with pride and hope for future generations of these wonderful dogs with great character. The next project which I managed to finalise is writing a book about the breed “Rhodesian Ridgeback. The Perfect Dog”. It took me two years of writing and

FUTURE In the nearest future, we are planning litters of two sisters - Rasha and Iita, and then a break for writing another book, also about the dogs. I never expected that breeding dogs will make such significant changes in our lives. It brought a change of occupation, a new hobby, new challenges, new dreams and new

Thokoza Ngumo

Chasing Wild Goose Sangoma

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also photographic work, postponing other projects, which I hope I will be able to come back to soon.

Bimbelela by Thanzi of Sangoma, 4 place in class, Crufts 2017

African Dream of Sangoma

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Chasing Wild Goose Sangoma

Sangoma Sisi

Concept of Life Sangoma

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Tajemnica Tkwi w Ogonku Sangoma

INFO Name Edyta

Ossowska

Country Poland Affix Sangoma

Girl In Trouble Sangoma, 8month

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INANDA MELLBERG

BREEDER

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THE RHODESIAN RIDGEBAC K, A MAGIC BREED. I moved to South Africa in 1982, and not too long after that I acquired my first Ridgeback, to be followed by many others.

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And then, after 20 years in the sun, in 2002, I sold my house, packed my bags, and flew, with the dogs, to the UK, where the dogs were subjected to six months of quarantine, while I rented a furnished cottage near the quarantine kennels, visited the dogs for two hours a day, six days a week, and did odd jobs to keep my car in petrol. Six months later (and at times it felt like eternity), I packed most of my worldly goods, plus Churchill and Clementine, into my rather tiny little Fiat, and drove back to Sweden via France, Belgium, Holland, Germany and Denmark. An adventure? Probably, but in view of what we had already done and experienced in Africa … well, it was all part and parcel of a day’s work!

Otto Raa

I have always wanted to share my life with dogs, but as we (my family) lived in a city during the school terms, my father would not allow it. Boxers were a great favourite, as were Irish Setters and Cocker Spaniels. And until I arrived in South Africa I don’t think I even knew there was a breed called Rhodesian Ridgebacks. But, in the 80s I bought a very small house on a large property just north of Johannesburg. I already had two dogs (one Cocker Spaniel and one mutt), when I met David, a divorced man whom I thought was rather nice. He was a duck farmer, divorced, and he lived alone on a farm not too far from iGoli (the South African name for Johannesburg). As he also had 97 black farm labourers, his ex-wife had presented him with a Rhodesian Ridgeback puppy called Winston, a puppy that was supposed to grow into his master’s body-guard. However, his master was far keener on smaller dogs and had

Marie caught

his heart set on a Jack Russel; he made several serious attempts to get me to buy the dog, but my finances did not permit this transaction. And then, one day, I was invited to dinner. Thinking that the gentleman in question had finally woken up to my not inconsiderable charms, I accepted with alacrity, but … all was not what it seemed, and after a very delicious dinner, with many glasses of excellent wine, I was sent home, minus one cheque and plus one large and rather unruly puppy! The following morning I did have a headache, but however much I cursed my own stupidity (after all, I had walked straight into this trap, and I really should have known better!); Winston stayed with me till the day he died, and apart from the two dogs I already had at the time … since then there’s been nothing but Ridgebacks in the family. Winston died in December ‘95, and for some reason good Rhodesian Ridgeback puppies were scarce just then. But, in March ‘96 I had a phone call from a Scotty Stewart, with a message from Laurie Venter at Glenaholm. There was a litter in Weltevreden Park, about a 45-minute drive from my home; Laurie had just bought their best bitch puppy, but according to her there was a really nice little boy there as well; why didn’t I grab my cheque book and go there? The breeders were keen to sell; they and their dogs were from Zimbabwe, and as they didn’t like it in South Africa, they were eager to find good homes for the puppies and then head north again.

Churchill and Clementine on the back of my bakkie

So, handbag, cheque book, car keys and … off I went! I was back three hours later, with Orangelad. And as his much beloved predecessor had been Winston; well, Churchill was the obvious choice, wasn’t it! And Churchill and I were destined to have a lot of fun together. I was completely unaware of (and at the time uninterested in) his pedigree, but I had had the privilege of meeting both his parents, and they had come across as calm and harmonious dogs that were very confident and self-assured. And nice to look at! And as Laurie Venter had recommended Churchill … well, I was not going to argue with that kind of knowledge and experience. Plus, he himself was a good-looking dog. And he proved to be an exceptionally good dog; calm, har-

Great Lure Coursing enthusiasm

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Marie on the run

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Churchill, Clementine and I off Agate Beach, north of Luderitz in Namibia

monious and self-assured, just like his parents. Good with people, both adults and children, and good with other dogs. And good with horses too. Once sufficiently mature his only exercise was to come along when I exercised my hunters. And then he came along when I went shooting and fishing, and when he got fed up with the lack of action he jumped up on the back of my bakkie (South African for a pickup), lay down and admired the view from there. Occasionally we travelled together; I drove and he was on the back, as we experienced Zimbabwe, Botswana and Namibia. There were many and long hours on dry and dusty roads, and long queues at the border posts, but patience is not a virtue in Africa; it is a necessity. That and a healthy supply of Coca-Cola and small denomination bills for the uniformed staff. It was during this period that I also got Clementine. I booked her, sight unseen, before she was born, not because of her pedigree as such, but because I liked both her parents. At the time I didn’t even know that her sire, Rekaylahn Jabulisa of Clachan, was very well known

Amber and Marie at an SRRS Club Show

and very successful, both in the show ring and at stud. And Clementine too turned out to be a real star! Once old enough, she too got on the back of the bakkie and went along with Churchill and myself, running with the horses as soon as her age permitted. And so we travelled, all three of us. In the last few years I spent in South Africa I was lucky enough to make friends with a cattle farmer in the Free State; 12 000 acres of land, where we worked in the gardens, rode horses, cooked good meals and relaxed in the shade when it got too hot. But, few good things last forever, and the South African reality was tough in many ways. After my father’s death in ‘96 I inherited Mellberg, a 17th and 18th Century smallholding south of Gothenburg in Sweden. I tried long-distance commuting for a while, but it wasn’t really feasible, so in ‘01 I took the decision to move back to Europe. The changes were enormous, but all in all it worked well; I raised

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Fleur (by Karin van Klaveren)

very well-known Rekaylahn Jabulisa of Clachan. My Amber was by Kenyan-whelped Ndege Shaka of Eilack ex Vizara Hluhluwe Rekaylahn, and though she was not a spectacular-looking bitch, she was a truly exceptional brood bitch.

On November 8th 2002, the FCI granted me the Prefix Inanda Mellberg; Inanda is a Zulu word that means “The Beautiful Place” and Mellberg was the name of my home in Sweden.

I bred a total of 13 litters in Sweden, and showed actively for a number of years, in Sweden, Norway, Denmark and in the UK. I even qualified three “homebred” dogs for the green carpet at Crufts; Inanda Mellberg Sarah-Nala (by Orangelad ex Lionesque Clementine) qualified for the 2006 Show, but at the time, circumstances did not permit me to go. However, when both Inanda Mellberg Edelrood (by Heshima ya Kimba Energy of Red ex Lionesque Clementine) and Inanda Mellberg Carnelian (by Inanda Mellberg Spencer ex Rekaylahn Amber), qualified for the 2010 Show, we did go, and yes, I am very very proud of this. I was horribly nervous at the time, but I look back on it with a big smile.

In 2003 I decided to add another bitch to my pack, and I bought Rekaylahn Amber from Kay and Reg Bean in the UK. They had spent many many years in Rhodesia, but eventually went back to the UK for family reasons, selling one of their males to Scotty Stewart, the

I also worked my dogs; a bit of obedience, agility, and coursing in all its various forms. And I did a lot of tracking; a discipline that

Fleur (by Karin van Klaveren)

three litters from Churchill and Clementine, I imported a second brood bitch from African breeders in the UK, and I am immensely proud and pleased to have been one of the few Rhodesian Ridgeback breeders in Europe who could truthfully claim to have hounds that were truly African!!! This was originally written in 2003, to be part of the information provided on my website. Obviously a lot has changed since then, and I have re-written and tweaked it to be relevant to 2021.

started out as a “I might as well try it” project, but which developed into a passion. I trained a lot, bred some very good dogs, competed a lot, and had a fair bit of success. On the breeding side this resulted in my actively looking for two things in my choice of stud dog/s, obviously apart from good/excellent conformation and temperament; I looked for dogs with a strong African pedigree, preferable in the 1st or 2nd generation, and I looked for dogs with a proven working ability. Re. conformation; I do try to adhere to the Breed Standard, but the aspects that are the most important to me personally are good feet (how else can the dog run all day in the African bush?), a good depth of chest to accommodate good lungs and a good heart (essential for the active dog), a good topline to avoid back-issues, and a good nose. I would obviously like a lot of other things as well, but these are the four anatomical issues that I regard as the most important for the working dog.

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My first really successful litter was an AI litter with semen from Heshima ya Kimba Energy of Red (to date the ONLY stud I never met IRL); a successful show dog, imported to Germany from South Africa, and with an owner who hunted and who used his dog on a regular basis. Red and Lionesque Clementine produced a litter of 14 healthy and happy puppies that took a total of 25 hours to enter this world (!!!), and included both Inanda Mellberg Edelrood and Inanda Mellberg Fleur de Cap. The former is, on paper, the most successful dog I have ever bred, and Fleur was without a shadow of a doubt the best tracker I’ve ever had the privilege of working with.

Dancing with Churchill

Walamadengie Monte-Carlo was not a working dog, but his pedigree was enough to make up for this short-coming. Vizara Jukati was not a working dog either, but his owners were kind enough to visit me in Sweden and do a Field Tracking Aptitude Test with him, before I bought his semen. Excalibur Bolt was also not a working RR, but again, his pedigree led me to believe (and rightly so) that he most definitely had the gene. On returning to South Africa in December 2014, I applied to have my Prefix transferred to KUSA, but with only moderate success. KUSA will only allow a Prefix to consist of one name, so in the end, in May 2015, I had to settle for Inandamellberg. Once back in South Africa, I showed once, at the April 2015 SARRC Club how, both to demonstrate my support for the SARRC and to show the South African RR community that I was here. We didn’t do badly, but my lack of ring-craft, and lack of enthusiasm, were very obvious, and I realised that the show-ring was not really my thing. I love the country, and the bush (one friend of mine calls me “the original hunting/shooting/fishing girl”), and my aim and ambition with the Rhodesian Ridgeback as a breed is to put it back in the bush, on farms and game-farms, in rural environments. Fleur and Amber with puppies

To date there have been 18 Inanda Mellberg litters (in 19 years). There are, or have been Inanda Mellberg dogs in Russia, Finland, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Iceland, the UK, France, Germany, Luxemburg and South Africa. I favour the active homes, and in my Q litter, in 2020, 10 out of the 11 puppies went to working/rural homes. The 11th went to an urban home, but with a very active and outdoorsy family; a dream come true. To date I have also never sold a puppy to somebody I have not met, or know, UNLESS we have good mutual friends who will vouch for the future home. I am sure I have lost many a good home this way, but … it’s the way I do it. It is obviously always very flattering when a fellow breeder expresses an interest in one of my puppies, but I am also wary of that scenario. I then need to ask them what their hopes, ambitions and intentions are with their breeding, hoping that they will be honest. And, unless we have good mutual friends, I would still need to meet them in person. Another very important aspect is health. I may be breeding working dogs, but to me it is of the utmost importance that I do everything in my power to ensure that these are as healthy as can be. I wouldn’t dream of using a stud dog, or a brood bitch, that had not been X-rayed and found acceptable to KUSA, and if the stud dog has not been genetically tested for some of the more important issues (important in my book), I gladly pay for the dog to be tested. KUSA is unfortunately very slow to register these results, but the paperwork is available for any seriously interested parties.

