Do This First..

Before you breed your bitch, before you stud your male, and before you buy that puppy, go here and do your research. Check the health of the sire and dam.

Code of Practice for Hereditary Disease

The three main points are to;

* Reduce the incidents of hereditary disease in our breed of dog.

* Protect the purchaser of the puppy.

* Protect the breeder who has made all the reasonable efforts to minimise the risk of hereditary disease.
ref page 7 of the article.

Code of Practice for Hereditary

My Dog Photo Display - Esthers 's Sheba

From Niger, Africa Esther has sent a picture of Sheba.
Thank you Esther, you are the first to send a picture of your dog "A ridgeback" for the photo display. I love reading your blog, it makes a world so far away seem so close..& I also love growing up with Sheba. K
Caption:
Title: Waiting for us at the office
Date: February 4th 2009
Breed: Rhodesian Ridgeback
Photographer's Credit: www.esthergarvi.com

Warm greetings,
Esther

PetPac

This will take 15 sec.

AKC endorses what "they" call a multi vitamin for you dog??

A question I ponder for my readers, would you give your dog a vitamin that has this warning on the label?

Warnings:

For use in dogs only. Keep out of the reach of children and animals. In case of accidental overdose, contact a health professional immediately. If animal’s condition worsens or does not improve, stop product administration and consult your veterinarian.

Precautions:

Safe use in pregnant animals or animals intended for breeding has not been proven.

For use in dogs only.

My comment is "antything for money" I would not want this product in my house let along give it to my dog. I wouold not recommend this product to anyone, if you read the ingreadients, you will see salt, sugars, disguised in cheesburger flavor, .....


The NuVet Plus Tabs that I do recommend are safe for you dog and build immunity and keep your dog healthy. There is NO warning label. And the ingredients are human grade...It is cheaper to buy a one year supply of NuVet to keep your dog healthy than one visit to the vet for allergy and skin problem tests. Huh!

Photo Display of My Dog.

Submit your dog photos for the Photo Display, email your photo to veldt@comcast.net along with a Title, Date, Subject Name(s) & Breed(s), and Photographer’s Credit. I know that you have that cute photo of your dog that you just would love to share with all of us. So email it today. K

Crufts Dog Show will be Streaming on Line.

Cruft's Kennel Club has today announced that dog lovers worldwide will be able to see the action from Crufts 2009 live on the internet for the first time in the show’s history.
Crufts 2009 dates are 5th – 8th March 2009. Judge Peter Green will be judging Best in Show.

Thursday 5th March
Terrier & Hound
For all the information on the show go to the link.

Mason Dixon KC Match Feb 28th 09 Here is a prep article in the Hgt Paper.

Hope to see you at the match..
Set up is Friday Night after 6:30 at the Ag Building in Sharpsburg MD...K

.............A Litter Theme........................ Tessa x Cecil - click here, then on Good Knight then on Sibling.

Naming the puppies in a litter using a Litter Theme.

Tessa x Cecil Litter. By using a litter theme we will be able to link all the puppies from the litter together. When the registered names appear in a show catalog or on POST Pedigrees you will be able to identify the litter by their names. It is a way of connecting the litter back to the parents. We have been naming puppies using this concept for 26 yrs now. I especially liked the theme for the Walton litter. If you were a TV fan of The Waltons, you will remember at the end of the show, how everyone said “Good Night” thus we have Good Knight(male) Walton. Good Night (female) Red Alvira.
A litter theme can be most anything, like the above TV show, a phrase or word from the sire and dam that will identify the litter. My initial thoughts were the Hercules series. Tessa’s name is CH Kushinda Ark Action. We are going to use the ARK in her name to link back to her. For Cecil who is DC Kushinda’s Bronze Star, we have chosen the word Legend and Bronze because he is a foundation stud and we hope to carry on the legend he carries. The kennel name will have an ‘s this time to tell us that it is Tessa’s 2nd litter. The next step is to incorporate the pups “call name” into his registered name, so we know who is who.  Everyone is asked for suggestions. For Falcon here is one of the suggestions, Kushinda’s Falcon Legend Begins CT. The CT is Cecil-Tessa. Xena who is pictured below may become the Princess Warrior Ark Xena, . Naming a litter is a family affair that incorporates the new owners as well. It takes all of us.
We are open to any suggestions you may have on the next litter from CH Red Alvira. More info to come. K

