Page 268 - ShowSight - February 2020

Rhodesian Ridgeback Q & A
“Ridgebacks need a lot of space to run, and they are well-known for their stamina and high energy, yes...but they also adapt very well to their owner’s temperaments. They can adapt to numerous different lifestyles since they are such an easy-going breed.”
Ann Meyer continued
My favorite dog show memory? There are so many—my first BOB, my first Group Placement, Winning the Group at Westches- ter, a Top 20 dog—and many more.
Anything else I’d like to share about my breed? This breed, any breed since I had Whippets for years and now have Cirnechi dell’Etna, never ever stop learning.
ANA PAOLA
I live at my kennel, Malabo APD, in the town of Sorocaba, in the countryside of São Paulo. I also run a pet resort that is rec- ognized as one of the best in all of Latin America, so that even when I’m not working with breeding or with dog shows, my work is still very focused on dogs. I’m also the founder of the ARD Foundation, a nonprofit organization that works to raise funds for cancer research.
In popularity, The Rhodesian Ridgeback is currently ranked #41 out of 192 AKC-recognized breeds. Do you hope this will change or are you comfortable with his placement? To be perfectly honest, I’m not happy with that ranking at all, and find it very disrespectful to the breed. It’s not fair that such wonderful dogs are not having all their great qualities recognized by the AKC. Rhodesian Ridgebacks are intelligent, clean, friendly, kind, protective, hardworking, play- ful... I could stay here all day listing their amazing characteristics. I do feel that being ranked so low might give people the wrong idea about them. They deserve better.
Does the average person recognize my breed? Ten years ago, they would not have recognized them. The Rhodesian Ridgeback was always more popular in the United States and Europe than it was here in Brazil, but I feel like even then they weren’t very well- known to the average person. Now, however, they are growing in popularity and people are starting to see what amazing dogs they are and starting to welcome them as members of their families.
What qualities in the field also come in handy around the house? Ridgebacks need a lot of space to run, and they are well-known for their stamina and high energy, yes...but they also adapt very well to their owner’s temperaments. They can adapt to numerous different lifestyles since they are such an easy-going breed. If you enjoy doing extreme sports, you’ll find a great companion in them; they’ll follow and easily keep up with you. But if you like to stay at home watching TV, then they’ll be on the couch, sleeping right next to you.
That all being said, I want to emphasize that Ridgebacks need to have a family; they need to be around the people they love. I wouldn’t recommend them as guard dogs, for although they are extremely protective of their family, that protective instinct comes from the immense love they feel for their owners and the bond they develop with those taking care of them.
What about the breed makes them an ideal companion? Draw- backs? There are no drawbacks in my opinion. It is important to
remember that they do need some space to walk, run, and play, but that doesn’t mean you have to have a farm with hundreds of acres of land. A house with a backyard or with access to a dog park where they can play and run and have their daily exercise should be fine. As long as you’re not living in an apartment, and as long as you’re taking them on their daily walks, they will be the ideal companion.
Any misconceptions about my breed? One of the first things people learn about Rhodesian Ridgebacks is that they were used to hunt lions. I think that creates some misconceptions about their temperaments, as it might lead people to believe they are aggres- sive. But Ridgebacks were not the ones killing the lions; they were tiring them out and cornering them so that the hunters could have their shot. Ridgebacks are energetic, yes, but they are also very doc- ile. In fact, I believe that some countries in Europe are starting to recognize them as pet therapy dogs. This shows that these dogs are capable of far more than we give them credit for.
Special challenges do RR breeders face? I think Rhodesian Ridgeback breeders are currently struggling with our breed’s grow- ing popularity, which leads to irresponsible breeders not being careful with what they introduce into the bloodlines. True breed- ers know the importance of staying true to the Ridgeback’s origins and how to keep serious genetic diseases from being passed down. Lately, however, all that hard work we’ve been doing to protect and preserve this breed is being threatened by careless breeders who don’t know these dogs that well.
At what age do I start to see definite signs of show-worthiness? Well, temperament is the first thing we look at when selecting our show dogs. In the first month or so you can already tell which dogs would be suited for this type of life and which would be better kept as pets. Then, at about three months is when we start to look for physical characteristics, and at 6 months we can see if they are healthy enough for all the traveling they’ll do in between the shows.
The most important thing about my breed for a new judge to keep in mind? I think they need to keep the breed’s origin in mind. They need to remember what Rhodesian Ridgebacks were created for, what they are capable of doing, how they evolved to survive in the savanna, and how those characteristics helped them thrive. If they are not remembering where these dogs came from, then they are missing on all the history that helped create such a beautiful breed.
Best way to attract newcomers to my breed? That’s easy; all any- one has to do is spend a minute with a Rhodesian Ridgeback and I guarantee they’ll fall in love with the breed.
My ultimate goal for my breed? Their health is, and always will be, my number one priority. I want to continue working to improve their health so they can continue thrive and conquer more hearts all across the world.
What is my favorite dog show memory? The time Bean won the International FCI Championship. It was nice to see people recog- nize what I already knew, and that is how special Bean was.
266 • ShowSight Magazine, February 2020