IM Edelrood

Dreams and ambition? To stay in Africa, and to continue breeding correct and good-looking Rhodesian Ridgebacks, that can and want to “work for a living”. Dogs that can last a day in a rural environment, dogs with keen noses and a good work-ethic. Dogs that will look after their owners, and love and be loved. Dogs that can go in the show-ring if that is what the owner wants, but that will also be allowed to be dogs, and taken out to run and play. Owners that are active with any one (or several) of the many activities available these days; obedience in its various forms, tracking (both blood and human), field work, agility, protection etc etc etc. Active RRs are happy RRs, and more than anything else I want that magic combination: The happy and healthy dog with the happy owner. And to wrap it up; at this point, June 2021, I have four RRs at home. Shantih will be eight years old by the time you read this; she’s by Vizara Jukati ex Inanda Mellberg Fleur de Cap, and is one of the two

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My greatest disappointment/s have been the buyer/s who spoke enthusiastically about work and training, but who did very little, and sometimes nothing at all. My greatest pleasure has been the dogs that are country-canines, with Onna and Quinlan in the Mapungubwe National Park here in South Africa (Onna with the Head Ranger, Quinlan with the Park Manager) as prime examples.

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RRs I brough back to South Africa in 2014. Then there is Nimla, by Excalibur Bolt ex Inanda Mellberg Shantih by Jukati, whelped in January 2016, and on her sire’s side going back (eight generations) to my very first pedigreed RR (Praidas Salut). Then I have Dia (Quaraa Hadiya C), by Clachan Boyaid ex Inanda Mellberg Shantih by Jukati, a bitch that was supposed to go to Sweden, but because of Covid related circumstances ended up staying with me, and finally Ranston, by Inanda Mellberg Athol-Aramis by U ex Inanda Mellberg Nimla by Bolt. Ranston is “extra-special” as it’s the very first time I’ve put an Inanda Mellberg dog to an Inanda Mellberg bitch; it took me 19 years, but I am quietly confident it was the right thing to do.

Churchill

Fleur (by Karin van Klaveren)

INFO

Name Marie

Wijkander

Country South Affix Inanda

Africa

Mellberg

Email info@inandamellberg.org

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CARLINCOX BREEDER

Umlani Chobe Nuin-Tara Moremi

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PLEASE INTRODUCE YOURSELF AND YOUR KENNEL TO OUR READERS: Hi, my name is Linda Cox, I have just turned 60 years old and am the proud owner of Carlincox Ridgebacks.

HOW DID YOU GET INTRODUCED TO THIS BREED

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I have owned and shown dogs for some 40 years and I have bred dogs for the last 30 odd years. My mother bred poodles, my family where originally Greyhound breeders but as a child I was allergic to dog hair and this is why my mother went into poodles! I always wanted a large breed, so when I was able to own my own dog as a teenager I liked and studied the Dobermann, I couldn’t in those day afford to buy one so I rescued my first one, a bitch called Lady. I didn’t have any KC papers with her so I started to go to Exemption shows, which in those days were quite a big thing with huge entries. I used to take a bus and walk, or if able I used to walk the whole way and sometimes, I’d even ride my bike with Lady trotting beside me to the shows. I loved those days. Later I rescued a male Dobermann called Luke and was so very proud to have 2 Dobermanns. With Luke I got his KC papers with him, so at 17 I passed my driving test and off I went in my old rusty Mini Traveller with

Carlincox From Russia Wiv Luv aka Moscow

Luke to open shows. I very soon realised he wasn’t of the quality I needed to be able to win with so I continued to practice at exemption & open shows whilst saving like mad for a “show potential” puppy, which I finally got in 1988. I had much success over the years including, Top Dobermann, group wins and multiple Champions. Then in 1998 I met my ex-husband who had Rhodesian Ridgebacks and that’s when I immediately fell in love with the breed, and my story with Ridgebacks began…

WHAT MADE YOU WANT TO BECOME A DOG BREEDER? Whilst showing, learning more, and studying the dogs, I became very interested in pedigrees and then finding out more about the dogs I found in the pedigrees. I then became curious about who they could put to who in mating to produce the dogs they did to improve on the previous litter. Also, I think it can be in your blood and now my daughter Victoria Musgrave is also following on from me, I have just added her onto my Carlincox affix! So she can continue the line when I am no longer able to. She shows a lot of the Carlincox dogs and does a lot of the running in the ring for me as I struggle nowadays. Also on our affix is Carey Cox my husband, he is a huge part of the kennel and we couldn’t do what we do without him!

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Carlincox From Russia Wiv Luv aka Moscow - 14 months

Carlincox Pure Gold JW aka London

PLEASE TELL US ABOUT YOUR PAST AND PRESENT DOGS

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Carlincox From Russia Wiv Luv aka Moscow

Carlincox Habana Club With Hespa aka Reggie

Past dogs - I was co-owner of the affix Veldtkammer with my ex-husband, although in those first few years in name I was not on the affix. But I took over when I moved in and chose the stud dogs, reared the litters and picked the puppy to keep, which I did with what I would consider one of my best dogs. I had seen Shaka (Champion Nedge Shaka of Eilack) at a show and liked him, I then asked for a copy of his pedigree and on reading it knew the bitch I wanted to put him to. She was called Zola, Veldtkammer Blitz (she was from my first litter I reared) so I plucked up the courage and asked his owner Jack Shelby of kennel Eilack, if I could use him and much to my delight he agreed! So when she came into season off I went to Jacks and mated Zola to Shaka, I also stayed at Jack’s (as I did on many future occasions) and Jack used to get all his memorabilia for me to read as he used to go to bed early! So I used to sit in his front room, surrounded by all his beautiful paintings, statues of ridgebacks and read all that I could, sometimes still be awake and reading at 3 o’clock in the morning! So, the litter was born, 5 dogs, 5 bitches, all perfect ridges. I was over the moon and I chose Hassle (Veldtkammer Lady Done a Bunk) who I trained and showed to her UK Champion title, Irish Title and International title. She was 3 x BOB and 1 x BOS at crufts 4 years running, she was also was a group winner, Top UK RR for many years running and also took THE BREED RECORD, which she held for 10 years! She ended her career in the ring with 35 Challenge Certificates & 28 Reserve CC’s. I have bred on from her and all my present dogs go back to her in their pedigrees. There were many more Champions from the kennel to follow. Present Dogs - When I left my ex-husband, I took Hassle

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Carlincox Habana Gold aka Reggie

and a young bitch Kilo (Veldtkammer Worth da Weight) with me and started in my new affix Carlincox using Kilo as the mother to carry on, I produced a beautiful litter to the previous record holder Duke (Champion Jockular Lord Leonti at Tsjakka) and kept my first bitch called Khama (Champion Carlincox Ready to Rumble) and she became my first Champion in my new affix Carlincox. I then imported a beautiful dog from Russia in 2015 from Julia Knyazeva of the Gens Julia kennel, called First (Champion Gens Julia Toretto Always The First at Carlincox) who was my 2nd Champion, he is the only Russian import so far to gain a UK Champion title! He has the most amazing temperament and construction to go with it and is a great producer. One of the best things I ever did was importing him. I then mated First to Khama and produced my 2nd Champion in my Carlincox affix, Russia (Champion Carlincox First Class). I have since repeated the mating and have a beautiful girl London (Carlincox Pure Gold) who is 2 years old now. I have many other Carlincox dogs and owners who are in the ring at the moment, these dogs are all truly beautiful and I am immensely proud of:• Carlincox First Encounter • Carlincox First Impression • Carlincox First Love • Carlincox First Rate • Carlincox Gold Star

• Carlincox Solid Gold • Carlincox Golden Touch • Carlincox Golden Aura • Carlincox Habana Ooh Na Na • Carlincox Habana Club with Hespa • Carlincox Habana Gold

WHAT IMPROVEMENTS DO YOU WANT TO BRING TO THE BREED WITH YOUR BREEDING PROGRAM I have over the years been improving my fronts, with more return of upper arm with equal length as the shoulder. Also, I am improving on more turn of stifle.

WHICH DOG/S DO YOU CONSIDER TO BE THE FOUNDATION OF YOUR BREEDING PROGRAM: My foundation bitch, which is so important when you start breeding because if your foundation bitch has major construction faults you may not be alive long enough to breed a major fault out. You need a good sound honest good temperament foundation. You wouldn’t build a house on

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Carlincox Habana Ooh Na Na aka Cuba

a dodgy foundation would you? So mine was a bitch called Corrie (Rejan Myosotis) from Janet Parker. She had sound construction so therefore had good movement, the most beautiful head and kindest sweetest temperament.

a lot of breeders that line breed, so you have many different types in the ring, same as 10 years ago. In my opinion if you keep outcrossing you will end up with no consistent type, you should have a litter of “peas in a pod”, and grow up to be very similar, so if you line breed, you will achieve this. I was always taught (from breeders many, many years ago) once you have established your breeding line, should be 2 in (back into your lines) then 1 out (complete outcross) and so on.

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?

WHAT IN YOUR OPINION MAKES A PERFECT DOG?

To be honest no, not a lot really. In this country there are not

Well in my opinion no one has achieved this and this is what we all should be striving to do, that for me is my biggest aim to strive for excellence. My perfect dog would be, completely correct construction i.e. correct lay of shoulder with the correct length and return of upper arm, which then if you had this would give you a good forechest. Correct shape head, eye shape and dark eye, correct length of foreface with good under jaw, correct length of body, good bone and substance, tight feet , correct top line with a slight rise over the loin, correct tail set, correct size and colour and of course good temperament! Also a great attitude and a great showman or showgirl. I also think that the perfect dog would have all the above and be a great producer themselves!

WHAT IS THE BEST EXAMPLE OF THE BREED THAT YOU HAVE BRED TILL NOW

This would be one of my greatest friends Michael Gadsby from the famous kennel Afterglow. He has bred hundreds of champions in multiple breeds, also taking Best in Show at Crufts many times and one year having 2 Group winners in 2 different groups! Michael is such a talented breeder of many breeds, so I can talk to him about my breeding plans and get his advice on what to do and why.

WHAT QUALITIES DO YOU ADMIRE MOST IN A JUDGE

Ch IrCh Int Ch Veldtkammer Lady Dobe a Bunk JW Aka Hassle

For me it would be Russia, Champion Carlincox First Class, she has 7 Challenge Certificates and 12 RCC’s. This girl has a beautiful head, fantastic construction, with a fabulous front. She is the sweetest nature and loves to show, she gained her Champion Title 3 weeks after her 2nd Birthday. Then so far gained another 4 CC’s, and her show career is hopefully starting again soon after 15 months break due to Covid. She also has produced a fabulous litter, with 2 of the girls going in the ring, one I kept , Moscow (Carlincox From Russia Wiv Luv) and one I co own , Zira (Carlincox Pussy Galore), they had their first all-breed championship show on the 25th June at 13 months and Moscow was 1st Junior Bitch , Best Junior in Breed and Junior Group 3 , closely followed by her sister Zira who was 2nd Junior Bitch, so both qualified for Crufts on their 1st show !

WHAT DO YOU CONSIDER TO BE YOUR GREATEST ACHIEVEMENT AS A BREEDER I have many, but I think my top 3 would be – Crufts 2007, where we did the double! Best Dog was Alfie (Champion UK, IR , International Champion Veldtkammer Dew To More Duo and Best Bitch was Hassle from an entry of 282! With Alfie taking BOB. Gaining the title, Best Breeder RR UK for many years Gaining the title Best RR UK again many times

WHO HAS BEEN YOUR GREATEST

I admire a judge that is honest, has a great knowledge of the breed they are judging with a genuine like of that breed, integrity and is not afraid to do what they want!

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO SOMEONE WHO WANTS TO BECOME A BREEDER To learn about the breed and not to rush to become a breeder! I think you should be in the breed at least 5 years before you even consider breeding, you need to help your owners if they run into problems and if you haven’t the experience or knowledge, then how can you help them? They need to study and understand a pedigree, so they should know who suits their bitch. Ask breeders why they put what with what, so they can gain knowledge. Go and see as many litters as they can to again gain experience. Study & learn how to take care of your bitch before and whilst they are

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INFLUENCE OR INSPIRATION AS A BREEDER AND IN WHAT WAY

Carlincox Gold Star JW aka Kylo

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pregnant, then learn how to rear the litter as this is vital to how the pups will develop. They must have a good honest, sound foundation bitch to start with.

WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO BUILD A GOOD REPUTATION AS A BREEDER (BESIDES THE DOGS) In my opinion you should never breed purely for financial gain! You should breed to genuinely better the breed. The money we get from our litters

INFO

goes back in the pot to help with the cost of keeping our dogs, also to take them to shows, which isn’t cheap! Especially if you go to all the shows like we do! Be honest in what you do and never compromise on anything, always breed to the best of your knowledge, go on your gut feelings in some instances. Do not breed a lot, we breed maybe once a year or less. Always do all the health tests that are available in your breed and needed! Always keep in touch with your owners and be there for them for any needs they have, always take the puppies back if the owners circumstances change, always be responsible for all the puppies you have ever bred. Give your mums & litters the best of the best to give them the best start in life. Meet your potential owners as much as you can, if you have any nagging little concerns then do not sell them a puppy! Trust your gut.

Name Linda

Cox

Country UK Affix Carlincox

www lindacox61@icloud.com

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MAANHAAR PRIMO-CREATUS BREEDER Health, proper anatomy, breed temperament

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– the most important things for us.

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HOW IT ALL STARTED From early childhood I dreamed of owning a Rhodesian Ridgeback. Smart, self-sufficient, having their own opinions, fire dogs with a unique strip of hair growing in the opposite direction, stole my heart at first sight. Dreams should come true! And in 2009 I carried my long-awaited happiness in my hands! Podarok iz Afriki Oriel Valeri – the first Ridgeback who appeared in my house. I still remember the euphoria from our first meeting. Such emotions! I took this golden girl and quickly ran home, not believing my happiness! Oriel was a magical dog. Very smart, kind, patient, healthy, loving children, very friendly towards people and animals. An easy dog at all levels. Oriel easily finished her InterChampion title at 2 years old.

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And what a delightful mother she was! Oriel gave me 3 adorable litters - 28 puppies. Her children live in different parts of the world - Ukraine, Russia, Bulgaria, Greece, Germany, America, Portugal, Finland, Canada, France, Estonia, Mexico. Many children have attained the title of champion of their country, there are InterChampions, MultiChampions, Bronze Grand Champions of America, Grand Champions of Canada. I am very proud

of all children and already grandchildren and great-grandchildren of Oriel!

Thanks to the adorable Oriel, I have learned and learned a lot. Thanks to Oriel, I opened my Maanhaar Primo-Creatus kennel in 2010. I carefully studied the breed, lines, health, trained in handling. It absorbed me completely. “Maanhaar Primo-Creatus” is home Kennel located in Finland, Pertunmaa city. Our small village is surrounded by fields, forests and lakes, therefore dogs have an opportunity to enjoy long walks in nature daily. Our family are me – Hanna, my husband – Ville, and our little son – Mathias. In the photo Mathias still very small, the size of watermelon.

MY BREEDING With the study of the breed, I came to my main goals and principles. My goal “Breeding with love to the history of the breed.” Health, proper anatomy, breed temperament – the most important thing for us. We, Maanhaar Primo-Creatus are a Rhodesian Ridgeback kennel with a strong and serious interest in showing, aiming to breed Rhodesian Ridgebacks that are not only perfect in appearance but also in character and temperament,

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KENNEL

breeding only occasionally and for our pleasure. My passion is to recapture and sustain the Rhodesian Ridgeback that has over the years inspired us to fall in love with this enchanting breed. What do we pay attention to in our breeding? Of course, health and the right type. Also, character is very important to us. I try to keep essential elements of type, from the expression of the eyes, correct and beautiful head, muscularity and elegance of the body, harmony of movement, dignity and prowess of character, desire for cooperation. I strive to preserve all these entities of the type in all the right ways. I try to breed a complex of all the unique features of the breed. Because the complex is much more than the sum of some parts. I strive for quality paying attention to the nuances.

GRADUATES - IS MY PRIDE

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For 11 years of Maanhaar Primo-Creatus kennel we have had 14 litters. And puppies from these litters live in 20 countries all over the world. On today we have 26 Champions in kennel. • 7 InterChampions. • Bronze Grand Champion USA. • Champion Canada. • 2 Mexico Champion. • Junior Europe Winner. • BIG and BIS winners • Agility winner • Blood tracking winner • Hunting working winners

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Dogs of the kennel today

MAANHAAR PRIMOCREATUS CHICA KARAMY FREYA Chica is a special dog in my house. Too smart, too self-sufficient, too responsible, too family dog, she is too in everything. This is all unsurprising, because the parents of Chica CIB Saimon’s Praide Voice Of The Legend Forever and CIB Podarok iz Afriki Oriel Valeri. Beautiful dogs with gorgeous health and amazing intelligence. As I already said, Chica has amazing temperament, very beautiful body, dark red color and a fabulous head! And of course a super brain! Chica is a very healthy girl. She has all breed health tests and she does not have any allergies or any other problems. Cool mom. Firstly, she loves to look after puppies but in a very special manner. For example, Chica must sleep with me in bed))) She clearly knows when she can leave and when she must come to her children. Secondly, I can say that Chica is a cow)))) She feeds the puppies for a very long time. Up to 3-4 months. This is cool, because this is the immunity of her children! This is commendable! In the third, she is gorgeous in teaching children! I am proud to have bred this super girl and happy that she stays with me! I love her so much!!

Chica presented to me puppies 3 times, 26 puppies. Her children live in 9 countries - Finland, Canada, Germany, Norway, Denmark, America, Iceland, Ukraine, the Netherlands. It was extremely difficult for me to find a male for Chica. I really wanted to improve the proportions of the body, reduce height, add bone, not go in color towards mahogany. The search lasted a long time and every time I returned to Noah Saimon’s Praide Never Give Up (owner Ann Kristin (Norway), Ridgedogs kennel). The choice was made finally. I decided - I will try the combination of Chica and Noah. The puppies that were born were a very beautiful color, with good and long ridges. After the first stacks, I realized that the choice was made correctly! Bone strong, wide in body, with good angles, the children surpassed their mother at times. Naturally, I could not resist and kept Nika for myself, who eventually grew into an amazing bitch who completed her InterChampion title instantly at 2 years old. I very much wanted to keep Nika’s sister and without hesitation I decided to do a double litter. Incredibly beautiful puppies were born, better than the first ones. The choice was extremely difficult. And at 4 months I made my final choice. But not everything turned out as I wanted and I lost Stitch in a terrible fire…. This tragedy led me to take 3 litter with these combination. Yes, 3 litters with the same combination is not typical, but it is quite logical considering the situation. But then I was disappointed because I didn’t get what I wanted in the bitches, but I got it in the males .... Karin van Klaveren was very lucky, an incredible lilac boy came to her. I look forward to watching him when he grows up.

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I am going to tell about

NIKA - MAANHAAR PRIMO-CREATUS JATA MADE WITH LOVE FROM NOAH Nika is an amazing and very special girl in my house. Her parents are Chica (Maanhaar Primo-Creatus Chica Karamy Freua) and Noah (Saimon’s Praide Never Give Up). Nika started her show carrier like a Star! On every show in BIS she won from very many babies and puppies prize places. And then in adult classes she won at almost every show. From 15 months till 2 years Nika was only at 17 shows in 8 countries. And she was Best Female 12 times (12xCACiB) and 6 times she was Best of Breed. On today Nika is a Champion of 8 countries and within 2 years she closed every title important to me, International Champion!! Nika has amazing

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temperament, very beautiful body, lovely color and fabulous head! Nika is a very healthy girl. She has all breed health tests and she does not have any allergies or any another problems. I am proud to have bred this super girl and happy that she stays with me! I love her so much!! Nika is still a fairly young bitch and todate she has only had one litter. Choosing a male is always a very difficult task. Nika is very beautiful and I had to choose the best of the best. As a result, my choice was made and the father became the incredible Duke - Deyonga Dakarai Ma-Dutu. 11 beautiful puppies were born. So far they are very small but I am very happy with the result. Gorgeous bone, handsome heads, wide and very long ridges, delightful angles. I am very proud of them! The caramel girl Paris will stay in my house. She is livernose and I have great hopes for her.

PARIS - MAANHAAR PRIMO-CREATUS PARIS HILTON Let me introduce my DREAM puppy Amazing girl with such fantastic personality and incredible character. She was the biggest and always hungry during the first week. But when she just opened her eyes I understood that she is the

sweetest girl I could only dream of! When I first time stack her only what I can say was WOW! So of course Paris stay with me. I really hope that my little beauty will grow into an adorable Queen Import in my kennel

EU-W’17 SAIMON’S PRIDE ERAST MELODY OF MY SOUL - GRAND Grand is my soul dog. I did not plan to take a male at that time. But that was fate. He helped me to stand up and I am so thankful to him for everything! Grand was born 12.04.2014 from pair of very famous dogs Int&Multi Ch Yaw Adyuba The Best Of Both Worlds - Int&Multi Ch Saimon’s Praide Patia Furaha. Grand grew in a very beautiful strong male with amazing temperament. I love everything in him! Always friendly Grand has such fabulous charisma. Everyone who even once saw Grand fell in love in him forever! He has excellent body with super proportions, ideal top line, good angulations front and back, style head, long ears, very bright color. Grand is healthy boy and he passed with super results all breed tests. He has no allergies or any another problems. Grand is progeny-proven stud dog. On today he is dad of 5 beautiful and healthy litters. His puppies live in 7 countries and they are very successful at shows. Grand was very successful at shows. The biggest of his winnings are: • European Winner (BOS), • International Champion,

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• Class Winner on RRWC Danish Club Show • CRUFTS 2017 in TOP 10 males from Open Class (39 dogs) I am really so happy that in those time I saw his puppy photos and fell in love so much and take him in my house! Thank you fate for this gift!

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ZAMBEZI’S KOZMIC KIM COME AND WIN – MIRRA Sometimes life surprises us. Here it is, my Christmas surprise. Completely spontaneous. Seeing a photo of this beauty, I almost died. She is incredible, dazzling, unrealistically beautiful! I’m lucky. I am really very lucky to have such an unreal puppy. Thank you Fate! Thanks for the fact that this girl was waiting for me. Mirra’s breeder - Marie Pehrson (Sweden) DOB: 18.10.2020 Mom - Zambezi’s Gorgeous Goa Dad - Saimon’s Praide Hypnotic

Always in memory This is a very sad topic for me. It so happened that for reasons beyond my control, I lost 4 incredible dogs. It still hurts me a lot to write or talk about these losses. But I cannot not tell about them.

PODAROK IZ AFRIKI ORIEL VALERI 02.04.2008-7.06.2016 Oriel left me very early. 3 days before Oriel’s death, we went through a full health check. Ultrasound, blood, heart ... But fate is such a thing ... Oriel suffered a bloat and the doctors fought. 4 times her heart stopped on the operating table, but the doctors managed to get Oriel back. But the 5th time it was fatal ... At 8 years old it is very difficult to endure bloat and it is extremely rare that everything ends well. But we sincerely really hoped for a positive result.

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Oriel you are with me forever, you live in all my dogs and therefore you will live forever! I love you very much, my golden girl!

11.10.2010-25.03.2014 The loss of Flika shook me very much. There were even thoughts to close the kennel... There are dogs with whom it is easy and good, and there are dogs that dissolve in you. Dogs with whom there is a special connection, when you do not need to talk, but just a look is enough. Such dogs are rare. And I was very lucky to meet this rarity. Flika was magical, kind, affectionate, very mother’s. She easily closed the InterChampion title at 2 years old. Flika’s death was a terrible accident. We just moved to Finland, where life without fences is normal. Flika died after being hit by a car right in our yard and I was with her for the last minutes of her life ... A terrible, tragic accident ... For a long time I could not eat or sleep, I could not communicate with people, I could not bring myself to smile. It was difficult. Once, having opened Facebook, I saw a photo of a beautiful puppy and I so wanted to squeeze him. It was Grand. It was he who helped me survive this tragedy. My beloved girl, I still remember your smell, I still remember your velvet fur, I still feel how you were looking for flea beetles from me. You are my uniqueness, you are something that happens once in a lifetime! You will be forever in my heart!!!

