Breeding
In February of 2015 Elaine Hudson bred her GCh. Intrigue's I'm The Bee's Knees at Cynara RN JC CGC (Shiloh) to GCh Cynara's Bounty of the Black Pearl THD CGC HIC (Trooper). Both dogs have wonderful temperments, Shiloh thinks everybody is a friend and Trooper likes to warm up to his new friends first. These 2 met as puppies at the South Dakota Nationals and again when Trooper visited Oklahoma to finish his Championship. The puppies are gorgeous and sweet. We are very excited about this breeding. Contact either Elaine ( Cynara Ridgebacks) or myself if interested in a puppy.
Health Checks To Look For When Thinking About A Puppy
1. DEGENERATIVE MYELOPATHY- this is a devastating disorder for a dog to have, it affects the nerves and muscles of the lower spine so that the rear end of the dog gets weaker and weaker until they can't walk, their rear legs just drag. It is a genetic disorder, if somebody breeds 2 dogs that are both carriers of the DM gene then most likely all the pups will at some time in their life develop the disorder. If one dog is a carrier of the gene but the other dog is negative for the DM gene then the pups will be carriers or non-carriers, but they won't get the disorder. If a dog is a carrier he/she should not be bred to another carrier. This is why when looking for a puppy you need to ask if the breeder tested both parents for DM, you then can double check their info on the website Orthopedic Foundation for Animals which records all dogs test results as long as the owner sends them in. A reputable breeder will send the results in.
2.CERF- this is an eye exam done by a veterinarian certified in Opthalmology. The vet checks for cataracts, any abnormalities in the eyes. Some find that the dog has some pre-embryonic tissue in it's eye left from when is was developing in the mother, this is not usually a problem and sometimes resolves after a later recheck. Make sure you ask the breeder if a CERF was done on both parents, results should be posted on the OFA site or the CERF site.
3. ORTHOPEDIC TESTS- once a dog turns 2 years of age, if a breeder is planning to use the dog for breeding purposes they should have the dog's hips and elbows x-rayed at a veterinarian's who will then send the film the the specialists at the OFA. Three different veterinary radiologists read the xrays and send in their findings. Any breeder who plans to breed should only use dogs with 'good ' or 'excellent' OFA results. Asking for these results is important when looking for a pup because you don't want to get a one who may develop hip and elbow issues as they grow because of the parent's orthopedic history. You can see the results of the parents on the OFA website.
4. CARDIAC- breeders get their dog's heart checked by a certified veterinary cardiologist. This test is to assess the dog/puppy's heart,if it has any murmurs or other abnormalities. If there is a murmur, the vet does an cardiac ultrasound to see if the murmur is benign or if it could cause problems for the dog. Some cardiac findings are congenital, so you need to ask a breeder if they have done a cardiac exam on their dogs. Results are posted on OFA if the breeder sends them in.
5. THYROID- the thyroid gland is important in animals and humans. Low thyroid levels can cause sluggishness, weight gain and other heath issues for dogs. Hyperthyroidism causes the opposite effect. Unless there is a reason to test earlier, thyroid levels are usually drawn at close to 2 years of age. Many breeders do repeat tests as the dog ages to make sure the thyroid is still functioning well. Thyroid results are also on the OFA site if the breeder sends them in.
When getting a puppy make sure you've done your research before talking to a breeder, be honest when they ask you questions, they are just trying to make sure that if you do get a pup it is one that will fit in with your family. Don't expect to get on a puppy list right away, you may have to wait anywhere from 6mos + before a litter comes. Don't call multiple breeders and get on their lists, the breeding community is tight and when 2 breeders find out that your name is on multiple lists, they may take you off both and pass the word to other breeders. I am not an expert but after getting 4 Rhodesian Ridgebacks I think I have the major points down. This is why I encourage you to use a breeder listed on the national breed club breeder's list for a healthy well adjusted puppy.
Back Yard Breeders rarely do all the health checks on any on their breeding pair. They won't stand behind their puppies and take them back if for some reason you can no longer keep your puppy. Ethical breeders want to breed the best puppies they can because they love the breed, Back Yard Breeders breed for money. If you are not sure about getting a young puppy, think about Rhodesian Ridgeback Rescue, they have ridgebacks of all ages looking for good homes. Since I've started assisting in my area ridgeback rescue , I've noticed the rescues we have been getting have been from Back Yard Breeders. Rhodesian Ridgebacks are awesome dogs!
Back Yard Breeders rarely do all the health checks on any on their breeding pair. They won't stand behind their puppies and take them back if for some reason you can no longer keep your puppy. Ethical breeders want to breed the best puppies they can because they love the breed, Back Yard Breeders breed for money. If you are not sure about getting a young puppy, think about Rhodesian Ridgeback Rescue, they have ridgebacks of all ages looking for good homes. Since I've started assisting in my area ridgeback rescue , I've noticed the rescues we have been getting have been from Back Yard Breeders. Rhodesian Ridgebacks are awesome dogs!
Trailhead Ridgebacks
Debbie Bonsteel, McLoud, Ok, USA- dlbonsteel@gmail.com
Debbie Bonsteel, McLoud, Ok, USA- dlbonsteel@gmail.com