Welcome to the website of our wonderful hounds! We believe that Ridgebacks are a very special breed of dog. They are a "sight" hound. Adult Ridgebacks easily weigh 70 to 100 pounds and are very strong. They should be trained to be a well behaved member of the family from the beginning! While they are the right breed for us, they are NOT the right breed for everybody!
Are you interested in showing? Ridgebacks compete in many different arenas; Conformation, Obedience, Lure Coursing, Racing, Tracking, Agility, just to name a few! Be sure to check out the links on our Raising, Training & Fun Page!
Photographs of our hounds have been featured in National & International Publications!
We believe that a well bred Ridgeback should be "balanced". We believe that temperament, health and the overall appearance of the dog must be considered as one.
Temperament:
First and foremost we breed for good temperaments. It makes no difference how
beautiful a dog is if you cannot live with it!
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Health:
We do careful health checks and screening. Prior to breeding our dam she has had:
- Eyes certified with the Canine Eye Registry Foundation
- Hips cleared for hip dysplasia by the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA)
- Elbows approved by OFA
- Heart approved by OFA
- Thyroid cleared via a full thyroid panel through Michigan State University.
When inquiring with breeders regarding puppies, the only way to be certain that the parents are free of the health problems in question is for them to have been tested and cleared. It is impossible to tell otherwise. This doesn't guarantee that the puppies will not develop a problem, but does greatly reduce the possibility. If a breeder says they have never had a problem with the above, BUT they have also never tested their breeding stock for the above items, then there is really no way for them to be certain that they do not have a problem!
Conformation and the Breed Standard:
Even
though you may not be interested in showing your
Ridgeback, you would want to know that the breeder makes every effort to adhere
to the breed
standard. Otherwise Ridgebacks will cease to resemble Ridgebacks!
We show our dogs in conformation, obedience, lure coursing and we are starting in agility with them. We show in both the United States and Canada! Our line tends to be a very nice rich red wheaten color with clear faces (usually no "mask"). While we enjoy competing at shows we realize that not everyone is interested in doing so.
I have been involved in the
dog show world for over twenty years. I
hope you will understand
that I sincerely care about Ridgebacks and especially
the placement of my puppies. When someone is interested in one of our puppies,
we do very careful screening, we try to match the right puppy with the right
home. Therefore, you should understand that I have no interest in selling you a
dog. My interest lies in finding the right guardian for each of our puppies for
the length of their natural lives.
Ridgebacks are a wonderful breed but they are NOT for everybody. At maturity they are large and strong dogs that must be trained properly from the time they are small puppies. I have previously been a volunteer with Ridgeback Rescue and have seen first hand what happens when breeders do not take the time to responsibly place their puppies!
Many families that have acquired a Jasiri Ridgeback have subsequently contacted us regarding a second Jasiri Ridgeback! This speaks well for our careful placement and is also an excellent indication of how happy they are with their Jasiri Ridgebacks and with us!! Acquiring a dog is a serious responsibility. Today's small, cute puppy is tomorrows large and strong dog. Ridgebacks typically live to about 10 to 12 years of age. You must be prepared to care for your puppy through out its entire lifetime. Your Ridgeback will reward you with unquestioning companionship, loyalty and love.
At some point in your application process you may think that I have forgotten about you, if so please drop me an email, phone me or drop me a note. In addition to attending training classes with or showing our dogs, we also run a bed and breakfast and I own my own Real Estate company. A gentle reminder is always welcome! If you have any questions regarding Ridgebacks or dog ownership in general, please do not hesitate to contact us through our email page.
I highly recommend the book, "The Art of Raising A Puppy" by the Monks of New Skete.
©2003 Jasiri Rhodesian Ridgebacks
Contact Us:
Click Here to go to Our Email Page
We have provided links to sites which we feel you may find useful. We are not endorsed by, nor will we be responsible for any information that may be provided on these sites.