26. 12.2019 Another terrible tragedy occurred in the kennel on December 26, 2019.I lost 5 dogs in the fire. 2 Bracco Italiano, 3 Rhodesian Ridgebacks, two of whom were puppies. Everything happened with lightning speed. Within seconds, the house was filled with toxic black smoke. My actions were not entirely logical and I blame myself for saving only 5 dogs, but I could not save everyone... I smashed windows and climbed into the house pulling out almost dead dogs. Time was too short. And almost all of the rescued dogs were completely reanimated. Thanks to studying to become a veterinarian and knowing what to do. In a couple of minutes we were left naked, barefoot and without a home, and what is most terrible - we lost 5 legendary dogs. The worst nightmare ever! Thanks to everyone who helped us! You showed me how united and friendly we are! You gave me the strength to get up and move on. We are one big family!

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MAANHAAR PRIMOCREATUS AKWAKATE NTHANDA FLIKA BOLEID

MAANHAAR PRIMOCREATUS MADONNA «STITCH» - 5.08.201926.12.2019 Each breeder has his own ideal example of a breed standard. We cherish this ideal, we look for combinations, carefully examine every puppy who has come to our house and we are waiting for this ideal to come into this world from our imagination .... Stitch was my ideal ... I did not believe in double litters until Nika was born in my house. I was so eager to get the same ideal from my thoughts and I really wanted to do a double litter. And oh God, here she is !!! Here is the puppy whom I always imagined as the ideal of the breed!!

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Stitch had such a fabulous personality! She was very smart, cunning, always happy and cheerful. She understood every word. And how much she wanted to do everything to make me happy ... How fun I chose her name. Naturally, Stitch participated in this. I spent days with her and called different names looking at her reaction. I don’t know how I got the idea to pronounce the word Stitch. But as soon as I said it, Stitch jumped up, started run around me, the tail spun like a propeller. And of course she stayed Stitch. She chose her name. She loved Mathias very much. From morning till evening they could run and play. And they slept together. With tender emotion, I watched Matthias lay Stitch to sleep next to him. He laid Stitch neatly, slipping a pillow under her head and covering her with a blanket. Matthias still calls her ... I can’t forgive myself for the slowness ... I found Stitch in a burning house and I took her outside ... But I was too late ... I did’t save my Ideal ... I tried very hard but .... I write and crying .... How cruelly unjust this world is ... Forgive me my beloved girl! Sorry that I came too late... My heart is broken into a million pieces ...

14.05.2015-26.12.2019 Legendary dog. With amazing anatomy and pedigree. Merry and cheerful. Alice’s father is the legendary Eros (Elangeni Braveheart Rules). Dream dog! Since childhood, Alice stood out from all the brothers and sisters. Always free stacking and ran with fascinating movements. She reminded me very much of Eros. She always received the highest marks at dog shows. The dog - legend that took the best from both mom and dad. I’m so damn sorry that I lost her ... My sweet girl, I really hope that someday we will meet again! You will always live in my heart and I very clearly see you in your children!

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MAANHAAR PRIMOCREATUS FANTASTIC ALICE FROM WONDERLAND

MAANHAAR PRIMOCREATUS LIMBER - TRIXI 21.06.2019-26.12.2019 The tragedy that happened in my house on 26.12.2019 took so beautiful a puppy that was waiting to fly very far... 2 weeks stay till her plane... Trixi was only 6 months... Poor family is very sad. And I’m very sad. Great sorrow broke my and not only my heart!

PUPPY FROM US It is very important to us that the pups get the best start possible. Our puppies grow up in our house and living room and there will be a lot of time and effort put into socializing the pups. We feed our puppies only with super premium food including special vitamins, fruits and vegetables.

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Puppies live with us minimum till 8 weeks, but if puppy need move in another country we will be very happy to have our puppy with us till 4 months.

Of course the most important is that you provide a loving home and a position as a family member to my puppy! But I will be very happy to have active families with show ambitions for my puppies. Showing, field tracking, lure coursing obedience, agility, dog dancing and so on! Ridgebacks will always be happy to not just lie down on the sofa. I am looking for families which have enough time for properly socializing the puppy! For properly training the puppy! The new family needs have time for taking long walks with puppy and walking not just in forest/fields but in city and tripsfor socialization.

Also I ask all puppies to pass official health checks (hips, elbows, shoulders and spine), temperament test and some standard Laboklin tests for the breed. And these I ask to do for all puppies and no matter if the puppy is pet quality or show quality. It is important to me as a breeder! The family for my puppy needs agree that puppy will be on all sofas, beds. The new family needs to guarantee that my puppy will live in house, not in kennels outside. That my puppy will has full freedom inside. Puppy is very active till 2-3 years, so the new family should have great patience with all the tricks of the puppy. And always control what the puppy does inside and outside.

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WHAT FAMILY WILL GET MY PUPPIES?

The new family guarantees to in contact with the breeder in all questions! This means that if you have any questions at any time of the day you need to first contact me and then if my answer will be not enough you can ask forums, Facebook and so on! But normally my answers are enough on all questions about growing, health and so on because I have special cynology and veterinarian education! “Men have forgotten this truth,” said the fox. “But you must not forget it. You become responsible, forever, for what you have tamed. “The Little Prince” Antoine de Saint-Exupéry Remember about this, always!!! I am searching for owners who will cherish the pure value of my puppies and breeder’s approach. We choose for every puppy the proper owner in accordance to talents of each pup. We don’t trust our puppy to just any interested person.

FUTURE PLANS

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I don’t make big plans for the future. At the moment, we need to get on our feet and return to normal life. Since we lost our home, we need to create a kennel in a new location. Build good walking areas for dogs (puppies, males, bitches). Of course I have plans for litters, but I would like to keep it all a secret for now. Because of Covid-19, I am planning dog shows so far only in Finland, but I really hope that in the near future it will be a little easier to travel, and I will be able to think about shows in other countries

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INFO Name Ann

Dymytrova Kaihila

Country Finland Affix Maanhaar

Primo-Creatus

www www.maanhaar.com

Thank you to photographer Olga Khazai (Ukraine)

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W R I T T E N BY K R I S T Ý N A S E D L Á KOVÁ

TRACKING FOOTPRINT THE PATH

Today I would like to introduce you to the socalled dog royal discipline - tracking. Learn basic track information. Let’s take a general look so that you can make a better decision about what sport / order you want to exercise. The term tracking means - footprint the path one followed. The dog should follow the trail and lead the handler to its end. There are several styles in which a dog should follow a trail. Trace training can be found in dog sports: defense, rescue, mantrailing. I intentionally sorted dog sports in descending order according to the accuracy of following the track. In defense, according to the test regulations, the dog is required to follow the human trail as accurately and slowly as possible. Dog handlers train dogs so often to sniff every step. Furthermore, the rescue service requires the dog to walk more briskly and complete accuracy is not required as in the case of defenses. After all,

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PHOTO BY KRISTÝNA SEDLÁKOVÁ

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the main goal of the rescue trail is for the dog to find a person in trouble. The third type of tracks is according to the mantrailing. Here, a great distance from the track and a nimble style are tolerated (the dog can even run). The greatest emphasis is placed on the goal rather than on the track itself. We will now explain what the track consists of and how to work with the smell. The beginning of the track is called the tread. It is a place that the handler marks with a flag inserted into the ground, stands for a while in a given place so that a larger volume of odor remains, and leaves a plastic bag with the smelled object at the flag. The handler will then give the brought dog the opportunity to put his snout into the bag and sniff the object to know what smell should follow. During the track, the stacker leaves objects. For rescue and mantrailing, there should be daily necessities of various materials (sock, keys, lighter, ...). For fabric defenses, small fabric squares are chosen. The dog should mark the found objects with the position most often by lying down (or fetching). Of course, the track is not straight as a ruler, but it can click or break in various ways. A rectangular fracture is often used, and in higher tests a sharp fracture is also used. The track must be finished in some way either by an object or by a lying paver. If you want to train tracks for fun and diversification, how to mentally tire of a dog in another way, then I will describe the first track exercises (according to the rescue service), which have proved themselves to me several times during dog training. Before you go for a walk to train the tracks, pack a backpack at home: a track line (10m long leash), smelly dark socks (clean or already worn socks, which you put under your bare shirt at least 20 minutes before placing on the track), a lot of treats (it should be a special treat that you don’t normally use in training; ham, cheese or sausage) and, if you have one, a flag / stick

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that you insert into the ground at the beginning of the track (if you don’t, you can pluck a branch on the walk). Where to choose a track location? The track cannot just be placed anywhere. A beginner should choose a so-called odorless environment, a grassy meadow with not very tall grass. This means that you will lead the trail in a meadow in places where no one has walked back at least 2 hours before you. A foreign smell would disturb the dog’s sniffing (on the contrary, a more odor-messy environment is desirable in the training of a professional tracker). The grass should preferably be just as long. If it is too long (from the middle of your shin and up), then the trail is visible to the dog through the eyes and goes only in a paved tunnel and does not realize that he has to work with the sense of smell. If it is too short (so-called golf turf and less), then less odor remains in it after you pass, and so the beginner dog has a harder time to follow the trail. You will also see the difference if you step on the track in wet juicy grass or in dry, almost straw. The smell of grass adheres better and it is much easier for the dog to find traces. Therefore, the lightest surface for tracks is wet green grass and the hardest is dry plow or road / asphalt. These are the most important aspects that affect the difficulty of finding a clue. Other aspects that have less of an effect on the track, but need to be taken into account: pressure (at low pressure, the smell of the track stays more on the ground, so it is best to track in the morning; snout), wind (at higher wind intensity, the smell of the track can be carried away by a piece next to it; in one-way wind, for example from left to right, the dog can lift the

track by one piece (depending on wind strength) to the right; ), rain (the more rain, the more the smell of the track can be washed away), the age of the track = time between laying (stepping on) and lifting the track by the dog (the older the track, the harder to find for the dog; in the highest tests . Let’s tread. We will consider the dog by the tree from the edge of the meadow to look at us. Let’s look around and think about where to lay the trail and which direction to take. Attention, we will then complete the trodden trail with the dog again - because the dog is also an inexperienced tracker, I must know exactly where I went before. For example, some trainers let beginner handlers lift a trail without a dog to check and train their memory. I recommend either to choose well visible points as a free-standing tree, to go parallel (with a larger spacing of about 15 m) with the path or the edge of the forest. I will walk at least 15m from the tied dog and I can start laying a trail. The beginning (tread) should be more smelly. So I’m standing still, turning around my axis a few times and wrapping my pants. I’ll put 2-4 treats in the middle of the tread and I can break up. First I repeat about 3x every step of the treat, then about 3x 1 treat after 2 steps and finally about 3x 1 treat after 3 steps. At the end I will place the smelled object (sock) and under it I will put 7-9 pieces of treats. Now I need to go back to the dog, but I have to be careful not to disturb the nearby surroundings of the trail with my next steps. Therefore, I will make about 5 big jumps to the side and with a big arch at least 15m away I will return to the dog. I’ll wait 5-30 minutes (a 30 minute old track is still

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called “fresh”). I tie the dog to the tracker and drag it along the front paw. Meanwhile, in a calm voice, I speak to the dog and repeat the label “We will look for a trail” - the dog will learn that after these words he will have to engage his nose and look for a trail. If the dog is not ready and unfocused, it will not be possible to lift the track well. I’ll take him to the footprint with the words “Look for a clue” and let him eat treats. I point my hand in the direction of the track and repeat the “Search Track” command. I follow a working dog, which collects treats. I don’t use the tracker in its entire length in training, but I keep it about halfway (as needed). If the dog deviates from the trail, I say questioningly “Where is your trail? Where is it?”, If it returns to the trail, I immediately praise the calm voice “You are handy”. When the dog is following the trail correctly, I am silent and sometimes I praise me in a calm voice so as not to disturb him. The dog reached the finish line and ate the treats beneath him. At that moment, I repeat the praise and the order to lie down. When the dog lies down, I let him lie for a long time so that he doesn’t get used to leaving right away. Then we can go back to the mooring. Just like after treading, I go back with the dog. This time I’m doing it because the dog has only one chance to walk the trail and collect treats. Depending on the dexterity and taste of the dog, we repeat the track once or twice. If the dog can do it, I can start to extend the length of the track, that is, the last combination of 1 treat after 3 steps will be done x times. I simply described how the training of beginners’ tracks takes place. To continue or if you intend to practice for the exams from the beginning, I recommend training the tracks under the supervision of an experienced dogtrainer.

