Page 206 - Showsight March 2013

is the blueprint, the breeder is the builder,
and the judge is the building inspector.
We must also recognize that success in
the breed depends to a large extent on pro-
portion, balance symmetry coupled with
motivation, temperament, character
and showmanship.
Ridgebacks were NOT bred to kill
lions but rather to have them track them.
keep them at bay and wait for the hunter
to come and do his job. The gait of the
Ridgeback is methodical, smooth, never
cumbersome or racy. He is confident,
alert, proud, maintaining an enthusias-
tic attitude without being exaggerated in
body or obnoxious in spirit.
The winning combination is a team
between dog and handler. The OUT-
STANDING Ridgeback in the show
ring possesses all of the above men-
tioned attributes including mental
and physical soundness plus character
and showmanship.
An untypical Ridgeback that is sound
is useless. A typical Ridgeback that is
sound is priceless!
BIO
Barbara Rupert’s interest
in dogs began in her native
Germany where her parents
raised Dachshunds.
After marriage in the
United States, the first family dog was a
Smooth Standard Dachshund. Rhodesian
Ridgebacks followed in 1970 and Whippets
were added a few years later, but Ridge-
backs remain the primary breed. Careful
breeding under the Oakhurst prefix pro-
duced gratifying results in the whelping box
and show ring. Oakhurst’s breeding pro-
gram is widely recognized for both outstand-
ing conformation and temperament, having
produced close to 100 champions with many
achieving the highest honors, including 10
All-Breed Bests In Show, 3 dogs that earned
#1 Ridgeback in the country. The most recent
one, a bitch for 2011.
Barbara has been chairman of the Stan-
dard’s and Elaboration Committee and
serves on the Education Committee for the
Rhodesian Ridgeback Club of the US She has
developed and presents Ridgeback Seminars
throughout the U.S.
Barbara’s AKC judging license was
granted in 1985 and is currently approved
for the Hound Group and Best in Show. Her
assignments have taken her all over the world
including All Breed show assignments in
Australia, Canada, Mainland China, Hong
Kong, Macau, Russia, South Africa. Her most
memorable assignments included judging the
Ridgeback National in the US twice (most
recently in 2012), the World Congress in the
Netherlands as well as the Australian, French,
Swedish and Brazilian Nationals.
Life after dogs include grandchildren,
classical and jazz music, reading, gardening,
cooking and friends who like to share new
adventures. Barbara and her husband Dick
share their southern California home with
several Ridgebacks, a Miniature Wirehaired
Dachshund and a co-owned Whippet.
All illustrations are by Leisa Temple are the sole property
of RRCUS and no one, other than RRCUS or the author is
authorized to photograph, copy, reprint, distribute and/
or disseminate them in any form. Copyright pending.
“THE GAIT OF
THE RIDGEBACK
IS METHODICAl
AND SMOOTH,
never cumbersome
or racy.”
7-year-old male: BIS GCh Oakhurst Gamble on Me.
A lovely liver-nosed example: Ch Oakhurst Shaba.
206 • ShowSight Magazine, March 2013