Xena

My first apperance on the site. I look like my mom, Tessa. "Burner, Falcon, Present, Danny Boy, Dart, CiCi, Hunter & Edge are my brothers. Trixie is my sister." Trixie is a movie star..Wait till you see those black mascara "Eyes"

Xena the Princess Warrior.

Do ya wanna play Tag? I got the tag toy right here in my mouth, catch me if you can. X

Weekly Dog Show Wins AKC

Do you want to know who is winning in the groups? Go Here.

"Breeding to The Great Dogs"

It is still cold but the sun is shinning. I am soon going to do a camera tour of the Spring floweres that will be peaking out soon, but I am waiting until it is in the 40's.
Here is the link to Dr. Carmen Battaglia article on "Breeding to The Great Dogs" that was in the "Canine Chronicles 2008". If you are thinking about breeding, here is a concept that should be considered. Ctrl + will increase the type. K

If you just want a Laugh....back scratchin dog..click here

What we can find on YTube

Lola the IG wins 3 out of 4 days in FL

A quick congrats to my BFF Ellen in FL and Lola the IG going WB 3 of the 4 days..She is a NuVet Iggy and is as shinny as a red fox in the sunlight...Lola is a red IG!! And in excellent condition, on NuVet and winning.. Pic to follow asap. K

A looker!!

Kushinda Bronze Star Legend Keep's Burnin'

Burner a Rhodesian Ridgeback

This is Burner at 7 mts...He is one of the 2010 show pups. Love that black face..K

February Events

February is most noted for two events, Westminster and Valentine’s Day and I will add the height of the flu season. (2009 looks to be worse than 2008.)
Talk of the big show is that entries were down. Could that be the $75.00 entry fee or the recession, some may query the judges? peta chose to protest again, like give me a break, the lady with the deerhound showed up to protest them. Word is that some with show dogs were able to draw attention away from the group. Seems most were more interested in seeing the bulldog than the white sheets.
I have seen several polls this week wanting to know what you think about the Airedale that judge Peter Green had to excuse from the ring. My vote said, should not have entered the dog as they were aware of the conflict and Peter did the right thing. And what can we say for the 10 yr old winner..Go Stump Go…

This week brings us the first confirmed case of salmonella in man’s best friend, the dog. The Peanut company says, ”if you can’t fight it. Bankrupt it” I put a link to the FDA so you can go look up your dogs’ food product. I stuff my dog’s kongs with PB. Cheese anyone?
Ellen called from the Florida show circuit. She took points Thur. and Friday. Lola the Italian Greyhound now has 11 pts. She is soon to be a Champion. Ahh, are we to Special this lovely young bitch? I hope so.
In did my spiel on the DM earlier today, OFA still has not updated results, they have been at 337 for a month now. We will have three new RR to show up with NN clear results. This is a good thing. I can’t imagine anyone breeding untested Ridgebacks. But hey, guess what!
If you have not been to Esters blog, she has some great pictures up today.
Today, I did nails. There are two matches coming up this month, so Jericho, and Chee are ready. Two more to do tomorrow and possibly a trip to PetSmrt with the pups for social time. Life is good for these guys.

Letterman has Martha on tonight, he is going to tell us how she lived in the sewer for 5 yrs. Only Dave..
Update to come on the matches.
Happy Valentines Day, save me some chocolate.
Come back, really now. K

Degenerative Myelopathy (DM)

First let me say that it is a disease that "can be" eliminated from our Breed - the Rhodesian Ridgeback. OFA is now doing the DNA test for $65.00 that will tell you the status of your Dog. ......Breeders should only be breeding tested clear stock. NN

This is Degenerative myelopathy; DM (progressive rear limb weakness or paralysis) was first described as a specific neurologic disease in 1973. The age at onset is five to fourteen years average age 8 or 9. It has been reported in almost all large breeds of dogs.