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www.facebook.com/psikouc www.psikouc.cz

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HOOPERS

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SPORT

Written by Kateřina Štýbrová

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many people, Hoopers is an unknown sport, which I would like to introduce to you. Given that it is not possible to say unequivocally how Hoopers came into being, a comparison with Agility cannot be avoided.

culoskeletal system as little as possible and thus allow the participation of all dogs, regardless of breed, age and disability. We also have, for example, a team where the dog is a “wheelchair user”. (I’ll probably get a photo)

If I want to describe it to anyone in a short sentence, I say: “Hoopers is Agility on the ground”.

SO WHAT IS THE ESSENCE AND GOAL OF OVERCOMING HOOPERS PARKOUR?

This is a course that contains 4 basic types of obstacles: arch, barrel, tunnel, goal. Each obstacle has specified dimensions and must be made of a safe material.

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All obstacles are overcome only by running. That is, there are no jumps, zones or sharp angles or rotations, unlike Agility. So, while Agility is designed for action, sports and healthy teams, Hoopers makes sure that every dog and handler can participate in this sport. Obstacles and their overcoming are designed to load the dog’s mus-

In parkour, the order of obstacles is marked with numbers and, depending on the category, contains from 10 to at most 18 obstacles. The handler from the defined area (3x3 meters, in higher categories 1.5 x 1.5 meters), located within the parkour, sends the dog “at a distance” with both gestures and verbal commands. The dog must therefore respond to the instructions of the handler, think

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The Hoopers Club was established in the Czech Republic in 2019, which distinguishes in its order: size category: • small - small dogs up to 40 cm at the withers • large - large dogs over 40 cm of height at the withers performance category: • Fun, H0 - novices, H1 - beginners, H2 - advanced, H3 - champions, HCH champions.

HOOPERS, EASY (MY DOG), AND I I first noticed Hoopers in the Sports and Canine center (Pesopark, Prague - Uhříněves). I was intrigued, and because Easy and I wanted to try something new, I signed up for the course. We both really enjoyed it. I like it when Easy and I do things where we work TOGETHER and that is essenial in this sport. The dog must understand you, be connected to you, but at the same time it has to be independent. We are currently training for the first performance category H0 and I hope that we will be able to pass the test.

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independently, work and look for obstacles. It is not accompanied by a handler on the course (as is the case with agility), except for the FUN category and the H0 category, where, among other things, rewarding the dog with a toy is allowed.

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Written by Ing. Hana Pánková Translated by Alena Ka dlecová

HISTORY OF THE

ČKRR CLUB

THE CZECH CLUB OF RHODESIAN RIDGEBACK was registered on March 31, 1992 at the Ministry of the Interior of the Czech Republic. In the preparatory committee were Ing. František Brejcha, Vladimír Janicki and Luďka Brejchová. The inaugural meeting was on April 25, 1992, where the 1st ČKRR Committee was elected. V. Janicki became the chairman of the ČKRR, L. Brejchová, the main breeding advisor, J. Havel, the executive, I. Balzerová, treasurer, MVDr. New. At that time, the club had 17 members. The oldest female Rhodesian Ridgeback imported to the Czech Republic from Zambia was Amy Red Wayside b. 27.01.1987 (entered in the studbook of ÚV ČMS - ČLP - 1, on 11.01.1988). Due to the fact that CMS was not interested in this breed at that time, although it was a hunting dog classified according to the FCI in class VIII. Flushing Retrievers (1994 FCI breed shifted to class VI. – scent hounds) on March 30, 1989 was the same bitch under number 3 written to CsHPK same day was also in the stud book written first dog Mennystone Shing (ČsHPK 2) imported from Zimbabwe. In this studbook was entered under number 1 on 05. 01. 1988 female Merigal´s Elanda imported from Switzerland born June 2, 1987. On August 28, 1992, the first ČKRR evaluation was held, which was attended by 3 bitches. On September 26, 1992, the first membership meeting took place and then on September 11, 1993, the 1st Special Club Show, where 29 dogs were entered. After the show, there was a historically second evaluation with 8 registered dogs. In the Czech Republic, there have been two clubs for the Rhodesian Ridgeback breed since 1992, namely the Czech Club of Rhodesian Ridgebacks, z.s. (ČKRR) based in Prague and the Rhodesian Ridgeback Breeders Club (KCHRR) based in Česká Třebová. Both clubs use a uniform standard (FCI - 146), but the breeding rules of each club are different. However, everyone has the right to be a member of both clubs if they meet the conditions for admission.

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Ph otos by m embers of th e club

THE CURRENT FORM OF THE CLUB Club leadership • Chairman - Ing. Hana Pánková • Chief breeding consultant - Lenka Bechová • Exhibition officer - Lenka Havlanová • Webmaster - Kristýna Hávová • Economist - Petra Dejdová • Number of members in 2020: 149 • Number of litters in 2020: 35 • Number of puppies born in 2020: 317 • Number of approved stud dogs in 2020: 12 • Number of approved brood bitches in 2020: 30

HEALTH AND BREEDING FACILITIES OF THE CLUB

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In 1996, a mandatory X-ray of the hip joints was introduced, the result of which could be at most B / B, so that the individual could be bred. This rule still applies today. In 2008, an X-ray of the elbow joints also became mandatory, when only an individual with a result of 0/0 is allowed into breeding. In 2020, the club introduced the obligation to document X-rays of the shoulder joints, the result of which, however, does not affect the entry into breeding. The reason was the monitoring of the state of disability in the RR population. We are currently trying to get the second club to cooperate with us in this monitoring. Responsible breeders also x-ray the LTV and spine. The age for making official X-rays is 18 months. In 2019, the club introduced the obligation to document negative genetic tests for DM, JME and D-locus in one of the parents, so that it does not happen that the two carriers of the given mutations come together. In order for a dog or bitch to be bred in the Czech Republic, they must undergo a breeding exam. Bonitations are usually held twice a year (spring and autumn). Dogs older than 20 months can participate in the evaluation. The evaluation is performed by a four-member commission composed of breeding advisers, a judge for the exterior and a member of the club management. The conditions for admission to the evaluation are: • X-ray HD, ED and OCD; • completion of two exhibitions with V or VD evaluation, one of which must be a show organized by the CKRR club;

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• exterior within the standard. Excluding defects are: • aggressive or too timid;

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• entropy or ectropion;

• other than a full scissor bite; • more than 2 missing teeth from a number of premolars or molars; • dermoid sinus; • HD worse than B and ED worse than 0/0. In the Czech Republic, breeders be members of one of the clubs to breed a litter. Between the sixth and seventh week of the puppies’ age, the breeder is visited by the breeding advisor of the given club, the litter and the breeder are checked, the standard and non-standard puppies are marked and they fill in the litter form. The club publishes a yearbook for its members for the previous year, where breeding information is written, year-round activities of the club are summarized and interesting articles concerning the breed are printed. (YEARBOOK PHOTO) Every year, the club evaluates its most successful individuals from the previous year in the following categories: • best show dog / bitch; • best young male / female; • best veteran; • the best kennel; • sports dog; • hound. In addition to club competitions, once a year the club awards the title “Club Champion” to individuals who meet the strict conditions of victory both at the club show and obtaining significant titles at other shows.

CLUB ACTIVITIES The club organizes many activities for its members during the year. The most important and most popular is the two-day club show, which is regularly attend-

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• exterior outside the valid standard;

ed by more than 170 dogs from all over Europe. Saturday’s show also includes afternoon competitions for the best ridge, movement, head, stud dog and breeding group. This year, for the third year in a row, we will organize a raffle as part of this two-day club exhibition, the entire proceeds of which go to the non-profit organization RIDGEBACK SOS. Other activities for club members but also for the public include hunting tests, coursing, nosework, sports days, basic handling tests and lectures on interesting topics and much more.

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Currently, the Rhodesian Ridgeback breed is very popular in the Czech Republic, which is not always to the benefit of the breed. As the main goal and mission of our club, I understand education and advisory function for breeders and assistance to owners in education and training. However, I consider the most important obligation of the club to maintain the high quality of individuals who are included in the breeding, both in terms of exterior and in terms of character and health.

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www.ckrr.cz

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MONTY

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OUR HERO

F R A N

C O O L E

MONTY

TO THE RESCUE A very special story, that happened in April 1996 to Fran Coole, here in Johannesburg, South Africa. This is the story, as it was printed in the newspaper. North Eastern Tribune - 12 April 1996 – report by Kim Holtzhausen

MONTY TO THE RESCUE It was more than just a case of puppy love when this pooch braved a gunshot to save his owner. A huge, floppy eared, elevenmonth-old Rhodesian Ridgeback was shot in the paw recently when he bounced in to save his owner from armed hijackers.

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Monday night two weeks ago set the scene for out of the blue heroics by brave canine Monty. After arriving at home in Lombardy East in her Mitsubishi Starwagon Microbus and activating her automatic gate, Monty’s owner Frances Coole noticed a suspicious looking green Cortina driving directly behind her. She immediately activated her Crime Strike panic alarm and once the gates had opened accelerated down her driveway towards the garage. The hijackers immediately blocked off the top of the driveway: “They parked outside blocking the exit, two men got out. There was a third one driving.” As she sped down the driveway she heard shots being fired. “I heard two shots and realised that Monty was there to greet me – having heard the sound of my car in the street, when I opened the gate.

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As the hijackers fled the property with tails between their legs, Frances heard Monty yelping and howling in pain and rushed towards him – as the hijackers fled the scene. Valiant Monty had been shot through a main artery just above the knuckle in his right front paw – X-rays later showed the gun shot shattered his metacarpals.

Crime Strike arrived a few minutes later closely followed by the police and a concerned friend, who happened to be driving past the house and saw the armed response team climbing over the gate. In the meantime Fran was telephoning the vet to alert him that she would be coming in with a badly wounded dog. Her friend was driving a bakkie (very small truck) and helped her get Monty into the back – and then raced to the vet while she tried to stem the blood flow. “By the time I got him to Dr Halliday, the closest vet, he had lost a lot of blood.” They stabilised him and the next day made preparations to transport him to an orthopaedic surgeon for treatment of the injury. Her vet confirmed the uniqueness of the situation and said it was unusual for a dog as young as Monty to react the way he did. She believes he saved her life that day by standing his ground giving her time to flee. It was evident that the hijackers were prepared to shoot, with their gun safety catches off as they entered the driveway. A week later a friend who drove the same make of vehicle and who lived in the same neighbourhood was hijacked in his driveway. He sustained gunshot wounds to his stomach and was in a critical was condition for some weeks, and his vehicle was stolen. Frances emphasises that Monty had been taken to obedience training from a 3 months old, and this increased his ability to deal with the situation. She is adamant that a dog should be loved: “A dog is not just a guard dog and should have the range of the home.”

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“The hijackers got such a fright: Monty had stayed at the gate, stood his ground and barked at them as they started to run towards my car that they just shot at him before he could do any damage to them.”

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ER H AT C CZ

KAČENKA

21 .

