Page 261 - ShowSight - February 2020

Rhodesian Ridgeback Q & A
“RRs are a quiet breed, typically barking only when play- ing hard, or when warning the owner of possible danger. They will demand attention but only want a few minutes of attention before they will return to the couch. They are ‘wash and wear’ requiring only minimal grooming.”
My goal for the breed? Is to stay within the standard in my breeding program. Honor those who have come before us and the lineage that our line comes from. I hope we make them proud.
My favorite dog show memory? I have two. First our son surpris- ing us after he graduated Navy School and showing up at a dog show after we had not seen him for almost one year, quite a scene Second Zohan as a veteran winning the specialty in Florida!
Anything else I’d like to share? I love the intelligence and playful nature this breed has. They are eager to please and willing to learn, love being with other Ridgebacks as they are a pack breed. We tease every new buyer they are like potato chips you can’t have just one!
JOHN ARVIN
I live in New Jersey; retired from the nuclear power industry in 2016. Since then I’ve been lure coursing and conformation judging. My lure coursing RRs have been consistently ranked among the best in the country. Dogs I bred carry the Mystic Isle prefix.
Am I comfortable with the ranking of my breed? I’m comfort- able with the ranking, would prefer it not get any higher. The RR is NOT a dog for just anyone. They’re a very intelligent dog and that alone can present some training issues for inexperienced owners. Training and socialization are a must for this breed.
Does the average person recognize my breed? Since I started in 1985, the recognition factor has grown dramatically. These days people mostly know the breed on sight, although they are called everything under the sun.
Qualities in the field also come in handy around the house? I’d have to say agility, although it isn’t mentioned in the breed stan- dard. It’s used when chasing each other around the house, jumping over furniture and evading humans as necessary. They can show great and they are speedy when their superb hearing detects any possibility of being fed or getting a treat.
What about my breed makes them an ideal companion? RRs are a quiet breed, typically barking only when playing hard, or when warning the owner of possible danger. They will demand attention but only want a few minutes of attention before they will return to the couch. They are “wash and wear” requiring only minimal grooming. Mostly nails (regularly) and a bath ever now and then as they are really clean dogs. However, if you don’t win the “nail wars” early you are doomed.
Any misconceptions about my breed? They didn’t kill lions, they didn’t kill lions, they didn’t kill lions. Bigger is not better, bigger is not better, bigger is not better. If one thinks about the attributes of a dog necessary to track and bay lions for a hunter to shoot, none of it points to a large dog. Capable of great endurance. When was the last time you saw a 6' tall , 300 pound marathoner? Never is the correct answer. Hunters shot over the dog to kill lions. The larger
the dog, the greater the target interference between hunter and lion. Finally, the dogs had to bay the lion still enough for the hunter to get a clean shot. This speaks to agility and quickness. Although neither of those are specifically mentioned in our standard, the size range and weight that is in the standard are critical attributes for this breed. The larger the dog, the slower the initial acceleration, slower to turn, slower to stop. All of those are simple physics gov- erned by the laws of mass, momentum and inertia.
What special challenges do RR breeders face? One of my con- cerns was that due to the internet, people already know “the right answers” that breeders are looking for so it’s become more challeng- ing to question potential buyers. My advice will always be to go with what your gut tells you.
At what age do I start to see definite signs of show-worthiness? Personally, I always started evaluating movement at around six weeks. Then I’d look at the structure, head, ridge, etc. I usually placed the puppies at eight weeks because I was of the opinion they needed to be separated after that time.
What is the most important thing about my breed for a new judge to keep in mind? Judge the dog, not the handler. Remem- ber the dog MUST have balanced, efficient movement and be only slightly longer than tall with length in the ribs, not the loin. Reach and drive should not be wasted movement with extended legs stay- ing near the ground, not flying into space! Judge to the entire breed standard, not just pieces of it that may have been emphasized by mentors or others.
The best way to attract newcomers to my breed and to the sport? I only lost money at breeding dogs. But if I had to say something it would be advertising outside the sport.
My ultimate goal for my breed? For the breed to remain as it came here from Africa. Unfortunately, it’s already too late as our breed standard keeps changing, and it’s never been changed to maintain functionality.
My favorite dog show memory? It’s not my favorite memory but I want to share it as an example for dog show judges on how NOT to treat new exhibitors while making yourself look like a complete dummy. The first time I ever showed a dog, I was awarded third place in a class of about eight RRs. While handing me the ribbon the judge actually said, “Your dog is better than the second place dog but you need to learn how to show it.” I immediately knew that I had already showed the dog well enough for him to figure that out so I should have won the second place ribbon. I also decided that the reason I had been awarded third place had nothing to do with the dog so from that day forward I had an attitude about dog shows. I just decided not to quit because of one idiot judge.
Anything else I’d like to share about my breed? Ridgebacks are a combination hound, not just a sighthound. They had multiple purposes in Africa and they still have that capability today.
ShowSight Magazine, February 2020 • 259