The classic presentation is a painless, slowly progressive rear limb weakness or paralysis. There may be discomfort due to arthritis in the hip or lower lumbar (lower back) area, but this usually improves with activity. Over days, weeks, or months the dog becomes progressively weaker as is evidenced by shuffling of the rear limbs and lack of coordination. Finally, full paralysis coupled with fecal and urinary incontinence develops.

This diseas can now "be eliminated" from our Breed. IF you are going to breed: TEST your Breeding stock and do not breed affected dogs. The test has been available since Aug of 2008. If you are going to Buy; Do Not buy a puppy that does not have TESTED Parents with clear results. A record of the dogs results can be found on the OFA DNA web site. There is a link to the right.
Have you had an experience with DM? You may post a comment below if you would like to discuss or get more information on what to do. K

"Stump" the BIS Winner

Here is a great story about "Stump" the Sussex Spaniel that won BIS at the Gardens Tuesday. I thought you might enjoy learning a bit more about his story. Katherine Snyder, his veterinarian's story.
Enjoy, I did. K

A Rhodesian Ridgeback breed by Westminister Kennel Club

Falcon a Ridbeback

This is Falcon, he is Presents Brother. He was 7mts old in this picture...Looks like his dam. in MD

Westminster Hound Group Streaming Video - Monday

See all the Ridgebacks that were entered be judged.

Ridgeback Gardens Breed Winner. see pic

Congrats to Westminister Best of Breed Ridgeback Winner Ch.ADILI'S AMERICAN IDOL...."Spirit"...

Pea Pods of Punnett-link

How cute are these little yellow and green pea pods?
In light of the fact that in Sept of 2008 the DNA test for the Degenerative Myelopathy gene has become available to the Ridgeback Dog Breeders, it is now important that we learn how to interperate the results.
 Here is a punnett square you can use. The NN ( The NN is the symbol that is on your OFA report and used in Ridgeback terms) or Normal for DM (not having) can be used at the top and side where the small green y's are located.. The yellow Y has the disease.  As you will see  the resulting prodegy 2 will be NN or Normal and 2 will be carriers. Try combining different combinations.
If you are a breeder and own a Ridgeback that is a carrier, then that dog must be bred to a dog that is tested and has an OFA # that is NN. This is how we eliminate the disease from our breed.

Westminister Kennel Club

Three days to the show Feb 9-10 2009.

This is "Presents" a Rhodesian Ridgeback

I named him Presents because he has a Christmas Tree on his belly. So when you see him he will be asking if you have a present for him!
His link will take you to his sire's page. He looks a lot like his dad but again has many of his dam's features also. Ohio

Manatee's in the warm waters in FL

Congregating by the water outlet in West Palm Beach is a herd of Florida Manatees, a highly intelligent species of aquatic mammals, also known as Sea Cows. Above is the link to the story. Here is what is so neat...Click on the Google Earth link in the story and you have a actual view of the Manatees. K

F5

Hit that refresh button frequently as I am on the move updating the site. Thanks for looking, and I hope you are finding many links of interest. Welcome! K

Best Puppy Win and a Group 2 for Trixie at the Cactoctin Match 09

Never been to a dog show match? This is what it looks like. Everyone is enjoying the day with their dogs. And what a great day it was with finally some warmer weather...In the low 50's yesterday. If you have never attented a match with your dog this will give you some idea of the fun it can be and what a social event for your dog. We showed several dogs, and we were set up in the back of this picture. The club did a great job sponsoring this match. The Best in Match was awarded to a Bermese Mt. Dog.

Mason Dixon KC Match Feb 28th 09 Sat

Loction is Sharpsburg MD. Click link for the March flyer. Time, date, judges,location, entry form. K

Old Dominion K Club Match - Feb 22 09

Click on link above to go directly to match flyer. Location is Herndon VA.
Great place to go to socialize puppies or young dogs.