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OUR OLDY

A N N A

V L Č K O V Á ,

A N I M A

A N I M A L

R R S

photo: pi ctures by : Kl á ra Ol i vová a nd Ma r két a Nová ková

KAČENKA OLDY

For some people it is only a dog, for me she is my best friend, part of my soul, my love, my dream and my destiny, for more than 14 years…

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Kačenka was born in the spring of 2007 to my friend the breeder Zdenka Masnerová in Prague. The reservation for the most beautiful girl was actually made before she was born. I saw her for the first time when she was 3 days old, I held her in my hands and I was already in fully in love. From an early age, she was completely golden, cuddly, playful, smiling, never destroying anything and never doing anything terrible. I soon found out that she would do somersaults for a reward, so there was no problem with her training. We started going to shows, went coursing together, we did obedience, agility

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Kačenka grew into a beautiful bitch, with an incredibly calm, amazing nature, she is intelligent, predictive, she can laugh but also frown, she can roar and fly off the handle like crazy, but she can also be peaceful and without movement to donate blood or master an hour of canis therapy with home pensioners. She is an important part of our pack, gradually joined by her daughters Keira (* 2011) and Roxy (* 2013) and by her latest granddaughter Friday (* 2019). Her daughters and granddaughter accept her as an alpha, and even in her old age they worship her. They never allowed anything to happen to her and I’m incredibly grateful that such a cool energy prevails in the pack! She became the mother of 31 puppies, the grandmother of 36 puppies in our kennel and many others elsewhere and she is now a multiple great-grandmother. If there is something special, then it is her amazing nature. She loves children, has no problem with adults and is used to working with physically and mentally handicapped people. Let me write a few words about our canine therapy, where we are currently visiting a retirement home: this Ridgeback is an amazing therapist who works with the heart. She really enjoys helping. She will do what she sees in my eyes, simply to make me happy. I like how she visits exactly whom she would like to caress her, to whom to snuggle and with whom she will try her irresistible dog look and receive a treat for it. She doesn’t bother anyone too much, she can spread her attention among everyone and help everyone

a little bit and make their day more pleasant. She is fully involved in working with people and tries to give them something more than just her presence. It is interesting to see a Ridgeback as a canis therapy dog, because its size and majesty attracts attention at first sight and maybe it is a little hard to believe at first what they are like inside :) I understand that it arouses respect, but also brings tons of positive energy, which these people need so much! As for the show successes, even though Kačenka is a bitch at the upper limit of height, we mostly ended up among the winners. Her enchanting gaze and her incredible presence radiated well into her old age, always made her look so special, so that other shortcomings were overlooked. So many times I had tears of happiness and emotion in my eyes at shows, often I shed a tear and many times my knees shook so much, that I could barely run the last circle. If she ever really shone in the show ring, it was in the veteran class. She was still showing at the age of 13.5 and with her drive she defeated two generations younger rivals. Several times she managed to get the BOS title (the best dog of the opposite sex after BOB) from the veteran class, which I am really very proud of! Successes that I value the most and that cannot be forgotten: • 9. 10. 2009 - World show Bratislava (SK): Exc.1, CAC (43 females in class !!) • 16. 5. 2015 - CAC Swiebodzice (PL): Exc.1, BOV, BOS • 30. 5. 2015 - Special show CKRR: Exc.1, BISS VETERAN 2015 • 27. 6. 2015 - CACIB Brno (CZ): Exc.1, BOV, BIS VETERAN • 30. 10. 2016 - CACIB Prague (CZ): Exc.1, BOV, BOS • The best veteran of 2016, CKRR club • 4. 11. 2017 - CACIB Prague (CZ): Exc.1, BOV, BIS 5 VETERAN • 12. 5. 2019 - Club show CKRR (CZ): Exc.1, BOV (11 years !!) As for her health, I have never had any serious health problems with her. She has been on BARF since she was 7 years old. I prefer natural food, supplements and alternative methods to the pointless stuffing of chemistry. At almost 13 years of age, she underwent risky surgery (collapse of the larynx), after which she came back to life completely and since then she has been enjoying her full health again. She goes upstairs to the 3rd floor several times a day, still trying to keep up with the pack on walks, raising a teenage Friday, and every month she enjoys care using Dorn’s method, which really benefits her. Apparently she is not in pain and nothing is bothering her. It is amazing to hear from long-term breeders that they have never seen such an old dog in such good condition.

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and attended other events with Ridgebacks, we met a lot of new great friends and acquaintances (two-legged and four-legged) and this “Ridgeback Addiction” hit me hard. I already knew then that I would not stay with just one Rhodesian Ridgeback.

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I’m incredibly happy that this little girl belongs to me. I thank the breeder Zdeněk Masnerová for entrusting her to me and thus fulfilling my dream. Katka Vlčková for the unforgettable Ascot (Kačenka´s legendary father Ascot Alta Mirano) and many other people around RR world for all the help, experience and advice I have gained over the years and thanks to which I try my best to take care of our pack, to be the best breeder I can be, and pass this knowledge on with love. In conclusion, a little confession: My dear Kačenka, when I brought you home as a small baby, I could hardly imagine what my life would be like with you and now I don’t want to imagine what it will be like without you… You caught my heart, my life and turned it upside down and directed it exactly to where it should have been. For more than 14 years you have been closely watching every bite that disappears into my mouth and drooling on my feet, for more than 14 years you have been crawling under my duvet at night and following all my actions with enthusiasm. Your huge heart is full of the purest dog love. You constantly teach me something and fulfill my dreams and wishes. You have spent Kačenka 1/3 of my life with me and you know me better than anyone else. Every year of your life impresses me more and more, since your lucky 13th I take our every day together as a bonus, as something extra and I enjoy it to the fullest. We live in a given moment, because your dog’s life is like that, you perceive and take it that way. You taught me so many things and proved to me so many times that dog love is so much needed and that without it, life would be so much poorer. There is nothing more important than that you are still here with me, healthy, happy, wise, begging, forever wagging your tail, old, gray, slow, totally deaf and stubborn than ever, but you are still with me. I have one big wish - stay the way you are, because I’ll just give you the best 15th birthday cake for next year! We love you very much.

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W R I T T E N B Y K AT E Ř I N A N O V O S Á D O VÁ MANWË KENNEL/ WWW.MANWE.EU

KIDNEY DIET

THE IMPORTANCE OF THE KIDNEYS IN THE BODY

ike all organs in the body, the kidneys have a unique and irreplaceable function. Their main role is to excrete metabolic products from the body. Simply put, they filter the blood and remove harmful substances that arise during metabolism. These are then removed from the body in the form of urine. Another very important function is to maintain a constant pH and electrolyte level in the blood and to maintain calcium and mineral levels. Furthermore, the production of hormones is important for bone metabolism and also the production of red blood cells in the bone marrow.

KIDNEY FAILURE In recent years, we are increasingly encountering poor kidney function, not only in the Rhodesian Ridgeback breed. Detecting a kidney problem in time is not easy at all, especially in the early stages. The kidneys have a high compensatory capacity and can replace non-functional tissue with increased activity of the tissue, which is still functional. So if one of the kidneys doesn’t work, we might not notice it at all and it doesn’t limit the dog in any way. Until then, the finding is rather accidental. However, when more than 75% of the kidney tissue is damaged, kidney failure occurs. Kidney failure leads to irreversible damage to many cells in the body. If left untreated, it leads to death. However, even with early diagnosis, the prognosis is often very poor. Diet and support will only relieve the damaged organs and thus prolong their “lifespan”. It is not possible to restore damaged functions. That’s why we should take good care of our dog’s kidneys all his life.

What harms the kidneys • overweight, obesity. • Insufficient movement. • Excessive amounts of poor quality proteins (vegetable proteins). • Excessive amount of sodium - a pinch of salt a week is enough for dogs, so watch out for too salty granules and treats, leftovers of human food. • Low fluids - we never limit fluid intake. • Chemical substances, toxins - we choose antiparasitics very carefully and we do not give any drugs unnecessarily, we do not use strong chemicals near the dog. • Frequent cooling of the lumbar area - if necessary, we use a suitable outfit for the dog (especially for older dogs) • We distinguish two types of renal failure. • Acute failure - this is a condition of sudden collapse of kidney function due to intoxication, shock or when taking certain medications. With early detection and initiation of treatment, renal function is usually restored. An untreated condition leads to a very rapid death of the dog. • Gradual or chronic failure - the kidneys lose their function gradually and due to their high compensatory capacity, the disease is usually discovered only with extensive damage. Unfortunately, this condition is irreversible. The earlier the diagnosis and treatment, the

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PHOTO BY KATEŘINA NOVOSÁDOVÁ

more we can improve and prolong the dog’s life. Symptoms of chronic renal failure: • increased fluid intake • frequent urination • increased fatigue, drowsiness • anorexia • weight loss • deteriorated coat quality • vomiting, diarrhea The causes of kidney failure differ. These can be congenital defects and hereditary dispositions that are typical of some breeds (Bull terrier, Poodle, Bernese Mountain Dog, Cocker Spaniel, Lhasa-Apso, etc.). Also various infections and poisonings. Kidney failure also very often occurs in heart failure, when there is no blood flow to the tissues, to which the kidneys are very sensitive. It is often debated whether renal failure is directly related to the type of food served. These problems have not been shown to be more common in dogs fed dry food or fresh food. Of course, the inappropriate composition of food greatly affects bodily functions, but many factors affect it. In case of any suspicion, we will always visit a veterinarian. Better to be careful rather than get sick, because the sooner treatment starts, the better!

DIET

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In addition to medicines prescribed by a veterinarian, a special diet must be followed. The essence of the kidney diet is to feed quality and easily digestible proteins, reduce sodium and phosphorus intake and add suitable vitamins and essential fatty acids. It is important to ensure a sufficient supply of energy (quality protein and fat) and fluids. The previously recommended strict protein restriction no longer seems to be so important. On the contrary, it contradicts the requirements of an organism that needs quality proteins for its functioning. If there is a lack of protein in the diet, the body consumes protein from the muscles and the dog loses weight and withers until he depletes all his reserves. Therefore, we restrict proteins only partially, depending on the degree of kidney damage. The proteins served must be of high quality and easily digestible - chicken or turkey, lamb, fish, rabbit, boiled chicken or quail eggs. It is very important to limit the supply of sodium (salt), which should be a matter of course in healthy dogs, and especially phosphorus, which the body can not cope with when the kidneys are affected. Therefore, we reduce dairy products and offal with a higher phosphorus content. After consultation with a veterinarian, we can adminis-

ter products that help to bind phosphates in the intestine and thus reduce the level of phosphorus and urea in the body. Because there is a large loss of vitamins, especially those that are soluble in water, it is necessary to add them in increased amounts, up to twice the dose than for a healthy dog. B and C vitamins are especially important. The addition of essential fatty acids can also help the body. We therefore serve quality vegetable or animal oils - evening primrose or fish oil, etc. At least twice a year, you should do a cleansing (detoxification) via natural means. The drinking regime is also important. The dog must always have access to fresh water, as it could easily dehydrate the body. We can also offer special herbal teas for drinking, which we can flavour with grape sugar or honey. This is especially useful in dogs who suffer from anorexia and receive limited fluids. Renal failure is very often accompanied by anorexia. It is very important for the dog to eat and therefore, if absolutely necessary, we can break the dietary rules. The dog must eat at least something to have enough energy. Also, some medicines should not be taken on an empty stomach.

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salads), cucumbers, pumpkins

• supplements - vitamins sk. B (Pangamin), sea or freshwater algae (spirulina, chlorella), quality oil (fish, borage, evening primrose, flaxseed, milk thistle, etc.), vitamin C, special supplements to support renal function

FEED RATION SIZE The amount of the feed ration is determined depending on the age and condition of the dog at 3-5% of the ideal weight. The percentage is slightly higher than in a healthy adult dog, because the diseased organism cannot fully utilise the feed. We divide the feed ration into 2-4 portions according to the condition of the dog and his willingness to eat. Feed ration composition • meat - 20% • bones - 10% • side dishes - 70% (vegetables 40% / other side dishes 60%) If we need to reduce protein even more, we serve meatless 2-3 days a week - we replace meat with eggs. Both chicken and quail eggs are suitable. Egg diet per 35kg live weight • 500g boiled eggs • 450g boiled potatoes • 20g of quality butter or poultry fat We need to find out what our dog might like. Some dogs prefer cooked meat, then we cook. It’s not a problem at all. Cooked meat is a little harder to digest, but thanks to the smell, it is more attractive for dogs. We can also offer strong broth with mixed meat, lightly roasted chicken / turkey meat dripped with butter, unsalted ham for puppies, etc. We can also offer dried meat, which does not need to be served in such large quantities.

• Finely grated raw carrots • 20 tbl Pangamin • 1 teaspoon seaweed / freshwater • phosphorus release agent • 250mg of vitamin C Meat diet at 35kg live weight • 450g mass

(100g dried meat = 300g fresh meat)

• 1 chicken wing

Suitable food

• 700g rice

• meat - turkey, chicken, lamb, rabbit, lean fish, pork, beef + sometimes various cartilages, tendons, etc., unwashed tripe from the intestines are suitable

• 20g of quality butter or poultry fat

• eggs - boiled chicken or quail (1 egg = 5080g of meat)

• 1 teaspoon seaweed / freshwater

• side dishes - rice, pasta, boiled potatoes, boiled sweet potatoes

• 250mg of vitamin C

• dairy products - yogurt, kefir, cottage cheese • others - white bread, lard, quality butter • vegetables - root vegetables (carrots, parsley, beets), leafy vegetables (Chinese cabbage,

• Finely grated raw carrots • 20 tbl Pangamin • phosphorus release agent Egg diet per 50kg live weight • 750g boiled eggs • 1100g boiled potatoes • 30g of quality butter or poultry fat

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• fruits - apples, pears, strawberries, kiwi, peaches, bananas

• Finely grated raw carrots • 30 tbl Pangamin • 2 teaspoons seaweed / freshwater algae • phosphorus release agent • 500mg of vitamin C Meat diet per 50kg live weight • 600g of meat • 2 chicken wings • 1000g rice • 30g of quality butter or poultry fat • Finely grated raw carrots • 30 tbl Pangamin • 2 teaspoons seaweed / freshwater algae • phosphorus release agent • 500mg of vitamin C

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AN EXAMPLE OF A “KIDNEY” DIETFEEDING 3 TIMES A DAY Every day we add a product to release phosphorus, fats (oils) and suitable vitamins. We will always consult a veterinarian or nutritionist about the quantity and type. Monday • turkey meat + vegetables + rice • chicken wings • pork + vegetables + boiled potatoes Tuesday • rabbit + vegetables + pasta • chicken skeletons • chicken hearts or stomachs + vegetables + boiled sweet potatoes Wednesday • boiled eggs + boiled potatoes + carrots

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• white yogurt or kefir + fruit + honey • boiled eggs + white bread (1-2 slices)

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Thursday • fish + vegetables + rice • rabbit back • green unwashed tripe + Chinese cabbage + rice Friday • chicken + vegetables + pasta • boiled quail eggs • beef + vegetables + rice Saturday • boiled eggs + boiled potatoes • white bread (1-2 slices) + 1 teaspoon lard • boiled eggs + carrots + honey Sunday • turkey meat + vegetables + rice • chicken wings lamb + vegetables + boiled sweet potatoes

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WRITTEN BY JAN KADLEC ENGINEER OF MOLECULAR BIOLOGY, GENETIC ENGINEERING AND MICROBIOLOGY PHOTO BY LUKÁŠ SKALICKÝ

OVERWEIGHT OBESITY

ocus of this article is to take a closer look at one of the major issues of the breed and dogs as companion animals in general. The problem of dogs being overweight and in the worst case scenario – obesity. It is hanging nowadays above most of the dogs, no matter the breed. It is sad but this type of “civilization disease” also manifests itself in pets – the main factor can be seen in that pets moved from outdoor to indoors and a major factor is our own way which influences our pets. But some of the breeds really tend to be overweight like Labrador, Beagle, Retriever, Cavalier King Charles, Cocker Spaniel, etc. Obesity is defined by accumulation of adipose tissue and if not treated well it can lead to serious problems and negative impact on the life span of a dog, which no-one wants. Basically, you can name any disease and you will nail it as obesity related - diabetes, cardiovascular disease, poor reproduction, mobility problems, joint pain, even impact on negative behavior can be noticed. Some recent articles quote that 20 – 40% of dogs have problems with weight, so this is a significant issue which needs to be addressed in general. Usually, the tendency to the weight issues is related to several factors. One factor can be the age of the dog – usually once the dog is around the age of 7 years it can be already seen as “senior”, therefore food distribution and food portion should already be observed in more detail, since it is easy to put on weight for dogs at this age. Usually as a rule of thumb, portions should be reduced in comparison to regular adult portions by 15-20%. Problems arise once the dogs have already put on the weight – it´s harder for him to lose it, since

activity level is not what it used to be due to age related factors, like joint pain. The next factor is castration or neutering – those factors typically lead to change in behavior of the animal, in the sense of activity decrease and tendency to increase food intake. Therefore the balance of energy expenditure versus energy intake in form of food is disturbed. If anyone has a neutered female or male, I sure you can confirm that activity levels of such RR went noticeably down after treatment. But here one must compare pros and cons of such a treatment – for males, sure it has positive impact on prostate size and status when a certain age is reached, and you will meet such a problem and in females it is an obvious impact if not intended for breeding. Risk factors can be seen in the way the RR is fed, so if table scraps are served or if any increased number of treats are given, and simultaneously not taken into account the fact of energy balance of the day – you are on wrong path. Sometimes it is very hard to follow how many treats the dog got over the course of the day if training or getting ready for a show, and it is quite easy to lose track. Anyone who has a Ridgeback knows how convincing they can be in this situation “Come on human, I did not have enough, just give me one more!” Some studies connected “cheap” pet food products with overweight issues – here can be seen direct connection with human food known as “junk-food” vs. a regular healthy and diverse diet – surely 12 kg bag of kibble for 10 EUR won´t be the best choice, one can really doubt what might be inside – increased carbohydrates levels and low amount of high-quality protein and

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WITH MANY YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IN THE FIELD.

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fat will certainly not be the best option. Some interesting studies indicated that there was no statistically significant impact on obesity occurrence whether a dog was fed with quality kibble product or proper raw food alias BARF, so there is no problem in here based on some statistical data. If you have issues with an already overweight RR, what is the right approach and choice of food, how do you achieve weight loss? Well, certain principles are known and obvious – lower amount of metabolizable energy is one way. But be careful here – it is not just about giving your RR food with the lowest amount of declared fat possible. Here is the point where you as owner should be cautious what you are about to buy for your RR, since it is not just about lower fat amount in products. If you want to decrease the weight of your dog, you have to stay on track – first keep in mind that any treat provided counts and therefore you have to deduct ME of such treat from regular full diet. Also be sure that you´re the one who is in control of how many grams of food your dog should have in the bowl – because often you can hear excuses from other members of your household like “ I just gave him a few treats” / “he/ she looked soooo hungry and cute”/ “it doesn´t matter if I gave him few treats” etc., this won´t do your dog any good. Secondly fiber is also important in the composition of food. Sometimes I can hear from my experience that fiber is perceived as “filler”, something you add into the food, which will make it cheaper and that is the goal to make it cheap – well… not so much! Fiber is very important as you might see also in human food and trends which are around lately. The difference is mainly whether fiber is soluble or insoluble – and how much of each is included. Soluble fiber can basically serve as food substrate of positive active bacteria (e.g. psyllium husk with seeds) – insolu-

ble fiber plays an important role in forming bulk of food – this fiber won´t be digested but plays a role in something called satiety (e.g. apple pulp, desugared beet pulp, cellulose etc.) – this is crucial, you do not want to make your RR suffer from hunger to get him leaner. This fiber will create bulk in the stomach and intestine and your dog will feel full without a need to eat whatever he can find or interrupt your dinner constantly. The level of fiber should be 8% plus in such a product. Next important fact is that you should keep in mind satisfactory level of protein in such a diet – since level of protein will ensure that your dog won´t loose muscle mass but fat mass once on diet – if this is not taken into the account you can be in a situation where your dog loses muscle mass and that is undesirable of course. Usually in regular products for weight management, protein levels should be at least around 26-27 % of matter, preferably over 30 %. Certainly it is also important to provide some chondroprotectives or similar supportive materials (glucosamine, chondroitin sulphate, methylsulfonylmethane (MSM), Boswellia serrata, cat´s claw or collagen) in diets once your RR suffers from such an indication to mitigate the effect of joint pain, also in composition of industrially produced food you may find additives like L-carnitine which supports the effect of weight loss management. If we talk about level of fat in industrially produced product/kibbles such a level should be between values 8 – 10 % of dry matter. Of course one significant factor here – fat is a flavor carrier and it is sometimes hard to find product which will be palatable enough and you might face problems with food refusal. Obviously – regular walks are needed. Without some decent activity adapted to the age of the RR it will be pretty hard to maintain optimal body weight.

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s ’ o Te Italian Beef Treats RECIPE

YOU NEED

Around 40 bites 2 cups cooked ground beef 1 table spoon dried garlic ½ cup hard cheese 1 ½ cup all purpose flour ½ cup dry milk 2 large egs

Let´s get started 1. Preheat the oven to 250 degrees 2. Mix together beef, garlic and hard cheese mix well and then add the rest ingredients 3. Use baking sheet – make small balls from the dough 4. Bake till golden brown – about 15 minutes 5. Remove from the oven, let cool and then serve

Bon

Appétit!

Share w ith us p ictures o f the result and the bes t o f them w ill be pub lis hed in up co mming is sue. email rr.eu.magazine@gmail.com E Teo´s cooking adventurres, Q teoscookingadventurres

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

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”

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

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

A “S

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OUR GOLDIES

DVERNITSKIY ALEKSANDR AN INTERVIEW

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Ukraine І www.facebook.com/DvernitskiyAleksandrPhotography І a.dvernitskiy@gmail.com

PLEASE TELL US ABOUT YOURSELF. HOW DID YOU COME ABOUT BEING A DOG PHOTOGRAPHER AND HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN DOING IT? I started animal photography with horses, my friends own a horse farm in Crimea. At that time, I was a photographer for humans and animal photography was just a hobby. In 2015 I became interested in dog photography when my friend introduced me to the world of dog shows. This is actually what I loved to do, capturing the moment, show dogs at its best!

HOW DID YOU FIRST ENTER THE PHOTOGRAPHY WORLD? DID YOU HAVE FORMAL TRAINING? HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN A PHOTOGRAPHER I started my professional photographer career in 2007, at first I photographed family portraits, weddings, etc. Since that time I have always worked as

photographer only. I did not have any formal training, most of my knowledge is self-taught and experience.

WHAT TYPE OF CAMERAS DO YOU SHOOT WITH? WHICH IS YOUR FAVOURITE LENS AND WHY? I always use Canon series 1D cameras, now I have newest Canon 1 DX mark III. My favourite and most recently used lens is Canon EF 70-200/2.8 III, because it provides high speed focus and great image quality. Also, this lens can be used for show photography, same as for art photos. I also use 50/1.2 for more voluminous photos, or 300/4 for sports and big Best in show rings, such as Crufts, for example. I don’t like to use a wide angle lens for dogs, because they distort the proportions of the dog.

WHERE DO YOU FIND INSPIRATION? It depends on weather, shooting conditions, from the very plot of the shooting, for example, this is a photo of a dog, or a dog with owners, etc. my job

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DO YOU CONSIDER IT A CHALLENGING JOB? HOW DO YOU GET THE ANIMALS TO STAY AND “POSE” FOR YOU? That’s command work with the dog, the owner and the handler, if s/he works with us. Sometimes it not easy to control the dog, attract the attention of the dog by throwing a toy and at the same time monitor the shooting parameters and other things. So yes, this job gives one a lot of challenges.

WHAT IS THE BEST PART OF BEING A FINE ART PHOTOGRAPHER? AND THE MOST CHALLENGING? The best part is when you see the final result, when you send photos to the owners and they are sincerely happy with the result! Always, when I’m preparing for photoshoot I think about

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is to combine all factors and make beautiful photos. In fact I’m trying to show the dog at its best, I study breed standards, talk to breeders and experts – to understand how the dog should look, and how my customers want it to look!

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the breed features, and how to show this dog in a better way.

to be photographed. Yes, its true. Sometimes a dog

WHICH BREED IN YOUR OPINION IS MOST PHOTOGENIC?

DO YOU HAVE ANY PETS OF YOUR OWN? AND WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE ANIMAL?

All breeds are photogenic, you can’t say that one breed is more beautiful, than another, because it depends on your preferences. It also depends on how the dog is trained and how much the dog likes

can show so many emotions in just a few seconds.

We have 2 Dalmatians and a Golden Retriever, but my heart belongs to Dalmatians.

MICHAEL BOSSARD AN INTERVIEW

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Switzerland І Michael Bossard Photography / www.shurubu.com

PLEASE TELL US ABOUT YOURSELF . HOW DID YOU COME ABOUT BEING A DOG PHOTOGRAPHER AND HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN DOING IT? First of all many thanks for contacting me. I feel very honoured to be interviewed amongst so many talented and creative photographers. Having become a photographer myself was a gradual process that started by having worked in advertising agencies for almost 20 years. As a Client Service Director for many internationally renowned companies, I have organised shootings with many famous photographers, models, hair & make up artists, stylists and great post production specialists. Whereas I have been responsible for many hundred shootings, I never ever took one single picture myself though. It was much later on, in 2014 when I got the chance to buy a high quality camera and a first excellent lens – and from there it all started and I try to become a better photographer every day and every week.

HOW DID YOU FIRST ENTER THE PHOTOGRAPHY WORLD? DID YOU HAVE FORMAL TRAINING? HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN A PHOTOGRAPHER? As I said my approach to photography was a very professional one. I was in charge for the organisation, the budget and the timing for big international photo productions that often involved investments of € 200’000 and more. My role in the production process was very technical, since I was the main contact for the agencies clients and in the meantime I had to make sure, the interests and ideas of our creative department were taken into account. What I surely learned abundantly was to see, what separates a good picture from an excellent or even an outstanding picture. The composition of a great picture always tells a story and transports strong emotions. Apart from some workshops I attended, I have to say I am very much an autodidact. Technically

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WHAT OR WHO GOT YOU STARTED PHOTOGRAPHING DOGS? Every now and again I saw very artful photography of Rhodesian Ridgebacks from Karin van Klaveren and I became aware that Ridgebacks can be very stunning models. We had our first Ridgeback girl «Nala» back in 2004, but it was not before around 2014 when, thanks to Facebook, I started to become more ambitious and wanted to picture our own dogs in a more professional way.

WHAT TYPE OF CAMERAS DO YOU SHOOT WITH? WHICH IS YOUR FAVOURITE LENS AND WHY? I’m still very keen on my Canon 5D Mark III, even though there are more modern and faster cameras on the market. She does everything I need from her, her sensor is working really well for me and the handling is easy and quick. Asking about lenses every photographer has some lenses, he or she feels especially comfortable with. Due to its performance and versatility I work most often with Canon’s EF 70-200mm, f/2.8 L IS II USM. Apart from this lens I own different focal lenses such as the Canon 135mm, f/2.0 or the Sigma 35mm, f/1.4 DG HSM ART. My very special baby though is the

Canon EF 300mm f/2.8L IS II USM – a true light monster, which is absolutely unbeaten when it comes to sensitivity, sharpness and reproduction of details. I use it whenever possible and whenever the situation lets me carry more than 5 kg of hardware around my neck.

WHERE DO YOU FIND INSPIRATION? Inspirations is everywhere. In architecture, in fashion, in movies, in things our dogs do and in things our dogs don’t do. Most inspiration I get when I’m in a good mood and don’t think too much about being inspired and just let things happen. But when inspiration strikes me, I can hardly stop thinking about what has come to my mind and I urgently need to follow the project.

DO YOU CONSIDER IT A CHALLENGING JOB? HOW DO YOU GET THE ANIMALS TO STAY AND “POSE” FOR YOU? As I would consider myself to be an ambitious amateur yet with a very professional attitude, I feel the freedom of making photos for fun and not for a living. The challenging aspect is though, that I feel a certain responsibility for the owner of a dog, because I want to create great moments that I can capture and so make them last forever. I always find out very quickly if an owner works well with his dog and whether they build a good team together. If they aren’t trusting in each other, my job becomes more difficult. I mean, I only need a split second for my picture, but I need the dog’s best expression. If the dog feels uncomfortable in the situation, I won’t get a good picture. The best

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speaking, I wouldn’t consider myself to be a very high-end photographer. Much more I have the eye and ability to quickly see special situations and make use of given possibilities of a location in a creative way. I’m more the natural kind of guy, who tries to capture the soul of his models without making a big fuss.

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situations I experience are with dogs, who have a great partnership with their owners. And of course, if the dog is ready to give me a second or two to stand or sit still, that helps a lot. For our own dogs I have the great advantage of having the best photo assistant and handling professional in the world at my side: my wife Petra knows exactly how the dogs have to pose and we communicate super quickly with just eye contact. I couldn’t wish for a better help when I have a shooting with our own pack.

WHAT IS THE BEST PART OF BEING A FINE ART PHOTOGRAPHER? AND THE MOST CHALLENGING? The best part is passing on emotions, getting true, heart felt feedbacks from the owners of the dogs. Every moment I capture is unique in the lifetime of the dog. Whether it’s a little puppy or a senior with the most active days gone by, in a photoshoot I create most valuable memories that would never come back otherwise. The most challenging part I understand to control the many things that cannot really be controlled: the sun, the light, the wind, the rain and snow, the temperature – so many things influence the outcome of a photo and whether the dogs feels comfortable and happy.

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

Usually a lot of questions about the clients expectations and wishes are discussed and cleared before meeting on the location. I ask the clients to send me pictures of other dogs, light situations, backgrounds that they really like. Based upon that I try to think of a suitable location or also recommend, what the client and his dog can practise before meeting me. This will take off pressure and the whole atmosphere will be even more relaxed. Most of the time I start off with a simple walk through nature or in the city. I will then find suitable spots and will ask the owner to place his dog in the right position. During a 60 to 90 minute walk I will usually get the full result of the photo shooting. When I’m behind the camera, firstly I concentrate about the technical settings and then mostly I care for focus points, for angles, for shadows, for proper backgrounds, for tongues in, for pricked ears and for most expressive eyes of the dog.

WHICH BREED IN YOUR OPINION IS MOST PHOTOGENIC? This is a Ridgeback Magazine, right? So Rhodesian Ridgebacks are definitely the most photogenic dogs…! No seriously: there are many very attractive breeds. But I really feel, that due to their impressive looks, their elegant bodies and their physical presence the Rhodesian Ridgebacks are definitely super photogenic and are also personally my very favourite breed. With a minimum amount of grooming beforehand, they will look just stunning in pictures.

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There are people like Simone Luca who impress me for their very quick reactions, when the situation is unplanned and you only get to take one single shot. And there are people like Hannah Meinhardt or Alexandra Evang, who I very much admire for their heartfelt presence in their pictures. Another one is Natalie Große, who is not only an outstanding photographer, but also creates incredible editing in post production.

IS THERE ANY ONE THING YOU WISH YOU HAD KNOWN OR PIECE OF ADVICE YOU WOULD GIVE TO AN ASPIRING FINE ART PHOTOGRAPHER? There is one advice that I would give to an aspiring photographer: consciously look at pictures that you either technically like or that touch your heart and always reflect: what happened

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

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with this picture in order to reach you? How is the picture built? What makes it special for you? And then grab your camera and try to follow your own intention.

DO YOU HAVE ANY PETS OF YOUR OWN? AND WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE ANIMAL?

Our house is home to our three Ridgeback stud dogs «Badrani» (11 yrs.), «George» (7 yrs.) and «Makoa» (2 yrs.) as well as to our Ridgeback puppy girl «LOVA» (5 months). If we are not working in our clinic for Traditional Chinese Medicine, practically all our efforts and time turn around our four dogs. Besides our doggie pack, our love goes to Equestrian sports and horses – which I also absolutely love to photograph.

dog Highway To Hell Slunce Zambezi

health Titles (short)

C.I.B., Ch. SK, Jch. CZ, ClubCh., MultiJBOB, JBIS

Pedigree Name

Highway To Hell Slunce Zambezi

Nickname

Teo

Date of birth

26.2.2016

Height

66,5 cm

Weight

42 kg

Teeth

Full dentition, scissor bite

Hip dysplasia

Elbow dysplasia

Osteochondrosis

Negative

Lumbosacral Transitional Vertebra

0, L7

Juvenile Myoclonic Epilepsy

CLEAR (not carrier)

Spondylosis deformans

Negative

Degenerative myelopathy

N/N (not carrier)

D-locus (color locus)

D/d (carrier of dilution mutation)

B-locus (livernose gen)

B/B (non-carrier)

Malignant hyperthermia

CLEAR

Hemophilia (factor IX)

CLEAR

DNA

Complete genetic profile

Early Onset Adult Deafness

High confidence CLEAR

pedigree

titles

First generation

INTERCHAMPION C.I.B.

Highway To Hell Slunce Zambezi S I R E

CHAMPION OF SLOVAKIA JUNIORCHAMPION OF CZECH REPUBLIC WDS 2018 AMSTERDAM res. CLASS WINNER CLUB CHAMPION OF ČKRR CLUB CHAMPION OF KCHRR BEST DOG OF ČKRR 2017 BEST IN SHOW JUNIOR (2017 lDS, Czech. Rep.) MULTIPLE JUNIOR BOB WINNER

D A M Second generation

D A M

S I R E

D A M

Rex Ventors Trinity

S I R E

Amber Grand Star Qwandoya

Emma True Angel Slunce Zambezi

A’Hill Mozambique Star

Mkai Leoridge

Bahati Slunce Zambezi

Third generation

Candidate for: CHAMPION OF CZECH REPUBLIC

CHAMPION OF POLAND CHAMPION OF AUSTRIA SIRE

DAM

SIRE

DAM

SIRE

DAM

Rex Ventors Iving

DAM

Tolasana’s Sitanka

CHAMPION OF SLOVENIA SIRE

A FEW WORDS

ABOUT TEO

Bayo Kabo Slunce Zambezi

Heshima Ya Kimba Grand Aquarius

Assa Pretoria Rose

Karoskloof TT Simply Red

Rouxridge Nala Of Leoridge

Rhodys Pride Leoridge Mufasa

Fourth generation

contact

A unique dog, balanced in body and soul. A kind character, braveheart, always in good mood and loves to steal food.

This is Teo.

Alena Kadlecová facebook-square alena.jilkova

INSTAGRAM-SQUARE Lalajilkovic  j.alena.jilkova@seznam.cz

www.ridgeback-star.webnode.cz

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T I N A

T R A D I N G

M A X I M U S

D E T S I M

M E R I D I Y

OUR COVER D OG

RHODESIAN RIDGEBACK EU MAGAZINE

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CAN YOU PLEASE INTRODUCE YOUR COVER DOG FOR OUR READERS?

After a couple of weeks we got in touch with a Ridgeback breeder and after just four weeks we met our “ginger happiness”. All our three children have their birthday on the 9th of different months. That’s why we were surprised that Ridge also has his birthday on the 9th. Ridge is definitely a big part of our family. He is very empathetic and is able to feel the mood of every family member. We call him “our antistress”. Ridge’s good temperanent and optimism always amazes our guests.

WHAT IS HIS BIGGEST ACHIEVEMENT? We are proud of all the achievements of our Ridge. Every show that Ridge attends is an adventure and an experience for us. However, there is one which gave us a big surprise. There was a National Dog Show in our city in 2019. For Ridge it was only the second show in his life. There he got his amazing unexpected Best in Show! As well fantastic for Ridge was the International Dog Show in Kassel, Germany, December 2019 – he got Best Opposite Sex from 105 entries and at a show in Luxembourg, September 2019 – he got Best Of Breed from 61 entries!

WHAT ARE YOUR FUTURE PLANS? Corona brought weighty changes and difficulties in our lives. All our big plans for the last two years were messed up and moved indefinitely forward. But: there will be more NDS, IDS, EDS, WDS and Crufts and also new litters will be… The main plan for us for now is to stay healthy together and to be safe, and to maintain that fairy connection between our hearts.

FACTSHEET Name Multi CH TINA TRADING MAXIMUS DETSIM MERIDIY Sire: WW, C.I.B. MCh. Makao Line Atuin Art Dam: C.I.B. MCh.Tina Trading Cherry Stone Owned & loved by Jelena Galilejeva Breeder: Elena Maryanovskaya Lm+37126852050 k jelena.ivanovna@inbox.lv E Jelena Galilejeva

RHODESIAN RIDGEBACK EU MAGAZINE

Our children were dreaming to have a four-legged friend for a very long time. Therefore when we knew there would be dog show in our city we decided to attend it. There we saw Rhodesian Ridgebacks for the very first time and we were fascinated by Rhodesian Ridgebacks’ gorgeous looks, bonhomie and well balanced nature. That’s why we can say with absolute certainty that it was love at first sight.